"There's one more thing..."
"Little Wu has reached the level 40 bottleneck. It's time for him to obtain a Soul Ring."
"My younger brother can't break through and is still stuck at his current level. How could I, as his older brother, possibly feel at ease?"
At this,
Tang San's lips curled into a smile, wicked as he revealed his hand:
"After all, you wouldn't want me to slow down the process of curing Miss Dugu Yan because I was worried, would you?"
People might think Tang San was always refined and gentle around Tang Wu, rarely even raising his voice.
But to get what he wanted, he dared to threaten even a Titled Douluo.
After all...
There wasn't a single innocent soul among the disciples who came from the Tang Sect.
Faced with Tang San's threat, Dugu Bo was furious at first, wishing he could tear the brat apart on the spot.
But then he remembered that both his life and his precious granddaughter's depended on Tang San.
In the end,
family ties won out over anger, and reason regained the upper hand.
Powerless, Dugu Bo could only glare fiercely at Tang San.
"Brat, if your method doesn't work and you can't detoxify Yanyan, I'll flay you alive..."
"Then Tang San will let Senior Poison Douluo do with him as he pleases."
Seeing Dugu Bo give in, Tang San smiled faintly, knowing the plan had worked.
Plan complete—
With his granddaughter's life on the line, Dugu Bo had no choice but to rely on him. He was firmly in Tang San's grasp.
As long as the conditions weren't too outrageous, Dugu Bo would agree.
Though it was a despicable thing to do, on this cruel continent, only by resorting to every means could he protect himself, his little brother, and Xiao Wu.
Dugu Bo asked,
"Have you decided what Soul Beast you want to hunt?"
"Get the Soul Ring as soon as possible so we can get this over with. Then hurry up and get to work for me."
The brothers had already discussed what Tang Wu's fourth Soul Ring would be.
They would follow the same plan as before...
Ideally, the fourth Soul Skill would synergize with the third, and its ability would let him call upon the traits of various Soul Beasts.
The best fit was the Mirror Shadow Beast, the thousand-faced trickster among Soul Beasts.
After hearing their answer, Dugu Bo wasted no time.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get moving."
An hour later...
Dugu Bo flew high in the sky, gripping Tang Wu with one hand and Tang San with the other.
A Titled Douluo going all out could fly at a decent speed, but he couldn't keep it up for long.
Watching their speed clearly start to drop, Tang Wu, held by the collar, curled his lip and gave Dugu Bo a scornful look.
"Hey, old Poison, you're really out of shape. You're already running out of steam?"
"Do you think flying is easy to maintain? It takes a lot of Soul Power. Easy for you to talk when you're not the one doing the work. Why don't you try flying yourself?"
"Fine, I will..."
Tang Wu didn't bother with false modesty. He immediately said,
"Then you'd better brace yourself, because in a moment, things might get a little... exciting."
"Wait, what are you doing putting that weird chili on me?"
"Stop! Stop right now! Aah—!"
The instant the Explosive Burning Chili thruster kicked in, Dugu Bo's speed surged.
But fast as he was going, for an old man, it was probably...
A little too exciting.
"Slow down! Slow down! You're going way too fast!"
"What did you say? I can't hear you..."
"Slow? You said it's too slow? Fine, then. Today I'll show you what it means to be the continent's speed king!"
The wind was roaring in his ears, so Tang Wu couldn't make out what Dugu Bo was saying.
Thinking Dugu Bo was complaining that they weren't going fast enough, he immediately announced that he'd kick things up a gear!
Explosive Burning Chili, meet thruster.
A perfect match!
Ready?
The only answer Tang Wu got was Dugu Bo's string of screams.
The three headed north.
After three days and nights on the road, they finally reached the Extreme North. The temperature dropped before their eyes.
When they landed,
their hair was all standing on end. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought a dog had chased them there.
Even Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, looked rather disheveled.
He ran a hand through his hair and looked at Tang Wu with a complicated expression, then sighed.
"I still can't figure it out."
"You've got Mutated Blue Silver Grass, so how come you have all these bizarre abilities? This just isn't very Douluo..."
After spending the past few days together, Dugu Bo had been amazed time and again, broadening his horizons.
Tang Wu shrugged and said with shameless smugness,
"Can't help it, old Poison. I guess it's just talent."
"Hmph, cocky brat. I still don't like you."
"Likewise..."
Tang Wu shot back.
Dugu Bo was just a tsundere old man. During the past few days, the two of them had constantly traded barbs, and they could almost be called friends.
Of course...
That was only possible because Tang Wu had something to back him up.
Otherwise, if you dared speak that way to the eccentric Poison Douluo, just wait and see whether Dugu Bo would poison you.
Tang San breathed out a cloud of white mist and shivered.
"Brr... It's so cold here."
"The nearest city is up ahead. Before we start the Soul Hunting Operation, we should buy some warm clothes."
Tang Wu and Dugu Bo had no objections.
After entering the city, they took a little time to prepare the cold-weather clothes they needed, then continued north.
Near their destination, snow stretched as far as the eye could see.
The Far North Snow Forest.
It was the border between the Extreme North and the human world, its terrain rugged, its mountains high and roads long.
The Snow Forest was also home to countless ice-attribute Soul Beasts. They were savage and dangerous.
For those reasons, few people crossed the forest to reach the deeper parts of the Extreme North.
But ten thousand years later, this natural barrier would suddenly disappear, allowing humanity to behold the true scenery of the Extreme North.
The three searched through the Snow Forest for half the day.
They couldn't find a Mirror Shadow Beast—not even a single hair.
Worse, they'd been in such a rush when they set out that they'd forgotten to stock up on provisions.
After half a day's work, they were cold, tired, and hungry.
Suddenly...
Dugu Bo spotted a wild boar hibernating in a cave.
It was enormous, about the size of a small car, with two upward-curving, ice-blue tusks.
The Northern Plains Snow Pig.
It was a type of pig unique to the Far North Snow Forest. After years of evolution, its meat practically melted in the mouth.
If they hunted it, it would be enough to feed them for a week.
Dugu Bo licked his lips as he looked at the Northern Plains Snow Pig, a cruel glint in his eyes.
"Haha, you two brats are in for a treat. Watch this—"
Dugu Bo was eager to get started, with no idea that
what he did today would become the most humiliating black mark in his entire life.