My Foolish Little Brother

"Yanyan, you seem quite taken with that little fellow named Lin Nuo, don't you?"

Dugu Bo stroked his long beard and looked at his granddaughter with a teasing smile.

"I've never seen you care so much about any young man from any family."

For his proud and arrogant granddaughter to take the initiative and plead for someone, Dugu Bo naturally developed considerable interest in this genius he had never met.

Hearing her grandfather tease her, a blush immediately rose on Dugu Yan's fair cheeks.

How old was this old man already? Why was he still so improper all the time?

"Hmph! Grandpa, if you keep playing matchmaker, I'll never speak to you again!"

As she spoke, Dugu Yan turned her head away and deliberately put on an angry expression.

"Alright, alright, Grandpa won't tease you anymore."

Dugu Bo laughed twice, then gradually turned serious.

"That boy named Lin Nuo, I'll keep an eye on him in secret for the time being.

"As for that little loach from the Yu Family, I'll naturally give him a lesson he'll never forget for the rest of his life."

Dugu Bo had never intended to force matters when it came to his granddaughter's feelings.

Though his old bones suffered the backlash of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, and he might collapse someday without warning,

as long as he still drew breath, he would absolutely keep Dugu Yan safe and sound. He would not allow anyone to force her hand.

Setting those trivial matters aside, based solely on Dugu Yan's description, Lin Nuo's talent could only be described as monstrous.

Yet there was one point that made Dugu Bo quietly stay on guard.

A commoner genius bearing the mark of Spirit Hall had now brazenly entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy, with even the shadow of the Heaven Dou Empire's Eastern Palace Crown Prince faintly lurking behind him.

The waters where all these powers intertwined ran deep indeed, deep enough to provoke thought.

Therefore, Dugu Bo planned to observe the situation for a while longer.

After all, as an honorary advisor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Dugu Bo was not ignorant of everything.

From Prince Xue Xing alone, he knew that His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to have quite a few problems.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and Qian Renxue's efficiency was astonishing.

She directly sent Snake Lance Douluo to make a personal trip to Spirit City, and he soon obtained a copied edition of the Immortal Herb Illustrated Catalog that Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan treasured like his life.

Delivered to Lin Nuo alongside the catalog was a ring-type Soul Tool capable of storing living creatures.

Sitting before his desk, Lin Nuo opened the catalog and began reading it with great interest.

Though the catalog compiled by Yue Guan was not as comprehensive as the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record Tang San had stolen in his previous life, it still included the vast majority of the continent's rare flowers and exotic herbs.

After casually flipping through a few pages, Lin Nuo found more than one top-grade Immortal Herb that could completely replenish the origin of Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao and successfully turn it into a Dragon.

For instance, Dragon Blood Grass, which could greatly strengthen one's bloodline power, and Earth Dragon Golden Melon, the top-ranked must-eat herb for those with golden bloodlines...

And what came of it? That future lofty "Lord Sea God," who constantly claimed to hold deep "filial affection" for Master Yu,

ultimately gave his benefactor only a Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma that did not even qualify as an Immortal Herb.

This so-called respect for one's teacher was truly a colossal joke.

Helping Gangzi barely break through Rank 30 was probably the greatest gift that God King had ever bestowed upon him.

Turning another page, Lin Nuo's gaze finally settled on the illustration of a snow-white flower—Snowy Swan Kiss.

This Immortal Herb could not directly increase Soul Power, but it possessed the heaven-defying effect of amplifying toxins by thousands or even tens of thousands of times.

The Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Eater Spider Emperor were inherently imbued with deadly poison, making this Immortal Herb practically tailored for him.

However, Lin Nuo was not blinded by greed.

A Spider Martial Soul was ultimately a beast martial soul, and its poison was inseparably bound to its host's physical body.

He had indeed suffered no backlash from the poison so far, but once he consumed the Snowy Swan Kiss and the toxicity within him surged ten-thousandfold, no one could guarantee whether his body would withstand such an intense baptism of poison.

Given the current situation, the safest way to break the deadlock was still to find an opportunity to seize the External Soul Bone Eight Spider Lances that had originally belonged to Tang San.

Though he possessed a piece of Six-Winged Purple Light Wings, that External Soul Bone specialized in flight and speed. Using it as a container for rapidly multiplying poison would ultimately be rather forced.

Only poisonous bones like the Eight Spider Lances were perfect vessels for toxins.

"Forget it. A meal must be eaten one bite at a time. I'll take things one step at a time."

After committing all the contents of the Immortal Herb Illustrated Catalog to memory, Lin Nuo closed the book, pushed open the door, and left his dormitory.

Ever since arriving in Heaven Dou City, he had not found the time to properly experience the customs of the imperial capital. This was the perfect chance to take a stroll.

Meanwhile, the focus returned to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.

The moment Lin Nuo stepped out of the gates of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a secret report concerning his movements was delivered to Qian Renxue's desk.

Not long ago, she had severely reprimanded Yu Tianheng for using his status to bully others at the academy, under the Crown Prince's banner of protecting the empire's young talents.

After that warning, even if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was dissatisfied, they would not dare move against Lin Nuo beneath the imperial family's wrath anytime soon.

However, open attacks were easy to evade; hidden arrows were hard to guard against.

What truly kept Qian Renxue worried day and night was her teacher, who appeared refined and kind on the surface but secretly loved meddling everywhere and eliminating variables.

Ning Fengzhi's desire for the Overlevel Soul Ring Absorption Method would never be completely extinguished by a few casual excuses.

Not to mention that her "good little brother's" face and martial soul, along with that terrifying talent, were simply far too conspicuous.

"What a troublesome little fellow."

Qian Renxue sighed helplessly, though her gaze carried undisguised protectiveness.

She slightly raised her eyes and quietly instructed the deep shadows within the study.

"Uncle Pufferfish, while Lin Nuo is wandering around the city, I'll have to trouble you to keep watch over him personally from the shadows."

"If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly cannot restrain itself and wants to make a move, then even at the risk of fully exposing the Nation-Stealing Plan, you must preserve his life and safely escort him out of Heaven Dou City!"

"This subordinate understands. Please rest assured, Young Mistress."

From within the shadows came a low reply.

Immediately afterward, Porcupinefish Douluo's concealed presence completely vanished from the study.

"My foolish little brother, it seems that before long, your sister will have to find an opportunity to acknowledge you."

"Otherwise, who knows how much trouble you troublesome brat will bring your sister."

Qian Renxue's fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk.

However, exactly how she should acknowledge Lin Nuo still required her unparalleled wisdom to carefully devise a plan.