Chapter 18: Hugging the Thigh of a Titled Douluo! Sister Dong Huang?
Spirit Hall.
Looking at the photo Lin Qingmo had sent and the message saying he was heading to the Soul Hunting Forest, the corners of Bibi Dong's lips curved into a faint smile.
Through the distant mountain contours visible in the background of Lin Qingmo's photo, she had already roughly deduced his current location.
"Ah Qing… blue hair, blue eyes, innate full soul power, and even a hundred-thousand-year soul bone…"
Bibi Dong murmured to herself.
"Now you finally show some promise, and you meet the standard as well."
"Ah Qing, I'm very much looking forward to our first meeting."
She spoke gently, with a hint of anticipation in her voice.
…
Soul Hunting Forest.
Lin Qingmo spent more than a full day—flying part of the way, walking part of the way—before finally arriving at the entrance.
It was located four hundred li northeast of Nuoding City.
The area was guarded by imperial troops, who also recorded the distribution of soul beasts.
Only those holding a special entry order issued by Spirit Hall were allowed to enter.
Standing before him were two guards stationed at the entrance.
"Little friend, if you wish to enter the Soul Hunting Forest, you must present a token from Spirit Hall. Otherwise, you are not permitted to enter."
The guard on the left spoke expressionlessly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"May I ask where I can obtain such a token?"
Lin Qingmo naturally knew about the token requirement.
Teachers at Nuoding Academy had them.
The guard glanced at him and kindly reminded him, "If you go to a Spirit Hall branch and join Spirit Hall, you can obtain a token. Alternatively, someone who already has a token can bring you in, or you can spend money to hire a soul-hunting team."
"Hmm…"
Lin Qingmo pondered slightly.
Under the current circumstances, hiring a soul-hunting team seemed like the best option.
Of course, that would still depend on the price and whether the team was reliable.
Just at that moment—
"He's with me."
A cold female voice suddenly rang out behind him.
The voice was as chilling as ice, yet carried an indescribable authority that inspired awe.
"?"
Lin Qingmo froze.
He turned around.
Standing behind him at some point was a woman clad in a loose black robe.
The hood of the robe concealed most of her face, revealing only a snow-white chin and exquisitely shaped lips.
Her appearance was impossible to discern.
The woman's figure was tall.
As the black robe fluttered in the wind, she exuded an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.
The two guards felt her presence was unfathomably deep.
Their expressions immediately turned respectful.
The woman retrieved a black token from her sleeve.
After examining it carefully, the guards hurriedly returned it with both hands.
Bowing deeply, they said, "So you are accompanying this honored guest. Our apologies for the discourtesy. Please, both of you, go ahead."
The woman put the token away.
"What, aren't you going in?"
Her voice was light and airy, carrying a trace of barely perceptible amusement.
"…"
Lin Qingmo hesitated for a moment.
He didn't know this woman.
Nor did he know why she was helping him.
But right now, this was his best chance to enter the Soul Hunting Forest.
Moreover, anyone who could produce a high-level Spirit Hall token clearly had an extraordinary identity.
"Thank you, big sister!"
Lin Qingmo immediately put on a well-behaved smile.
He quickly followed the woman into the Soul Hunting Forest.
---
Inside the Soul Hunting Forest.
Towering trees stretched skyward.
Branches and leaves were lush and dense.
Sunlight barely filtered through, making the air inside damp and heavy.
The two walked side by side.
All the way, neither spoke.
Only the sound of their footsteps, accompanied by the chirping of insects and birds, echoed around them.
Several times, Lin Qingmo wanted to ask about the woman's identity, but he held back.
After nearly half an hour of walking, he finally couldn't help but speak cautiously.
"Big sister, thank you for helping me earlier."
"My name is Lin Qingmo—Qing as in clear, Mo as in silent."
"May I ask what your name is, big sister? And why did you help me?"
The woman stopped in her tracks.
The shadow of her hood concealed her eyes.
Lin Qingmo could only see the slight curve of her lips.
"Dong Huang."
Her voice remained cool as she calmly uttered those two words.
"Dong Huang?"
This name…
Wasn't this name way too domineering?!
He had gone through the Douluo plot countless times in his head, yet he had never heard of any big shot with this name.
Could she be some hidden powerhouse outside the original novel?
Lin Qingmo's heart filled with doubt.
But he still put on an innocent look, tilting his small face upward as he asked,
"Sister Dong Huang, your name sounds really nice!"
"But why did you help me? Did we know each other before?"
Dong Huang looked into his blue-silver eyes.
She thought to herself that this little fellow was quite good at pretending.
After a moment of silence, she slowly said,
"I have a younger brother who looks very much like you."
"Younger brother?"
Lin Qingmo blinked, waiting for her to continue.
"Mm."
Dong Huang's voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible sadness.
"Unfortunately, he's no longer around."
"…"
Lin Qingmo immediately understood.
It seemed this Sister Dong Huang was treating him as a substitute for her younger brother.
He didn't dare ask further, afraid of touching upon her sorrow.
So he obediently tried to comfort her instead.
"Sister Dong Huang, don't be sad."
"If you don't mind, I can be your younger brother!"
Of course, it was just a joke meant to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
Dong Huang looked at his obedient appearance, a trace of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"Rather than being my younger brother, it'd be better to be my disciple."
"I can teach you how to cultivate and make you the strongest soul master on the Douluo Continent."
"Disciple?"
Shocked!
Lin Qingmo never imagined that this mysterious Sister Dong Huang would actually want to take him as her disciple!
"But…"
But the teacher he wanted had to be someone with a truly massive thigh to cling to!
He was just thinking about how to tactfully refuse—
Boom—!
A vast and surging soul power erupted from Bibi Dong's body.
The black robe billowed without any wind.
Nine soul rings slowly rose from beneath her feet, floating behind her in a magnificent formation.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red!
Nine soul rings radiated terrifying pressure.
The surrounding vegetation bent under this immense force.
Soul beasts in the distance were so frightened that they fled in all directions.
Nine rings… a Ti—Titled Douluo!
Lin Qingmo's eyes widened instantly.
His small mouth gaped open wide enough to stuff an egg inside.
In his wildest dreams, he never would have thought that the random big sister he'd run into was actually a Titled Douluo!
And not just any Titled Douluo— but a terrifyingly powerful one with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring!
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red— such a soul ring configuration was simply heaven-defying at this stage of the Douluo Continent!
"Well then, are you willing to acknowledge me as your master now?"
Dong Huang's voice carried a faint smile as the pressure gradually receded.
Lin Qingmo needed only 0.001 seconds to think.
With a thump, he dropped to his knees!
He kowtowed respectfully toward Bibi Dong, then shouted,
"Sister Dong Huang! No—Master Dong Huang!"
"Disciple Lin Qingmo pays respects to the Master!"
A satisfied smile curved across the woman's lips beneath her black robe.
This little fellow truly hadn't disappointed her.
After kowtowing, Lin Qingmo felt utterly delighted.
With such an insanely powerful Titled Douluo master backing him, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways across the Douluo Continent from now on?
Unable to hold back, he immediately pulled out the chat group light screen, eager to share this earth-shattering good news with his "family."
[Dad Douluo]: "Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!"
Three consecutive "holy shits," perfectly expressing his excitement and exhilaration.
[Green Grass]: "What… happened?"
[A Rogue Rabbit]: "What's going on?"
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: "You brat, why are you talking even more crudely than me? Can't you have a bit of decorum?"
[Dad Douluo]: "Brothers—oh no, sisters—I've taken off! This time I've really taken off!"
[A Rogue Rabbit]: "Ah Qing, you already have a flying soul skill. We know that. Did you fly into the sky again?"
Xiao Wu replied blankly, completely missing Lin Qingmo's point.
[Dad Douluo]: "Not that kind of takeoff—I've hugged a thigh! A super thick thigh!"
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: "A thigh?"
[A Rogue Rabbit]: "Whose thigh? Is it a girl's? Ah Qing, you…"
Xiao Wu's train of thought was always that peculiar.
[Dad Douluo]: "Tch, your thought processes are killing me. I can't even show off properly in the group!"
[Dad Douluo]: "Let me tell you—I just acknowledged a master in the Soul Hunting Forest."
[Dad Douluo]: "And that master is a Titled Douluo!"
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: "???"
[A Rogue Rabbit]: "?"
[Green Grass]: "…"
—
End of Chapter