Originally, Dugu Yan intended to treat Oscar like an older brother. After all, Oscar stood at an impressive 188 cm. Though his handsome face still carried a hint of youthfulness, that was normal boys matured slower than girls anyway.
What she hadn't expected was that Oscar was four whole years younger than her. That was already surprising enough, but his soul power level was the same as hers? No he had even obtained his third soul ring before her!
Now that's a real monster.
What kind of academy could cultivate such a genius?
If I want to learn something truly valuable, it should be at a place like that.
Meanwhile, hiding in the shadows, Dugu Bo listened to the conversation between his granddaughter and Oscar. Even he, a seasoned expert, was stunned.
A Soul Elder at just eleven years old?
Looking at Oscar chatting so cheerfully with Dugu Yan combining his knowledge, manner, and respect toward her Dugu Bo's expression flickered between complex emotions, clearly deep in thought.
Shao Xin, standing nearby, occasionally interjected with praise for Oscar, supporting the boy enthusiastically. When Oscar invited Dugu Yan to attend Shrek Academy, Shao Xin didn't find it unusual.
According to Shrek's strict admission standards two yellow soul rings by age twelve Dugu Yan would qualify if her age were adjusted slightly.
This was also the first time Shao Xin had seen Oscar show genuine interest in a girl, though admittedly, this girl was quite outstanding. But considering Oscar was still a hot blooded young man, Shao Xin simply smiled and refrained from commenting further.
Given the favoritism that Shrek's teachers had toward Oscar, if he brought Dugu Yan back, no one would object.
In the end, although Dugu Yan was moved, she didn't immediately agree. Instead, she said:
"Though I'm tempted to go to Shrek Academy, I still have to ask Grandpa. After all, as you said, it's more than a week's journey from here to Tian Dou City."
Oscar chuckled and replied playfully:
"I'm just giving you a suggestion. The final decision is yours.
I can't just lure you away with sweet words just because you're pretty if that got out, your grandpa wouldn't be the only one after me; my teacher might not let me off either!"
As they laughed and chatted, a sudden surge of powerful soul energy erupted from the nearby forest. From the depths came Gai Yue's cold, cutting voice:
"Sneaking around? Courting death."
Gai Yue had always been a ruthless man of few words. While he acted more affable around Oscar these past two years, to outsiders, he remained cold and indifferent.
Oscar and Dugu Yan looked at each other sharply and instantly released their martial spirits, eyes locked on the direction of Gai Yue's voice.
Both had already guessed the situation.
Dugu Yan knew her grandfather had been secretly protecting her, so this sudden outburst could only mean one thing Oscar's teacher had returned and encountered her grandfather.
Oscar had the same suspicion. At the first sign of Gai Yue's voice, he assumed that his teacher had found Dugu Bo.
Oscar exchanged a glance with Shao Xin and said:
"Teacher Shao, hide here with Dugu Yan. I'll go check it out."
But Dugu Yan objected immediately:
"No! That could be my grandpa and your teacher. I have to see what's happening."
Oscar hesitated theatrically before relenting:
"Alright but you must stay close to me. If it's not your grandpa, I'll need to protect you."
He pulled two Swift Storm Rain Swallow Sausages from his soul guide and handed one to her.
"Eat this."
He tossed one into his mouth, and a pair of sleek, white wings instantly formed behind him. Dugu Yan, without hesitation, swallowed hers and a pair of wings manifested behind her as well.
This was her first time flying, but before she could marvel at Oscar's soul skill, he grasped her hand tightly.
"Pardon the intrusion. Since it's your first flight, I'll hold on to you just to be safe."
With that, he flapped his wings, taking both of them into the air as two streaks of light shot toward the forest's core.
At first, Dugu Yan was thrilled by the sensation of flight, but her face quickly turned red Oscar was tightly holding her hand.
This was the second time they held hands. The first time was a handshake. The second earlier during their conversation Oscar had grabbed her hand for three whole minutes just to prove that he could touch her without being poisoned. It had made her unbearably shy.
Now, though embarrassed, she wasn't thinking about that.
What worried her was whether her grandfather and Oscar's teacher were clashing.
It wasn't that she feared for her grandfather's safety she feared that her grandfather might accidentally injure Oscar's teacher. That would put her in an awkward position with Oscar.
Oscar's flying soul skill, moving at the speed of a Swift Rain Swallow, brought them to the scene almost instantly. What they saw confirmed their fears Dugu Bo and Gai Yue were confronting each other.
Not far from Gai Yue lay a massive plant type soul beast, evidently the source of Shao Xin's seventh soul ring.
Gai Yue stood holding his Frost Moon Sword, radiating icy pressure. His body emitted two yellow, two purple, and four black rings a Soul Douluo (85+), and the ice elemental energy froze the surrounding flora solid.
On a tall tree facing him stood a thin old man, posture straight as a spear, with dark green hair and beard. His eyes gleamed like emeralds.
Rising around his body were two yellow, two purple, and five black rings nine in total, marking him unmistakably as a Titled Douluo.
His overwhelming pressure instantly wilted and corroded the vegetation nearby.
"Young man, I am not your enemy,"
said Dugu Bo in a rare tone of explanation.
Usually, if someone dared challenge him like this, he'd kill them without hesitation. But having eavesdropped on Oscar and Dugu Yan's conversation, he guessed this was Oscar's teacher and thus explained himself.
Gai Yue's pupils contracted in shock upon seeing the nine rings. Though he was Level 85 and possessed two soul bones, he knew he was no match for a Titled Douluo.
Even the weakest Titled Douluo represented a qualitative leap above Soul Douluo.
This was the real world, not a novel.
Even if Dugu Bo was considered the weakest Titled Douluo, a Soul Douluo like Gai Yue couldn't possibly win.
The original series' Yang Wudi once fought a 92ndlevel Douluo without losing ground, but that was with support from Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and Tang San's Killing God Domain.
Even then, Yang Wudi sustained serious injuries by sacrificing defense and going all out in attack.
So Gai Yue's serious expression was completely warranted. This was how a true Soul Douluo would react when facing a Titled Douluo.
But Dugu Bo's explanation puzzled him.
Not an enemy? Then why sneak around our camp?
Before Gai Yue could speak, two figures shot from the forest, calling out simultaneously:
"Teacher, he's Dugu Yan's grandfather not an enemy!"
"Grandpa, that's Oscar's teacher not an enemy!"