Settle Old Scores Today!

"Teacher, I've reached level forty-five!" Tang San said excitedly as he opened his eyes.

A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone had raised his Soul Power by nearly two levels, but that was within reason.

"Good. But don't get complacent. You've only just absorbed the Soul Bone, and you haven't fully attuned to it yet. I'll draw up a training plan to help you integrate it."

"Yes, Teacher! I'll follow your guidance!"

After Tang San left, Ling Han thought it over again and again. In the end, he decided to visit Sunset Forest.

Dugu Bo had told him he would be meeting Chrysanthemum Douluo there for a duel.

Ling Han wasn't worried that Dugu Bo would lose to Chrysanthemum Guan. He simply wanted to catch both Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo and bring them over to his side.

Sunset Forest.

"Hahaha! Old poison freak, I never thought you'd dare challenge me!"

With a soft, lilting laugh, Chrysanthemum Guan appeared before Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo snorted. "Chrysanthemum Guan, spare me the talk. We settle our old scores today!"

Yue Guan gave a disdainful smile. "You think you can? Then come at me!"

As soon as he spoke, both men released their Martial Souls.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appeared at the same time.

Their Soul Ring Configurations were identical: two yellow, two purple, and five black.

When Yue Guan sensed Dugu Bo's Soul Power, his expression changed.

"Old poison freak, you've reached level ninety-five?! How is that possible?"

Yue Guan's face darkened. If they were both level ninety-five, he might not be able to beat Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo smiled faintly. "Chrysanthemum Guan, did you think I came looking for you today just to die?"

Yue Guan snorted. "So what if you've broken through? I'll make this your final resting place!"

His fifth Soul Ring lit up. "Fifth Soul Skill: Gathering of Cold Blossoms!"

The petals of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum formed a great blade in Yue Guan's hand, and he swung it at Dugu Bo.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Snake Python Heavenly Astral Shield!"

A massive shield appeared before Dugu Bo and blocked Yue Guan's attack.

"Sixth Soul Skill: Golden Stamen Spreading Rosy Clouds!"

Petals filled the sky, sweeping toward Dugu Bo from every direction.

"Hmph! Seventh Soul Skill: Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Avatar!"

With a shout, Dugu Bo made the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor behind him turn solid. It enveloped him and stopped the petals.

Seeing Dugu Bo use his Martial Soul Avatar, Yue Guan held nothing back.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!"

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his hand grew enormous and hovered above his head.

While the two fought, Ling Han arrived nearby.

He watched from a short distance away, waiting for the fight to be decided.

Suddenly, Ling Han sensed a presence and raised his right hand.

A powerful suction erupted from his palm.

The next instant, a figure was dragged into Ling Han's grasp.

"What's the point of sneaking around? I'm not going to eat you."

The figure in Ling Han's hand had a gaunt, ghostlike face. It was Yue Guan's closest friend, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

Ling Han gripped Gui Mei by the throat. He couldn't move, and even breathing became difficult.

"Let me go! I'm an elder of Spirit Hall!" Gui Mei roared.

Ling Han smiled contemptuously and tightened his grip. "So what? I've even dared to fight Spirit Hall's worship elders. I wouldn't be afraid to kill you."

Gui Mei could no longer speak. He was nearly suffocating.

Ling Han let go, and Gui Mei collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Gui Mei didn't hesitate. He turned into a ghostly shadow and tried to flee.

Ling Han snorted. A giant hand of ice descended from the sky and pinned Gui Mei down.

"Stay here and watch quietly until they're done."

Pinned down by Ling Han, Gui Mei could only watch Yue Guan fight Dugu Bo.

Yue Guan was already losing ground.

Dugu Bo's poison had grown even deadlier after he reached level ninety-five.

Even Yue Guan's Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul couldn't withstand it. Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison was eating away at it.

Gui Mei wanted to help Yue Guan, but Ling Han held him fast. All he could do was watch helplessly as Dugu Bo pressed his old friend.

"Eighth Soul Skill: Myriad Rays of Flowing Light!"

Driven to desperation, Chrysanthemum Guan unleashed his eighth Soul Skill.

Dugu Bo gave him no quarter. His ninth Soul Ring lit up.

"Ninth Soul Skill: Jade-Scaled Divine Light!"

An eighth Soul Skill against a ninth—the stronger attack was plain to see.

Golden and orange waves of light collided, setting off a violent explosion.

In the end, Dugu Bo had the upper hand.

Just as the Jade-Scaled Divine Light was about to strike Chrysanthemum Guan, a figure stepped between the two attacks.

"Old freak, spare him!"

Ling Han formed an ice shield in each hand, blocking both waves of light.

Yue Guan gasped for breath, his face full of relief at having survived.

Dugu Bo looked at Ling Han in confusion. He didn't know why Ling Han had saved Yue Guan.

Gui Mei had reached Yue Guan's side by then and helped his old friend stand.

Ling Han smiled at them. "I have something I'd like to discuss with you two. Would you hear me out?"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance. Each saw deep wariness in the other's eyes, but they could only nod.

The four moved to a clearing. Ling Han spoke first. "You two are Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo, correct? Let me introduce myself. I'm Ling Han, titled the Ice Emperor."

Titled the Ice Emperor? A Titled Douluo?!

Yue Guan was stunned.

This young man is a Titled Douluo?

He looked at Gui Mei, who could only nod with a bitter smile.

Anyone who could so easily subdue Gui Mei, a level ninety-five Titled Douluo, was far more than an ordinary Titled Douluo. He had to be a Super Douluo at the very least.

A Super Douluo was powerful enough to rank among the worship elders.

Even Spirit Hall had fewer than ten.

Yet the young man before them possessed that level of strength.

"Ice Emperor, what did you wish to discuss?"

Ling Han went straight to the point. "I want you both to join my faction."

Yue Guan's face darkened. "You want us to betray Spirit Hall?"

"Betray it? Hardly. You'd just be changing employers. You're elders, but you're still working for Spirit Hall. Whatever they give you, I can give you too. And I can give you what they can't."

Ling Han snapped his fingers, and three petals appeared in his hand.

"Chrysanthemum Douluo, you recognize these, don't you?"

Chrysanthemum Guan's pupils contracted at the sight of them.

"Those are petals of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!"

Ling Han nodded with a smile.

When he had refined pills for Tang San, he had deliberately kept three petals in reserve.

"If you join my faction, these three petals are yours as a welcome gift. And that's only the beginning."

"You've worked hard for Bibi Dong all these years, yet in her eyes, you're still just tools. She's never given you the respect you deserve. Join me, and you'll be my partners—my brothers!"