Recruitment

"Cut off one of my arms?"

As if he had heard something amusing, Lu Chen grinned at Chrysanthemum Douluo. "I'm not into self-mutilation. Why don't I trouble this Titled Douluo to cut it off for me personally?"

"Lu Xiao..." Hu Liena secretly tugged at Lu Chen's sleeve, hoping he would calm down.

Although Lu Chen had effortlessly defeated her brother and Yan in a single exchange, shocking her with Lu Xiao's immense strength at such a young age.

His every word and action toward Elder Ju was utterly disrespectful. A Titled Douluo stood at the very peak of the entire Soul Master world.

Even emperors of empires treated Titled Douluo with courtesy and respect.

How could Lu Chen... how could he be so reckless?

Hu Liena looked at Lu Chen with a face full of worry. He was facing a Titled Douluo. Was it really so difficult to soften his stance and take a step back?

"Hahaha, what an eye-opener! What an eye-opener indeed!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an orchid finger, looking at Lu Chen as though he had discovered something entertaining.

"Boy, you truly are quite interesting. It has been a long time since I last saw a young man as interesting as you.

It is a good thing for young people to have strength and pride, but they must not be ignorant. Especially when facing an opponent they cannot possibly defeat, they must maintain a heart of reverence—a reverence for the strong!

You have successfully angered me. Though acting against a junior would damage my reputation, you brought this upon yourself.

Since you asked me to take it myself, then I shall take one of your arms and teach you a lesson."

As soon as Chrysanthemum Douluo finished speaking, he condensed a powerful ball of Soul Power in his hand and flung it directly toward one of Lu Chen's arms.

Against a mere Soul Ancestor, he was not worthy of Chrysanthemum Douluo using a Soul Skill.

"Lu Xiao, dodge!"

Hu Liena cried out in alarm. Even without using a Soul Skill, a casual attack from a Titled Douluo was not something a Soul Ancestor could withstand.

If his physique was lacking, that strike might well cost Lu Xiao half his life.

As the casual strike from the Titled Douluo was about to hit Lu Chen, Yan, still pinned to the ground, revealed a smug smile.

You dared to anger a Titled Douluo. Did you think you had nine lives?

As for Lu Chen, he merely stood there without moving, facing Chrysanthemum Douluo's attack.

In an instant, he had thought of dozens of ways to deal with it, but he felt there was no need. He was merely a Titled Douluo.

If Lu Chen wished, he could slap him to death. There was no need to make things so troublesome.

But in everyone else's eyes, Lu Chen had clearly been scared senseless.

Unable to bear watching, Hu Liena turned her head away, while Xie Yue in the distance merely watched in silence.

Pah!

Only a soft sound was heard, and then there was no further movement.

When Hu Liena turned back, she discovered that Lu Chen was still standing where he had been. There was not a single wound on him, and even his clothes remained intact. He still carried that same imposing bearing.

Hu Liena could not understand it. According to her expectations, even if Lu Xiao resisted with all his strength, he should have been injured to some extent. Why was this the result instead?

She shifted her gaze elsewhere and saw that both Yan and her brother Xie Yue wore stunned, disbelieving expressions.

What had they just seen?

"You have truly surprised me. It seems I underestimated you. With a casual swipe, you dispersed my ball of Soul Power.

I thought you possessed, at most, the strength of a Soul Ancestor. Now it seems you have at least reached the level of a Soul King.

Tsk, tsk. At such an age, you are truly a heaven-sent genius. You indeed have the right to be proud. I can scarcely bear to make a move against you.

Boy, I will ask you one more time. Which family or sect do you belong to?"

"What? You want me to join Spirit Hall?" Lu Chen said unhurriedly. Joining Spirit Hall was certainly impossible. He was already invincible, so why would he live under someone else's roof? Wasn't freedom better?

"If, as you say, you truly come from the countryside and have not joined any faction, then joining Spirit Hall would be the wisest choice.

With your talent, Spirit Hall would devote great resources to training you. It is not impossible that you could even be named Spirit Hall's Saint Son!

Incidentally, Nana is Spirit Hall's Saintess." Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke slowly. It would be such a pity to destroy a genius like this.

If he could recruit him, that would naturally be for the best.

"As I said before, I do indeed come from the countryside and have never joined any faction. As for joining Spirit Hall..."

Lu Chen turned to look at Yan, who was pinned to the ground. "You seemed to be laughing quite happily just now. It seems this little bit of gravity is nothing to you. As expected of Spirit Hall's genius."

After saying that, Lu Chen increased the gravity by another twofold.

Yan let out a scream and was completely pressed flat against the ground like a dog.

Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned deeply as he watched, unable to understand what Lu Chen meant. First he said he came from the countryside and had never joined any faction, yet now he was attacking Yan again. What was he trying to do?

"As for joining Spirit Hall, sorry, I am used to living without restraint. I do not like being bound by others. I will join no one."

"In that case..." Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a sinister smile. "What a pity. Offending Spirit Hall is not something that can be settled so easily. For the sake of you saving Nana, I will only take one of your arms."

"Heh, don't waste your effort. You can't do it." Lu Chen smiled faintly. The Space Gem lit up, and a Space Barrier trapped Chrysanthemum Douluo where he stood.

Looking at the pale-blue barrier restricting him in place, Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered. "I truly have to admire your courage. You actually dare to attack a Titled Douluo. Do you think this thin little shield can trap me here?

I only need one finger to poke through it."

"Then give it a try."

Lu Chen turned around and ignored Chrysanthemum Douluo. A Space Barrier activated by the Space Gem could not be broken even if he were given ten thousand years.

"Heh, you ignorant brat. Today, I will show you the methods of a Titled Douluo."

As he spoke, Chrysanthemum Douluo extended a finger. Soul Power gathered at its tip, and he poked the Space Barrier.

"Hmm?"

One poke.

"Hmm?"

I'll poke it again.

"Your Soul Skill truly has its merits. No wonder even the Sting-tailed Spirit Fox's spikes were not qualified to leave a mark on it."

Chrysanthemum Douluo could no longer keep his dignity. He had just claimed he could break it with one finger, only to be immediately humiliated, and in front of these juniors no less.

Chrysanthemum Douluo put away his contempt but still did not intend to use a Soul Skill. Soul Power surged throughout his body and gathered in his palm as he struck the barrier.

That palm strike would injure even a Soul Emperor.

But then—

A scene that shocked Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena occurred.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's palm strike did not leave even the slightest mark on the Space Barrier. He could not even make it tremble.

"Damn it, Third Soul Skill—Aura Barrier."

Chrysanthemum Douluo finally activated a Soul Skill. The barrier before him had exceeded his expectations. Just who was this boy?

As Chrysanthemum Douluo's Aura Barrier unfolded, he tried to burst the Space Barrier from within.

But unfortunately, no matter how much Soul Power Chrysanthemum Douluo poured into it, the Aura Barrier could not burst the Space Barrier.

"I already told you not to waste your effort. This Space Barrier is not something you can break.

I never bore any ill will toward Spirit Hall. I merely found that brat named Yan extremely unpleasant and wanted to teach him a lesson.

Yet you actually wanted to take one of my arms? Still, I am not entirely heartless. For Nana's sake, I will spare you this time. If you dare attack me again, I'll show you what it means for a chrysanthemum to wither."

Lu Chen watched Chrysanthemum Douluo unleash one Soul Skill after another within the barrier and shook his head. Then he walked over to Yan and crouched down before him.

By this point, Yan had lost all of his former arrogance. His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Lu Chen.

Even Elder Ju could not break that barrier. Just how strong was this young man?

"Who... are... you...?"

Under Triple Gravity, even speaking had become difficult for Yan. It felt as though his internal organs were being crushed, and he was enduring immense pain.

"Who I am is not important. What matters is, don't you think you look like a dog right now?" Lu Chen mocked.

Faced with Lu Chen's mockery, Yan did not dare speak. Though deeply unwilling, he could only swallow his anger. The situation was stronger than he was; he had no choice but to submit.

Seeing this, Lu Chen smiled disdainfully and withdrew the Gravity Domain. Lu Chen was not cruel by nature. A lesson was enough.

As for Chrysanthemum Douluo, after this, he would probably begin questioning his life. He had actually been taught a lesson by a mere youngster.

"You're Nana, right?" Lu Chen took two steps and arrived beside Hu Liena.

Seeing that Hu Liena was still in a daze, Lu Chen could not help but laugh.

Hu Liena's eyes shifted as she looked at the man before her. He had given her far too many surprises, effortlessly defeating her brother and Yan.

She had thought he was a Soul Ancestor, but what happened afterward had completely shattered Hu Liena's worldview.

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