Su Chen looked at Dugu Bo, whose face clearly said he was ready to throw hands, and asked:
"If you'd been cultivating in obscurity for eighteen years and then suddenly became a Titled Douluo, can you honestly say you wouldn't show off a little?"
"Every generation brings forth new talents, each reigning supreme for a few hundred years. Geniuses appear every year—only those who survive matter."
It was obvious.
Dugu Bo thought Su Chen was putting on a show.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling also thought he was putting on a show.
But Su Chen didn't think so.
He wasn't faking it.
Without strength, he could play humble, keep his cool, even force himself to eat beef he didn't like.
But once he grew powerful, his mindset changed.
If you had the strength of a top-tier soul master, you'd be yelling at the moon too!
Dugu Bo couldn't hold back and retorted:
"You weren't weak to begin with, then your second spirit ring turns out to be a 100,000-year one. By the time you hit Titled Douluo level, who's even your match?"
"And your soul skill is insanely fast—who can even catch up to you?"
Su Chen just shook his head and said nothing more.
Can I tell you:
After realizing how fast this soul skill was, the first thought I had was to go to Spirit Hall and tease Bibi Dong, then head to Seagod Island and kick Bo Saixi in the butt?
Yeah, it's evil, but man, I really want to try it!
Before, I couldn't fly. I knew what I could and couldn't do.
Now? I'll do anything.
Dugu Bo, too lazy to dwell on that, changed the subject and asked:
"Satisfy my curiosity first—what is your martial soul, and where the hell did that 100,000-year soul ring come from?"
Su Chen calmed himself, then slowly answered:
"My martial soul was originally a chicken, but it mutated into a Kunpeng. The soul ring is a divine gift, granted based on the maximum age I could absorb given my current strength."
"Ah, I see."
Dugu Bo mused aloud:
"A divine gift soul ring... Spirit Hall worships the Angel God, so your current soul ring age must match your level—around 100,000 years, which means you're at Titled Douluo, level 90?"
"180,000 years, roughly level 94,"
Su Chen added casually.
Dugu Bo shut down instantly.
He was about to boast a bit—after years of detoxifying his body, clearing his meridians, and consuming immortal herbs, his soul power had finally surpassed level 93. He hadn't even started flexing yet—
Boom. Interrupted.
"Damn it, Granny Li!"
Dugu Yan exclaimed in shock:
"Wow! You're already level 94?! My grandpa's only level 92!"
"Ahem."
Dugu Bo quickly corrected her:
"I'm level 93 now."
He'd been waiting for his granddaughter to praise him. Instead, all he got was a bland "Congrats, Grandpa." Then her gaze shifted back to Su Chen.
Su Chen pulled out two stalks of immortal herbs from his spatial ring, looked at Dugu Yan, and said:
"Yanzi, this is the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid. Its medicinal properties are gentle and rich, easy to absorb. It strengthens the foundation and clears impurities from the body."
"With this herb, becoming a Titled Douluo should be no problem for you."
Dugu Yan nodded excitedly.
Su Chen handed her the herb and turned to Ye Lingling:
"This is the Gorgeous Tulip. It's the yin to the orchid's yang—they're a pair of immortal herbs. It absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon. Absorbing it might help you break the Nine Heart Begonia's limitations."
"I…"
Ye Lingling trembled inwardly. This gift was far too valuable.
She wasn't sure she could accept it.
"Don't overthink it. Just treat it as my betrothal gift to you. I'll teach you how to absorb it."
As Su Chen spoke, he stepped forward, handed her the herb, and explained:
"You can't just swallow the Gorgeous Tulip. You need to lightly inhale the pollen from the stamen, absorb the essence slowly, and then refine your soul power to let the medicinal effects spread through your body."
As Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling absorbed the herbs and began cultivation, Su Chen stepped aside to wait with Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo, thinking about it, felt a twinge of bitterness.
Man, I really am useless. These immortal herbs in my hands? I couldn't even recognize them, let alone use them properly.
"Sigh."
Su Chen, hearing Dugu Bo sigh, turned to glance at him and said calmly:
"Regular folks can only take one immortal herb. And this place is special. I just harvested the leaves—the roots are still here... In a hundred years or so, you can harvest them again. Just guard this place well."
"Huh?"
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. He was just getting excited when he suddenly felt annoyed:
"Guard, my ass!"
"You're already this strong. By the time these herbs grow back, who knows how OP you'll be. I'd have to fight you for them—and what are the odds of me winning that?"
Su Chen smiled, then shook his head:
"If I'm still interested in these herbs in a hundred years, then I'm just a loser."
"Oh right, remember we agreed to a duel? Why don't we go outside and have a match now? If you beat me, I'll never come back."
Dugu Bo hesitated, looked Su Chen up and down, saw the smug little smirk on the brat's face—and flat out refused:
"Forget it."
"My specialty is poison. You absorbed a 180,000-year soul ring and you're immune to my poison—how am I supposed to win that fight?"
Su Chen pleaded earnestly:
"Senior Dugu, let's have just one match!"
"I really need to test my current strength. And if you manage to beat me, trust me—that'll be a story you can brag about for life!"
Dugu Bo: ???
"Fine!"
"Let's go right now. Today I will see just how full of yourself you really are!"
Dugu Bo was getting pissed.
Brag for a lifetime if you beat me?
Nah, if I beat you, I'll laugh at you for a lifetime!
Dugu Bo flew off in a flash, and Su Chen transformed into golden light and followed.
They entered Sunset Forest.
Dugu Bo immediately activated his martial soul—Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black.
Su Chen, hovering in the air opposite, also activated his martial soul—Kunpeng.
Purple-Red.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!"
Dugu Bo, knowing Su Chen's power and bizarre attack methods, didn't hold back. He activated his Martial Soul Avatar directly:
A 30-meter-long, water-barrel-thick jade-green serpent.
Su Chen was unfazed.
He'd seen the Nie family father-son duo wielding 80-meter and 40-meter broadswords, and they still couldn't break his Threefold Origin Qi.
What's a 30-meter snake to him?
"First Soul Skill: Golden Rooster Stands Proud."
Su Chen unleashed his first soul skill—the only legacy left by Brother Chicken.
Originally, this soul skill summoned a descending chicken foot.
At this moment—
In the sky—
The massive Kunpeng struck, summoning a huge golden claw that grabbed the 30-meter-long Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor.
Boom!
But the soul ring level was too low. After a moment, it broke free.
Dugu Bo, looking up at the massive, high-flying Kunpeng in the sky, was filled with rage.
Damn it!
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor couldn't fly, and this little bastard was just too high up.
Who even fights like this?!
Way too passive.
From the air—
"Threefold Origin Qi!"
Su Chen had already gained altitude. He charged power into his hands and bombarded the 30-meter-long serpent below with a storm of attacks.
He wasn't going to be an idiot like Qian Daoliu—sky god picking fights underwater with Bo Saixi, or brawling on land with Tang Chen.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!
A relentless barrage sent Dugu Bo twisting his body and dodging like mad with full snake-style footwork.
"Kid! If you've got guts, come down and fight me!"
Su Chen shouted back:
"Alright! But have you ever heard of a palm strike that falls from the heavens?"
"Cloud-Splitting Palm!"
"Tenth Form—Calamity Descends from the Sky!"
(End of Chapter)