The Maid, Dugu Yan!!

On the Douluo Continent, a Limit Douluo was already a legend, an existence at the very pinnacle.

As far as he knew, only a handful of people in the present age had definitively reached that realm.

The Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu, was level ninety-nine and served the Angel God.

Sea God Island's High Priestess, Bo Saixi, was level ninety-nine, the Sea God's representative.

Tang Chen of Slaughter City.

Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest slumbered the sovereign of all soul beasts, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, Di Tian. Though a soul beast, he possessed strength comparable to a human Limit Douluo.

In the Far North, the Snow Empress, also known as the Snow Maiden, stood at the head of the Three Great Heavenly Kings and likewise possessed power at that ultimate level.

Perhaps there were other old monsters living in seclusion, but there could not be many.

And today, the distinctive fluctuations of a Limit Douluo's aura, which he had been unable to fully contain during his breakthrough, must have drawn the attention of those beings at the same level.

Presumably, the Limit Douluo experts scattered across several regions of the continent had already sensed it.

"Just as well."

A faint smile curved Cao Kun's lips. "After twelve years of secluded cultivation, it's time this world learned of Mount Buzhou's existence."

[Mount Buzhou] was the name he had given the faction he founded.

It drew on the image of the pillar that supported heaven in the myths of his previous life, while also reflecting his ambition to "subdue heaven and earth."

As he pondered, soft footsteps approached from the distance.

Cao Kun set his thoughts aside and looked up.

A graceful figure glided through the gate of the little courtyard.

She was a young woman who looked about twenty. She wore a pale green silk dress, its hem swaying gently with her steps like ripples on water.

Her beauty was exquisite, her features like a painting, her skin fairer than snow.

Most striking were her emerald eyes, clear and luminous, yet harboring a faint trace of serpentine cunning in their depths.

In her hands,

the young woman carried a white jade tray bearing a pot of steaming tea and two plates of delicate pastries. Her steps made no sound, as though her feet never touched the dust.

Her name was Dugu Yan.

Three years earlier, when Cao Kun was fifteen, he had already reached level ninety-five as a Super Douluo and entered the Sunset Forest alone.

He had not gone there for a soul ring, but for the natural wonder known as the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and... Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, who guarded it.

There had been little suspense in that battle.

Already a Super Douluo with twin divine-grade martial souls, Cao Kun had easily defeated Dugu Bo, who was only a level ninety-one Titled Douluo at the time.

But instead of killing him, he had brought Dugu Bo under his command!

Afterward, through extraordinary means, Cao Kun had neutralized the poison caused by martial soul backlash—the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison—which had plagued Dugu Bo and his granddaughter Dugu Yan for years.

Using his limited insights into the laws of poison and treasures exchanged through the system, he had also helped Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul evolve beneficially, greatly increasing his strength.

Dugu Bo had then become a member of Mount Buzhou.

Dugu Bo still guarded the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

His strength, however, had long since surpassed that of his counterpart at the same point in the original story.

It had also been Dugu Bo's request.

Thus, Dugu Yan, who had just turned seventeen at the time, had been sent by Dugu Bo to Cao Kun's side as a maid. Her martial soul had suffered congenital damage from her grandfather's poison, leaving her cultivation stalled.

She had also become a disciple of Mount Buzhou, the faction Cao Kun had founded.

For three years, Dugu Yan had cultivated under Cao Kun at Shrek Academy.

Cao Kun had used his tremendous soul power to cleanse and strengthen her meridians and foundations, and immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to remedy her congenital deficiencies. He had even taught her a fragment of the ancient Dragon Transformation Secret Manual obtained through a system check-in, guiding her Jade Phosphorous Serpent martial soul toward a higher form.

Now, three years later, Dugu Yan had undergone a complete transformation.

Not only had her martial soul evolved into the more powerful [three-headed poisonous flood dragon], but her cultivation had advanced steadily as well. A month earlier, she had successfully obtained her fifth soul ring, becoming a level fifty-three Soul King!

Her poison arts were refined and domineering, and she also practiced some of the body-tempering methods Cao Kun had taught her. Her strength far exceeded others at her level, enough to challenge a Soul Emperor!

"You're awake, young master." Dugu Yan stopped outside the pavilion and bowed gracefully.

Her emerald eyes settled on Cao Kun, a trace of reverence and affection passing through them that she could scarcely conceal.

After spending three years by his side, she knew very well what heaven-shaking power lay within this seemingly gentle young master.

"Mm."

Cao Kun nodded slightly and motioned her inside. "What tea did you brew today?"

"Cloudmist Spirit Buds, freshly picked the day before yesterday and brewed with morning dew. They're excellent for calming the mind."

Dugu Yan stepped lightly into the pavilion and set the tray on the stone table. Taking the pot in her delicate hands, she poured Cao Kun a cup.

The tea was clear emerald green, its delicate fragrance lingering in the air. A breath of it refreshed the spirit.

Cao Kun accepted the cup, took a small sip, and nodded in satisfaction. "The brewing was just right. Your tea-making skills keep improving."

At his praise, a faint blush rose on Dugu Yan's face, making her look all the more lovely.

She stood quietly at his side without saying much, merely stealing glances at Cao Kun with her emerald eyes.

She could sense that her young master's aura seemed different today.

Even more unfathomable.

And even more... complete?

"Yan'er."

Cao Kun set down his cup and looked beyond the courtyard, toward Shrek Academy. "Has anything been happening at the academy lately?"

Though he cultivated in seclusion on the hill behind the academy, he was not oblivious to the outside world.

After all, Shrek Academy was where he had begun in this world. Old acquaintances such as Zhao Wuji and Flender were there, and it was also one of the important bases from which he planned to recruit talent for [Mount Buzhou].

Besides,

judging by the timing,

certain "interesting" events should be about to unfold.

Dugu Yan gathered her thoughts and answered respectfully, "Young master, as you instructed, I've been keeping an eye on the academy these past few days."

"These past few days happen to be the academy's enrollment period."

"A brother and sister came to the registration desk today. The elder brother is called Tang San, and the younger sister is Xiao Wu. They seem quite talented, especially Tang San. Although his martial soul is only blue silver grass, I sensed that his soul power was unusually condensed. He doesn't seem ordinary."

"Ning Fengzhi's daughter, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing of the Star Luo Empire's Zhu Family also came to enroll."

"Before I came here, Dai Mubai was taking them to the practical entrance examination. Apparently, Vice Dean Zhao Wuji will personally test the new students in combat this time."

"Tang San... Xiao Wu..." A gleam of understanding flashed through Cao Kun's eyes.

Sure enough, the gears of fate had begun to turn.

The Shrek Seven Devils were about to gather.

And Tang Hao, that maniac who fiercely protected his son...

A meaningful smile appeared on Cao Kun's lips.

"There's something else..."

Dugu Yan hesitated, then continued, "I feel there's more to that girl called Xiao Wu than meets the eye."

"I sensed an extremely well-hidden aura from her, but it was so powerful that it made my heart tremble. Yet she's only a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. That doesn't make sense!"

She had lived alongside poison since childhood, giving her senses an unusual sharpness, especially when detecting danger.

Moreover, now that her martial soul had evolved into a three-headed poisonous flood dragon, her perception had grown even keener.

"Xiao Wu? Dangerous?"

Cao Kun gently rubbed the rim of his teacup, one corner of his mouth lifting. "Don't worry about it. Everything is under my control."

Cao Kun rose and walked to the edge of the pavilion. Standing with his hands behind his back, he gazed toward Shrek Academy, now completely obscured by vegetation, and murmured, "Just a pet rabbit..."

"Young master, what did you just say? A pet?"

Dugu Yan stepped forward and asked softly.

She and Cao Kun knew each other inside out, so she was not afraid that an unexpected question would annoy him.

"Nothing!"

Cao Kun waved a hand, then turned to Dugu Yan with an amused smile. "I said that tonight, you'll become my little pet."

At his words, Dugu Yan first flushed with embarrassment, then looked up at Cao Kun and replied shyly, "What are you saying, young master? I don't understand!"