Xue Qinghe felt an odd discomfort spread through his body. He couldn't pinpoint why, but being inexplicably draped over by another man left him feeling unsettled. This strange sensation was a first in his life.
"190.000 soul coins, going once!"
"190.000 gold soul coins, going twice!"
"Sold!"
Piece after piece of auction items were sold, leaving Ye Hao and Xue Qinghe sitting idly.
"Brother Ye, nothing here catches your eye?" Xue Qinghe asked, propping his chin on his hand, looking a little bored and sleepy.
Ye Hao glanced at the next item up for bid—a set of armor from a century ago—and sighed in exasperation.
"Brother Xue, are you sure you brought me to the right place? Honestly, it's not that I don't appreciate the things here, but they're of no use to me. Take that hundred-year-old armor, for example. What am I supposed to do with it once I return to the academy? Even as decoration, it'd just take up space."
Xue Qinghe hesitated for a moment, then realized that most of the upcoming auction items weren't particularly practical for soul masters. They were more suited for wealthy collectors seeking unique treasures to display.
"Perhaps I misjudged this place…"
Just as the two were about to leave, a familiar voice called out.
"Qinghe?"
Xue Qinghe froze mid-step, the voice striking a chord of recognition deep within him.
Turning around, he saw two figures standing before him and Ye Hao.
...
The scene shifted to a misty valley, where a peculiar hot spring was split into two distinct pools—one milky white and the other bright red. Despite being adjacent, the waters of the two springs never mixed, maintaining their distinct boundaries.
The rising steam enveloped the entire area in a dreamy haze.
"Grandpa!"
From the edge of a cliff, Dugu Yan called out, her voice echoing through the mist.
Seated cross-legged on the precipice was an elderly man dressed in green robes, his piercing green eyes glowing faintly. His posture was as straight as a javelin, and even his hair shimmered with a venomous green hue. The old man radiated a chilling aura of authority, his body exuding faint green light as he meditated, concentrating intently.
Dugu Yan approached hesitantly, stopping short to avoid disturbing him.
After a while, the elder's aura calmed, and he opened his eyes, his expression icy and stern. Slowly, he stood and gazed at the green light swirling in his palm.
"Why… why haven't I broken through yet? Could it be…"
"Grandpa!"
The old man flinched, turning to see his granddaughter. His steely gaze softened, a rare smile of satisfaction appearing on his face.
"Yanyan, didn't you leave to explore the continent? It's only been a month, and you're already back?"
Dugu Yan pouted, giving him an exasperated glance. "Grandpa, I've been standing here for a while. You mean to tell me that, with your strength as a Titled Douluo, you didn't even sense me?"
"Uh…"
The old man looked momentarily embarrassed.
"Ahem." He forced a smile. "Let's not dwell on that. My dear granddaughter, tell me where you've been this past month. Did you come across anything exciting? Share it with your grandpa so we can enjoy it together."
Dugu Yan sighed and sat on the cliff's edge, resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
Seeing her like this, the elder's expression turned serious.
"What's wrong? Did someone bully you? Was it that brat Yu Tianheng? That scoundrel dares to mistreat my precious granddaughter? Watch me head to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and break his legs!"
His rage filled the air with a cold, venomous energy, causing the temperature around them to plummet. Behind him, a massive green serpent manifested, exuding an oppressive and suffocating aura.
"No, no!" Dugu Yan quickly interrupted. "Grandpa, you're getting it all wrong! Tianheng treats me very well and hasn't bullied me. Do you want to know why I'm upset?"
The old man leaned closer, intrigued. "Tell me."
Dugu Yan raised two fingers. "Two reasons!"
The elder listened intently.
"First," she began, "Do you remember the Ye Hao I mentioned to you before?"
The old man thought for a moment before nodding. "Of course, I remember. Isn't he the kid you said would be a good successor for me? What, did he refuse?"
Dugu Yan sighed in exasperation. "I've brought it up with him multiple times, but he doesn't seem interested. I even planned to have you meet him personally when we returned. But instead, he disappeared in the middle of the night without a word and asked Teacher Qin for a seven-day leave. Isn't that infuriating?"
The elder narrowed his eyes, his interest piqued.
"The brat has the nerve to ignore me, Poison Douluo? To refuse the honor of being my apprentice? That arrogant kid…"
Clenching his fist, the Poison Douluo—Dugu Bo, famed for his unmatched mastery of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Venom—snarled, "I'll handle this myself. Let's see how he escapes me this time!"
"And the second thing?" Dugu Bo asked.
Dugu Yan looked up at the sky, her expression somber. "Grandpa, is the Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom truly unbeatable?"
Dugu Bo frowned. "Why do you ask?"
Dugu Yan sighed again. "Not long ago, in a team battle at Soto City's Great Spirit Arena, we faced a team called the Shrek Seven Devils. Among them were four soul masters and three grandmasters. For nearly a month, they kept winning team battles, breaking records at the arena. In the end, we finally faced them and ended their streak."
Dugu Bo chuckled. "And you're unhappy about winning? Why are you sighing then?"
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. "That's exactly what makes it so frustrating!"
"One of their members, a soul master called the Thousand-Handed Asura, whose real name is Tang San, managed to… neutralize my Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom."
Dugu Bo's expression darkened instantly, a glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. His granddaughter's venom being countered was an ominous sign.
For a soul master, unique abilities like Dugu Bo's poison were often their trump cards, vital for survival in deadly situations. The fact that someone had neutralized it was as unsettling as losing a piece of his own life force.
"Tang San, was it?" Dugu Bo's voice turned icy. "He cannot be allowed to live."