In the end, relying on his greater agility and speed, Lin Hao delivered a vicious whipping kick that sent Yan flying.
Yan's towering body, covered in rock armor, flew out of the arena and slammed into the ground with a dull thud, throwing up a cloud of dust.
"Thanks for the match!"
After kicking Yan out of the arena, Lin Hao grinned and cupped his fist in his palm.
The fierce battle had left Lin Hao breathing a little heavily, with a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead.
Yet his spirits were soaring.
This kind of battle, where every punch struck flesh, was a man's romance!
A real man had to-
Fight! What a rush!
"You really are a monster!"
Rubbing his still-aching arm, Yan climbed to his feet.
Looking at the shattered, crack-riddled rock armor on his arm, he could not help staring at Lin Hao as though he were a monster.
Beside them, Hu Liena and Xie Yue were equally astonished.
A rank-eighteen food system Soul Master had beaten a Soul Elder-level power attack system Battle Soul Master into the ground through sheer physical prowess.
Who would believe it if they heard?
After completing his sparring task with Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.
Lin Hao left the plaza in front of the Pope Hall, humming as he prepared to return to the Chrysanthemum Residence.
But shortly after descending the hill where the Pope Hall and Douluo Hall stood.
Walking along Spirit City's broad streets, Lin Hao was in a rather cheerful mood.
Today's battle had given him a clearer understanding of his strength.
With his current physique, even without using any Soul Skills, he could hold his own head-on against an ordinary Soul Elder-level power attack system Soul Master.
Although Yan had not used any Soul Skills.
He himself was only a rank-eighteen Soul Master.
His first Soul Skill merely produced the most basic food system singular velvet sky chrysanthemum, which could increase cultivation speed.
In the future, he could absorb more Soul Rings and acquire Soul Skills like Oscar's Mirror Image Sausage.
Once he became a Soul Grandmaster and absorbed a suitable second soul ring.
His strength would surely take a great leap forward!
Just as Lin Hao was planning his next steps in cultivation, a sharp whistle suddenly cut through the air overhead.
Lin Hao looked up and saw a green figure streaking across the sky toward the hill where the Pope Hall and Douluo Hall stood.
Long-term consumption of the Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and ten-thousand-year whale glue had strengthened his entire body, making his eyesight exceptionally keen as well.
Thus, Lin Hao could clearly see that the green figure in the sky was a lean middle-aged man in long green robes, with long silvery-white hair and a sinister, chilling face.
Was that... Dugu Bo?
At the sight, Lin Hao was pleasantly surprised.
After such a long wait, Dugu Bo had finally arrived!
He had chosen the Ten-Thousand-Year Netherworld Scorpion Left Arm Bone from the treasury precisely to do Dugu Bo a favor and thereby obtain the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
However, Lin Hao did not follow him immediately.
Instead, he returned to the Chrysanthemum Residence to continue cultivating and patiently await news.
His teacher, Chrysanthemum Douluo, was not home at present, so he was probably attending Bibi Dong.
With Dugu Bo here to register his title, Bibi Dong would certainly try to recruit this newly advanced Titled Douluo.
But given Dugu Bo's personality, he would most likely refuse.
Still, Bibi Dong probably would not immediately call for his blood. She would give him some time to reconsider.
After all, making a Titled Douluo's ceremonial robes also took time.
And that interval would be the perfect time for him to make his entrance!
Thinking this to himself, Lin Hao could not help curling his lips into an expectant smile.
Meanwhile, at the Pope Hall.
After landing in front of the Pope Hall, Dugu Bo explained that he had become a Titled Douluo and had come to register his title.
The Holy Emperor Guards at the entrance hurried inside the Pope Hall to inform Bibi Dong.
Upon learning that another Titled Douluo had emerged.
Bibi Dong immediately received Dugu Bo, accompanied by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
Inside the great hall, Dugu Bo stood below the dais, his posture upright and his expression proud.
Bibi Dong sat on the throne atop the dais, a faint, reserved smile on her exquisitely beautiful, regal, and aloof face. She held the Pope's Scepter, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo standing behind her on either side.
"Patriarch Dugu, congratulations on becoming another of the continent's Titled Douluo."
Bibi Dong began with a courtesy, then changed tack and launched into her recruitment offer.
"Having only just attained your title, Patriarch Dugu, I imagine you are still unfamiliar with cultivation at the Titled Douluo level."
"If you are willing, you might consider joining our Spirit Hall. We would appoint you as an elder..."
Bibi Dong promised Dugu Bo a wealth of benefits: cultivation resources, status, power-everything he could want.
Yet Dugu Bo kept his hands clasped behind his back, his sinister face full of pride as he spoke.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Holiness. I appreciate the thought."
"However, I have no intention of joining any organization at present!"
Not expecting Dugu Bo to dare refuse her to her face, Bibi Dong's expression darkened.
Still, she suppressed her displeasure and patiently continued.
"Patriarch Dugu, as Pope, I am sincerely inviting you to join us on behalf of Spirit Hall. I hope you will give it further thought before answering."
But Dugu Bo remained proud and refused once again.
"My mind is made up. There is no need to say more, Your Holiness."
This greatly angered Bibi Dong, and her voice grew colder.
"Patriarch Dugu, you specialize in poison Soul Skills, which can cause tremendous harm."
"Spirit Hall is inviting you to join us for the sake of peace on the continent. I hope you will not make a mistake that brings ruin upon yourself!"
Facing Bibi Dong's near-threatening words, Dugu Bo remained unmoved by either persuasion or pressure and replied calmly.
"You need not worry, Your Holiness. I will keep my Soul Skills under control!"
Those words nearly made Bibi Dong laugh in fury. She held back her anger, her knuckles whitening around her scepter, but ultimately maintained her outward composure and spoke coldly.
"Since you have made your decision, Patriarch Dugu, I will not press you further."
"Please stay at our Spirit City's Guest Reception Hotel for a few days. Your Titled Douluo ceremonial robes will take several days to prepare."
"I hope you will reconsider carefully during that time."
"Spirit Hall's doors will always be open to you, Patriarch Dugu."
"Then I shall take my leave!"
As though he had not heard the deeper meaning in Bibi Dong's words, Dugu Bo cupped his fist in his palm and prepared to leave.
Before leaving, he added one more thing.
"Oh, my title is Poison. I hope you will not forget, Your Holiness!"
With that, he strode out of the Pope Hall, leaving them with the sight of his defiant back.
After Dugu Bo left, Bibi Dong could no longer contain herself. She abruptly rose from her throne, her chest heaving with anger and her noble, beautiful face filled with fury.
"That old wretch! I offered him face, and he threw it right back at me!"
After snarling through gritted teeth, Bibi Dong turned to Chrysanthemum Douluo and spoke icily.
"Give him a few more days to consider."
"If he still refuses to join Spirit Hall in the end, then once he leaves Spirit City."
"Elder Ju, go and kill him!"
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
A trace of helplessness flashed through Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes, but he could only bow and accept the order.
Afterward, Chrysanthemum Douluo returned to the Chrysanthemum Residence.
Lin Hao had already been waiting there for quite some time.
Seeing his teacher return, Lin Hao eagerly went to greet him and asked.
"Teacher, has a new Titled Douluo emerged and come to Spirit Hall to register his title?"
"Hao, how did you know?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was quite surprised.
He had not even mentioned it yet!
"Because I happened to see him on my way back!"
Lin Hao answered with a smile.
Then he feigned curiosity and asked another question.
"His Holiness the Pope must have invited this new Titled Douluo to join us on Spirit Hall's behalf, right? How did it go?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed, his delicate, handsome face full of distress, and shook his head.
"Don't even mention it! Who knows what iron weight Dugu Bo swallowed? His heart was iron-set."
"His Holiness the Pope invited him three times, offering him an elder's position and all manner of generous benefits, yet that old fellow refused all three times!"
"The last refusal infuriated His Holiness so badly that she ordered me to intercept and kill Dugu Bo on the road if he still refused to join Spirit Hall by the time he left Spirit City!"
After saying this, Chrysanthemum Douluo felt rather helpless himself.
"Tell me, how can Dugu Bo, a newly advanced Titled Douluo, be so ungrateful?"
"If he joined Spirit Hall, he would have all the resources and status he wanted. Yet he insists on putting on airs. He truly has no idea what death awaits him!"
After listening, Lin Hao pretended to ponder for a moment, then suddenly spoke.
"Teacher, I might have a way to recruit Senior Dugu!"
"What?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo froze at his words, staring at Lin Hao in disbelief.
"Hao, you aren't joking, are you?"
"Dugu Bo won't yield to either persuasion or pressure. Even His Holiness couldn't sway him personally. What could you possibly do?"
Lin Hao smiled faintly and answered with quiet confidence.
"Teacher, don't forget that I was the one who discovered whale rubber's true effects."
"Under your guidance, I've also developed some unique insights into pharmacology."
"I've heard that Senior Dugu Bo follows a poison-based offensive path. He specializes in poison and handles poisonous substances year-round, so toxins are bound to accumulate in his body."
"If I can help him resolve that hidden danger, perhaps he might change his opinion of Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo gave Lin Hao a long, searching look and asked.
"Hao, how confident are you?"
"Eighty or ninety percent!"
Lin Hao replied confidently.
Upon hearing Lin Hao's confident words.
And recalling the many miracles Lin Hao had worked, Chrysanthemum Douluo rose to his feet and made his decision.
"Good! Then I'll make the arrangements right away so you can meet Dugu Bo!"
Before you continue