Chapter 50: Dugu Bo
Later that afternoon, Liu Erlong gave everyone a detailed introduction to the Blue Tyrant Academy.
It was better than expected. Although it had only been established for ten years, it had an excellent reputation in the Soul Master world, having cultivated many powerful Soul Masters.
Even when the Spirit Hall wanted to cooperate with the Blue Tyrant Academy, Liu Erlong had refused.
"Alright, it's about time. Let's eat and chat," she said.
Liu Erlong seemed to have forgotten about the Grandmaster, fully displaying her forthright nature as she hosted the Shrek group for lunch.
During the meal, she patiently answered everyone's questions. In the afternoon, she led them on a tour of the Blue Tyrant Academy and showed them to their accommodations.
In the evening, at Flender's request, dinner was eaten in the cafeteria. It wasn't as lavish as lunch, and everyone finished quickly.
Flender said, "Everyone's tired today. Let's head back to rest early."
He didn't stand on ceremony with Liu Erlong, taking over the dean's duties. He knew in his heart that this was a form of compensation from Liu Erlong, but he could never refuse her requests.
"Xiao San, come for a walk with me." The Grandmaster needed someone to confide in and vent his troubles.
Tang San nodded slightly, stood up, and followed the Grandmaster outside.
---
Liu Erlong didn't say anything, as if she hadn't seen the Grandmaster leave. She picked up a napkin from the table and elegantly wiped her mouth.
Flander's face showed a faint smile: "Aren't you afraid he'll run away again?"
Liu Erlong smiled playfully, "Boss Flender, now that I've seen him, is there any chance he'll run away again? This time, even if I have to tie him up, I'll keep him by my side."
Chen Sheng suddenly said, "Teacher Erlong, I think you're still not decisive enough."
Flander rolled his eyes at Chen Sheng, "What do you know, you little brat? Adults are talking, kids shouldn't interrupt."
Chen Sheng glared back without flinching, "That's still more than what a single man like you knows. If you love someone, you should boldly confess. If confession fails, use force. If force fails, use drugs. If you don't even have the courage to commit a crime, how can you say you love him?"
After Chen Sheng finished speaking, everyone was dumbfounded.
"Brother Sheng, where did you learn that from? Have you practiced it?" Ma Hongjun asked.
"I read it in a book. I'm just about to find a few people to try it out. If it works, I can apply it in the future," Chen Sheng said seriously.
"So, you're treating me as a guinea pig?" Liu Erlong glared, and at the same time, a cold aura enveloped Chen Sheng, making her seem angry.
"Teacher Erlong, I'm giving you advice. How can you say you're a guinea pig?" Chen Sheng chuckled, as if he hadn't noticed Liu Erlong's change.
"You little rascal are really interesting. Aren't you afraid I'll beat you up?" Liu Erlong laughed, and the cold aura retracted.
"You can't beat me, so what am I afraid of?" Chen Sheng said lightly.
"You're really arrogant. I'm going to teach you a good lesson today." Liu Erlong rolled up her sleeves, looking ready to fight.
"Erlong, don't be impulsive. You really can't beat him. This kid is a monster among monsters. His soul power was already reached level forty when he joined shrek, and his combat power far exceeds his soul power level. Without using his martial soul, he can defeat me and Zhao Wuji. If he goes all out, even a Titled Douluo might not be his match," Flender quickly pulled Liu Erlong back.
"Are you serious?" Liu Erlong said, half-believing, half-doubting.
[DETECTED! Liu Erlong's Emotion (Shock, Curiosity) Congratulations to Host! Treasure Chest acquired!]
"Would I lie to you?" Flender said.
"Are there really such monsters in this world?" Liu Erlong stared intently at Chen Sheng, as if trying to see what made him so different.
"Teacher Erlong, if you look at me like that, I'll get shy," Chen Sheng feigned embarrassment.
"Pfft!"
Ning Rongrong burst out laughing at Chen Sheng's appearance, and even Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth, chuckling softly.
"You really are unique," Liu Erlong said.
"Erlong, go out and see Xiao Gang. Xiao San is his direct disciple, so he'll definitely tell Xiao San whatever is on his mind," Flender said, his meaning being for Liu Erlong to eavesdrop.
Liu Erlong didn't think there was anything wrong with it. She nodded and then walked out.
"Everyone, disperse. We'll be busy tomorrow," Flender waved his hand.
Everyone stood up, ready to go back and rest.
Zhu Zhuqing walked up to Chen Sheng and softly said, "Don't read those messy books anymore."
After speaking, Zhu Zhuqing didn't linger and left directly.
Chen Sheng chuckled softly, finding it very amusing. Suddenly, he sensed something and glanced in the direction of the Grandmaster and Tang San, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Finally, it's here."
---
On the other side, the Grandmaster recounted his story with Liu Erlong to Tang San, and the pain suppressed for twenty years poured out all at once, making him feel much better.
Chen Sheng had quietly followed them, staying hidden in the shadows of the trees, his spiritual power allowing him to observe without being detected.
Just then, Liu Erlong walked out and approached the Grandmaster. Tang San, sensing the tension, quietly retreated, leaving the Grandmaster and Liu Erlong alone.
Chen Sheng remained concealed, watching with interest.
---
Yu Xiaogang kept his back turned, his voice cold. "Erlong, some things cannot be undone. Our meeting again was a mistake. Flender shouldn't have brought me here."
Liu Erlong stepped closer, her voice rising with emotion. "Look at me! Look at me and tell me it was a mistake! Is it a mistake that I've stayed alone all this time? Is it a mistake that I haven't spent a single day without thinking of you?"
Yu Xiaogang turned slowly, his expression pained. "We are siblings by blood, Erlong. The world will never accept us. Every time I look at you, I am reminded of the shame I brought to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I am a 'trash' Spirit Master and a man who broke his vows. I don't deserve you."
Liu Erlong's eyes reddened. "I don't care about the clan! I don't care about the world's rules or your Spirit Rank! I only care about the man who was my world twenty years ago. If the world calls it a sin, then let me be a sinner. Just don't leave me in this silence again."
Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes, a long silence following. "Erlong... I am a coward. I've spent half my life hiding in libraries because I couldn't face the reality of who we are."
Liu Erlong reached out, grabbing his sleeve. "Then stop hiding. If we cannot be husband and wife in the eyes of the law, then let us be together without the titles. Just... don't run away. Please."
Yu Xiaogang finally sighed, his shoulders dropping as the resistance broke. "Fine. I will stay. But Erlong... we can only be a 'spiritual' couple. No marriage, no children. Can you accept a life that is nothing more than a shadow of what we wanted?"
Liu Erlong's voice trembled, but she offered a small, fierce smile. "As long as the shadow is next to yours, it is enough."
She stepped into his space, her hands trembling as she rested them on his chest. Seeing his silence as acceptance, she leaned in, closing her eyes, her lips reaching for his in a gesture meant to seal twenty years of longing.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened in a flash of panic. Just as her lips were about to touch his, he violently recoiled, stepping back so abruptly that Liu Erlong stumbled forward. "Stop! Erlong, have you lost your mind?"
Liu Erlong froze, her eyes snapping open, her face pale with shock. "Xiaogang...?"
Yu Xiaogang wiped his mouth as if he'd been burned, his expression turning cold and judgmental. "Look at yourself! We are of the same blood, the same lineage. To indulge in such... filth... it's a betrayal of every moral principle I hold. I told you we could stay together, but only as siblings in spirit. Did you think I was joking?"
Liu Erlong's voice trembled with rising resentment. "Filth? You call my love for you filth? After I kept myself for you for two decades? After I turned this academy into a shrine for your memory?"
Yu Xiaogang straightened his collar, his voice clinical and detached. "It is an obsession, Erlong. An unhealthy one. I am a scholar, a man of logic. I cannot allow the 'Grandmaster' to be tainted by a relationship that violates the natural order. If you cannot control your impulses, then perhaps my coming here was indeed a mistake. I will not be a partner to your sin."
A silence fell over the balcony, heavier than the night air. Liu Erlong's expression shifted from heartbreak to a cold, jagged fury. Her hand moved faster than he could react.
SLAP!
The sound echoed across the courtyard.
Yu Xiaogang's head snapped to the side, a bright red mark blooming on his pale cheek.
Liu Erlong's voice was low, vibrating with a killing intent that made the nearby temperature drop. "You hide behind your 'logic' because you are too much of a coward to admit you're incapable of loving anyone more than your own reputation, Xiaogang. You're just a hollow man."
She turned on her heel, her spirit power flickering dangerously around her silhouette as she stormed off into the darkness, leaving Yu Xiaogang standing alone in the moonlight.
Chen Sheng, watching from the shadows, allowed a slow smirk to spread across his face. "Pitiful. Truly... a 'Grandmaster' of disappointment."
---
Chen Sheng continued walking through the dark and quiet forest, having witnessed the entire scene. He suddenly felt the air around him turn cold, and he shivered instinctively, a strange frown appearing on his face.
He was at a level where he was unaffected by cold or heat, and it was summer, so why did he feel cold?
Just then, Chen Sheng stopped. Not far in front of him stood a figure he recognized: Dugu Bo, whom he had seen earlier that day.
"Dugu Bo, it's impolite to infiltrate someone else's place so late at night," Chen Sheng's voice suddenly rang out, facing Dugu Bo.
"It's you?" Dugu Bo's emerald pupils constricted slightly when he saw Chen Sheng. Earlier today, Chen Sheng had been able to ignore his pressure, and now he had appeared silently, detecting him.
"This isn't the place to fight. Follow me," Chen Sheng said lightly. He spread his Hell Wings and rushed out of Blue Tyrant Academy.
Dugu Bo saw that Chen Sheng's speed was so fast and immediately chased after him.
Chen Sheng sprinted, leaving the Blue Tyrant Academy, and then exited Heaven Dou City. Dugu Bo followed behind, and whenever Dugu Bo sped up to try and catch up, Chen Sheng would also accelerate, always maintaining a certain distance from Dugu Bo.
Half an hour later, Chen Sheng arrived at a forest outside Heaven Dou City, which was the Sunset Forest where Dugu Bo resided.
Chen Sheng stopped, and Dugu Bo quickly caught up.
"Little fellow, though I don't know why your speed is so fast, to dare provoke me is simply courting death." A flash of light appeared in Dugu Bo's emerald eyes, and a sharp surge of energy assailed Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng released a soul power shockwave, creating a gust of wind that blocked Dugu Bo's energy surge.
"Just the weakest Titled Douluo, what's there to be afraid of provoking?" Chen Sheng said indifferently. He could even fight against gods, so why would he fear a Poison Douluo?
"Arrogance comes at a price. I'd like to see what ability you have to dare provoke a Titled Douluo," Dugu Bo said coldly. Green light gathered in each of his hands, and nine spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—slowly rose from beneath his feet, pulsating around his body.
"Dugu Bo, underestimating me also comes at a price." Chen Sheng gave a strange smile, then his figure flickered and vanished from his original spot.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle—"
Chen Sheng's figure darted through the forest at extreme speed, the sound of hurried footsteps echoing around, but only the sound was heard, not the person.
A crescent-shaped green light shield appeared in front of Dugu Bo. Chen Sheng slapped it with a dull thud. A ripple spread across the light shield, and Dugu Bo flew sideways, hitting the ground several meters away, his body leaving tracks on the ground.
He barely stood up, holding his injured chest.
"I haven't even used my full strength yet. You'd better be able to take a beating so I can have some fun," Chen Sheng laughed.
He casually stretched his arms, his tone almost bored. "You know, Dugu Bo, I expected more from a Titled Douluo. Is this really all the 'Poison Douluo' has to offer? I'm starting to think your reputation is overblown."
"No wonder you dare provoke a Titled Douluo, but this is far from enough," Dugu Bo said indifferently, aiming his palm at Chen Sheng and spewing a cloud of green poisonous mist.
As soon as the poisonous mist appeared, Chen Sheng smelled a pungent odor. His Hell Wings spread as he stood in the sky, and thunder activated, making the sky clouds flash with lightning.
"You old toxic mist really are full of poison, but see my wrath now," Chen Sheng said.
Dugu Bo stopped wasting words with Chen Sheng and continued to spray green poisonous mist from his palm towards Chen Sheng, while Chen Sheng opened his thunder domain, stirring up a hurricane of thunderstorms that blew Dugu Bo's poisonous mist back. Wherever the thunder passed, plants withered away.
"Dugu Bo, use your true abilities. If you keep testing me like this, you might die," Chen Sheng said indifferently, no longer wanting to continue the probing.
"Alright, I'll let you know the price of provoking a Titled Douluo."
After the previous probing, he knew that he couldn't defeat Chen Sheng without using some of his true abilities.
"Jade Phosphor True Body!"
A piercing howl emanated from Dugu Bo's throat, and an emerald-like green light burst forth from within his body. His body expanded with the wind, and his first seven spirit rings lit up simultaneously.
Immediately after, his tall, thin body continuously swelled within the green light, soaring upwards.
Emerald green rhomboid scales, looking like embedded pieces of jade, replaced his human form. Dugu Bo transformed into a giant emerald green serpent, thirty meters long and as thick as a water vat.
More than half of its serpentine body stood upright, a pair of huge green snake eyes coldly staring at Chen Sheng. Its forked tongue flickered, and a thick green mist enveloped its body.
"So this is the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor," Chen Sheng murmured softly.
"Junior, summon your spirit. Let me see what strength you truly possess to dare provoke a Titled Douluo," the giant Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor spoke in human tongue.
"If you want me to summon my spirit, first defeat me," Chen Sheng laughed, having no intention of using his spirit.
"What!...You are too arrogant bart!" Dugu Bo roared. No one had ever dared to face him without even summoning their spirit, not even Titled Douluo of higher rank than him.
"Arrogance requires ability, and I happen to have it," Chen Sheng laughed. Then, with a flap of his wings, he flew into the air, level with the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's head.
"You will pay the price for your arrogance."
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor opened its mouth and spat out a mouthful of thick green mist, its coverage and toxicity far surpassing anything before.
Chen Sheng transformed into thunder, instantly escaping the mist's range, then activated it again, appearing behind the Jade Phosphor Serpent and striking its back with his Underworld Spear.
"Take this!"
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, into which Dugu Bo had transformed, neither dodged nor evaded. Its massive body stiffened, directly taking Chen Sheng's blow.
The immense power of millions of kilograms shattered the true body of the Jade Phosphor Snake.
Dugu Bo, having taken a blow from him, fell like a meteor, slamming heavily onto the ground. The earth seemed to tremble, and clouds of dust spread outwards.
Green light waves rippled, sending rocks flying and creating dazzling displays. The immense fluctuations of aura caused the surrounding spirit beasts to scatter and flee, no longer daring to approach.
Chen Sheng swooped down from the sky.
Dugu Bo had just barely managed to stand up when Chen Sheng's attacks followed one after another. Using both hands and feet, he gave Dugu Bo a fierce beating.
Bang, bang, boom, boom, ah—
The violent impacts, the surging energy, and Dugu Bo's screams merged together, adding a touch of tragic beauty to the full moon hanging high in the sky.
Having finally caught an arrogant old man, Chen Sheng naturally wouldn't stop and show mercy.
A quarter of an hour later, Chen Sheng stopped with satisfaction, while Dugu Bo lay on the ground, bruised and battered, a sight too gruesome to behold.
"Dugu Bo, do you yield?" Chen Sheng asked with a smile.
"..."
"Kill me or slice me, do as you please," Dugu Bo said defiantly. Having roamed the Douluo Continent for so many years, he never imagined he would ultimately fall into the hands of a teenage kid.
"It seems like you snuck into our academy in the middle of the night to cause trouble. Now, how did I become the bad guy? How about I spare your life if you will be under my command?" Chen Sheng said.
"I don't want to... Just kill me... it's better," Dugu Bo refused without hesitation, turning his head away to express his meaning.
"It would be a huge joke if the Poison Douluo, known for his poison dominating the world, were to be poisoned by his own poison if this were to get out," Chen Sheng said with a smile.
"Hmph, my poison would poison myself? I've lived for eighty years, and I've only ever poisoned others. No one has ever poisoned me," Dugu Bo snorted.
Chen Sheng had already seen that Dugu Bo was poisoned by his own venom.
"Dugu Bo, whenever it's cloudy and rainy, do you experience an itching sensation in your ribs? It flares up once at noon and once at midnight, each lasting for more than an hour. Also, late at night, your scalp and the soles of your feet feel like they're being pricked by needles, and your whole body goes into spasms for at least half an hour," Chen Sheng said.
"How do you know?" Dugu Bo could no longer suppress his shock and blurted out the question.
"Naturally, I can see it. Not only are you already poisoned, but the poison has reached your bone marrow. The fact that you're still alive now means you must have consumed some special heavenly treasure to temporarily suppress it. Also, this poison is hereditary, and your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, should also be poisoned," Chen Sheng said with a smile.
"Dugu Bo, if you agree, I'll help you and your granddaughter get rid of the poison. How about it?" Chen Sheng said with a beaming smile.
He believed that even if Dugu Bo himself wasn't afraid of death, he would never just stand by and watch Dugu Yan die.
"Can you really cure the poison in me?" Dugu Bo asked, half-believing, half-doubting.
"Your life is in my hands right now. Do you think I need to lie to you?" Chen Sheng said.
"Alright, as long as you can cure the poison in me and Yan, I'll agree as you say," Dugu Bo's expression constantly changed, and finally, he gritted his teeth and said.
"It's a deal," Chen Sheng said with a smile, finally having dealt with the old man.
"Dugu Bo, to cure the poison in your body, I still need some medicinal herbs," Chen Sheng said.
"That's easy. My residence is in the Sunset Forest, where various medicinal herbs are widely cultivated. Just go and find whatever you need," Dugu Bo said without hesitation. After all, it was for his own detoxification, so he wouldn't be stingy with a few herbs.
"Dugu Bo, lead the way," Chen Sheng said.
Dugu Bo stood up with some difficulty. Although his injuries looked terrifying, he had no internal injuries. A Titled Douluo's recovery ability was formidable. In the short time they had been talking, his injuries had already recovered by two or three tenths. The rest should fully heal with another ten days to half a month of recuperation.
Chen Sheng suddenly placed his hand on Dugu Bo's shoulder. A warm energy flowed through his body, and within moments, all his injuries vanished completely.
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in shock. "This... what kind of ability is this?"
[DETECTED! Dugu Bo's Emotion (Shock, Gratitude, Awe) Congratulations to Host! Treasure Chest acquired!]
"Just a little trick," Chen Sheng said casually. "Now, shall we go?"
"Follow me," Dugu Bo glanced at Chen Sheng with newfound respect, then walked towards the depths of the Sunset Forest.
Chen Sheng quickly followed.
---