"It depends on whether you have what it takes." Tuoba Xuan didn't back down in the slightest. With the divine skill Wanderer of the Dragon Clan, he had no reason to fear anyone.
Even if he couldn't win, he could always hide until he was strong enough.
Dugu Bo's hand, poised to slap Tuoba Xuan dead, stopped in midair. He sneered. "You're nothing but a Soul Elder. I could kill you with a flick of my hand!"
Tuoba Xuan closed his eyes, ignoring Dugu Bo's words completely, and asked again, "Aren't you curious how an outsider like me found out about your Dugu Family's secret?"
Dugu Bo froze. Right, how had Tuoba Xuan learned the family secret? Even Dugu Yan had only just found out about the Jade Scale Snake's flaw.
"You'd better give me an explanation!" Dugu Bo suddenly felt a chill crawl down his back. Tuoba Xuan's identity had become a complete mystery.
Such impressive Soul Power at such a young age, and knowledge of this sort of secret—Tuoba Xuan's backing had to be immensely powerful.
"Spirit Hall? The Clear Sky Sect? Or the Star Luo Empire?" Dugu Bo's mind raced as he named one possibility after another.
Tuoba Xuan slumped helplessly on the ground, dispelling Dugu Bo's doubts. "You may have heard my name before. Tuoba Xuan!"
"Tuoba Xuan?" Dugu Bo was genuinely taken aback. He had indeed heard that name before.
They said that after Yu Xiaogang, the useless Grandmaster who had awakened a purple Pig as his Martial Soul in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the young sect master of the Sacred Dragon Sect had also awakened a useless Pig—just a different color.
But Tuoba Xuan's situation was even worse than Yu Xiaogang's. He had awakened with three ranks of Soul Power, but supposedly hadn't made any progress in five whole years.
They said Tuoba Xuan had later suffered a complete breakdown and couldn't accept being useless. He'd left the sect a year ago, and no one knew whether he was dead or alive.
"You're that good-for-nothing?" Dugu Bo asked, unable to believe it.
"Good-for-nothing?" Tuoba Xuan sneered. "If I'm useless, then what does that make your granddaughter and Yu Tianheng?"
"Hmph! What does that have to do with you knowing the Jade Scale Snake's secret?" Dugu Bo's pupils dilated as he snapped at him.
"You should be able to sense my current strength," Tuoba Xuan said slowly.
"Aren't you curious what kind of opportunity I came across?"
Dugu Bo's body trembled slightly.
How had he overlooked that?
If they really were the same person, then that was terrifying. In less than a year, Tuoba Xuan had gained a full thirty-five ranks of Soul Power.
Dugu Bo's eyes darted about. He could feel the poison inside him beginning to boil.
If he got his hands on Tuoba Xuan's opportunity, perhaps he really could overcome the flaw in the Jade Scale Snake Martial Soul—and maybe even help himself and his granddaughter become Super Douluo.
For Dugu Bo, killing someone and taking their treasure was little more than a casual matter.
"I suggest you put those unrealistic ideas out of your head." Tuoba Xuan's sharp voice cut off Dugu Bo's thoughts.
"The fact that I dared to tell you this means I have a way to protect myself." Tuoba Xuan's voice was cold as ice. "If you attack me, I won't die. With my talent, I'll reach Titled Douluo in less than ten years. You'd better think carefully about what that means."
Dugu Bo felt as though someone had just doused him with a bucket of cold water. The poison inside him turned to liquid nitrogen.
Right—a twelve-year-old Soul Elder with thirty-eight ranks of Soul Power, and unimaginable combat strength to boot.
With talent like that, even that woman would likely be hard-pressed to match him anywhere on the continent.
Dugu Bo shivered. Only then did he realize how foolish his thoughts had been.
More importantly, he didn't dare take the gamble. If Tuoba Xuan really escaped, the consequences would be disastrous. Even if Dugu Bo could flee, what about his granddaughter?
"So, what do you think?" Tuoba Xuan continued. "There's nothing to gain from attacking me. Why don't we make a deal?"
Dugu Bo raised his eyes slightly, finally putting aside his contempt for Tuoba Xuan. "I'm listening."
"I'll help you and your granddaughter overcome the flaws in your Martial Souls. In return, you'll agree to three conditions."
"If you can really do that, I'd agree to ten conditions, even a hundred." Dugu Bo paused, then added another condition. "Of course, none of them can go against my principles."
"Fine! A hundred conditions, then." Tuoba Xuan laughed aloud. "As expected of Poison Douluo. You certainly know how to get straight to the point."
Dugu Bo: ?
Then Tuoba Xuan suddenly changed the subject. "But before that... sigh." He let out a heavy sigh, as if deeply regretful.
Tuoba Xuan's confidence, his extraordinary talent, and his heaven-defying opportunity had all struck a chord with Dugu Bo. He now fully believed that Tuoba Xuan could resolve the flaw in his Martial Soul.
Just when he'd finally seen a glimmer of hope, Dugu Bo grew anxious. He clenched his fist. "What? Are you going back on your word?"
"Not at all!" Tuoba Xuan replied with a chuckle. "It's just..."
Tuoba Xuan hesitated, but wouldn't say the rest of it.
Dugu Bo furrowed his brows, his heart filled with impatience. "Oh, hurry up and tell me! It's just what?"
Seeing that Dugu Bo was worked up and had fallen right into his trap, Tuoba Xuan finally murmured the rest.
"It's just that I once read in an ancient book that there's a miraculous treasure land on the continent, with two springs—one extremely cold, the other extremely hot."
"And to overcome the flaws in your bodies, we'll need the help of that treasure land."
"The only problem is, I don't know where it is." Tuoba Xuan feigned a regretful sigh. "I was thinking that with Your Excellency's experience and knowledge as a Titled Douluo, you might know a thing or two."
Dugu Bo froze. He had to admit, Tuoba Xuan's tactic of building up hope only to dash it was perfectly suited to his temperament.
"Two springs, one extremely cold and one extremely hot..." Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, as if pondering something, and repeated the words under his breath.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Dugu Bo. "Boy, is the treasure land you're talking about a place with a circular pool, holding two radically different kinds of water—one extremely cold, the other extremely hot—with strange plants and flowers growing around it?"
Tuoba Xuan put on a look of surprise. "You're right, Your Excellency. Could it be that you know where this treasure land is?"
Dugu Bo was positively delighted. Who would've thought he'd end up having to step in himself? "If that's the place, then it belongs to me."
"Then I'll trouble Your Excellency to lead the way." Tuoba Xuan bowed slightly.
Dugu Bo felt immensely satisfied. He raised his head proudly and readily agreed. By now, he trusted Tuoba Xuan completely.
"Good. Since that's settled, there's no time to lose. Come with me now."
Dugu Bo gave a wicked smile. He shot up into the air, propelled by the dark green Soul Power beneath his feet, and sped toward Sunset Forest.
"Hahahaha! Boy, before that, let me see how strong you are. You'd better keep up with me!"
"What an old child." Tuoba Xuan rubbed his forehead helplessly. He knew Dugu Bo was still sore about what had happened earlier and was getting back at him.
"Fine." Tuoba Xuan smiled. "Let the world see how a dragon spreads its wings!"