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Over the past month, the Star Luo Empire had joined forces with the Clear Sky Sect in a great war against Spirit Hall. As a Titled Douluo, he naturally heard rumors of the conflict.
However, he had been in secluded cultivation at the time, and thus did not provide aid to the Clear Sky Sect. By the time he emerged, the war had already ended.
Even so, more details about the battle quickly reached his ears: how Davis, Zhu Zhuyun, and Zhu Zhuqing unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Technique and struck down Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo with their combined might; how Lin Qiuyang set an ambush in a border valley and inflicted heavy losses on Spirit Hall's army, even capturing Lingyuan Douluo.
But the tale that spread the furthest was that Davis possessed a hundred-thousand-year seventh spirit ring. When Dugu Bo first heard this, his immediate reaction was disbelief. He assumed it was nothing more than a wild rumor.
Yet Davis had already achieved countless impossibilities: a thousand-year second ring, a ten-thousand-year fourth ring… so for him to absorb a hundred-thousand-year seventh ring was not entirely unthinkable.
That was why Dugu Bo had just released a poison mist at Davis—to test his cultivation. Otherwise, with his level of power, he would have sensed Davis's presence the moment he stepped into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Hoho, congratulations, senior—your strength has advanced once again!"
At those words, Dugu Bo burst into hearty laughter. "I have you to thank, little friend! You gifted me that poisonous torso bone. With it, no matter how toxic a plant or herb, I can consume it to strengthen my cultivation.
I'm not exaggerating—at my current level, unless I face someone who directly restrains me, even a Super Douluo may not be my match."
Then his tone shifted. With a mischievous grin, he looked at Davis. "I've heard, little friend, that when you and those two young girls unleashed your tri-spirited Fusion Technique, you managed to suppress Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo?"
"That's true," Davis admitted directly. "Unfortunately, my spirit power is a limiting factor. I could only hold them off for a short while. If I had enough spirit power, killing them would not have been difficult."
"Good, good! One day, this old man must test the power of your tri-spirited Fusion Technique!"
Dugu Bo laughed loudly. If the Star Luo Sacred Tiger could beat Chrysanthemum and Ghost into retreat, then if he could defeat the Sacred Tiger—or even fight it to a draw—wouldn't that mean he could also beat those two into the ground?
The thought of thrashing Chrysanthemum Douluo filled him with glee.
"Well then, since senior has such interest, I will certainly spar with you one day," Davis replied with a smile.
Dugu Bo had always been like a "quality inspector" for Fusion Techniques. In the original story, he had once challenged Yu Xiaogang's trio and their Golden Iron Triangle's Golden Sacred Dragon. Now, he wanted to test Davis's Star Luo Sacred Tiger. First dragons, then tigers—it seemed fate always made things difficult for him.
"Enough talk. Let's get to the main matter," Dugu Bo said after a pause. "You didn't come to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well just to chat with me, did you?"
Exposed, Davis didn't bother to deny it and admitted openly.
"You're right. There's something I'd like to ask senior's help with."
"Oh? How coincidental—I also happen to have something I wish to ask of you. Go ahead, you first."
"Very well. I'd like to invite Senior Dugu to serve as an Honorary Elder of the Xingyue Sect."
"Oh? Xingyue Sect!" Dugu Bo raised his brows, recalling the name. His eyes lit up. "Yes, I remember now. That's the sect that only recruits commoner spirit masters, isn't it? I've heard the treatment there is excellent—food and lodging covered, even free assistance in obtaining spirit rings.
And once students graduate, they can directly join Xingyue Sect. Quite a good organization. It already has some fame in the spirit master world. So this sect was founded by you, little friend…"
Dugu Bo cast a meaningful glance at Davis. Having lived nearly a century, he was worldly and experienced, and easily saw through Davis's true intent: Xingyue Sect was clearly established to recruit Heaven Dou Empire's talented commoners and, in time, bring them into the service of the Star Luo Empire.
"So you want me to be Xingyue Sect's Honorary Elder?"
"Exactly. Spirit Hall already suspects that Xingyue Sect is connected to the Clear Sky Sect. I fear they may send assassins against us. If you take the position of Honorary Elder, it will deter Spirit Hall from acting rashly."
"I see. Very well, I accept." Dugu Bo agreed without hesitation. Though Xingyue Sect was indeed founded to benefit Star Luo, for those gifted children born to poor families, was it not also a blessing?
Even if those spirit masters ultimately served Star Luo, so what? A fine bird chooses the best tree to nest in. Heaven Dou could never keep them forever.
By protecting Xingyue Sect as its Honorary Elder, he would also earn himself a fine reputation. Why not?
Seeing him agree, Davis's eyes lit up with joy. "Many thanks, Senior!"
"No need. It's merely moving to a different residence, nothing more. But I also have something to ask of you."
"Oh?" Davis frowned slightly. "What could senior need from me? Don't tell me something has happened to Miss Dugu? She hasn't been poisoned again, has she?"
"Nonsense! Boy, don't jinx my Yan'er!" Dugu Bo snapped, rolling his eyes. "If something had really happened to her, would I be here drinking tea so leisurely?"
"Uh… true enough." Davis gave a sheepish laugh. "But then I can't imagine what matter could trouble senior enough to ask me personally."
"It's not me asking—it's Yan'er. She has something she wishes your help with. She wants you to aid her good friend."
"Oh? Miss Dugu's friend…"
Davis's brows arched. He already had a guess.
"That girl whose martial soul is the Nine-Heart Begonia. You remember her, don't you?"
"Hehe, the Nine-Heart Begonia—the number one healing martial soul on the continent. Of course I remember. You must mean Ye Lingling, correct?"
Davis nodded slightly. His guess was right. Dugu Yan's closest friend was Ye Lingling, and he could already guess what Dugu Yan wanted of him.
"Oh? So you know her?" Dugu Bo raised a brow, then continued, "That makes it easier. Since you know the Nine-Heart Begonia, you must also be aware of its fatal flaw…"
Indeed, the Nine-Heart Begonia had a severe restriction: only two spirit masters with that martial soul could exist in the same era. Because of this, Ye Lingling had been plagued by worry, constantly distressed and unable to find peace.
As her dearest friend, Dugu Yan couldn't bear to see her suffer, so she searched with her for a solution to this martial soul's flaw.
But after combing through countless tomes, they found nothing. Just when Dugu Yan was feeling sorrow for her friend, she remembered how Davis had once seen through her own deadly poison at a single glance.
She thought—if Davis could help her and her grandfather turn their poisonous martial souls into blessings rather than curses, then perhaps he could also help Ye Lingling overcome the Nine-Heart Begonia's flaw.
And with Dugu Bo's endless praise of Davis still fresh in her mind, Dugu Yan decided to ask him to lend his aid to her beloved friend.
(End of Chapter)