Dugu Yan shook off Dugu Bo's hand and wrinkled her nose.
"No way! I'm not a child anymore, Grandpa!"
"I think Grandmaster is right. If I keep this up, I'll definitely become stronger than you. Believe me."
"Our team's goal this time is to win the championship. How could I leave now?"
Seeing Dugu Yan like this, Dugu Bo was utterly at a loss. He was eccentric, born with a foul temper, yet this granddaughter alone left him helpless. If he held her in his mouth, he feared she would melt; if he cradled her in his hands, he feared she would fall.
"All right, all right."
The moment Dugu Yan lost her temper, Dugu Bo softened, saying repeatedly, "Then Grandpa won't make you leave. Cultivate hard and prepare for the upcoming matches. I have faith in you."
Dugu Yan gave a haughty little huff, ran over to the others, and turned her head away, ignoring Dugu Bo.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo wanted to kill Gangzi. Heaven only knew what methods that bastard had used to brainwash his adorable granddaughter. Even death by a thousand cuts would not be too much for him.
But he also knew that if he really attacked Gangzi, his relationship with his granddaughter would be damaged beyond repair. He could only leave in silence.
"Mixed poison..."
On his way back to the VIP seats, Dugu Bo pondered the possibility Gangzi had mentioned. However he considered it, it could not be done. Based on his understanding of poison, Jade Phosphorus Snake venom simply could not merge with the toxins of other Soul Beasts.
If there was anyone in this world who could stand as his equal in poison, or even surpass him, Dugu Bo could think of only one person.
Tang San!
"That kid from Spirit Hall. I wonder where he is."
Dugu Bo sighed and decided to visit Spirit Hall. Perhaps that remarkable boy would have a solution?
After all, Tang San had cured the poison in both him and his granddaughter.
"He has that fellow Chrysanthemum Guan protecting him at such a young age. That kid must hold a fairly high position in Spirit Hall. He'll probably participate in this tournament."
"I'll pay another visit then."
"I wonder what that kid is doing. He's probably preparing for the finals."
Spirit City.
Inside a single-occupancy dorm room.
Tang San sneezed, a little puzzled.
"Who's talking about me out of nowhere?"
Several puddles stood out on the floor. Tang San was currently practicing Heart Separation Control, which was extremely helpful for controlling Blue Silver Grass.
Just as Tang San was about to continue practicing, he suddenly looked toward the door.
"Who is it?"
After taking the immortal herbs, Tang San had made considerable progress in both the Mysterious Heaven Skill and the Purple Demon Eye. His five senses had long since surpassed those of ordinary people, and he immediately noticed someone at the door.
The door opened gently, but no one was in sight. Instead, a cloud of pink mist rushed toward his face.
Tang San held his breath. Blue Silver Grass kept growing at his feet, blocking off the pink mist. In the instant his attention was diverted, a dark figure sprang out of the mist and pounced straight onto him.
First, a faint fragrance rushed into his nose. Then an exquisitely beautiful face appeared, its most striking feature a pair of peach-blossom eyes with pink pupils, glimmering with light.
"What are you up to this time?"
The moment Tang San saw the pink mist, he had already guessed who had come. He was instantly left speechless.
Straddling Tang San, Hu Liena blinked a few times. Seeing no reaction whatsoever from him, she became furious, bit him, then rolled off and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I've already broken through to Soul King. Why does my charm still have no effect on you?"
"Are you even human? How is your spiritual power so strong when you're so young?"
Hu Liena hated failure and considered it a disgrace, so she remembered every defeat.
Her charm had always swept all before it among her peers. Tang San alone had made her stumble.
This had remained a thorn in Hu Liena's heart. Not long after returning to Spirit City after breaking through to Soul King, she had thought of coming to find Tang San, only to fail again.
Tang San was speechless. "You're really troublesome. The finals are almost here, and you still have time to come looking for me?"
At that, Hu Liena rolled her eyes.
"So you do know the finals are coming? Why haven't you joined the team training? You may be a substitute, but surely that doesn't mean you can act like this?"
"I heard the Heaven Dou Empire's Heaven Dou Imperial Academy second team won every match in the preliminaries. Apparently, they took in students from some... Shrek Academy Team. They've really been stealing the limelight."
"You might actually get a chance to compete."
Hearing this, Tang San raised an eyebrow, though he was not particularly surprised. The others had memories of their previous lives, and with Xiao Wu, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, among them, reaching this point was perfectly normal.
From the looks of it, there was no telling what might happen in the finals. He really might have to compete.
Tang San did not want to reveal himself to everyone too early. Quietly making a fortune, using Spirit Hall's backing to gather all the resources into his hands, and rapidly increasing his own strength first-that was what mattered.
Once he became a God King, wouldn't the entire Douluo Continent become Tang San's back garden?
With that thought, Tang San looked at Hu Liena.
"Your charm is too dispersed."
"You're releasing all your Soul Power, yes, but it's spread over an area instead of concentrated on a single point. At such close range just now, you clearly could have made it stronger."
"And like this, it's completely useless against multiple opponents. Although it's dispersed, it only covers the area around one person, so you can't achieve group control either."
Hearing this, Hu Liena wrinkled her nose and swung her legs impatiently. "You think I need you to tell me? If I had a way to fix it, wouldn't I have done that already?"
"Even Spirit Hall doesn't have a method like that."
Tang San smiled faintly. Spirit Hall did not have one, but he did!
It was precisely the Heart Separation Control method God King Tang had learned from Ning Rongrong. That method was safely tucked away in his mind.
As it happened, he could teach it to Hu Liena. With this method, her strength could improve, and it would also spare him any unexpected trouble during the finals.
"I have a method."
As he spoke, Tang San pulled Hu Liena over and began teaching her Heart Separation Control.
At first, shock lingered in Hu Liena's eyes, but she soon became completely absorbed.
Only a good while after Tang San finished speaking did she come back to her senses. She looked him up and down, her foxlike allure on full display, as though she wanted to devour him.
Suddenly, Hu Liena sighed.
"What a shame. You're still too young."
As she spoke, she abruptly leaned forward and kissed Tang San on the lips. Only when he was nearly suffocating did she release him, then turn to leave.
"If only you were a little older. Thanks for this. I owe you a favor!"
Tang San watched Hu Liena's retreating figure, her fragrance still filling his lips, utterly bewildered.
He had only meant to lend the Spirit Hall Academy Team members a hand while he was at it, mainly to spare himself trouble. He had never expected Hu Liena to do this.
"This damned charm of mine."
Tang San shook his head. Right now, he really wanted to call Hu Liena back.
Who are you calling little? When I get the chance, I'll definitely show you just how big I am!
Before you continue