She was only a mere Soul Ancestor-how could she possibly fight a Soul Emperor? (Two chapters in one)

"Oh, by the way," Dugu Bo said, "Now that you're at my residence, I'll introduce you to my granddaughter."

"If it weren't for the bottle of antidote pills your great-father gave me, I'd still be struggling with the backlash from her Martial Soul."

"Now that the poison has no backlash, her cultivation can proceed much more smoothly."

"Uncle Dugu Bo, do you want me to spar with your granddaughter?" Gui Yuan asked.

Because his eldest and second uncles were of the same generation as Dugu Bo, even though Dugu Bo was old enough to be his grandfather, he addressed them as uncles according to seniority.

Dugu Bo smiled and said, "I do have such a plan, but it's fine if it's inconvenient for you. After all, not many forces on the continent should know your identity right now, right?"

Gui Yuan said calmly, "Besides the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, no other force should know. However, even if they were discovered, it wouldn't matter."

"With my current strength, I could even fight a Titled Douluo."

These words shocked Dugu Bo once again.

He glanced at Gui Yuan and asked doubtfully, "Aren't you just a Soul Emperor? Are you confident you can face Titled Douluo?"

Gui Yuan smiled slightly and said, "How about Uncle Dugu Bo, the two of us give it a try?"

"I'd much rather have a match with you than spar with your granddaughter; that would put pressure on me."

Dugu Bo shook his head and said, "That won't do. If you get hurt, your two fathers will come after me."

Gui Yuan said, "Uncle Dugu Bo, I'm not that weak, but I'm curious, how much has your cultivation improved after taking that antidote pill?"

Dugu Bo chuckled and said, "Currently, my Soul Power is Level 94. Give me another two years, and I hope to break through to Level 95."

At this moment, Gui Yuan said, "Uncle Dugu Bo, there's actually a question I've wanted to ask you for a long time."

"If my great-father were to extend another invitation to you to join the Spirit Hall, would you agree?"

Dugu Bo fell silent.

He had actually guessed this possibility long ago.

Yue Guan wouldn't help him for no reason. The most likely reason is that he wanted him to join the Spirit Hall, but he hadn't mentioned it for so many years. Instead, it was this junior Gui Yuan, who brought it up.

Dugu Bo said, "You're asking me this question now, which is actually quite a difficult decision for me. Given my personality, I would probably agree, but let me tell you something."

A moment later.

Dugu Bo said, "Now you understand, if Prince Xue Xing hadn't passed by and saved me, I'd probably be dead by now."

"That's why I've stayed in Heaven Dou City all these years, and that's why my granddaughter is studying at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

"Everyone thinks I'm supporting the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, but in reality, I'm only supporting Prince Xue Xing and the Fourth Prince Xue Beng, who has a good relationship with him."

Gui Yuan was naturally aware of this matter as well.

He then said, "I also know something about this Fourth Prince, Xue Beng. It's said that he's a spoiled brat of the royal family, indulging in brothels every day, and even abducting women from the common people. He's completely different from that Crown Prince."

Dugu Bo said, "This matter is not as simple as it seems on the surface."

Gui Yuan bluntly stated, "Uncle Dugu Bo, are you implying that the Second and Third Princes of the royal family died without cause, so the Fourth Prince's Xue Beng was a hoax?"

Dugu Bo glanced at Gui Yuan with some surprise and sighed, "You're so young, yet you know so much. Yes, the truth is indeed as we suspected."

"Although I don't know the full story, it's highly likely that the Fourth Prince faked the Xue Beng."

Gui Yuan shook his head, his expression icy. "Uncle Dugu Bo, you're mistaken."

" Xue Qinghe was originally the Crown Prince, the first in line to the throne, and held the highest power. Whether the Second Prince and the Third Prince died or not, it wouldn't affect him."

"And another thing, do you really think that Xue Beng's various actions were all an act, or that he was actually that kind of person?"

"Perhaps one can indeed resort to any means to achieve certain goals, but if he's going to pretend, he should pretend properly, instead of abducting women and murdering innocent people."

"The struggle for the throne should not affect ordinary people."

"Uncle Dugu Bo, you might think my ideas are a bit naive, but in my opinion, the aristocratic system of the Heaven Dou Empire is rotten to the core."

"My Spirit Hall doesn't dare to call itself a righteous force. There are nobles within the Spirit Hall as well. But objectively speaking, aren't the things my Spirit Hall has done on the Douluo Continent better than those of the two great empires?"

Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo fell silent.

Because what Gui Yuan said was indeed true.

Perhaps there are dark sides to the Spirit Hall's rule, but from a broader perspective, the Spirit Hall has indeed done more good deeds than the two great empires.

Gui Yuan continued, "Uncle Dugu Bo, I won't force you to join the Spirit Hall, but there's something I still need to say."

"Given your experience, you should be able to tell whether the Fourth Prince's actions during the Xue Beng were genuine."

"Furthermore, if you do join the Spirit Hall in the future, I can talk to the teacher and say that unless it's something extremely important, we absolutely won't let you get involved. It's like the Spirit Hall is taking care of you in your old age, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo was somewhat tempted.

He didn't answer immediately, but the hesitation in his eyes said it all.

Soon, they arrived at Heaven Dou City.

The city gate is tall and majestic, built from a single piece of bluestone, with intricate patterns carved on it. The city walls on both sides stretch for miles and seem to have no end in sight.

The streets in the city are wide and flat, lined with shops on both sides, including cloth shops, restaurants, and blacksmith shops, their signs swaying gently in the wind.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, and horse-drawn carriages passed by, their wheels making a dull thud as they rolled over the stone slabs.

The air was filled with the aroma of baked goods, the rust of ironware, and the fragrance of flowers and plants, creating the unique, vibrant atmosphere of a bustling metropolis.

As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City truly deserves its title as the number one city in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Dugu Bo's mansion was located on a quiet street in the east of the city.

The gate was vermilion, with a stone sculpture of a venomous snake on each side, its body coiled and its head raised, lifelike.

The courtyard inside the mansion was arranged with great elegance, featuring artificial hills and flowing water, shaded by green bamboo, and a few brightly colored flowers and plants in the corners, which looked like they were highly poisonous.

Dugu Bo arranged for lunch and sent someone to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to tell his granddaughter to come back for lunch.

Inside the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Dugu Yan is currently cultivating with Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, Osler, and other students.

Four Soul Ring flickered beneath her, her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul possessing her. Her upper body remained in human form, but her lower body had completely transformed into a thick snake tail, nimbly slithering across the ground.

Her movements were swift and fierce; each lash of her snake tail produced a piercing whistling sound, tearing a deep crack in a stone pillar in front of her.

Yu Tianheng stood not far away, his gaze fixed on Dugu Yan.

" Sister Yan is improving faster and faster," Yu Feng whispered from the side.

Yu Tianheng sighed and said, "Yes, without realizing it, she has surpassed all of us in level."

Just then, an academy attendant hurried over, holding a letter in his hand, and approached Dugu Yan: "Miss Dugu Yan, His Majesty Dugu Bo has sent word that you are to return to the manor, saying that there are guests at home."

Dugu Yan was slightly taken aback, then withdrew her Martial Soul, and her snake tail transformed back into legs.

She took the letter, glanced at it, and a look of surprise and delight appeared on her face. "My grandfather is back?"

"Yes." The waiter nodded respectfully.

Dugu Yan turned to Yu Tianheng and the others. " Tian Heng, I'll go back first. You guys continue practicing."

Yu Tianheng nodded. "Go ahead, I'll talk to the teacher about your afternoon class."

Dugu Yan responded, walked through the academy's corridor, exited the main gate, and hurried towards the east of the city.

Upon returning to the mansion, Dugu Yan immediately spotted the young man sitting in the main hall.

The boy was dressed in simple black clothes, with delicate features and calm eyes, and sat there without the slightest hint of restraint.

He looked a few years younger than her.

"Grandpa." Dugu Yan entered the main hall, her gaze sweeping over Gui Yuan, "And this is...?"

Dugu Bo stood up, walked to her, and introduced her with a smile, " Yanyan, this is Gui Yuan, the son of Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei from the Spirit Hall."

Dugu Yan blinked and blurted out, "Can two men... have a child?"

Dugu Bo laughed heartily, " Yanyan, your reaction is just like mine back then. This is their adopted son, not their biological son."

Dugu Yan responded with an "oh," and the surprise on her face subsided somewhat.

She looked at Gui Yuan again, her eyes filled with curiosity.

After lunch, Dugu Bo suggested that the two of them have a friendly spar.

Dugu Yan replied, "Grandpa, I'm several years older than him. If you make me spar with him, wouldn't that be bullying him? I'm already a level 43 Soul Ancestor, while he's probably only Soul Grandmaster."

At this time, Dugu Yan was unaware of Gui Yuan's level.

Dugu Bo said, " Yanyan, I'm letting you know that there are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. Your cultivation speed is indeed not slow, but compared to him, you are far inferior."

Dugu Yan was a rather arrogant person, and upon hearing this, she immediately became indignant.

She looked at Gui Yuan, slightly raising her chin. "Then let me see just how much you're worth."

"Don't worry, you are the child of the person who saved my grandfather's and my lives. I will go easy on you."

Gui Yuan's lips curled into a slight smile, "Then let's go."

The two arrived at an open space in the backyard of the mansion.

Dugu Yan was the first to release her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, and four Soul Ring— two yellow and two purple—appeared beneath her.

Immediately afterwards, her Martial Soul Possession, and her two legs transformed into a thick snake tail, wriggling on the ground. Her upper body leaned slightly forward, and a layer of emerald green poisonous light emanated from the tips of her fingers.

"Come on," Dugu Yan said, "I'll give you three moves first."

Gui Yuan did not release his Martial Soul; he simply raised his right hand, and dark golden light surged from his palm bones, covering his entire hand.

"What is this?" Dugu Yan was slightly taken aback. " Martial Soul? No way?"

"This is Soul Bone!" Dugu Bo stood to the side, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "And it's External Soul Bone. It seems you're really lucky, little guy."

His tone was filled with envy, not greed.

External Soul Bone cannot be passed down, and besides, the other party is the son of Yue Guan and Gui Mei. What could he possibly be thinking?

"Why don't you release your Martial Soul?" Dugu Yan frowned slightly.

Gui Yuan said calmly, "My Martial Soul is the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Food System Soul Master. Whether I release it or not is irrelevant."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan's eyes widened in shock. "What! You're Food System Soul Master?"

She abruptly turned to look at Dugu Bo, her tone tinged with anger. "Grandpa! You want me to spar with a Food System Soul Master?"

But when she looked at her grandfather, she noticed that Dugu Bo's expression was also full of surprise.

"Your Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul isn't Power Attack System?" Dugu Bo asked. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Gui Yuan: "You didn't ask either."

He paused slightly. "However, don't underestimate Food System Soul Master."

"As I told you before, with my current strength, even Titled Douluo around level 92 wouldn't be a match for me."

Dugu Yan frowned, feeling that Gui Yuan was speaking too arrogantly.

But then she saw Gui Yuan release his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul, and six Soul Ring slowly rose beneath him.

Five black and one red!

She froze abruptly.

The six Soul Ring exuded an extremely heavy sense of oppression, like a mountain pressing down on her heart.

Especially that bright red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, which exuded a kind of oppressive aura that made it almost impossible for her to breathe.

Her snake tail seemed to be nailed to the ground, making even moving a single step extremely difficult.

Dugu Yan's pupils suddenly contracted. "This... how is this possible!"

Dugu Bo's expression also became extremely solemn.

His gaze was fixed on the bright red Soul Ring, his lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

With his experience, he naturally knew what a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring meant.

But this boy in front of us, only eleven years old, already possesses such Soul Ring Configuration.

He had just said he was confident he could break through to Level 95 within two years, and he seemed quite pleased with himself.

Upon seeing Gui Yuan's Soul Ring, his smugness vanished completely.

Dugu Yan felt the intimidating power emanating from the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She's just a lowly Soul Ancestor, what makes her think she can fight a Soul Emperor?

Soul Emperor with such Soul Ring Configuration!

She couldn't even muster the thought of taking action.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice a few decibels lower than before. "I... I lost."

Dugu Bo watched this scene from the side, his eyes showing not disappointment, but only emotion.

He murmured to himself, "There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding... Only today do I truly understand this saying."

This day taught Dugu Yan a lesson, and it also taught Dugu Bo a lesson.

He now finally understood where Gui Yuan's confidence came from.