In the blink of an eye, several months had passed.
Before they knew it, the Spirit City Soul Master Academy's holiday had arrived.
That day.
In the training grounds of the Chrysanthemum Residence.
The morning sunlight spilled across the spacious training grounds.
Lin Hao stood in the center, dressed in a fitted golden martial outfit.
Though he was only a little over seven, Lin Hao already stood over 1.8 meters tall, several times taller than others his age.
His towering frame, broad shoulders, solid chest, and smoothly defined muscles.
All of them displayed the astonishing results of his continued consumption of spirit-gathering singular velvet sky chrysanthemums, thunder god singular velvet sky chrysanthemums, and ten-thousand-year whale glue over the past year and more.
At that moment, dazzling bolts of dark purple lightning crackled around Lin Hao, wrapping his entire body in their glow.
Static lifted his long black hair slightly upward, tiny arcs dancing between the strands, while an intimidating purple electric light flashed in his eyes.
This was the thunder god transformation state he entered after consuming a thunder god singular velvet sky chrysanthemum.
"Thunder Flash!"
The next instant, Lin Hao's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly shouted.
The lightning surrounding him began to circulate as though it had come alive, surging into his legs.
In an instant, the muscles in Lin Hao's legs tensed. Like a rushing river, lightning surged wildly along a specific route through the meridians of his legs, sizzling as it went.
Then Lin Hao moved at incredible speed, vanishing from his spot in an instant!
A piercing rip tore through the air.
Lin Hao became a streak of dark purple lightning, flashing rapidly across the training grounds at a dizzying speed, leaving only dark purple afterimages and the crackle of electric arcs in the air.
He even left a string of scorched black footprints on the ground.
Those were the marks burned into the ground where the lightning touched it.
After flashing more than a dozen times in succession.
Lin Hao abruptly halted, stopping firmly in the center of the training grounds. His breathing was a little hurried, but his eyes were bright.
Using Thunder Flash for such a short time had come nowhere near Lin Hao's limits!
Next, Lin Hao once again mobilized the lightning power within him.
The mass of dark purple lightning that had wrapped around his legs gradually spread upward, gathering around his arms like nimble snakes before pouring into his fists.
Dark purple lightning continuously gathered and compressed around his fists, forming a pair of almost tangible lightning gauntlets that crackled explosively.
"Thunder Fist!"
The next instant, Lin Hao shouted and stamped both feet against the ground, launching himself like a cannonball as he swung his fists again and again.
He put his full strength into every punch. The force of his fists was razor-sharp, repeatedly tearing through the air with piercing whistles.
Anyone could see the terrifying power contained in those fists.
And the lightning coiling around them enchanted punches that otherwise dealt only physical damage with lightning damage as well.
If they struck an enemy.
They would bring both pain and numbness, inflicting injuries from the inside out!
After completing a sequence of Thunder Fist strikes.
Lin Hao stopped once more and took a deep breath, directing the lightning within him to rush into his right hand.
In an instant, his right hand erupted with blinding dark purple lightning.
Countless bolts of dark purple lightning gathered in his palm, compressing together.
Finally, they condensed into a small lightning sphere that hummed and rumbled in his palm.
"Palm Thunder!"
With a loud shout, Lin Hao abruptly raised his right hand and aimed at a nearby target.
The highly compressed lightning power in his palm suddenly burst forth, becoming a dazzling dark purple lightning sphere that shot out in an instant and slammed into the target.
"BOOM!!!"
A deafening explosion erupted across the training grounds!
The hardwood target was blasted to pieces, its fragments flying several meters away. Wisps of black smoke rose from their edges, where lingering electric arcs still danced.
A strong smell of burning filled the air.
A shallow crater remained in the ground, its walls scorched black by intense heat and still smoking.
Just then, enthusiastic applause suddenly rang out from the side.
At the edge of the training grounds, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were both clapping.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's delicately handsome face was filled with pride and delight.
"Little Hao! You truly are your teacher's pride!"
"The principles behind these three self-created soul skills aren't particularly complex, and they can't compare to some top-tier thunder-attribute soul skills."
"But as self-created soul skills, they're all quite good."
"You have movement, close combat, and ranged attacks!"
"You managed to develop them and make them your own self-created soul skills."
"Your teacher is proud of such talent!"
"You flatter me, Teacher!"
Lin Hao had also stopped. Panting, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke with a broad grin.
"These three self-created soul skills of mine are only the most basic ones. They still can't compare to those powerful thousand-year soul skills and ten-thousand-year soul skills."
"I'll have to keep working hard in the future!"
And since the holiday had already begun in Spirit City.
Lin Hao spoke up.
"Teacher, now that the academy's on holiday, can we go visit Heaven Dou Imperial City?"
"You want to visit Heaven Dou Imperial City?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo paused in surprise.
"Well, it's not really just for fun!"
Lin Hao scratched his head and said with a smile.
"I mainly want to see Senior Dugu. We've been keeping in touch through letters!"
"Senior Dugu said he has a huge medicinal garden at home, with lots of rare spiritual herbs. I want to take a look!"
"I see! Of course we can!"
Hearing that, Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a gentle smile and agreed.
"Tomorrow, your Uncle Ghost and I will take you there!"
Early the next morning, Lin Hao boarded a luxurious carriage reserved for Spirit Hall with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, setting off for Heaven Dou Imperial City.
They crossed mountains and rivers along the way.
After half a month of arduous travel, the carriage finally arrived at Heaven Dou Imperial City.
After entering Heaven Dou Imperial City.
The carriage traveled through a district of luxurious residences and stopped before an imposing manor.
Above the vermilion gates hung a black plaque with golden lettering.
Boldly engraved upon it were the words: Dugu Manor.
After stepping down from the carriage.
Chrysanthemum Douluo straightened his robes, clasped his hands behind his back, and haughtily addressed the servant who approached to greet them.
"I am Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan. This is my good friend, Ghost Douluo, and my disciple, Lin Hao."
"Go inform your master that we have arrived!"
"So it's Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo, Lord Ghost Douluo, and Young Master Lin Hao!"
"Understood. I'll inform the master at once!"
Since Dugu Bo had given instructions beforehand.
The servant spoke hastily, then turned and hurried into the manor.
Before long, hearty laughter came from within.
Dugu Bo strode out of the manor in a dark green robe, a rare smile on his sinister-looking face.
Beside Dugu Bo walked a girl who looked twelve or thirteen.
She wore an elegant blue-purple gown resembling an evening dress, with a silver ribbon tied at her waist that fully outlined its slender, supple shape.
She was tall, and though she was still young, her long, graceful curves had already begun to show, lending her a poised elegance.
Her ear-length purple hair gleamed softly in the sunlight, its ends curling slightly inward. Framing her fair, delicate oval face, with its spirited beauty, it gave her an especially neat and sharp appearance.
It was Dugu Yan.
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