Bullying a Soul Ancestor?

As his words fell, only silence remained in the woods.

The only sounds between heaven and earth were the evening breeze rustling past and the chirping of summer cicadas in the distance.

Xu Linjiu stood where he was with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and unruffled.

After several more breaths, accompanied by the soft sloshing of liquor, a figure finally emerged slowly from the depths of the shadows.

The man wore a tattered gray robe. His hair and beard were unkempt, his face covered in a thick beard, and he held a filthy wine gourd in one hand.

Yet the moment he casually stood there, the air around him seemed to freeze, and an invisible pressure spread out like a mountain.

It was none other than the Clear Sky Douluo who had lived under a false name for years—Tang Hao.

Tang Hao stopped, and a faint pressure settled over Xu Linjiu. "Tell me. How did you discover me, and how did you learn my identity?"

Xu Linjiu bowed, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. "My martial soul is of the spiritual type, so I have a slight advantage when it comes to observing my surroundings."

"As for your identity, Tang San previously told me about his second martial soul. The Clear Sky Hammer is renowned throughout the world, and combined with his talent, it was obvious who his father was."

"A bit clever, aren't you?"

Tang Hao sized up the young man before him. "A Soul Ancestor in his early twenties. Notting City may be a tiny place, but it has produced a talent. Still, I need to see whether you're qualified to be Tang San's teacher!"

The next instant, Tang Hao's aura erupted. A pressure dozens of times stronger than before came crashing down upon him.

Feeling that terrifying pressure, Xu Linjiu's expression hardened. He immediately summoned his martial soul, soul power surging as a pale pink mist slowly spread from beneath his feet and instantly enveloped an area several yards wide.

[Misty Terrain]: While on the ground, one will not fall into abnormal states, and damage taken from dragon-type moves is halved.

With the support of Misty Terrain, the terrifying pressure unique to a Titled Douluo lost more than half its force the instant it touched the pink mist filling the area.

"This is... a domain soul skill?"

Tang Hao raised a brow, surprise flashing through his clouded eyes.

One had to know that ordinary soul masters, unless blessed with an immense opportunity, could only possibly awaken domain-type abilities after breaking through to Titled Douluo and obtaining their ninth soul ring.

Yet this young man before him was merely a Soul Ancestor of over forty ranks, and he had already mastered a domain-type soul skill.

Even if this domain was somewhat weak and Tang Hao could shatter it with a casual gesture, it was still enough to prove Xu Linjiu's talent.

"You do have some tricks."

Tang Hao chuckled softly and flicked a finger. A strand of pitch-black soul power shot from his fingertip.

Seeing the black gleam approaching, Xu Linjiu rapidly moved his hands before him. Two translucent barriers appeared, one in front of the other.

[Light Screen]: Under the protection of Light Screen, damage received by allies from special moves is halved.

[Reflect]: Under the protection of Reflect, damage received by allies from physical moves is halved.

The pitch-black soul power struck the barriers, its force being dissipated layer by layer, its power reduced by more than half.

Moreover, Tang Hao had never intended to hurt him. He was merely testing him.

By the time the remaining force struck Xu Linjiu, it brought only a faint sting before dispersing into the air.

Witnessing the terrifying strength behind Tang Hao's casual attack, Xu Linjiu felt somewhat shaken.

He had practiced this secret technique of deploying both walls at once for many years. Even a Soul King's full-force blow could be easily blocked.

Yet Tang Hao had merely flicked a finger, without even using a tenth of his true strength, and had pierced through his double-layered barriers to strike him directly.

The foundations of a Titled Douluo were truly unfathomable.

"Good kid. You've hidden yourself well."

Tang Hao tipped his head back and took a large gulp of wine. "At just over twenty, with this level of strength, you rank among the first tier of the younger generation across the entire continent."

Xu Linjiu smiled faintly and withdrew the barriers before him. "Your Excellency showed mercy. I merely relied on a few tricks."

"No need to be modest. Whether you have the strength or not, one test is enough."

Tang Hao waved a hand, and the soul power roiling around him gradually subsided. The intimidating pressure vanished with it.

"Come to think of it, I misjudged you."

He shook the wine gourd in his hand, and the soft sound of liquor sloshing came from within.

"I've met Yu Xiaogang a few times. I heard that his martial soul theories were unmatched on the continent, and when I saw that he wanted to take Tang San as his disciple today, I even thought it was a good thing."

At this point, Tang Hao's tone held a trace of self-mockery.

"If you hadn't stepped in when you did, I truly would have been fooled by his respectable facade. Now that I think about it, after cultivating for so many years, he's only a rank twenty-nine Grand Soul Master. What strength could he possibly have?"

Xu Linjiu listened quietly without interrupting.

"And Tang San's Blue Silver Grass."

Tang Hao looked in the direction of the dormitory, and his tone grew heavier.

"The Blue Silver Emperor bloodline must have come from his mother. Twin martial souls, equal in quality... how did I not realize it? Heh, I truly am a failure of a father."

Tang Hao withdrew his gaze and looked back at Xu Linjiu. His clouded eyes carried a rare, genuine approval.

"You are young, yet not only is your cultivation solid, your insight is also this sharp. You are a hundred times better than that so-called theory master. Tang San is fortunate to have you as his teacher."

"You flatter me, Your Excellency."

Xu Linjiu inclined his head slightly. "Tang San is a peerless talent to begin with. I merely discovered his potential ahead of time."

Tang Hao shook his head instead, turning slightly as if ready to depart. "My identity is sensitive. I cannot remain here for long, much less meet him in my true appearance. I have not fulfilled my duties as a father for even a single day all these years. From now on, Tang San is entrusted to you, sir."

His tone was solemn. "How he walks his path in the future will be entirely up to your arrangements. As for the Clear Sky Hammer, I hope you can conceal it for him. Unless absolutely necessary, do not let him reveal it lightly."

Xu Linjiu's expression turned solemn. "Rest assured, Your Excellency. A teacher for a day is a father for life. Since Tang San has already become my disciple, I will teach him with all my heart and treat him as my own."

Tang Hao said no more. After giving him one final deep look, his figure flashed and silently vanished into the woods, leaving only a jet-black Martial Soul Hall token behind.

Xu Linjiu remained where he was, watching Tang Hao leave without departing for a long while.

After an unknown amount of time, a stream of pearly light swept out from the forest and gently landed at his side.

"Phew, he finally left. That human's aura was really terrifying."

The white light faded, revealing a large, translucent silkworm with a gleaming white body. Its plump, round body floated in midair. It was none other than the Skydream Iceworm.

Looking at the Skydream Iceworm floating before him, Xu Linjiu asked, "How did it go, Brother Tianmeng? Was everything handled?"

"Need you even ask?"

The Skydream Iceworm patted its round chest with its tiny arms, looking immensely proud. "Back when I was in the Star Dou Great Forest, even Di Tian couldn't find where I was hiding. Now, all I had to do was conceal a little rabbit's soul beast aura and fool a Titled Douluo. Wasn't that easy?"

As it spoke, it slowly spun around in the air. "Still, that little rabbit's aura felt somewhat familiar. Among the soul beasts that absorbed my heaven and earth essence back then, she should have been one of them."

Hearing the Skydream Iceworm's words, Xu Linjiu fell into thought.

No wonder Xiao Wu was clearly a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, yet always acted with the innocence of someone unfamiliar with the world. So she had been rushed through it.

"I can't go on. Concealing that little rabbit took quite a bit of energy. I need to rest for a while."

With that, the Skydream Iceworm turned into a streak of light and vanished into Xu Linjiu's body.