With the arrival of Fire Meow Meow, Dugu Bo no longer had to fight passively against the three Title Douluo.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Serpent Flame!"
Dugu Bo broke away and unleashed his sixth soul skill. A plume of jade-green fire erupted out of thin air, infused with the unique jade phosphor poison of his martial soul, surging toward the three enemies without mercy.
Notably, the searing flames burning on Fire Meow Meow's body happened to completely ignore Dugu Bo's toxic attacks.
That meant even large-area, indiscriminate attacks like this wouldn't harm Fire Meow Meow—as long as it fought at full strength, it was completely safe.
"What kind of soul beast is this?! Why is it so terrifying?!"
One of the Title Douluo was sent flying by a single swipe from Fire Meow Meow. After barely stabilizing himself mid-air, he realized his chest had been torn clean through—clothes shredded, flesh gashed, and the wound was still burning.
The searing pain made It impossible to channel soul power without constantly aggravating the injury.
"Too long in seclusion… Do soul beasts think they can run rampant on the continent now?"
Another Title Douluo barely fended off Fire Meow Meow's assault, speaking in panic.
Yu Yuanzhen was handling Dugu Bo alone, still with some strength to spare.
But when he glanced at the blazing lion tangling with the other two Title Douluo, his heart trembled violently.
"No… impossible! That's his mount!"
After trading another round of soul skills with Dugu Bo, he staggered back and flew toward the other two, his eyes scanning the surroundings nervously, the tension in his gaze unhidden.
"Careful! That beast belongs to him! He might be here in person!"
He shouted, forced to focus again as Dugu Bo pressed forward with another wave of poisonous attacks.
"What 'him' are you talking about?" one of the Title Douluo asked, confused.
But instead of an answer, he was met with Fire Meow Meow's flaming breath. The fiery blast separated the two men, after which the lion pounced on one at random, launching into a brutal, no-nonsense melee assault.
Fire Meow Meow knew exactly where its strength lay. Even if it took hits in return, these two couldn't beat it.
"This won't do! We can't keep this up!"
Yu Yuanzhen found himself completely on the back foot. Dugu Bo seemed to grow more ferocious by the second, his fighting spirit surging. All Yu Yuanzhen could do was defend.
"Gahhh—!!"
Just then, Fire Meow Meow found an opening and went in for the kill. Its massive claw stomped straight down on a Title Douluo's chest.
The man let out a final scream—and then silence. No more breath. No more life.
The remaining Title Douluo panicked like a startled bird. Abandoning all pretense of duty or mission, he unleashed his soul power, dragging his battered body away into the distance.
He couldn't win. Not even close.
He was too familiar with this—running was second nature.
In the Slaughter City, he had always been the hunter. But now, out in the world, he was the one being hunted and fleeing… by a mere soul beast.
Fire Meow Meow didn't bother chasing him. Instead, its fiery eyes locked onto Yu Yuanzhen, who was still barely fending off Dugu Bo's onslaught.
"You old bastard! I thought you were something special, but your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan isn't even worth a damn!"
Dugu Bo hurled insults between attacks. Yu Yuanzhen's face alternated between pale and flushed—whether from being beaten or infuriated, no one could tell.
"It's over."
With Fire Meow Meow joining the fray, Yu Yuanzhen simply couldn't hold up. A massive paw slammed him to the ground. He spat blood, unable to rise.
"Wait! I just want to ask two questions!"
Just as Fire Meow Meow was about to finish him off, Dugu Bo raised a hand to stop it.
"Old bastard, why are you people here? Was the chaos in Heaven Dou your doing?"
"Ugh—cough cough…"
Yu Yuanzhen tried to get up, only to be pinned down again by Fire Meow Meow, coughing up more blood, completely immobilized.
"Didn't expect you to actually convince him to make a move…"
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes were dim, staring at Fire Meow Meow as he spoke. It was clear who he referred to.
Even if they'd never seen him in person, everyone across the continent had heard the legends.
A man with a flying spirit, a hundred-thousand-year fire-type soul beast companion—
That combination was unforgettable.
"Hmph! Speak! I don't have time to waste on trash like you!"
Dugu Bo raised a hand, and a cloud of jade-green mist shot toward the helpless Yu Yuanzhen.
It felt like a thousand poisons were gnawing through his soul—life and death balanced on a knife's edge.
"I-It was the Clear Sky Sect…"
Unable to bear the torture, Yu Yuanzhen gave in. He confessed everything—the scheme, and the one behind it all.
It all started when his useless son somehow returned to the clan recently.
And not alone—he brought Liu Erlong and a group of black-robed men.
The soul power radiating from those robed figures chilled Yu Yuanzhen to his core.
Dozens of Title Douluo… he thought his son had provoked some terrifying enemy that would wipe out the entire clan.
But to his shock, the black-robed men were following orders from a young man—and that young man called his son "teacher."
What came next was a nightmare.
With that young man's support, Yu Xiaogang took his revenge throughout the clan, punishing everyone who had ever mocked or humiliated him in the past—including Yu Yuanzhen himself.
He'd only survived because the young man said he might still be useful.
Afterward, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was little more than a shell. Its resources were stripped bare.
Then came the final order: obey, or perish.
So Yu Yuanzhen had no choice but to comply.
"Then I was sent to Heaven Dou Royal Academy… to find you and your granddaughter…"
Dugu Bo's eyes widened. He instinctively grabbed Yu Yuanzhen by the collar.
"When?!"
"Two months ago…"
Two months ago…
Dugu Bo thought back—wasn't that when He came to ask for help hunting soul rings?
He had taken Yan Yan away with him then.
Good. The heavens hadn't turned their backs on him.
[T/N: This happened on ch 185]
If he hadn't taken her, and these animals had succeeded…
Just imagining it made his blood boil.
Dugu Bo clenched his fist and slammed it into Yu Yuanzhen's face without hesitation.
"You bastards! If you've got a problem, come for me! If you dare touch Yan Yan—I'll wipe out your whole damn family!"
Even though nothing had happened, Dugu Bo couldn't stop the chill in his heart.
Dugu Yan was his one and only weakness.
Anyone who even thought of hurting her—he'd fight them to the death.
"And then what?"
After venting his rage, Dugu Bo gestured for the now half-conscious Yu Yuanzhen to continue.
Yu Yuanzhen, his face swollen like a pig's head, spilled everything.
How they planned to assassinate Emperor Xue Ye, blackmail Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing, and stage an elaborate false narrative…
All in order to seize control of the Heaven Dou Empire from the shadows.
_
(CAUGHT UP WITH THE RAWS IN MY PATREON)
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