The Devil's Grinning Smile

The three education committee members raised their heads to look at Su Wu, but the very next second, all three pairs of pupils suddenly constricted, and the calm composure on their faces vanished instantly.

The moment they caught sight of Su Wu, the three Soul Douluos' footsteps were nailed to the spot on the spot, and the calm smiles on their faces instantly stiffened and completely faded away. As veteran Soul Douluos of over level eighty, their insight was exceptionally sharp, and their perception far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters.

When they had seen Su Wu before, he still carried the sharp edge of someone who had just recovered from a severe illness; it seemed formidable, but that was actually just a condition that occurred when one's soul power was not yet well controlled. Yet now, it was replaced by a boundless, rounded, and full soul power that was contained rather than displayed. How could the three education committee members not know that Su Wu was not some peak Soul Douluo at this moment, but a Titled Douluo!

Yes, Su Wu was clearly someone who had achieved the Titled realm at this moment. If everyone had called him Your Eminence previously because his actions in the soul master world commanded respect and people called him that spontaneously, then now, Su Wu possessed a genuine Title, enough to warrant the address of "Your Eminence".

Zhi Lin's eyes opened wide abruptly, his pupils trembling violently, and his lips twitched slightly as he asked in utter disbelief, "Xiao Su, this... is your aura that of a Titled Douluo?"

Meng Shenji had always been calm and seasoned, but at this moment, his breathing grew abruptly hurried, and his soul power aura, which had been stable for many years, was faintly thrown into disorder, stirring up monstrous waves of stormy seas deep in his heart.

Upon meeting this fellow who had spent his entire life accompanied by medicinal herbs once more, the three of them had expressed their condolences to Su Wu as always, smilingly saying, "The next time we meet, we will have to call you Douluo Your Eminence." Yet now, it had truly come to pass!

Su Wu looked at the three shocked education committee members, a trace of a faint smile flashing across his eyes as he spoke softly, "Three education committee members, long time no see. Thank you for your auspicious words in the past; today, they have fortuitously come true." He bowed deeply toward the three education committee members. However, given the dignity of a Titled Douluo, how could they dare to be negligent? They bowed back in return, "Murderous intent traps the body, ascending to the heavens in a single day. Little friend Su Wu... No, Your Eminence Su Wu, we yield to you in admiration."

Before, they were elders and academy education committee members, and upon learning of Su Wu's misfortune, they could only look down from above and lament the adversities in a junior's fate. Now, the former junior had overtaken them on a curve and leaped straight into the Titled realm, his realm completely surpassing the three Soul Douluos, and the three of them submitted.

At this moment, footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Dugu Bo, whose poison had been resolved, walked back slowly, accompanied side-by-side by a presently anxious Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng. Following closely behind them was Ye Lingling, dressed in black and radiating a cold, aloof temperament.

The few of them had originally heard that Jiang Baiyu had returned and had specially come to the annex courtyard to visit him.

Yet upon reaching the front of the courtyard, the few of them instantly froze in place with stunned expressions. They saw with their own eyes that the three highly respected education committee members of Heaven Dou Academy were currently bowing in unison to pay their respects to Su Wu. You must know that the strength and status of the three education committee members were extremely high; even the emperor and the Crown Prince had to show courtesy upon seeing them. Now, with them acting like this, it meant that the person beside Jiang Baiyu was a Titled Douluo!

Dugu Yan widened her eyes on the spot, her mind going completely blank. You must know that her grandfather was a Titled Douluo, and she knew all too well the status of a Titled Douluo. This was someone truly standing at the pinnacle of the continent, capable of swaying the power landscape of an entire region!

Yu Tianheng's body stiffened, his pupils contracting violently as monstrous waves surged in his heart. As a collateral descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he knew best what a Titled Douluo meant. That was a supreme powerhouse of the continent, an existence whom even the Blue Lightning Family had to treat with courtesy and honor as an esteemed guest. He had originally thought that Jiang Baiyu's talent was enough to rank high in the family's priorities, but now, Jiang Baiyu had a Titled Douluo backing him up, and toward his attitude, the family would have to elevate things to an even higher level!

Ye Lingling had always been cold and detached, but the moment she caught sight of Su Wu, she bit her lower lip slightly, and her clear eyes were filled with extreme surprise and shock, her cold aura even throwing a slight disorder. This face is exactly the same as the person in my grandmother's portrait, she thought in shock, Could this Your Eminence before me be the son of Senior Medicine King! She had a very good relationship with her grandmother, and while her grandmother was still alive, she often heard stories about the Medicine King. Seeing a departed friend of her grandmother, she felt somewhat excited.

She mustered her courage, stepped forward, and asked, "Hello, are you Senior Medicine King's... son?"

Seeing a young girl who had come with Dugu Bo speak, Su Wu was somewhat shocked, realizing that apart from those old fogies, there was also a young girl who recognized him. But just as he was about to answer that he was, upon hearing Ye Lingling say "son", he froze.

"Hahahaha!" Jiang Baiyu at the side simply could not hold it in, "Old Su, you're your own son!"

Hearing the words spoken by this brat who was asking for a beating, Su Wu glared fiercely at the stinky brat. Waving an affectionate iron fist imbued with soul power, he sent him flying with a heavy blow. He had already tested it; Jiang Baiyu's physique was on par with that of an ordinary defense-system Soul Douluo.

Realizing that she had made a mistake, the face of Ye Lingling beneath her veil turned blazing red, but she still looked at Su Wu, "Are you His Excellency the Medicine King? I am Ye Lingling, and my grandmother is Ye Suxin. I have heard her speak of you."

Hearing Ye Lingling say this, Su Wu flashed directly in front of her, "What, you are Suxin's descendant? Then she..."

Hearing Su Wu ask this, Ye Lingling's gaze dimmed, "She has already passed away."

Looking at the dejected young girl before him, everyone in the courtyard found it somewhat difficult to speak. Because of the special nature of the Nine-Hearted Begonia, facing the passing of loved ones was an unavoidable situation for every generation of inheritors.

Looking at the daughter of his old friend, Su Wu stroked the young girl's head with pity, "I am your Grandpa Su, an old friend of your grandmother. Previously, when I went to the old site of the Ye Residence, I didn't find any news of your Ye family." His gaze turned desolate. People are gone and the courtyard is empty with no news left behind, leaving only the wind and moon to fill the withered courtyard.

"Because my mother and I were staying as guests with Earl Rose," she said.

"Oh, Meihuan's descendant?" Su Wu asked. Meihuan was the person Ye Lingling's grandmother had finally married.

"Mmm..." Ye Lingling said, "He is also my second uncle."

Hearing Ye Lingling answer this way, the few of them acutely discovered the crux of the problem.

"You mean to say that not only your grandmother, but even your mother also married into the Rose Family? Then what about you?" Su Wu's gaze turned sharp as he asked.

"I... I have already been betrothed to the next young master of the Rose Family." Ye Lingling looked somewhat desolate.

"This is simply sheer nonsense!" Su Wu was truly enraged at this moment. The Rose Family was trying to completely strip the Ye family of their assets and cut off their lineage! They wanted to turn the Nine-Hearted Begonia into their family's inherited martial soul! "Those bastard descendants of Meihuan's family. Just wait, Lingling, I am going to make a trip to the Rose Family right now." Having said that, Su Wu stood up directly, cupped his fists toward everyone, and left without looking back.

Seeing that Su Wu had left, Jiang Baiyu, who had been poking his head in from the side, and Zhu Zhuqing, who had previously run back into the courtyard, returned once again.

"Greetings, Dugu Your Eminence and the three education committee members," Zhu Zhuqing saluted.

"Good, good, good," the few of them replied. Seeing that there was no small talk to be made, the three education committee members also excused themselves to leave, preparing to apply pressure on the Rose Family through the imperial family.

Watching the somewhat bewildered Ye Lingling, Jiang Baiyu leaned in closer and said, "How should I put it? My grandpa should be your grandmother's old flame."

Before Ye Lingling could show any reaction, Dugu Yan at the side asked directly, "Jiang Baiyu, are you already a level-forty Soul Ancestor?" Hearing her own grandfather say so just now, it was hard for her not to doubt it, and at this moment she had come straight over to find out.

Hearing her ask this, Jiang Baiyu smiled, "Of course!" At the same time, the aura of a Soul Ancestor was revealed, and four soul rings of different colors flickered behind him.

"Oh my god! Can we do it too?" Not only Dugu Yan, but Yu Tianheng and Ye Lingling at the side were also dumbfounded. A ten-year-old Soul Ancestor? That was something they couldn't even dare to imagine.

"Of course, don't worry. We came back this time specifically to help you improve as well! Now, get ready to advance!" Jiang Baiyu smiled as the Shennong Cauldron was summoned by him, landing heavily in the small courtyard. "All you need to do is battle with me!"

"I won't hold back, so don't worry. As long as you don't die, I can bring everyone back to life," Jiang Baiyu smiled gently. "This is the method for rapid improvement. Right, Big Sister Yanzi, your grandfather has already agreed." Jiang Baiyu said with a smile as he watched Dugu Yan, who was preparing to leave.

Yet at this moment, in Dugu Yan's eyes, Jiang Baiyu's smiling face was by no means friendly; it was clearly the grinning smile of the devil!