At the most critical moment, a sudden change occurred!
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poisonous phantom, solid as substance, abruptly stopped less than three feet from Dai Weisi's face.
It was as though it had struck an invisible yet indestructible wall.
Immediately afterward, a figure as imposing as a mountain appeared before Dai Weisi without warning.
He wore a simple gray robe, his face was rugged and antiquated, and his gray hair was meticulously combed.
He simply stood there in silence, arms folded across his chest, without even releasing his Martial Soul. Yet the space around him seemed to form a world of its own; no matter how the dark green poisonous mist churned and corroded, it could not advance an inch.
When the poisonous mist struck him, it was like waves crashing against a reef unmoved through the ages. It silently broke apart to either side and eventually vanished.
The entire process was dazzlingly fast, yet terrifyingly quiet.
"Who's there?!"
Dugu Bo's emerald-green serpent pupils contracted into two pinpoints, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
When did this person appear?
He had sensed nothing!
A living person, a terrifying existence whose Soul Power fluctuations far surpassed his own, had appeared out of thin air in a blind spot of his perception. It was even more frightening to him than Dai Weisi's wild words just now!
That's impossible!
But the truth was right before his eyes.
The Soul Power emanating from the gray-robed elder was vast and weighty, even... a notch higher than his own, at level ninety-one!
Level ninety-three? Ninety-four?
And a Defense System Titled Douluo at that!
Dugu Bo's heart sank bit by bit.
"A... a Titled Douluo..."
Zhu Zhuqing stood frozen as though struck by lightning, her mind completely blank.
How could this be?
She knew that Dai Weisi had a Titled Douluo guarding him.
But throughout the journey, she had tried every method she could to sense and probe for him, only to find not the slightest trace!
At one point, she had even thought Dai Weisi was so arrogant that he had left his guard in Star Luo City!
So... it wasn't that he wasn't there. I was too weak-so weak I wasn't even qualified to sense his existence?!
No, wait!
How exactly did he appear?
Only at this moment did Zhu Zhuqing truly feel a trace of fear.
She had thought she had seen through Dai Weisi and played him in the palm of her hand, but in the end, she was the clown who had been kept in the dark from beginning to end.
Unlike the others, who were shocked and horrified, Dai Weisi's mood was practically all sunshine.
Just as Dugu Bo had made his move, the long-silent system notification had sounded in his mind like music from the heavens.
[Ding! Host detected facing a hostile attack from a Titled Douluo. God-Level Selection System triggered!] [Option one: withdraw with force. Leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well safely under Shi Mo's protection. Reward: Soul Power Level increased by one, one random Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.] [Option two: kill Dugu Bo. Order Shi Mo to act and cooperate with the host to find a way to kill him on the spot. Reward: Soul Power Level increased by three, one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, one random Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.] [Option three: subdue Dugu Bo. Crush his resolve with thunderous force and make him submit completely. Reward: Soul Power Level increased by five! Reward: Master-Servant United Hearts Contract (can forcibly bind one Titled Douluo; the other party cannot betray the host, or their soul will be destroyed)! Reward: Netherworld Crimson Refinement Grass (can completely resolve the toxic backlash within Dugu Bo's body and help his Martial Soul undergo a second evolution, greatly increasing his potential)!]
"Haha... hahahaha!"
Dai Weisi could no longer contain himself. He threw back his head and laughed.
His laughter was full and strong, brimming with undisguised delight and satisfaction as it echoed through the valley.
Did that even need choosing?
Option one was too cowardly and didn't fit his persona.
Option two-killing Dugu Bo would certainly be satisfying, but the rewards were nowhere near as good as the third option.
A living Titled Douluo he could put to use was worth far more than a Soul Bone.
Besides, Shi Mo was a Defense System Titled Douluo, after all. His offensive methods were limited, and he might not even be able to kill Dugu Bo!
Only option three would maximize his gains!
An immediate five-level increase in Soul Power, an overbearing contract that could control a Titled Douluo, and a miraculous Immortal Herb that could make Dugu Bo utterly devoted and even deeply grateful!
This time, Dugu Bo had come rushing over to deliver warmth!
Dai Weisi's laughter made Dugu Bo's expression even uglier, his face turning green and then white as though he had opened a dye shop.
He had lived nearly a full sixty-year cycle, and he had lost more face today than in the past sixty years combined.
With a level ninety-three Defense System Titled Douluo standing there on the other side, Dugu Bo probably couldn't break through his defenses even if he drained all his Soul Power.
It was like a mouse trying to drag a turtle-he had no idea where to bite.
Run?
This was his own lair. Where could he run?
Dugu Bo took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the frustration and killing intent in his heart.
A true man knew when to bend and when to stand tall. Face was a small matter; his life was what counted.
He waved his hand, dispersing the Soul Power at his fingertips, and squeezed a smile onto his old face that looked worse than a grimace. He spoke in a raspy voice:
"Heh... heheh, Your Eminence, you concealed your abilities well. These old eyes failed me."
He glanced at Shi Mo, the gray-robed elder, then turned his gaze to Dai Weisi, his tone noticeably softer.
"I acted rashly today. You may leave; I certainly won't stop you."
Circumstances were stronger than he was, so he accepted his defeat.
But then he changed tack. His emerald serpent pupils glanced toward the despondent Zhu Zhuqing, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
"However, this little girl must stay."
Dugu Bo began making his own calculations.
He had offended the crown prince of the Star Luo Empire so badly today. Although the other party could do nothing to him now, they had ultimately become enemies.
Keeping Zhu Zhuqing would, for one thing, leave him a way out; he might be able to ease relations later through Dai Mubai.
For another, it would count as doing that Little Monster Tang San a favor.
After all, Zhu Zhuqing was that Little Monster's companion, and standing behind Tang San was that person...
At his words, a trace of color instantly returned to Zhu Zhuqing's deathly pale face, and a small flame of hope kindled in her eyes.
Yes! As long as I can survive!
Zhu Zhuyun's heart tightened, and she instinctively gripped Dai Weisi's hand.
Dai Weisi's response, however, once again exceeded everyone's expectations.
"Leave?"
He stepped forward, passing Shi Mo, who was as steady as a mountain, and stood before Dugu Bo once more.
He was somewhat shorter than Dugu Bo, but at this moment, the imperial majesty he exuded, looking down upon all under heaven, brought Dugu Bo an unprecedented pressure.
"Dugu Bo, do you also have some misunderstanding about the words 'crown prince'?"
The corner of Dai Weisi's mouth rose in an utterly domineering curve.
"I did not come here today to discuss anything with you, nor did I come merely to go through the motions."
He extended a finger, pointing it at Dugu Bo from a distance, and spoke each word distinctly.
His voice was not loud, but it exploded like thunder in Dugu Bo's heart.
"I am giving you a chance, and it is your only chance."
"Submit to me, or... die here."