I Pick Up Fragments in Douluo Continent

Hahaha...

The upcoming plot would try not to feature original characters so extensively. It really did weaken the sense of immersion.

Everyone Meets Early

Lu Feng turned his head and saw a young man and woman, two slender figures standing at the tavern entrance.

One wore black, and so did the other.

The young man was handsome, with short golden hair. He was not particularly tall, but he looked full of energy.

The young woman was the opposite. Not only was she dressed entirely in black, but her face was covered by a layer of black gauze. She had a slim figure, and waterfall-like blue hair draped down her back.

"Welcome!" A waiter hurried to the entrance and gave the two a slight bow.

The blond young man swept his gaze around the hall and frowned slightly. "Do you have private rooms here? Arrange the best one for me."

"No need, Osler. There's hardly anyone in the hall anyway, so let's wait here. What if the captain and the others arrive later and can't find us?"

The young woman spoke slowly. Her voice was very pleasant, yet exceptionally hollow, giving off an unreal feeling.

"Fine, I'll listen to you," the blond young man said casually.

At that moment, the young man noticed Lu Feng's gaze. A trace of displeasure rose in his eyes. "What are you looking at?"

The young woman politely nodded at Lu Feng, then tugged on her companion's sleeve. "Osler, he doesn't mean any harm."

"Heh." Lu Feng chuckled softly, raised his wine cup toward them in greeting, then turned his gaze elsewhere.

"Osler? Ye Lingling? The Royal Fighting Team?"

A layer of purple covered Lu Feng's eyes as he secretly observed the two.

"Soul Grandmaster cultivation."

In the original story, the Royal Fighting Team first appeared at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena. At that time, all of them were three-ring Soul Elders.

"What are they doing in the Star Dou Great Forest? Hunting soul beasts?" Lu Feng frowned slightly.

He had little interest in the Royal Fighting Team, but the team's vice-captain—Dugu Yan—was someone Lu Feng had to pay attention to.

He had no choice. Lu Feng coveted her family fortune.

Dugu Bo had an eccentric personality, neither wholly good nor evil. He had always acted purely according to his own preferences.

If Lu Feng were to jump right in front of him and shout, "You're sick!"

Lu Feng might very well be slapped to death on the spot.

As the sole descendant of the family, Dugu Yan was Dugu Bo's precious treasure. Dugu Bo spoiled her endlessly, granting her every request, afraid she would fall if held in his palm and melt if kept in his mouth.

Therefore, he should first build a relationship with Dugu Yan and use her as a backdoor.

Then, once he got close to Dugu Bo, the matter of the Immortal Herbs would be halfway settled.

At that moment, Osler complained, "Lingling, what do you think Teacher Qin was thinking? Coming all this way to help the vice-captain hunt a soul beast. Wouldn't it have been better to just go to Sunset Forest?"

"Mm."

Ye Lingling thought for a moment before saying, "I think Teacher Qin wanted us to gain more experience. Look, from the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital to Star Dou Forest, we ran for half the journey."

"Ugh, my legs are about to break from all that running. Lingling, what soul beast do you think the vice-captain should hunt for her third soul ring?" Osler asked.

Ye Lingling pondered briefly. "Probably a Jade Phosphorous Serpent or Purple Phosphor Serpent that's over fifteen hundred years old."

Lu Feng frowned upon hearing that.

Ever since deciding to scheme for the Immortal Herbs, Lu Feng had been considering a question: where exactly had the deadly poison in Dugu Bo's body come from?

In the original story, there was another poison-using expert with a titled cultivation—Stingray Douluo.

Why hadn't he been poisoned to death?

Lu Feng guessed that the poison in Dugu Bo's body might be related to absorbing poison-attributed soul rings, but not necessarily caused by them.

Otherwise, all soul masters who absorbed Jade Phosphorous Serpents and Man Faced Demon Spiders would have long since been poisoned to death.

Everything could only be answered after meeting them in person.

"Speaking of which, the vice-captain broke through to level thirty at fourteen. Her talent is truly extraordinary." Osler quickly recovered his smile and spoke excitedly.

Then, an indignant expression appeared on his face again. "I'm only level twenty-eight. Who knows when I'll break through to Soul Elder? Damn it!"

Before Ye Lingling could answer, an arrogant voice suddenly came from the entrance.

"This dump is barely acceptable. Boss, where are you?"

"Huh? That line sounds awfully familiar." Osler looked toward the voice and saw a young man in a fitted white outfit walk in.

He looked young, around one meter seventy tall, and rather handsome. His long golden hair fell smoothly down his back, making him appear even more dashing and unruly.

What drew the most attention were his eyes. He had naturally different-colored pupils, making him seem especially mysterious.

"Waiter, bring me a serving of every specialty you have. Hurry up, or this young master will tear down your lousy shop," the youth said arrogantly.

"Yes, yes, sir. Please wait a moment." Seeing his manner, the waiter quickly went forward to receive him.

"Damn! This guy actually dares to be more arrogant than me!" Osler sized up the youth, undisguised provocation appearing in his eyes.

"At this time, with those eyes. Is he Dai Mubai?"

Lu Feng examined the youth before him. That golden hair and those distinctive mismatched eyes meant he should be the Dai Mubai from the original story.

"First the Royal Fighting Team, and now Dai Mubai. Heh, what a coincidence."

In the original story, when Dai Mubai was twelve, he fled the Star Luo Empire alone and hid in Suotuo City to escape Dai Weisi's suppression.

"When Dai Mubai first appeared, he was fifteen and had thirty-seventh-level Soul Power."

"Tang San reached level twenty-nine at twelve. If Tang San did not have the External Soul Bone and Immortal Herbs, then by fifteen he would at most have reached the Soul Ancestor level."

"Hu Liena broke through to Soul Ancestor at fifteen, while Xie Yue and Yan broke through at sixteen. The three were thus known as Spirit Hall's 'Golden Generation.'"

"Looking at it this way, Dai Mubai's talent really isn't bad. Although his private life is rather messy, he hasn't neglected his cultivation."

"Dai Mubai may seem to be running from reality, but he is probably biding his time. If he stayed in the Star Luo Empire, Dai Weisi definitely wouldn't let him cultivate so comfortably." Lu Feng silently pondered.

"Though he abandoned his fiancée and let someone else take advantage of it..."

"No, what am I even thinking about?"

"Kid, what are you looking at?" Dai Mubai said coldly, seemingly noticing Osler's gaze.

"Oh? Pretty arrogant, aren't you? In all my life, no one has ever dared speak to me like that!" Osler stood up at once and slammed the table.

"What a coincidence. In all my life, no one has ever dared raise their voice at me either!" Dai Mubai looked at Osler disdainfully as a faint ripple of Soul Power spread from his body.

"Osler, don't act rashly." Ye Lingling tugged at his sleeve and spoke softly.

"Huh!"

At that moment, Dai Mubai noticed Ye Lingling, and a glint flashed in his eyes.

It was clearly the colored gleam that appeared in the eyes of a big tiger when it spotted a little white rabbit.

"Hmph!" Dai Mubai snorted and found a seat.

Osler carefully examined Dai Mubai a few more times. A faint fluctuation of Soul Power came from the other man, indicating that he too was a soul master. Though his level was slightly lower than Osler's, the gap was not great.

"His Soul Power is somewhat restless, and his body is quite sturdy. He is most likely a power-attack Soul Grandmaster." Osler quickly came to a judgment.

"Hmph, this young master is magnanimous. I won't lower myself to your level."

After saying that, Osler discreetly winked at Ye Lingling. "Lingling, if we start fighting later, remember to secretly support me."

Conflict

Soon, the waiter brought Dai Mubai's food to the table. The lavish dishes gave off a rich aroma, enough to whet anyone's appetite.

Dai Mubai did not pick up his chopsticks. He merely lifted the wine cup beside him and took a sip.

As he drank, he secretly observed Osler and Ye Lingling, apparently assessing their strength as well.

After a while, Dai Mubai picked up his wine cup and walked over to them.

"Beautiful miss, may I invite you to share a drink with me?" Dai Mubai placed his right hand over his chest and performed a gentleman's salute.

"Kid, you're courting death!"

Osler flew into a rage at once.

Ye Lingling was both his teammate and good friend. How could he not be angry when someone openly flirted with her like this?

Besides, Osler himself was someone who loved causing trouble.

The Ao Family was a staunch supporter of the Heaven Dou Empire and was deeply valued by the emperor. As the first heir of the ducal estate, Osler could get whatever he wanted in the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital.

And now, someone was bullying his friend right in front of him. That was simply asking to die!

"Die!" Osler suddenly raised his right fist and lunged forward, aiming straight for Dai Mubai's chest.

A wicked gleam flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes. Rather than retreating, he stepped forward to meet him. His right foot instantly stepped forward, and he threw out his right fist as well.

Only, his hand instantly transformed into sharp tiger claws.

With a muffled bang, Osler lost control of his body and staggered back four or five steps before falling heavily to the ground with a thud.

In an instant, Osler felt intense pain surge from his chest. The world spun before his eyes, and he nearly passed out on the spot.

"Y-you actually used your martial soul to ambush me!" Osler patted his head, trying hard to remain conscious.

Looking at the two yellow soul rings beside Dai Mubai, Osler rubbed his chest fiercely with one hand while struggling to rise from the ground.

However, his body seemed unwilling to obey him. Each time he was about to stand, he fell heavily back down again.

"Hmph, an ambush?"

Dai Mubai chuckled. "Since it's a fight, naturally you go all out. It's my first time seeing someone like you, charging headfirst into another person's fist."

"You're obviously a useless waste who grew up sheltered by your elders and only knows how to live off others!"

Dai Mubai flicked his hair, a glint flashing through his evil eyes.

Killing someone was nothing compared to crushing their heart.

He wanted to stomp this brat into the ground and let his female companion see what a real man was, then capture her heart in one stroke.

Dai Mubai had always been suppressed by his older brother in the Star Luo Empire. Living under oppression and fear for so long had gradually twisted his heart.

In the past, Dai Weisi often sent people to cause him trouble. Yet recently, after Dai Weisi became captain of the royal team, he had been quiet for a long time.

Dai Mubai guessed that his older brother must have been preparing some major move.

If he did not escape now, he would definitely die!

Dai Mubai fled without caring about anything else. Only after completely leaving the Star Luo Empire did he feel as though he had come back to life.

Along the way, he had encountered many soul masters, but none had talent comparable to his. Even when he met people with higher Soul Power, their martial souls were inferior to the White Tiger.

Slowly, Dai Mubai's already twisted heart became increasingly unrestrained.

"Osler, are you alright?" Ye Lingling ran to Osler's side and helped him onto a stool.

A pink begonia flower appeared in her hand.

Then, accompanied by a faint fragrance, a petal-shaped white glow slowly drifted down and landed directly on Osler, lightly merging into his body.

Osler's body trembled. His complexion improved greatly, and he actually stood up right away.

Lu Feng stared at the little flower in Ye Lingling's hand, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"The continent's number one healing martial soul—the Nine Heart Begonia!"

"This martial soul is passed down through a single lineage, with only one inheritor in each generation. At most two Nine Heart Begonia soul masters can exist at the same time. Only when one dies can another descendant possibly appear."

"If I synthesize the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul, could I break this curse? Or would Ye Lingling's elder at home simply die on the spot?"

Lu Feng stopped letting his imagination run wild and continued observing the situation.

Seeing Osler recover, Dai Mubai frowned slightly. "What a powerful healing martial soul!"

Looking at Ye Lingling's fair, tender face, a mad thought flashed through Dai Mubai's mind. This girl is strong and beautiful. Only a powerful man like me deserves to have her!

"Cough, cough, cough." Osler coughed heavily several times. Most of his injuries had recovered, but he still felt a stifling pressure in his chest.