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On the outskirts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a poisonous mist blocked Lan Minghua and Wu Song's path.
"To think a mere poisonous haze could block our way. The master of this place surely underestimates us!" Wu Song exclaimed, brimming with enthusiasm. He turned to Lan Minghua. "Sect Leader, allow me to clear the path for you."
Lan Minghua simply nodded, giving him leave to do as he pleased.
Wu Song turned to face the toxic fog, his sharp brows furrowed. In an instant, his aura swelled like a ferocious tide, roiling with raw power. The surrounding air warped and shrieked under the pressure. He slowly clenched his fist, veins bulging on his powerful arm.
"Disperse!" he roared.
He threw a single punch, and a massive, invisible fist shadow materialized, blotting out the sky as it barreled into the poisonous cloud.
Under the force of that terrifying blow, the mist had no defense and was torn to shreds instantly. The forest below was annihilated by the shockwave; mighty trees snapped like dry twigs, and a storm of splintered wood and leaves filled the air. In the blink of an eye, the haze had vanished, leaving a wide, clear path carved through the forest.
Dugu Bo, who was rushing toward the location, felt the shockwave and stiffened, instinctively crossing his arms to brace himself. He was still thrown back dozens of meters. The trees around him were violently uprooted, littering the ground.
"My poison mist… has been destroyed?!" Dugu Bo stared at the now-barren clearing, a sense of deep unease creeping into his heart. "Who could it be? Yue Guan? No, he doesn't possess this kind of power. Who would dare to make a move against me?"
Not daring to delay, he accelerated toward the source of the disturbance.
Wu Song retracted his fist and reported to Lan Minghua, "Sect Leader, the path is clear." Before his words faded, he sensed someone approaching from behind.
Lan Minghua also detected Dugu Bo's arrival. He wasn't particularly hostile toward the Poison Douluo. He knew that Dugu Bo had only befriended Tang San because Tang San had cured him and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, of their poison. That, combined with Tang Hao's intimidation, was what made him yield. Otherwise, Tang San alone could never have earned the respect of a Titled Douluo. The world of Soul Masters wasn't just about fighting; it was about connections and favors.
With this in mind, Lan Minghua felt it wasn't right to simply take the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He decided to offer Dugu Bo the knowledge of Tang San's detoxification method as a trade—even though this trade cost him nothing.
A moment later, Dugu Bo arrived. He frowned at the widespread destruction, then his heart skipped a beat as he spotted two figures hovering in the air. Aside from Soul Masters with specific flight-type martial souls, only Titled Douluo could walk on air. He couldn't gauge their power, which meant they were likely stronger than him. Although Dugu Bo was a Titled Douluo, his individual combat strength was among the weakest. Facing two unknown Titled Douluo, he dared not act rashly.
"Gentlemen," he called out cautiously, "for what reason have you trespassed upon my territory?"
Seeing that Dugu Bo hadn't attacked immediately, Lan Minghua approached and said coolly, "It's nothing much. We just came to pick something up."
"Oh?" Dugu Bo feigned ignorance. "I am unaware of any treasure here that would warrant the attention of two Titled Douluo."
Lan Minghua gave him a sidelong glance, amused that a man of Dugu Bo's age would resort to such a flimsy excuse. He decided to unnerve him. "We came for the treasures of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, of course. You should know what we mean."
Dugu Bo's expression darkened, but he remained silent.
Lan Minghua pressed on, "However, if you are willing, I can offer you a trade."
"Impossible! Absolutely not!" Dugu Bo snapped before even hearing the terms. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was the key to his survival; he would never trade it. Realizing his visitors had ill intentions, he summoned his Jade-Phosphor Serpent Emperor, which coiled in the air, creating a standoff.
Lan Minghua shrugged nonchalantly, seeing that negotiation was off the table. He turned to Wu Song. "It seems talking won't work. Erlang, go and beat him into submission. Remember to leave him alive."
"Understood, Sect Leader," Wu Song grinned, "I've been itching for a fight!"
As the former top dog of Erlong Mountain, Wu Song was no gentle soul. Lan Minghua was confident in his abilities; on paper, Wu Song far outclassed Dugu Bo. He settled in to watch the show and see just how powerful the system's "gold-tier" reward truly was.
Dugu Bo struck first. He thrust his hand forward and roared, "Attack!"
The Jade-Phosphor Serpent Emperor shot forward like an arrow, its great maw opened wide, a foul wind heralding its approach.
Wu Song merely snorted and met it head-on, empty-handed. With a flicker of movement, he dodged the serpent's bite like a phantom and reappeared beneath its jaw. His right fist, surging with immense spirit power, smashed into the serpent's chin. With a loud bang, the serpent's head recoiled violently before snapping back.
A savage grin spread across Wu Song's face. He wasn't finished. He lunged forward, and his fists flew like cannonballs, battering the serpent's body.
Lan Minghua watched the Jade-Phosphor Serpent Emperor crackle and splinter under the assault, silently mourning for it. What bad luck to go up against Wu Song, a living god of war. Thankfully, the serpent was just a manifestation of spirit power; otherwise, the ground would be painted red.
Seeing his martial spirit fading, Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with anger. His spirit power surged, and the surrounding poison mist coalesced into dozens of smaller serpents that swarmed toward Wu Song.
Wu Song smashed the main serpent to the ground with one final punch, then drew a monk's saber. With a flash of steel, he unleashed a sharp wave of energy that sliced the poison-mist snakes to pieces. He looked down on Dugu Bo from above and sneered. With a flick of his wrist, the saber became a blur, sending countless sharp blades of energy raining down like a torrential storm, blotting out the sky.
Dugu Bo recalled his serpent to coil around him protectively, not daring to hold anything back.
"Eighth Spirit Ability: Time Stop!"
In an instant, the surrounding space seemed to freeze, and the shrieking blades of energy halted in mid-air.
But he wasn't finished. Dugu Bo activated his spirit bone skill, Medusa's Gaze. A beam of emerald light shot from the serpent's eyes, blasting through the suspended blades and heading straight for Wu Song.
Lan Minghua remained unconcerned, even taking a sip of Maotai as he continued to watch the spectacle.
A disdainful smile touched Wu Song's lips. In the next moment, his spirit power burst forth like a broken dam, shattering the frozen time. Facing the incoming emerald beam, he drew his second monk's saber and his eyes began to glow.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red—nine spirit rings rose from his feet, emitting a terrifying aura.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo's pupils constricted in shock. He never expected Wu Song's ninth spirit ring to be a 100,000-year one. Not all Titled Douluo possessed such a ring; the price of hunting a 100,000-year spirit beast was simply too great.
But the battle-crazed Wu Song gave him no time to be shocked. He crossed his sabers and slashed, sending two blades of energy in a cross-shaped pattern to meet Medusa's Gaze. At the moment of impact, the emerald beam disintegrated into motes of light.
Dugu Bo used every last bit of his spirit power to defend against the crossed blades, but it was useless. Before he could recover, Wu Song appeared before him like a specter. The cold light of his saber flashed as it swept toward Dugu Bo's neck.
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in horror. "My life is over!"
Just then, Lan Minghua finally made a move. He wasn't about to let Wu Song actually kill the man.
"Oi! For real, man, didn't I tell you not to use a killing blow?"
(End of Chapter)