The Old Monster Who Protected His Own (3)

"Chaos Pearl... never heard of it." Dugu Bo frowned, then relaxed his brow. "Still, it's a good Martial Soul. It can defend and escape, and it's immune to poison. Rather interesting. Yan'er has no reason to feel wronged about losing to you."

With those words, he had publicly acknowledged Lin Chen's strength.

Dugu Yan sat below the stage, her cheeks slightly flushed. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she held her tongue. Even Grandpa had acknowledged him, so what more could she say?

The three chief education committee members also walked over. Meng Shenji smiled and patted Lin Chen on the shoulder. "Good lad, you've given us another surprise!"

Dugu Bo glanced at them and snorted. "Heaven Dou Academy certainly picked up a treasure."

As he spoke, he turned his hand over and produced three white jade boxes, then handed them to Lin Chen. "I shattered your shield and left you with some residual poison in your body. Consider these compensation."

Lin Chen accepted the jade boxes. They felt cool to the touch.

He opened them and saw that the first box was lined with silvery-white silk. It was thousand-year Snow Silkworm silk, which could dispel cold poison and be used to refine pills;

The second box held a spiritual herb that was half red and half white, its leaves resembling interwoven ice crystals and flames. It was Ice Fire Grass, a supreme treasure for tempering the body, with potent medicinal properties;

In the third box lay two eight-petaled orchids. Their petals were a lustrous white throughout and gave off a faint, delicate fragrance. A gentle halo of light flowed over each petal.

Eight-Petal Immortal Orchids!

Lin Chen's heart stirred.

He recognized them: top-grade support spiritual herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. They were priceless treasures to Support System Soul Masters, capable of purifying Soul Power and breaking through bottlenecks. Their effects were more than ten times stronger than those of ordinary thousand-year spiritual herbs. Dugu Bo had produced two at once. He was indeed wealthy and generous.

"Thank you, Senior." Lin Chen put away the jade boxes and bowed slightly.

"No need to thank me." Dugu Bo waved a hand, his gaze suddenly falling on Xiao Wu as she walked over.

His gaze sharpened slightly, and his emerald-green pupils contracted. He gave Xiao Wu two long looks. Under his gaze, Xiao Wu grew somewhat uneasy and instinctively edged behind Lin Chen.

Lin Chen's heart tightened. Had Dugu Bo seen through Xiao Wu's identity as a Soul Beast?

But Dugu Bo merely nodded thoughtfully and said in an indifferent tone, "Little girl, your physique is unusual. Cultivate diligently, and don't waste your talent."

With that, he looked at Lin Chen again, his words laden with meaning. "Boy, take good care of her."

As his voice faded, Dugu Bo's figure flickered. He turned into a green afterimage and vanished through the auditorium entrance.

He had come and gone in a hurry, leaving behind only the students who still hadn't recovered their senses and the three chief education committee members.

"Senior Dugu is still the same as ever." Meng Shenji smiled and shook his head, looking at Lin Chen with growing satisfaction. "Lin Chen, you've opened our eyes today. You're the first person your age to emerge unscathed from an encounter with Poison Douluo."

"Senior was merely holding back," Lin Chen said modestly.

He knew full well that Dugu Bo really hadn't tried to kill him. Otherwise, let alone a true killing move backed by forty percent of his strength, Lin Chen wouldn't have been able to withstand even one backed by ten percent. The gulf between a Titled Douluo and a Soul Elder wasn't something the properties of a Martial Soul could completely bridge.

When the lecture ended, the students gradually dispersed, all looking at Lin Chen differently.

Awe, admiration, and a measure of fear.

Someone who could withstand Poison Douluo's attack head-on had reached a height they could no longer hope to attain.

Yu Tianheng stood outside the crowd, watching Lin Chen's retreating figure. He clenched his fists tightly, then relaxed them. Though the gap was large, he wouldn't give up.

Dugu Yan walked beside him, muttering, "What's so great about him? His Martial Soul is just a little special, that's all." Despite her words, the hostility from before had vanished from her tone, replaced by an emotion she couldn't quite put into words.

Lin Chen and Xiao Wu walked back to the lakeside courtyard side by side.

The setting sun shone on the lake, making its surface shimmer.

"Brother Lin Chen, you scared me to death just now." Xiao Wu patted her chest. "That Senior Dugu's poison was so powerful. I was afraid something would happen to you."

"I'm fine. I know my limits." Lin Chen smiled and took out the three jade boxes. "Look, I even came away with quite a few good things."

He picked up the Ice Fire Grass and handed it to Xiao Wu. "This is for you. It's perfect for tempering your body. Combined with marrow-cleansing spiritual herbs, it can raise your physical strength another level, allowing you to withstand greater spatial tearing forces when you use your Soul Skills."

Xiao Wu accepted the spiritual herb, warmth filling her heart. Lin Chen was always like this: whenever he had something good, she was the first person he thought of.

"What about the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchids?" Xiao Wu asked, tilting her head. "They're good things too, right?"

"They are, but they're not much use to us." Lin Chen looked thoughtfully at the two Eight-Petal Immortal Orchids in the jade box. "They're true treasures to Support System Soul Masters."

Ye Lingling's cool, aloof face appeared in his mind.

The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul was a top-grade Support System Martial Soul, yet she had been stuck at the bottleneck of level twenty-nine for a long time. Breaking through was already harder for Support System Soul Masters than for Power Attack System Soul Masters. With an Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, she could not only break through to level thirty smoothly, but also advance her Soul Power even further.

Lin Chen tapped his fingers lightly against the jade box.

Class One was a whole. The stronger Ye Lingling's support abilities were, the higher the team's ceiling would be.

Besides, forming another good connection would benefit his future plans.

"Tomorrow, I'll give one to Ye Lingling," Lin Chen said calmly.

Early the next morning, at the back mountain training ground.

Dressed in white, Ye Lingling sat cross-legged on a bluestone beside the cold pool. The illusory image of a Nine Heart Begonia slowly rose and fell above her head, a pale pink halo enveloping her body as waves of Soul Power spread outward. Yet she remained stuck at the bottleneck of level twenty-nine, just one step short, unable to break through.

Breaking through was already several times harder for Support System Soul Masters than for Battle Soul System Soul Masters. The Nine Heart Begonia was a top-grade support Martial Soul, and every level required an immense accumulation of Soul Power.

She had been stuck at level twenty-nine for nearly three months. She had tried all sorts of methods, but none had broken through that barrier.

"Senior Ye."

A clear voice came from behind her.

Ye Lingling opened her eyes and turned around. Lin Chen stood a short distance away, holding a small white jade box, his expression calm.

"Lin Chen?" A little surprised, she stood up and nodded slightly. "What brings you here?"

Lin Chen usually kept to himself and rarely sought others out, apart from classes and practical combat.

"I was passing by and saw you cultivating, Senior. There's something I'd like to give you." Lin Chen walked over and handed her the white jade box. "Please see if it's of any use to you, Senior."

Puzzled, Ye Lingling took the box. The moment she opened it, a lustrous white glow lit up her eyes.

An Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid lay quietly in the box, its delicate fragrance wafting up to her. The light flowing over its petals was gentle and pure. One look was enough to tell it was no ordinary treasure.

Ye Lingling's expression changed slightly, and she looked up sharply. "An Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid?! This... this is too precious! I can't accept it."

Of course she recognized it. For Support System Soul Masters, calling it a divine medicine was no exaggeration. Let alone an ordinary student like her-even sect elders would fight tooth and nail over it. How could Lin Chen give something so valuable away so casually?