Lin Hao patted his chest.
"Brother Xue, I'm not boasting, but the championship of the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament will definitely belong to our Shrek Academy."
"Oh! What makes you so sure?"
Lin Hao began counting on his fingers.
"I, Lin Hao, am a level forty-seven Soul Ancestor, with the mutated tool martial soul Heavenly Blade and innate full soul power. There's still over a year until the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. I'll definitely reach level fifty and become a Soul King by then."
"My good brother Tang San is a level forty-eight Soul Ancestor with the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul. He'll definitely become a Five-Ring Soul King within the next year, too."
"My girlfriend Xiao Wu is a level fifty-two Soul King, with the Lunar Jade Rabbit martial soul and innate full soul power."
"That makes three Soul Kings just among us."
"And that's not all. Our team also has someone with the Fire Phoenix, an exceptional, top-tier martial soul, someone with the top-tier support martial soul Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and someone with a top-tier food system sausage martial soul."
"Then there's Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, a pair of Soul Ancestors with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
"Spirit Hall only has three Soul Kings this time. The rest are all Soul Ancestors."
"So do we-three Soul Kings, with everyone else a Soul Ancestor. And the quality of our Shrek Academy's martial souls is clearly higher than the Spirit Hall Team's."
"As far as I'm concerned, every other team in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is just some roadside mutt. Our current Shrek Academy team will roll right over them like speed bumps."
"The championship is beyond question!"
Some roadside mutt? A stray dog by the road?
And speed bumps-what an apt description.
Qian Renxue quickly worked out what Lin Hao meant by roadside mutts and speed bumps.
"Then, Brother Lin! Have you decided where you'll go after the tournament? Are you planning to join any faction?"
Lin Hao shook his head.
"No! After the tournament, I'm planning to take Xiao Wu and travel the continent together to gain experience."
"As for joining any of the major factions, I have no plans for that right now. I might join one someday, but that's a matter for the future. I'm not considering it now."
"But if Xiao Wu and I ever decide to join one of the major factions, we'll definitely give first consideration to serving under Your Highness!"
Although she knew Lin Hao was merely being polite, Qian Renxue still found his words gratifying. After all, geniuses always thought differently from everyone else.
She herself was a perfect example. Despite possessing the divine martial soul Six-Winged Angel and innate level 20 soul power, Qian Renxue was already in her twenties and still only a Seven-Ring Soul Sage. Instead of diligently cultivating, she insisted on carrying out that Nation-Stealing Plan.
In the original story, Tang San had already become a god at her age.
All one could say was that the Douluo Continent's world-shaking wisdom did people no small harm.
"Brother Lin! Then it's a promise. If you ever consider joining a faction, you must consider me first! As long as you come, I'll give you the best possible treatment. For your eighth and ninth soul rings, I'll definitely arrange for people to help you obtain Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and soul bones!"
"Of course! Of course!"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Qian Renxue, Lin Hao left the teahouse.
Once outside, Lin Hao did not rush back to Shrek Academy. Instead, he planned to visit Dugu Manor.
Several months had already passed since the old monster had gained perfect control over his martial soul's toxic backlash. Lin Hao had also mentioned in passing that he should find a few more wives.
After all, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul's toxic backlash had now been resolved. With Dugu Bo's current strength as a Titled Douluo, aside from continuing to improve his cultivation, his other task was to ensure that the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul was properly passed down on the Douluo Continent.
Although he already had a granddaughter, Dugu Yan, having only one inheritor of his martial soul left room for accidents. After all, counting everyone on the Douluo Continent, only the grandfather and granddaughter possessed the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul.
Lin Hao had no idea whether he intended to take a few more wives.
He arrived at Dugu Manor. In the past, the manor had always been quiet and deserted after Dugu Yan left to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Now, with servants coming and going, it finally had some life to it.
After Lin Hao gave his name to the gatekeeper, the man immediately rushed into Dugu Manor.
Before long, Dugu Bo's hearty laughter rang out.
"Haha! Little Monster! You're here!"
"Come, come, come! Come inside. I'll introduce you to two Titled Douluos from Spirit Hall."
Dugu Bo came to the entrance, spotted Lin Hao, and walked over. Throwing an arm around his shoulders, he led him into the manor.
At the mention of the two Titled Douluos from Spirit Hall, Lin Hao immediately thought of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
Sure enough, as soon as he followed Dugu Bo into the courtyard, he saw two people seated on lounge chairs.
One wore a bright red, gold-trimmed formal outfit with a feminine cut and had an effeminate air. Presumably, he was the level ninety-five Super Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo.
The other wore black and dark purple clothes. His skin was a cold white, his features sharp, and his gaze icy. He exuded a grim, murderous air. Presumably, he was the level ninety-five Super Douluo, Ghost Douluo.
"Come, Little Monster. Let me introduce you."
Dugu Bo pointed at Chrysanthemum Guan, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Gui Mei, Ghost Douluo, and began introducing them to Lin Hao.
"These two are Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. You could say we got to know each other through fighting."
Lin Hao stepped forward and bowed to the two men.
"This junior, Lin Hao, greets Senior Chrysanthemum Douluo and Senior Ghost Douluo."
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo nodded slightly.
"Mm! Have a seat!"
Once they were seated, Chrysanthemum Guan straightened up and looked at Lin Hao.
"Boy, are you interested in joining Spirit Hall?"
"Well, seniors, I have no plans to join any faction for the time being! With my talent, I'd like to pursue the godhood spoken of in legends.
"If I can't become a legendary god, and I decide to join one of the major factions in the future, I'll definitely consider Spirit Hall first."
By now, Lin Hao was speaking human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts.
"All right! Then I wish you luck."
Seeing his response, Chrysanthemum Douluo did not try to persuade Lin Hao to join Spirit Hall any further.
"By the way, Old Poison! Considering that Old Ghost and I never tried to kill you before, could you tell us how you gained perfect control over the toxic backlash caused by your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul?"
Faced with Chrysanthemum Guan's question, Dugu Bo hesitated for a moment. Then he recalled that Chrysanthemum Guan had already seen his Poison Core more than once.
He simply circulated his soul power and spat out the Poison Core from his dantian. Raising a hand, he supported it with soul power and displayed it before Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
"Here! It's this Poison Core. With it, I can perfectly control the toxic backlash caused by my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul."
Chrysanthemum Guan first glanced at the Poison Core in Dugu Bo's hand, then asked with a puzzled expression.
"That's not right! You brought out this Poison Core before, too, but I never saw you completely control your toxins."
Before you continue