Offering Leverage

"Then I'll pursue someone else. I never eat a melon twisted off its vine by force-it isn't sweet."

Liu Hao naturally knew what Bibi Dong was worried about, so that was how he answered.

Of course, giving up was out of the question. If she wouldn't accept me, I'd use cheats and let her come around slowly. Heh heh.

"All right, I'll believe you for now. Could you tell me about your background? Also, I'm very curious about your age. You look quite young."

Bibi Dong's affection +1. Current affection: 14.

Clearly, she still had her doubts and decided to probe him again from another angle.

"Of course. There's nothing to hide. My background is perfectly clean. My name is Liu Hao, I'm twelve this year, and I come from..."

"What?!"

When Liu Hao revealed his age, Bibi Dong cried out in shock, interrupting him. She thought she must have misheard.

"You're saying you're only twelve?"

Bibi Dong's affection +1. Current affection: 15.

"That's right. Twelve. Absolutely genuine."

Although Bibi Dong had interrupted him, Liu Hao didn't mind. He was delighted instead-after all, that meant another exchange, and another point of affection.

"Twelve..."

Bibi Dong's pupils trembled as she murmured the number again in disbelief.

A twelve-year-old level 99 Limit Douluo-what did that even mean?

At that age, she had only been a little over level 30.

Even Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, the finest young talents of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, had barely reached level 30 when they were nearly thirteen.

Compared to Liu Hao, so-called geniuses like them were as far apart as clouds and mud, separated by a gulf as vast as a heavenly chasm.

Once the shock passed, a trace of fear inexplicably rose in Bibi Dong's heart.

Could she really control a monster with such talent-one who had already grown into his power?

At that thought, Bibi Dong fell silent again.

Liu Hao could see her concerns now. After all, he hadn't read the Douluo novels and watched the anime in his previous life for nothing.

He knew a little about the personalities of some of the Douluo World's major characters.

"By the way, Your Holiness, I have a younger brother. You might know him."

Liu Hao suddenly spoke, deciding to offer her leverage over him to gain her trust.

"Your younger brother? Who is he?" Bibi Dong asked in puzzlement.

Bibi Dong's affection +1. Current affection: 16.

"Ghost Douluo's disciple, Liu Yao. He's my younger brother by blood."

With that, Liu Hao turned his head slightly and looked toward the corner behind the right side of the papal throne.

There was another Titled Douluo's presence there-cold, eerie, and a little familiar. Though it was faint, suggesting someone highly skilled at concealment, he had detected it long ago and even had a guess about the person's identity. He simply hadn't paid it any mind.

Now that he had mentioned the person he suspected, he naturally wanted to verify his guess.

Sure enough, the moment his words fell, the presence in that corner wavered.

Bibi Dong noticed the disturbance too. Turning her head, she said, "Gui Mei? Come out and speak."

"Yes, Your Holiness."

A slightly hoarse voice rang out. Then, amid swirling black mist, Gui Mei emerged in a black robe.

He first bowed to Bibi Dong before speaking. "Your Holiness, my disciple Liu Yao does indeed have an older brother by blood, one year his senior, named Liu Hao."

Gui Mei paused and studied Liu Hao carefully before continuing, "However, I'm usually busy with my duties and haven't paid much attention to little Yao's family, so I'm not entirely certain what his brother looks like now. Still, there is some resemblance to Liu Yao in this Your Eminence's features. Shall I bring little Yao here to identify him?"

Bibi Dong glanced at Liu Hao. Seeing nothing unusual in his reaction, she nodded. "You may."

With permission granted, Ghost Douluo immediately vanished into black smoke and went to fetch him.

"Attendants, bring a seat and tea for Your Eminence Liu Hao."

By now, Bibi Dong finally felt considerably more at ease, so she transmitted the order to the maids waiting outside.

After all, he had openly laid out a vulnerability as significant as his family, and his own younger brother was a talented youth who had joined Spirit Hall long ago. His sincerity was plain to see.

Had she not still been waiting for Liu Yao to confirm his identity in person, Bibi Dong would already have been considering when to hold a welcoming banquet for Liu Hao's entry into Spirit Hall.

Within moments, several maids efficiently brought in a table, a chair, and tea.

Liu Hao seized the opportunity to find topics of conversation, trying to chat with Bibi Dong and increase her affection.

From hobbies to work, and from work to ideals, he acted like an endlessly curious child, thoroughly bewildering the normally taciturn Bibi Dong.

If Liu Hao hadn't noticed that her affection had begun dropping instead of rising, he probably could have kept talking indefinitely.

Even so, Bibi Dong's affection had increased considerably, reaching 27 points and bringing him another step closer to success.

Fortunately, Ghost Douluo traveled extremely quickly and soon appeared inside the Papal Palace with Liu Yao.

Otherwise, Bibi Dong might have curled her toes hard enough to dig out a three-bedroom apartment with a living room.

"Your Holiness, I've brought him."

Ghost Douluo bowed to Bibi Dong with Liu Yao and delivered his report.

On the way, Liu Yao had already heard from his teacher that a level 99 Limit Douluo claimed to be his older brother, so he was being brought over to identify him.

Upon hearing this news, Liu Yao had undoubtedly been bewildered, shocked, and incredulous all at once.

After all, he was no longer the clueless little kid who had awakened his martial soul five years ago.

After several years of study at Spirit Hall Academy, along with Ghost Douluo's occasional guidance, how could Liu Yao not understand the significance of a level 99 Limit Douluo?

His brother had possessed a mere 0.1 level of innate soul power and the trash martial soul, the Withered Wooden Stick.

How could he possibly have reached level 99 Limit Douluo at twelve? Wasn't that utter nonsense?

Yet when he entered the Papal Palace and saw someone who looked exactly like his older brother, he truly felt as though lightning had struck him.

???

Wasn't that his brother? Even his clothes were exactly the same.

But how could his brother be a level 99 Limit Douluo? Liu Yao racked his brains but couldn't make sense of it.

"Hmm... Liu Yao, take a look. Is this your older brother?"

Bibi Dong's cool, commanding voice rang out, drawing the dazed Liu Yao back to reality.

In truth, his expression had already given Bibi Dong a fairly clear idea of the answer, but she still wanted confirmation.

"Yes, Your Holiness."

Liu Yao nodded respectfully, then approached Liu Hao and examined him closely. The familiar mole, hairstyle, features, and even his scent all proved that the person before him was his own older brother.

"...Brother?"

After a long hesitation, Liu Yao finally called out tentatively.

"Little brother, long time no see. What's wrong? Too scared to recognize me?"

Liu Hao folded his arms across his chest and smiled teasingly.

Hearing that familiar voice and tone, Liu Yao's heart trembled. His doubts nearly vanished, but he still had one last question.

"...Brother, Teacher said you're a level 99 Limit Douluo? You..."

At those words, Liu Hao smiled faintly. His Azure Nether Staff martial soul appeared in his hand out of thin air, while soul rings began emerging beneath his feet.

Purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red, red, red!

The terrifying pressure of a level 99 Limit Douluo remained contained rather than unleashed, yet it still sent a chill through everyone present.

Liu Yao, the weakest person there, felt his heart pound and his breath choke off. It was as though he had laid eyes on a prehistoric beast, and his body began trembling involuntarily.

It was true. His brother really was a Limit Douluo! And he even had five Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings!

Liu Yao couldn't tell what he was feeling at that moment. Delight, excitement, and a trace of disappointment at no longer being the family's hope for the future? In short, it was complicated.

"Brother, how did you do it? Weren't you..."

Liu Yao trailed off, uncertain whether he should keep asking. After all, this was his brother's secret. It would be terrible if he caused it to be exposed.