"All right."
As Long Xiaoyao spoke, however, he changed tack.
"But since you decide the terms of the contest, it would be fairer for me to choose the general direction of the Martial Soul cultivation."
Since the other side had proposed this contest, they must have come prepared. He could not let himself be taken advantage of for nothing.
Tang Wutong wore a radiant smile, seemingly not the least bit intimidated.
"No problem, Grandpa Long."
"You can even name a single Martial Soul outright. We're confident we can take on the challenge."
His words made even Niu Tian, standing beside her, look at her with some uncertainty.
But seeing how confident she seemed, he decided to trust her this once.
"Just as Wutong said, even if you want to choose the Dark Holy Dragon Martial Soul, we have no problem with it."
He was goading him, knowing the other man would never be so thick-skinned.
Long Xiaoyao laughed heartily. He had noticed Niu Tian's lack of confidence.
"There's no need to go that far."
"I've lived a long life, and I'm just as confident in my knowledge and experience."
"Don't worry. I won't name a specific Martial Soul. I said I'd choose a general direction, and that's what I'll do."
"I've given it some thought. Everyone is accustomed to ordinary Martial Souls, so why don't we try something special?"
"How about Evil Martial Souls?"
"Any Evil Soul Master's Martial Soul will do, and I won't take advantage of you, either."
"I've chosen the direction. You can go and catch any Evil Soul Master you like to use as the test subject. That would count as ridding the people of a menace, too."
Evil Martial Souls?
Everyone was instantly startled.
Quite a few were troubled by the idea, but these words had come from a Limit Douluo. It was not anyone else's place to voice an opinion.
Niu Tian thought that he really wasn't holding back. His Dark Holy Dragon Martial Soul would surely give him an advantage.
"Then that's what we'll do."
He nodded in agreement. Now that things had come this far, his status made it awkward for him to backtrack. He could only hope that Tang Wutong wasn't playing around in a matter this important.
The others were full of emotion as well. They hadn't expected two level 99 Limit Douluo to scheme against each other like this over a disciple.
Du Busi had actually wanted to call another Body Sect disciple over to serve as a volunteer, but this wasn't the Lerna Swamp. There were too many people here, and he cared about saving face.
This was a contest between two Limit Douluo. Although the others had their own thoughts, none of them showed anything on the surface.
Of them all, Chu Qing, the person at the center of it, was especially surprised. He saw through Long Xiaoyao's intentions at once. He hadn't expected the man to be so willing to put aside his pride. Long Xiaoyao had undoubtedly chosen an Evil Soul Master because he intended to seek out Ye Xishui. With the entire Holy Spirit Cult behind him offering advice, success was more or less in the bag.
But compared to Long Xiaoyao, about whom he had information, Chu Qing was more curious about what medicine Tang Wutong was selling in her gourd. How had she remained so calm and confident from beginning to end?
Niu Tian flew off with Tang Wutong to catch an Evil Soul Master, while Chu Qing was forced to follow Long Aotian outside the city for their match.
Long Xiaoyao followed along to watch, pleased, looking at Chu Qing as though he were already his disciple.
He knew it wasn't honorable, but a genius disciple really was too tempting to pass up!
Some nobles watched Chu Qing's departing figure. Seeing how close he was to even the Body Sect's young sect master, they couldn't help sighing with envy.
They understood that what Chu Qing had done was simple, but not many people could manage to follow his example.
Only after they were far from Lingdou City did Niu Tian ask in puzzlement:
"Wutong, do you have a plan?"
Tang Wutong said proudly:
"Nope."
Uh...
Niu Tian said helplessly:
"Wutong, you're as mischievous as ever!"
Tang Wutong giggled.
"Big Daddy, I was tricking you!"
"Don't worry. We're sure to win this round."
"Tell me, what trick have you got up your sleeve?"
"Big Daddy, we may not be good at this, but I can ask my dad!"
"If we're competing over Evil Martial Souls, Dad can ask the Evil God King. They only need to say a few words, and won't our victory be as good as guaranteed?"
Understanding dawned on Niu Tian.
"Now I'm relieved."
"We can start thinking about the Soul Bone for the third round."
A few days later, they caught an Evil Soul Master and returned to Lingdou City. The two Limit Douluo examined him and asked him quite a few questions before throwing him into prison for the time being.
The two sides parted ways. A month later, they each returned with a Martial Soul cultivation plan to compete.
Long Xiaoyao's insights frightened everyone who heard them.
Even the Evil Soul Master who had been brought out listened in surprise. He hadn't expected that he could actually grow into a Titled Douluo of terrifying strength.
But he had indulged in that vision for less than a few seconds when he heard a voice beside him:
"Evil Soul Masters really are frightening. We'd better kill him quickly."
The icy words made the Evil Soul Master suddenly remember that he was still wearing shackles.
Without a doubt, Long Xiaoyao's cultivation plan came from the Holy Spirit Cult. The elders had revised it again and again, making it an impeccable cultivation manual tailored to the Evil Soul Master.
Yet his opponent, Niu Tian, showed no sign of feeling pressured. He stepped forward and said with confidence:
"My cultivation plan can't bring him to the level of Titled Douluo, but it can remove the evil power from his Martial Soul and return it to normal. His potential, however, can only reach Soul Emperor..."
The moment he said that, everyone was struck with disbelief. They listened, dumbfounded, until he finished.
The superior plan was now plain to see.
Long Xiaoyao didn't believe it. If an Evil Martial Soul could really be returned to normal, there was no way the Holy Spirit Cult wouldn't know. He said:
"The Immortal Herb you mentioned is so precious. Words alone are no proof. How can you be sure it can really return his Martial Soul to normal?"
Niu Tian had been prepared for this. He immediately took out the Immortal Herb he had mentioned and said:
"This Immortal Herb is no use against other Evil Martial Souls, but it works wonders on his particular Martial Soul."
"If you don't believe me, I'll let you witness it with your own eyes."
He immediately gave the Immortal Herb to the Evil Soul Master to consume.
The others stared in astonishment. Was he really going to use it so lavishly?
Chu Qing found it a little strange. When Niu Tian taught him, he had never explained things so methodically.
Before long, the herb's medicinal power began to take effect. Countless wisps of black smoke rose from the Evil Soul Master's body, and the presence of his Martial Soul began to change gradually.
The Evil Soul Master was beside himself with excitement.
"It's true!"
"My Martial Soul really has returned to normal!"
"Now I can be a normal person again!"
The experts present sensed it and confirmed that his Martial Soul really was different from before.
Long Xiaoyao, who had dealt with the Holy Spirit Cult for many years, had never seen anything like this. He examined the man again and again, even more delighted than the Evil Soul Master himself. His excitement showed so strongly on his face that it was almost abnormal.
He rose and saluted Niu Tian.
"I've lost this round. I admire your extensive knowledge, Your Majesty."
Niu Tian returned the salute and said:
"I won by a narrow margin. We're tied now."
The Evil Soul Master, who was no longer of any value, was led away at that point. He kept shouting:
"Let me go! I'm not an Evil Soul Master anymore!"
His escort looked at him as though he were an idiot.
"So you don't have to pay with your life for the people you killed before?"
Long Xiaoyao watched the Evil Soul Master being led away, his eyes full of emotion. He said to Niu Tian:
"I can give up the third round. May I ask Your Majesty for a favor?"
Huh!
Niu Tian was startled, then said happily:
"If it's within my ability, go ahead and ask."
Long Xiaoyao immediately released his Soul Power to envelop himself and Niu Tian, sealing off their voices.
The others watched in confusion. They had been competing so fiercely only moments ago, so why had Long Xiaoyao suddenly given up of his own accord?
Chu Qing, however, found it easy enough to guess what Long Xiaoyao was thinking.
I really wasn't wrong about this old fellow. He probably saw Niu Tian turn an Evil Soul Master back to normal and wants to ask whether Niu Tian can do the same for Ye Xishui.
He found it funny. He felt that even if Ye Xishui's Martial Soul became normal, she would still sit in her position as the Holy Spirit Cult's grand elder.
But compared to other people's messes, what left him feeling more helpless now was his own situation.
What should I do?
He began to grow anxious.
Long Xiaoyao gave up on his own. Does that mean I really have to throw myself into Tang Buddha's embrace?