Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

Dugu Manor!

Bang, bang, bang...

Creak!

As the gates opened, the steward of Dugu Manor looked at Lin Hao in puzzlement.

He had never seen this unfamiliar face among the powerful families of Heaven Dou City.

"Who are you?"

"I arranged to meet His Excellency Dugu Bo last night. Sorry for the trouble, but could you let him know?"

Lin Hao spoke calmly, a warm smile on his face.

An appointment with the master?

Why hadn't the master mentioned it?

But Lin Hao carried himself like no madman. The steward nodded and went straight to find Dugu Bo in the rear courtyard.

"An appointment last night?"

After hearing the steward out, Dugu Bo gave an irritated laugh. "I made no appointment. He's likely someone hoping to curry favor. Ignore him."

"Did you send someone to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to notify the young miss?"

"Someone went this morning. The young miss should already be on her way back."

"Good!"

With Dugu Bo's answer, the steward prepared to drive Lin Hao away from the gates.

Little did he know that Lin Hao was already standing silently before Dugu Bo.

Just as Dugu Bo put the matter out of his mind and prepared to resume studying the poison in his hands, Lin Hao spoke.

"Your Excellency Dugu, what a poor memory you have. We met only last night, yet today you say you don't know me?"

"Who's there?"

The sudden voice startled Dugu Bo. He roared, whipped toward its source, and flung the poison in his hands without hesitation.

The poison instantly turned to mist in midair, spreading rapidly toward Lin Hao.

"Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison is formidable, but it isn't impossible to counter."

A water pouch suddenly flew out. A stream of Soul Power struck it, scattering droplets infused with the power of light and halting the poison mist's spread.

Within three breaths, the mist in the air had completely dissipated.

Lin Hao slowly appeared under Dugu Bo's grave gaze.

The moment he saw Lin Hao, Dugu Bo's pupils contracted. "You!"

He recognized Lin Hao.

Deep wariness rose in his heart. This was a ruthless man who dared oppose Spirit Hall and could command a Titled Douluo.

"We meet again, Your Excellency Dugu."

Unlike the wary Dugu Bo, Lin Hao looked entirely at ease. He sat down across from him as though at home and poured himself a cup of water, apparently unconcerned that it might be poisoned.

"We met briefly in the palace last night, and here we are again today. I'd say fate keeps bringing us together."

A vein throbbed on Dugu Bo's forehead. "This is my home," he ground out.

"You have some nerve. The whole city is searching for you, and you still haven't left?"

"The Heaven Dou Empire isn't worth retreating from."

Lin Hao shook his head, then looked at Dugu Bo. "There's no need to be so guarded, Your Excellency. I came to propose a deal."

"What deal?"

Dugu Bo frowned. He wanted nothing to do with Lin Hao. The man had caused an uproar in the palace and had a mysterious background; being around him left Dugu Bo deeply uneasy.

"I can cure the poison in your body."

The moment Lin Hao said it, Dugu Bo fixed him with a sinister stare, and a chilling aura filled the air.

But the aura quickly faded. Dugu Bo had spotted Sea Horse Douluo nearby, watching him.

He knew that if he made a move, a Titled Douluo would unleash a storm of attacks upon him.

"Who exactly are you?"

Dugu Bo tried to remain calm, his eyes locked on Lin Hao.

"I come from Sea God Island," Lin Hao said evenly.

"Sea God Island?"

Dugu Bo was puzzled. He had never heard of it.

"Grandpa!"

Just then, a voice broke through his confusion.

Not far away stood a girl with a striking figure, short dark-purple hair, and green eyes.

It was Dugu Yan.

He hadn't noticed when she returned. Now she stood in the doorway, looking at Lin Hao in puzzlement.

"Grandpa, who is he? Is he your guest?"

"Yan Yan!"

Dugu Bo came back to himself. At the sight of Dugu Yan, his heart softened.

Recalling Lin Hao's words and Dugu Yan's condition, he found himself inclined to accept the deal.

"I'll agree to your deal, but first you must prove you can do it."

"Very well."

Lin Hao nodded and activated the Sea God Imprint on his forehead. An aura belonging to no mortal realm, the supreme presence of a god, enveloped Dugu Bo.

"This is..."

Dugu Bo trembled, staring fixedly at Lin Hao—or rather, at the Trident Imprint between his brows.

"Do you believe me now?"

Sunset Forest.

Dugu Bo brought a thoroughly bewildered Dugu Yan, along with Lin Hao and Sea Horse Douluo, to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After sensing the power within Lin Hao, Dugu Bo no longer had any doubts.

That supreme, godly aura stirred a memory.

It was from when he had become a Titled Douluo and gone to Spirit Hall to receive his title.

He had felt the same thing from the Angel God Statue in Douluo Hall.

The aura was different, but there was no mistaking that supreme presence.

Legend held that Spirit Hall's founder had rid the continent of Evil Soul Masters, then ascended to godhood.

The Angel God!

Rumors had always claimed a god stood behind Spirit Hall, but Dugu Bo had never believed in gods.

Not until he saw the Angel God Statue in Spirit Hall and felt that supreme aura for himself.

Then he believed.

Reaching level one hundred and becoming a god was no mere legend.

Now he sensed that aura from Lin Hao as well.

A god stood behind Lin Hao!

Dugu Bo's attitude did a complete about-face.

"This is my herb garden. Take whatever you want, Young Master Lin, as long as you can cure Yan Yan and me."

Dugu Bo waved magnanimously toward the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, looking rather proud of them.

"What if I want all of it?" Lin Hao asked, turning to him.

Dugu Bo froze. He hadn't expected Lin Hao to be so greedy, but thinking of the poison in his and Dugu Yan's bodies, he gritted his teeth.

"Fine. Once Yan Yan and I are cured, this place is yours, Young Master Lin."

"Come now, no need to look so pained. I promise you won't lose out."

Smiling at Dugu Bo, Lin Hao turned to survey the Immortal Herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Aromatic Silk Beauty, Aromatic Silk Beauty...

He could find every Immortal Herb recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record here, along with many that weren't recorded.

It was more than enough for him.

Immortal Herbs probably won't do much for me. My Martial Soul has already reached the divine level. Unless I dig out the two Dragon King Soul Bones beneath this place, nothing here will benefit me much.

But with the Immortal Herbs, I can strengthen Sea God Island's foundations and narrow the gap between us and Spirit Hall.