Under the quiet starlit sky, Ye Hao departed from the serene Heaven Dou City.
Once outside the city limits, he stowed the Death God's Heart away. With the combined speed of his two soul bones, the Six-Winged Purple Light Wings and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was almost within reach.
As he prepared to land, Ye Hao noticed a familiar figure standing at the base of the academy's mountain.
"Huh? Sister Yan? What's she doing here?" he murmured, puzzled. "Could she have come to pick me up?"
Half-skeptical, Ye Hao descended cautiously.
When Dugu Yan spotted Ye Hao, she heaved a sigh of relief and hurried toward him, grabbing his arm and pulling him along the path toward the academy.
"Wait, Sister Yan, what's the rush?" Ye Hao asked, confused.
Dugu Yan scolded him, her tone sharp. "You finally decided to come back? Why did you leave without saying a word?"
"Uh…" Ye Hao was momentarily speechless.
He glanced at the sky and changed the subject awkwardly. "Wow, the moon's so bright tonight! Hahaha…"
"There's no moon tonight!"
"..."
Lowering her voice, Dugu Yan said, "Listen, you'd better behave when we get there. It's not just Teacher Qin; the three deans are there too."
Ye Hao raised an eyebrow in surprise. All three deans?
It was just a little tardiness; did it really warrant the bigwigs gathering like this? It felt more like a court trial.
"Oh, and one more thing," Dugu Yan added, hesitating. "My… my grandfather is here too."
"Your… grandfather?" Ye Hao blinked, processing her words. "Wait, your grandfather? You mean the—"
"Yeah."
"Old Poison!" Ye Hao shouted loudly.
His voice carried all the way to the academy's guest hall, where Dugu Bo, the three deans, and Qin Ming were seated.
The three deans exchanged uneasy glances. Their palms were clammy, and cold sweat trickled down their backs. Qin Ming slapped his forehead in exasperation.
"This kid… is he trying to get himself killed?"
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo remained eerily calm, sitting still like a statue, his expression unreadable.
Before long, Dugu Yan led Ye Hao to the guest hall.
Ye Hao scanned the room and saw the three deans and Qin Ming present, as Dugu Yan had said. He casually waved at them, only to find the group pretending not to notice him. Instead, they exchanged knowing looks, silently signaling him to be cautious of.
His surroundings?
Ye Hao followed their gazes and finally noticed a figure sitting quietly beside him—Dugu Bo.
At that moment, Dugu Bo opened his cold, piercing eyes. When their gazes met, Ye Hao froze.
Dugu Bo's expression darkened as his brows furrowed. There's something familiar about this kid.
Meanwhile, Ye Hao, ever curious, studied Dugu Bo intently. So, this was the famous Poison Douluo? Not only was he dressed entirely in green, but even his eyes were green. Maybe it was a family trait—or possibly the effect of the poison within him.
Breaking the silence, Dugu Bo stood up slowly and asked, "You're Ye Hao?"
Ye Hao nodded. "That's me. May I ask why Senior Poison Douluo has sought me out?"
Dugu Bo chuckled, a low and sinister sound. "Well, well, you're quite the character. Just a moment ago, you were shouting 'Old Poison' at the top of your lungs. What happened? Change of heart?"
The three deans paled, ready to intervene with excuses like, "He's just a kid; he didn't mean it."
But before they could speak, Dugu Bo's icy gaze swept over them. The aura of a Titled Douluo was suffocating, and the three Soul Douluo-level deans dared not utter a word.
Ye Hao, after a brief pause, grinned. "Alright then—Old Poison."
The room fell silent.
Had they misheard?
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, his chilling aura enveloping Ye Hao. The oppressive atmosphere made Ye Hao's whole body feel cold, as though his blood were freezing.
"Say that again if you've got the guts," Dugu Bo said coldly.
Ye Hao hesitated for a split second before smirking. If fear was inevitable, it was better to face it head-on.
"Old—Poison."
The hall grew even quieter. Everyone froze, staring in disbelief.
This wasn't bravery—this was lunacy. Dancing on a blade wasn't enough for Ye Hao; he was waltzing on the edge of a Titled Douluo's sword.
After what felt like an eternity, Dugu Bo's eyes lit up, and he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"You've got guts, kid! I like it. Most people wouldn't dare call me that, but you just blurted it out like it's nothing. Anyone else would be dead by now, but you… you've got spirit!"
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Dugu Yan beamed, sensing that things were going well.
Ye Hao discreetly wiped the sweat from his palms. He'd gambled—and won.
He'd counted on two things:
Dugu Yan's Presence: Dugu Bo adored his granddaughter. If he'd acted rashly, it would surely sour their relationship, something Dugu Bo wouldn't risk.
Dugu Bo's Eccentric Nature: Known for his unpredictable behavior, Dugu Bo shared a certain kindred spirit with Ye Hao.
Still, Ye Hao wasn't entirely defenseless. If things had gone south, the Death God's Heart was ready for action.
"Wait…"
Dugu Yan suddenly noticed something unusual. "Ye Hao, what's that on your forehead?"
The group's attention shifted to the purple square mark on Ye Hao's brow. Its presence was striking, especially when paired with his already outstanding looks.
"Oh, this?"
Ye Hao couldn't reveal the true nature of the Death God's Heart, his trump card.
"It's just a little decoration I got in Heaven Dou City. Took longer than I expected, which is why I'm late. How does it look? I think it makes me even more handsome!"
The group collectively rolled their eyes. Handsome, my foot! We nearly had heart attacks because of you.
Dugu Bo coughed, crossing his hands behind his back as he stood before Ye Hao. His gaze was sharp, yet his tone was calm.
"How about this, kid? Become my apprentice."
The room fell silent again.
Dugu Bo's proposal was serious—there wasn't a trace of jest in his voice.
Ye Hao didn't hesitate. "Old Poison, I appreciate the offer, but I really can't accept. It's for your own good."
"For my own good?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'm a Titled Douluo. Who in this world do I need to fear? Tell me, how does this refusal benefit me?"
Ye Hao glanced around, clearly uncomfortable. Dugu Bo caught the hint and addressed the group.
"Let me speak with Ye Hao in private. The rest of you—stay put. And don't even think about eavesdropping."
The group quickly nodded, retreating with visible relief.
Dugu Yan wanted to follow but was firmly blocked by her grandfather. She could only watch helplessly as they walked away.
Once out of earshot, Meng Shenji wiped the sweat from his brow. "That was terrifying. Ye Hao's like a daredevil playing with knives. Anyone else would've been dead a dozen times over by now."
Qin Ming sighed heavily. "I really need to keep a closer eye on that kid."