Establishing the Academy, Sky Curtain Countdown

Li Yuan strode toward Dugu Bo, with Shui Bing'er quietly following half a step behind him, while Di Jun and Long Yuan guarded his flanks, one on each side.

When Dugu Yan saw them approaching, she suddenly spread her arms and blocked the way in front of her grandfather. Her eyes were red, but she stubbornly held back her tears. "Please don't hurt my grandfather! If you want something, come at me!"

"Yanyan! Get back!" Dugu Bo struggled to prop himself up in the crater, yanked her behind him, coughed twice, and lowered his voice. "They won't kill Grandpa."

Dugu Yan bit her lip and took half a step back, but her eyes stayed locked firmly on Li Yuan.

Li Yuan walked up to Dugu Yan and stopped.

Looking down from above, he sized her up a few times. Purple hair, emerald eyes, delicate features, a slender figure, and a streak of stubbornness between her brows.

She was a decent seedling.

Enduring the pain wracking his whole body, Dugu Bo cupped his hands and said, "May I ask who you honored ones are, and what purpose brings you here?"

Li Yuan withdrew his gaze, his voice calm. "My name is Li Yuan. I came here for only one purpose."

Dugu Bo silently repeated the name in his heart, his brows knitting slightly.

On the continent, he had never heard of any family surnamed Li capable of commanding such terrifying Title Douluo.

"Please speak, Your Excellency."

"To invite Poison Douluo to join my Nibelungen."

Dugu Bo froze.

Nibelungen?

What a strange name. He had never even heard of it.

He opened his mouth, wanting to refuse, but from the corner of his eye he saw Long Yuan's dark-red eyes staring unblinkingly at him. That look plainly said: If you dare say no, you're dead.

Dugu Bo sighed inwardly, his cloudy old eyes full of bitterness.

They beat this old man half to death, then turned around and wanted to recruit him... How could there be anything so overbearing and unreasonable under heaven?

But he turned his head and glanced at Dugu Yan behind him.

He was already old. If he died, then he died.

Yanyan was still young. He could not let her be dragged into disaster with him.

So be it.

"This old man agrees."

Ding! Congratulations, Master, for successfully recruiting the Title Douluo, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, exceeding the requirements for the side mission. Reward: God-Bestowed Soul Ring x1, High-Tier Gift Pack x1.

Li Yuan's brow lifted slightly, and the corner of his mouth rose in a nearly imperceptible curve.

Counting the one from taking in Tianshui Academy earlier, that made two High-Tier Gift Packs. Not bad.

He was just thinking about opening them slowly after returning when Long Yuan beside him already let out a cold snort.

"At least you know what's good for you, old man."

Long Yuan stepped forward and looked down at Dugu Bo from above, his smile carrying a savage edge. "Old bastard, starting today, we're colleagues. But there's something I've got to say up front..."

He raised one finger.

"If you harbor second thoughts, or do anything harmful to our lord..."

Long Yuan smiled, revealing stark-white teeth. "I'll break all two hundred and six bones in your body, one by one. After I'm done, I'll have that kid Mu Sheng heal you, then keep breaking them. We'll go back and forth eighty-one times, and in the end, I'll strip you naked and toss you into a cesspit to soak for six hundred and sixty-six days. Tell me, by then, will you still be able to recognize who you are?"

A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out across Dugu Bo's back.

As an old hand at using poison, he considered his own methods sinister and vicious enough.

But this ruthless man before him, smiling as he talked about breaking more than two hundred bones, healing the person, and then breaking them again... was even more deranged than his poisons.

Forget him—even Li Yuan felt a chill run down the back of his neck as he listened.

He silently glanced at Long Yuan. This guy looked honest and dutiful on the surface, but behind the scenes, his methods were this wild?

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Dugu Bo cupped his hands repeatedly, cold sweat trickling down his temples. "Since this old man has already agreed to join, I submit sincerely and harbor absolutely no second thoughts!"

"Good."

Long Yuan withdrew his smile, took a step back to his original position, and said casually, "Let me introduce myself. Long Yuan, ninety-eighth-rank Peak Douluo, second enshrined of Nibelungen."

Dugu Bo's pupils abruptly contracted.

Ninety-eighth rank?

Second enshrined?

He suddenly turned his head to look at the handsome black-haired man beside them, who had barely spoken all this time.

Di Jun stood with his hands behind his back. Meeting Dugu Bo's shocked gaze, he spoke indifferently. "Di Jun, ninety-ninth-rank demigod, grand enshrined of Nibelungen."

The air fell silent for an instant.

Standing behind Li Yuan, Shui Bing'er stiffened completely.

She had thought Long Yuan being ninety-eighth rank was already absurd enough, and now they were telling her there was also a ninety-ninth-rank Limit Douluo beside her?

She blinked hard, confirming that she had not misheard.

Dugu Yan's little face had gone deathly pale, and the fingers clutching her grandfather's sleeve had turned white at the knuckles.

Rank ninety-nine... a demigod?

That realm said to exist only in ancient texts—this man before them, who looked even younger than her grandfather, was actually a demigod?

Dugu Bo shook his head with a bitter smile and let out a long sigh.

He had not taken that beating for nothing.

Being noticed by a force of this level was, in a sense, his good fortune.

Li Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at Dugu Yan behind Dugu Bo, feigning ignorance. "And this is?"

Dugu Bo hurriedly cupped his hands. "Replying to my lord, this is this old man's granddaughter, Dugu Yan. She just turned eighteen this year, a rank thirty-one Soul Elder."

As soon as he finished speaking, the system's electronic voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

"Ding! Side mission released: In order to increase Nibelungen's influence in the soul master world, Master, please establish a martial soul academy belonging exclusively to Nibelungen within three months, participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament two and a half years from now, and win the championship."

"Phase Reward One: Establish and name the academy, and obtain dual certification from both the Heaven Dou Empire authorities and Spirit Hall. Completion reward: Super Cultivation Resource Gift Pack x1."

"Phase Reward Two: Win the tournament. Completion reward: Peerless Gift Pack x1."

"Warm reminder: The Sky Curtain will open after the tournament concludes. Master, please make preparations in advance."

Li Yuan's eyes shifted slightly.

Establish an academy? Enter the tournament? And win the championship too?

Two and a half years from now happened to be Tang San's cohort... the era when the Shrek Seven Devils were at the height of their glory.

But on his side, they even had a rank ninety-nine demigod. Taking the championship would be nothing more than going through the motions.

What was interesting was that "Sky Curtain."

Since the system had specifically reminded him about it, it must be of great significance.

Li Yuan pushed these thoughts down and, without letting anything show on his face, looked at Dugu Bo. "Your granddaughter's talent is not bad. I happen to be preparing to establish an academy and am short on manpower. Have her come over. All cultivation resources will be covered, and she will be personally guided by a Titled Douluo powerhouse of my Nibelungen."

Dugu Bo was stunned at first, then was overjoyed.

He hurriedly said, "My lord's kindness is generous. For Yanyan to join is her honor..."

"Grandpa, I'm not going!"

Dugu Yan suddenly raised her head, her tone stubborn. "I've already joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I'm not going anywhere!"

"Nonsense!"

Dugu Bo's expression darkened, and his voice abruptly rose. "Yanyan, don't think this old man doesn't know what you're thinking! From today onward, this old man absolutely will not allow you to have any more dealings with that Yu Tianheng. Do you understand?"

Dugu Yan's eyes reddened. "Grandpa, you..."

"Shut up! While the two of you haven't been in contact for long, cut it off early and cleanly!"

"Grandpa! How can you be like this?"

"Enough!"

Dugu Bo flung his sleeve, his tone brooking no argument. "There is no room for discussion on this matter. Your grandfather lets you have your way in everything normally, but not this. Once matters here are finished, this old man will personally go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and handle your withdrawal procedures."

Dugu Yan's lips trembled. Looking at her grandfather's face, which had never been this stern before, she forcefully swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

She lowered her head, clenched her fists, and said in a muffled voice:

"I understand, Grandpa."

Dugu Bo's expression eased slightly. He turned around and cupped his hands toward Li Yuan, his face full of ingratiating smiles. "My lord, I've made a fool of myself before you."

Li Yuan waved a hand. "No matter."

He glanced at the crestfallen Dugu Yan and said nothing more, instead turning to Dugu Bo. "Take me to your cultivation site. I want to take some medicinal herbs."

Dugu Bo's heart gave a violent leap.

He even knows there are medicinal herbs there?

Just what was this young man's background, to have investigated even the secrets deep within Sunset Forest so thoroughly?

"Yes, my lord." Dugu Bo suppressed the shock and suspicion in his heart, turned sideways, and led the way. "Please follow this old man."

Li Yuan stepped after him, with Shui Bing'er and the Di Jun following closely behind. Long Yuan walked at the very back, and when he passed by Dugu Yan, he lowered his head to glance at her, his lips spreading into a meaningful grin.

Dugu Yan shivered, shrank her neck back, and obediently followed at the end of the group.

The party passed through the dense forest and headed toward the depths of the valley.