Inside the carriage.
Xiao Lin kept chatting with Tang San about the future development of soul tools.
In Xiao Lin's words, in the future every soul master would surely have a set of armor of their own.
That armor wouldn't only have offensive soul power arrays, but also defensive arrays, amplification arrays, strengthening arrays, even healing arrays and more.
Such a set of armor would definitely make a soul master far stronger.
Even support-type soul masters could dominate the battlefield with it.
Hearing Xiao Lin's wild ideas, everyone was stunned into silence.
Xiao Wu, however, thought differently in her heart—if Lin-ge said this, then wouldn't her third brother (Tang San) have no time left to spend with her?
For no reason, Xiao Wu's gaze toward Xiao Lin was filled with resentment.
She knew her third brother too well. Tang San would definitely devote himself wholeheartedly to researching this soul tool armor.
Tang Ni, on the other hand, had another thought. For the first time, she wondered if the person who caused the decline of soul beast fortune might actually have something to do with Xiao Lin.
Tang San himself was already imagining in his mind how powerful such a full set of soul power armor would be.
But he also had enough self-awareness—not believing that with his current ability he could complete such a soul armor.
Even if he made one, it wouldn't be that strong yet.
So he decided to keep it in mind, and wait until his strength grew before studying and creating it properly.
Outside the carriage, Dugu Bo was also shocked by their conversation.
Since he had never seen the power of the Zhuge Godly Crossbow soul tool, he could only imagine.
But because it was pure imagination—and filtered through the halo he had put on "Master Xiao Yan"—their talk about soul tool armor suddenly sounded lofty and profound.
A new generation replacing the old… could this soul tool armor even be immune to poison?
Steel wasn't afraid of biological toxins, Dugu Bo knew that very well.
Fortunately, he was already old, and Tang San was still young. Fortunately, Yan Yan's poison in the future would only be a secondary attribute—she could still rely on the powerful body of the Jade Phosphor Poison Dragon to crush others.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Lin carefully examined the Zhuge Godly Crossbow soul tool.
"Not bad, not bad… but this can't really be called a hidden weapon anymore, can it?"
He hit the nail on the head—pointing out the only flaw of the Zhuge Crossbow.
Hearing this, Tang San looked a little melancholy, staring up at the carriage roof.
"Lin-ge, while researching soul tool hidden weapons, I realized something.
The more I study soul tools, the more I feel hidden weapons have clear flaws. So I've decided to give up on some of them."
Seeing the reluctant look on Tang San's face, Xiao Lin was stunned.
More than anyone, he knew how much hidden weapons meant to Tang San.
In his past life, Tang San had even died for the sake of hidden weapons, and now…
"Lin-ge, I want to surpass hidden weapons!"
But soon Tang San was filled with fighting spirit and determination again.
That was just like him—Tang San would never wallow in inner conflict.
Besides, his hidden weapon techniques themselves were a form of "hidden weapon." If he could simply kill all his enemies, wasn't that still a hidden weapon?
Elsewhere.
The spies from other factions secretly observing Xiao Lin, upon seeing Dugu Bo, had no choice but to temporarily give up the plan of abducting Xiao Lin and chose to continue following instead.
There was no helping it—Dugu Bo's poison was too dangerous for anyone short of a Titled Douluo.
In an era without soul cores, Dugu Bo's poison pills were essentially a prototype of a soul core. The toxins were so strong even he could barely withstand them.
However, even though many spies left after Dugu Bo's appearance, some still refused to give up.
Especially Porcupinefish Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.
After learning that Dugu Bo had taken Xiao Lin, the two secretly followed, planning to strike when there were no witnesses.
But both of them gradually sensed the other's presence.
"Damn, that rotten Chrysanthemum is also after Xiao Lin."
Porcupinefish Douluo (Ci Xue) cursed inwardly. The "rotten chrysanthemum" Yue Guan's backer was Bibi Dong.
But Ci Xue had no desire to get involved in the grudge between Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong.
Mother and daughter—what kind of enmity could last overnight? What if they reconciled—wouldn't he then be the clown?
Still, since Qian Renxue didn't want Bibi Dong influencing Xiao Lin, Ci Xue could only choose to make a move against Yue Guan.
Trailing behind Xiao Lin's carriage, Ci Xue soon found an opportunity and blocked Yue Guan's path.
"Ci Xue, what do you think you're doing?"
Yue Guan glared, pointing at Ci Xue angrily, but at the same time, his soul power quietly circulated.
If Ci Xue couldn't give him a good reason, a battle might break out.
With a ten-thousand-year soul bone in hand, Yue Guan didn't believe he would lose to Ci Xue.
"Yue Guan, Elder Xiao Lin is not someone you can lay hands on."
Ci Xue was strictly carrying out Qian Renxue's orders. No matter what happened, he just had to ensure Xiao Lin wasn't captured by Bibi Dong.
Qian Renxue was now disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. As long as she sincerely befriended Xiao Lin, surely he would support her.
"Elder Xiao Lin?"
Yue Guan noticed something wrong in his words. Could it be Xiao Lin had already joined Qian Renxue?
"That's right. Elder Xiao Lin has already agreed to join us."
Ci Xue continued bluffing. As long as Yue Guan backed off, his mission was half complete.
As for the rest, he was confident he could handle Dugu Bo.
And surely, His Highness Qian Renxue's charisma would win over Xiao Lin.
"Hehe, you think I'd believe that?"
Suddenly Yue Guan sneered.
In the next moment, his whole body turned into blooming chrysanthemums and vanished, leaving only Ci Xue behind.
He left?
Ci Xue frowned at the direction Yue Guan had gone, puzzled.
Wasn't Bibi Dong sending Yue Guan to capture Xiao Lin? Why withdraw so decisively?
Still confused, Ci Xue could only continue secretly tracking Xiao Lin's carriage.
He didn't know Yue Guan's real reasons.
In truth, Yue Guan was a man greedy for power. Whoever became master of Spirit Hall, he would serve.
He had no direct conflict with Qian Renxue anyway.
Besides, Bibi Dong's mission was only to collect intelligence about Qian Renxue and Xiao Lin. He had already gotten plenty—Ci Xue protecting Xiao Lin, even calling him "Elder," was enough information to report back.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo, driving the carriage, also sensed a surge of soul power behind them.
"Persistent rats, truly annoying."
Feeling impatient, Dugu Bo turned to Xiao Lin and the others inside.
"Xiao Lin, I'll go deal with some rats. You lot know how to handle the carriage, right? Take over."
With that, he leapt off and flew toward the back.
Just then, he ran into a burly man in a black robe head-on.
Sensing the man's powerful killing intent, Dugu Bo froze.
"Dugu Bo, this matter has nothing to do with you. Just protect Tang San and the others."
"Ha… Haotian…"
As the words fell, Dugu Bo recognized the man's true identity—Haotian Douluo.
With his keen mind, he immediately understood.
"Alright."
Getting Haotian Douluo's assurance, Dugu Bo turned back to pursue the carriage.
From afar, Ci Xue also spotted the black-robed powerhouse.
Sensing the immense soul power fluctuations, Ci Xue dared not keep following and decisively withdrew.
"So besides Dugu Bo, Xiao Lin has another unknown Titled Douluo protector…
I must report this to Her Highness at once."
Finding this excuse, Ci Xue sped up his retreat.
Anyway, he had already succeeded in stopping that rotten chrysanthemum.
Martial Soul Data Panel
Dugu Yan
Martial Soul: Jade Phosphor Poison Dragon
Destructive Power: A-
Speed: A-
Range: A
Endurance: A
Precision: B (Poison attacks don't require much precision)
Growth Potential: A
Special Energy: B+ (Continuously evolving poison. If it reaches the level of ultimate poison, her strength will increase greatly.)
(End of this chapter)