Huo Yuhao nodded and said without a trace of shame, "I am threatening you! What are you going to do about it? It's still better than keeping company with Xue Xing and Xue Beng. The evil things they've done are far worse than threatening someone's family."
"Dugu Bo, you wouldn't want your granddaughter to be bullied by anyone who pleased after your death, or to suffer so much from the snake venom that she wished she were dead, would you?"
Dugu Bo fell silent.
Huo Yuhao said, "As long as you join our Spirit Hall and swear your loyalty to me, I'll agree to let you go. I'll also find a way to cure both the poison in your granddaughter and the poison that has seeped into your marrow."
Dugu Bo pondered for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.
If he were alone, he could simply die and be done with it. But he still had his granddaughter-
Dugu Bo looked at Golden Crocodile beside Huo Yuhao.
"Can he keep his word?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo said casually, "What Xiao Xue says goes for our Spirit Hall."
Dugu Bo looked at Huo Yuhao and said solemnly, "As long as you can cure the poison in my granddaughter and me, I swear on my Martial Soul that I will be loyal to you for the rest of my life."
He paused, then added, "As long as you treat my granddaughter well, I can decide to marry her to you!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo couldn't keep his composure when he heard that. He glared furiously at Dugu Bo.
Well, well. Xiao Xue's orientation was already a problem, and this Dugu Bo actually dared to tempt her with his granddaughter.
This Dugu Bo already had a way to die!
Hmph, I'll remember this! You old bastard, just wait. I'll give you something to savor later.
Huo Yuhao was very pleased and waved his hand.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo released their Martial Soul Fusion Skill and revealed themselves. Dugu Bo was finally free again.
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an eyebrow at Dugu Bo. "Old poison, we'll be colleagues from now on."
Dugu Bo snorted coldly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo covered his mouth and giggled. "Old poison, you're as aloof as ever. But a poison user like you being poisoned by your own Martial Soul? How embarrassing! If the young master hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't even have noticed."
Dugu Bo's expression darkened further.
Huo Yuhao pressed down with his hand until everyone quieted, then looked at Dugu Bo. "First, go back to Xue Xing and tell him this..."
"Then tell him that Tang San, Clear Sky Douluo's only son, is currently in Suotuo City. Tang San is a heaven-gifted genius with Twin Martial Souls. Once he grows up, he'll be another genius comparable to Pope Bibi Dong. If Xue Xing can befriend him early, he can keep him and Xue Beng free from worry for the rest of their lives."
"Then come back, and we'll go to your medicinal garden in Sunset Forest. There are herbs there that can cure you."
Dugu Bo was shocked by the information Huo Yuhao had revealed. Then he thought of Xue Xing and couldn't help sighing.
Xue Xing had saved his life, and although he had all but repaid that debt over the years, he still found it difficult to actively harm the man.
Fortunately, Xue Qinghe hadn't asked him to do anything too difficult. He was only passing on a message, so it should be fine.
Besides, the information would be a great help to Xue Xing.
After Dugu Bo left, Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Huo Yuhao, his expression serious.
"Xiao Xue, was what you just told him true?"
Huo Yuhao nodded.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's face turned cold, but he was also somewhat puzzled. "Xiao Xue, since you discovered traces of Tang Hao and learned about his son, why didn't you send word to Spirit Hall and have them send people to capture him once and for all?"
Huo Yuhao didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked:
"Second Grandpa, when my grandfather was hunting Tang Hao, did he ever tell you what happened? How exactly did Tang Hao escape from him?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo frowned. "The Great Enshrined said that when Tang Hao was gravely wounded and on the verge of death, he sensed a god's presence on him. Considering that no one knew whether Tang Chen was alive or dead, he let Tang Hao go."
So that's how it was?
Huo Yuhao lowered his eyelids, shadows covering his bright eyes.
"Second Grandpa, that's why I'm not making a move against Tang Hao and his son for the time being."
As if something had occurred to him, Golden Crocodile said in astonishment, "You mean there's a god standing behind Tang Hao and his son?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I can't be certain yet, which is why I need to test them. All of you are our own people in Spirit Hall. I can't bear to send you to your deaths, so I need to find a way to draw others into testing Tang Hao."
"Xue Beng is just a small pawn. My real goal is to set Tang Hao against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. With the strength of those two, they should be able to uncover some of Tang Hao's hidden cards."
Golden Crocodile shook his head. "Ning Fengzhi is an old fox, smooth in his dealings. I'm afraid it won't be easy to set him against Tang Hao."
Huo Yuhao smiled. "That's why we need to startle the snake in the grass and leave an ashen trail, planting clues a thousand miles ahead. First, we let small conflicts slowly build between them. Then we set off a major one. When the time comes, they won't have a choice but to clash."
"Ghost Leopard Douluo." Huo Yuhao looked at the taciturn Ghost Leopard Douluo and said seriously, "I have an important task for you. Sorry for the trouble, but please make a trip to Suotuo City. There's an academy there called Shrek Academy. It has several students, and one of them, Dai Mubai, is the third prince of the Star Luo Empire."
"After Xue Beng arrives in Suotuo City, no matter what method you use, you must make sure he comes into conflict with those people, especially Dai Mubai. Then have Xue Beng die at their hands."
Ghost Leopard Douluo hesitated. "But Xue Beng will certainly have someone protecting him, and those people can't possibly kill someone so easily."
Huo Yuhao smiled and said meaningfully, "You only need to make sure they clash. Then have Xue Beng die in Suotuo City. No matter who does it, it can only have been those people from Shrek."
Understanding dawned on Ghost Leopard Douluo. "I understand."
Huo Yuhao paused, then added a warning, "There may also be someone called Xiao Wu at Shrek Academy. She's a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, and Tang Hao has had his eye on her for a long time. You must be careful not to expose yourself to Tang Hao, and don't entertain any thoughts you shouldn't."
Ghost Leopard Douluo lowered his head. "I wouldn't dare."
Huo Yuhao patted Ghost Leopard Douluo on the shoulder. "When I return, I'll report this to Grandpa and request the Soul Bone best suited to you from Spirit Hall's treasury as your reward."
Ghost Leopard Douluo was beside himself with excitement.
That was a Soul Bone! If he had a suitable one, he might be able to break through to level ninety-five.
"I'll complete the task without fail!"
Ghost Leopard Douluo pledged.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo and the others looked at Ghost Leopard with immense envy. They wanted badly to say that they could complete the task too-and do it even better!
As for the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form called Xiao Wu, with Huo Yuhao's warning beforehand, none of them dared entertain any thoughts.
Golden Crocodile Douluo asked curiously, "What's with Tang Hao? How does he keep running into Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in human form? Every good thing seems to fall into his lap."
Huo Yuhao smiled and shook his head. Perhaps this was the bond between the Tang family and Soul Beasts? The Tang family's ancestral precept was to marry a Soul Beast.
Golden Crocodile Douluo said, "A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is incredibly precious. We can't afford to lose her. Why don't I capture Xiao Wu myself?"
Huo Yuhao refused. "Second Grandpa, she's important to my plan. Tang Hao and his son Tang San are far more important than one Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Besides, she's right there and can't run away. There's no rush to catch her."
Xiao Wu's identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was the biggest fuse in the plan he had envisioned.
Only this time, the ones making a move would not be Spirit Hall, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Spirit Hall would be the oriole behind the mantis.
When the time came, how would Yu Xiaogang deal with Tang Hao becoming an enemy of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
Tang San would also lose the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
As for Dai Mubai, he was destined to die in this turmoil, blowing the storm toward the Star Luo Empire.
In this way, Tang San's wings would be completely clipped.
If Asura God wasn't behind Tang San, he would simply kill him and be done with it. If he was, all the better-they could have a proper fight.
Huo Yuhao looked up at the sky, his eyes already seeing the future.
Meanwhile, at Prince Xue Xing's residence.
Prince Xue Xing greeted Dugu Bo warmly and asked impatiently:
"Your Majesty, how did it go?"
Dugu Bo nodded coolly. "Xue Qinghe was struck by my poison. He'll need at least half a year of recuperation to recover."
Prince Xue Xing was overjoyed, but also somewhat regretful.
Why hadn't Poison Douluo simply poisoned Xue Qinghe to death? What a pity.
"And the marriage between the crown prince and Miss Dugu?" Prince Xue Xing asked cautiously.
Dugu Bo said coldly, "Yanzi is quite fond of the crown prince, so I didn't object. Everything depends on what Yanzi wants."
"What?" Prince Xue Xing's expression changed drastically. Pale with shock, he demanded, "How can that be? How can you promise your granddaughter to him?"
Dugu Bo stared coldly at Prince Xue Xing. A chill surged into the prince's heart, and he immediately calmed down.
His face cold, Dugu Bo flicked his sleeve and turned his back. "Don't think I don't know, Xue Xing. You used me in this matter."
Prince Xue Xing smiled awkwardly. "How would I dare?"
Dugu Bo said, "This once only. From now on, the debt between us is settled."
With that, Dugu Bo walked out.
Prince Xue Xing turned pale with shock and hurried after him, pleading with a mournful face, "Your Majesty Poison Douluo, I was wrong. I shouldn't have used you! Please forgive me, forgive me!"
Prince Xue Xing lamented all the way to the gates of the residence. Poison Douluo seemed to relent, and his tone softened somewhat.
"Very well. For the sake of the life-saving grace you showed me, I'll give you one more piece of information. Tang Hao's son Tang San is now in Suotuo City. He has Twin Martial Souls, and once he grows up, he'll be another figure like Pope Bibi Dong. You can have Xue Beng befriend him early. He can keep you both free from worry for the rest of your lives."
Prince Xue Xing was overjoyed. "Good! I'll send Xue Beng to Suotuo City at once!"
Dugu Bo's figure had already vanished.
A thoughtful look flashed in Prince Xue Xing's eyes, and he muttered to himself, "Heaven Dou Royal Academy's reserve team is just about to go train in the cities of the various kingdoms. Xue Beng can join them to conceal his purpose and lull Xue Qinghe into complacency. But Xue Beng has already been expelled from the reserve team."
Prince Xue Xing's gaze darkened. "Hmph, I'll go to the academy and demand an explanation. Let's see if those three board members dare expel Xue Beng."
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy is our Xue Family's academy, after all! We of the imperial family can do whatever we want there!"