Lin Xiao responded with a smile and nodded, indicating that they didn't need to be so polite.
The vigorous vitality overflowing within the sect and the disciples' heartfelt respect made the warm feeling of returning home in his heart even more surging.
Tian Meng followed Lin Xiao, looking around curiously with her big black eyes.
"Wow, brother, this place is so beautiful!"
He exclaimed in a low voice. The architectural style of the human sect was completely different from the ice and snow world of the Far North, which made him feel very novel.
"These people all respect you, big brother!"
Feeling the respectful gazes the disciples cast on Lin Xiao, Tian Meng puffed out his chest with pride.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao just smiled faintly and didn't say much.
He had walked this road leading to the Dragon Temple countless times, but this time, his mood was particularly different.
Soon, a magnificent palace that looked even more majestic, like a dormant dragon, appeared at the end of their sight.
Inside the Dragon God Temple, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified, yet there was a hint of imperceptible anticipation.
The moment Lin Xiao appeared at the palace gate, all eyes were fixed on him.
Inside the hall, there stood all his companions whom he had not seen for three years.
Leading the group were two elders who were both teachers and friends, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, and his master's medicine Douluo Ye Renxin.
Beside them are the backbone of the Dragon Soul Sect, including Yang Wudi, Xiao Zhan, Liu Erlong... and other subordinates.
There is also a group of close friends with whom he has a deep bond, including Dugu Bo's granddaughter Dugu Yan, the lively and clever Xiao Wu, the honest and loyal Titan giant ape Er Ming, and Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
And at the front of the crowd, a graceful figure stood tall and graceful, her eyes filled with endless longing and affection. It was his lover, Ye Lengleng.
At this moment, everyone gathered together, waiting for his return.
"metropolitan!"
"Brother Lin Xiao!"
Seeing Lin Xiao's figure, the hall instantly became lively, and calls filled with concern and joy came one after another.
Dugu Bo's face, which usually always had a gloomy look, now showed a rare smile.
Yang Wudi and others hurried forward and looked at Lin Xiao excitedly.
"You kid, you've been gone for three years, and we've been so worried!" Ye Renxin said in a muffled voice, but his tone was full of concern.
"Master, what have you experienced in the past three years? Your cultivation seems to have improved a lot!" Liu Erlong's beautiful eyes shone with excitement.
Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu and the others also gathered around, chattering and asking about Lin Xiao's experiences over the past three years.
Lin Xiao smiled and responded to everyone's concerns one by one.
He briefly recounted his experience of practicing in seclusion in the Far North. Of course, he concealed the secrets of the Dragon God Art and the Five Elements Soul Rings for the time being.
Then, he pulled Tian Meng, who had been following him and looking at everyone curiously, to his front.
"Let me introduce this to you all. This is Tian Meng. She will be a member of our Dragon Soul Sect from now on."
Tian Meng looked at the human soul masters in front of him who were emitting powerful auras with some timidity, but when he felt Lin Xiao's encouraging gaze, he still plucked up the courage.
She said in a baby voice, "Hello... hello, my name is Tianmeng."
"A million-year-old soul beast transforms?" Dugu Bo had a keen eye and could tell the truth about Tian Meng at a glance, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
When the others heard this, they also gasped and looked at Tian Meng with shock.
Lin Xiao smiled and nodded, explaining Tianmeng's situation.
Everyone was relieved and became more kind and curious towards Tian Meng.
When everyone's emotions calmed down a little, Lin Xiao's gaze passed over the crowd and fell on the figure that had been silently watching him.
He walked slowly to Ye Lengleng, his deep eyes filled with apology and tenderness.
"Leng Leng, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Thousands of words finally turned into this simple sentence.
Ye Lengleng's eyes were slightly red, and he shook his head gently, his voice as gentle as water: "It's okay, I hope you return safely!"
The simple conversation contains the deep and profound emotions between the two people.
Seeing this, everyone tactfully did not disturb them and smiled knowingly on their faces.
After the two finished reminiscing about the past, Dugu Bo cleared his throat and spoke.
"Little monster, we have prepared a big gift for you when you return. Can you guess what it is?"
Lin Xiao was slightly stunned when he heard this, then shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.
He had been practicing hard in the ice cave for the past three years and knew nothing about what was happening in the outside world. Naturally, he could not guess what Dugu Bo and the others had prepared.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo no longer kept the secret, a smug smile appeared on his face, and he spoke.
"Three years ago, on my way back from the Far North, I accidentally encountered a Mirror Shadow Beast with a cultivation of 20,000 years."
"Haven't you always said that this kind of soul beast is as rare as a hundred thousand year soul beast, and its abilities are even more special?"
"Besides, doesn't your second martial soul need a sufficiently special soul beast to shape and lay the foundation? So, I brought it back with me."
"Also, over the past three years, Old Man Ye and I, along with that old fellow Yang Wudi, have jointly developed a magical medicine that can quickly improve the cultivation of soul beasts."
"And supplemented with the ten thousand year old cold marrow you left behind, nourishing it day and night."
"Now, we have forcibly raised that Mirror Shadow Beast into a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast. It is now locked in your training chamber, waiting for you to return and deal with it!"
"What?!"
After hearing what Dugu Bo said, Lin Xiao's pupils suddenly shrank, a huge wave of emotion rose in his heart, and his ecstasy was beyond words!
Mirror Shadow Beast!
One hundred thousand year old mirror-shadow beast!
How could he not be excited!
In the original novel, Oscar, a food-type soul master, has the incredible ability to copy and simulate other people's martial souls and soul skills thanks to a replica of the mirror beast's image intestine.
This made up for the shortcomings of the food-type soul masters' insufficient combat effectiveness and ultimately achieved the status of the God of Food!
And now, a living 100,000-year-old Mirror Shadow Beast was right in front of him!
This is simply the best spirit ring tailor-made for his second martial spirit - ice!
Once he absorbs this soul ring, his second martial soul will not only gain a powerful soul skill, but more importantly, he will be able to inherit the incredible ability of copying and simulating of the Mirror Shadow Beast!
This means that his ice martial soul will have infinite possibilities!
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao could no longer suppress the excitement and urgency in his heart.
He suddenly looked at Dugu Bo and said urgently, "Senior Dugu, hurry up and take me over!"
Dugu Bo laughed, obviously very satisfied with Lin Xiao's reaction.
"Follow me!"
After saying that, he turned around and walked towards a secret passage behind the Dragon God Temple.
Lin Xiao immediately followed, and the others also went there with curiosity and anticipation.
After passing through the deep passage, everyone arrived at a huge secret room with strict security.