Did he just say… there's some juicy gossip?
Tang Lan turned to look at Chen Xin (Dustheart).
Dustheart's lips curled up slightly, as if recalling something amusing.
Meanwhile, Wang Dali's face darkened, and he remained silent.
——That incident was the greatest shame of his life, one that he couldn't even be bothered to defend anymore.
"Xiao Lan,"
Dustheart barely held back his laughter as he said—
"Have you ever heard of the story about a newly promoted Titled Douluo who, confident in his strength, went to the Star Dou Forest to challenge the Titan Giant Ape?"
"But before he could even fight, he was scared away by a single roar from the Sky Azure Bull Python?"
"After that, he hid himself in the mountains and has never shown his face again."
Tang Lan: ...
He looked at Dustheart, who was suppressing a smile.
Then he turned to Wang Dali, whose face was getting darker by the second.
Understood.
Clearly, the reckless Titled Douluo in that story was standing right in front of him.
After so many years…
And he was still stuck at Rank 91?
Was this inner trauma?
No, that didn't seem right.
Judging by Wang Dali's strong, vigorous aura, he didn't appear injured.
Then…
"A heart demon?" Tang Lan frowned. "You were traumatized by the Sky Azure Bull Python's roar?"
His straightforward remark made Wang Dali's face even more embarrassed.
"That Sky Azure Bull Python had a problem!"
Wang Dali immediately defended himself—
"That roar carried a spiritual attack! My soul was injured, my mental power dropped significantly, and I've been stuck at this bottleneck ever since!"
"I heard your Nine Yang Divine Art can help strengthen the soul, so that's why I came!"
Oh?
Tang Lan activated the Vast Sea Divine Eye and switched to Purple Demon Eye to inspect Wang Dali's spiritual condition.
Indeed, his soul was slightly distorted, wrapped in layers of blue shackles, like chains binding him from within.
This was the root cause of his stagnation.
Who knew that Da Ming (Sky Azure Bull Python) had this kind of technique?
Tang Lan gathered his soul power and launched a Soul Spike to break the shackles.
"Ting!"
The Soul Spike bounced off instantly.
Moreover, the blue shackles tightened further, digging deeper into Wang Dali's soul!
"Hiss—!"
Wang Dali groaned in pain, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Even a Titled Douluo couldn't withstand that kind of soul agony.
"This is troublesome," Tang Lan muttered. "Don't move—I'll try something else."
The Vast Sea Divine Eye began to glow blue and purple, its energy continuously compressing and condensing.
Even Dustheart felt a sense of unease from the terrifying energy fluctuation!
A few seconds later—
The compressed power reached its limit.
Two blue-purple beams of light shot out from Tang Lan's eyes!
"Heaven and Earth Soul Breaker!"
Vast Sea Divine Eye's strongest single-target attack!
A fusion of physical and spiritual damage!
The blue shackles that even the Soul Spike couldn't touch—
Were instantly shattered like dry twigs!
Tang Lan's gaze swept over Wang Dali, cutting apart the shackles one by one.
And as they unraveled—
Wang Dali's aura began to grow stronger!
Until finally—
"Crack—"
A crisp sound echoed.
Then—
BOOM!
Wang Dali's aura surged explosively, his level rising without resistance—
From Rank 91 straight to Rank 92!
A powerful Titled Douluo aura spread across the entire area!
Tang Lan remained unmoved, even using his spiritual energy to shield Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu from the pressure.
But as for everyone else…
It was as if they had just woken up from a nightmare, startled awake from their drunken sleep!
Their gazes instantly locked onto Wang Dali.
A Titled Douluo they didn't recognize?!
"Titled Douluo!"
"Enemy attack!"
"Formation!"
The entire Tang Sect immediately sprang into action.
Only after a brief pause did they finally realize—
Wait…
Dustheart and Tang Lan were both here.
What were they panicking for?
The former was a Rank 96 Peak Douluo—no explanation needed.
The latter?
He was the walking cheat code who had already beaten Tang Hao!
"Roar—!"
Wang Dali threw his head back and roared in exhilaration, his aura bursting outward without restraint.
How many years…?!
This damned bottleneck was finally broken!!!
Dustheart ignored Wang Dali's emotional outburst and walked over to Tang Lan's side.
"Not bad."
"With your ability, even those who have lost hope of advancing can still find a way forward."
Tang Lan chuckled. "That's why I said 95 is no problem."
Just as he was about to say more—
A voice suddenly interrupted.
"Little monster, can you do something about my poison constitution?"
Tang Lan turned around—
And saw a man with green hair, a sinister expression, and an eerie aura.
Dugu Bo!
Dustheart stared at Tang Lan oddly.
"Sword Uncle, if you have something to ask, just ask. Don't look at me like that," Tang Lan took half a step back. "I'm male, and I like women, okay?"
That made Dustheart burst into laughter.
Among the younger generation, aside from Ning Rongrong, only Tang Lan dared to joke with him like this.
"Was that just now a soul bone ability?"
"Yep," Tang Lan admitted without hesitation. "It's the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, fused with one of my domain abilities, turning into an external soul bone."
That answer surprised Dustheart.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?
He had seen that treasure before—Emperor Xue Ye even asked him to analyze it.
And yet, he couldn't make heads or tails of it.
And now...
"You really are blessed with immense fortune," Dustheart sighed.
Tang Lan grinned.
——Of course! These are all protagonist-level opportunities that I hijacked! How could my luck not be great?
——
Suddenly, Wang Dali stopped his celebratory howling and turned toward the north.
"Whoosh—"
A piercing sound of something breaking through the air echoed.
A figure in a green robe approached with his hands clasped behind his back.
It was Dugu Bo.
Seeing Dustheart and Tang Lan, his expression relaxed slightly.
But then, he immediately scolded Wang Dali—
"Do you not know that releasing a Titled Douluo's aura within the royal capital is forbidden?"
Wang Dali had just broken through to Rank 92 and was feeling extremely pleased with himself.
And now this "Titled Douluo stepping stone" was barking orders at him?
How could he tolerate this?!
His eyes widened, and he was about to make a move—
Only for Tang Lan to step in front of him.
"Dali, Old Poison is my close friend—no need to start a fight."
"Old Poison, this is Wang Dali, our Tang Sect's newly appointed elder. He just broke through and was venting a little."
Although Tang Lan was only a Six-Ring Soul Emperor,
Both Wang Dali and Dugu Bo had an uncanny feeling—
——If they didn't back down now, they might get hammered.
Wang Dali dismissed it as a ridiculous thought.
He didn't know Tang Lan's true strength, but the breakthrough assistance was something real.
And since Tang Lan might help him reach Rank 95 in the future,
He was willing to give him some face.
As for Dugu Bo...
His expression shifted slightly in surprise.
A Titled Douluo as a Tang Sect elder?
The recent rapid rise of Tang Sect had made him consider joining, just to back Tang Lan up.
And to tie the Bi Phosphorus Clan more closely to the Tang Sect.
But now...
The first Titled Douluo Elder and the second Titled Douluo Elder are not the same thing.
——
Tang Lan wasn't sure what Dugu Bo was thinking.
But seeing his uncertain expression, he could guess.
So, he tested the waters—
"Old Poison, how about you join my Tang Sect as an elder?"
"I'm planning to establish a Poison Hall specifically for toxin research. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is just sitting there, after all."
"You can let the Bi Phosphorus Clan manage the Poison Hall, and you can choose the Hall Master."
Dustheart, ever the quick-witted one, immediately chimed in—
"Dali, you're technically a lone elder right now. Why don't you start your own hall as well?"
Wang Dali didn't even think about it—he just shook his head.
"You know I prefer being alone. I don't want the hassle."
Of course, Dustheart already knew that.
This was just to give Dugu Bo a hint—
——Tang Lan is giving you special treatment.
Tang Lan, with his back to Dugu Bo, flashed a thumbs-up at Dustheart.
——Sword Uncle, what an amazing wingman!
However, Dugu Bo was still hesitating.
He had always been arrogant and solitary, and even though Prince Xue Xing saved his life, he had only ever been a nominal advisor.
Becoming a sect elder all of a sudden...
Tang Lan saw his hesitation and pushed a little further—
"The Snow Swan Kiss from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well will belong to the Poison Hall."
"And I'll allocate a plot of land specifically for cultivating poisonous herbs for the Poison Hall."
"You can live exactly as you always have."
"Just come by occasionally to guide the Poison Hall."
At this point...
How could Dugu Bo refuse?
It wasn't that he was no longer proud—it was just that the offer was too good!
"Sigh—"
"With terms like these..."
"I guess I'll board your pirate ship, then."
"I'll take the position of elder."
Tang Lan grinned.
Hah! You old tsundere, there's no escaping me!
[Host has recruited Dugu Bo as a Tang Sect elder, depriving Tang San of his lifelong confidant. Seized a moderate portion of Tang San's fate!]
[Reward: ""!]
——
(End of Chapter)
Notes-Read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X