Douluo: Emerald Poison Emperor

Back in his territory, Dugu Bo noticeably relaxed. He casually pulled over two chairs, tossing one in front of Chen Ming while sitting down on the other himself. With a wave of his hand, he gestured for Chen Ming to sit.

"You don't need to think I'm some unreasonable person. Sit down, and let's talk calmly."

"Thank you, Senior Dugu," Chen Ming replied politely before sitting down.

"Thank me for what? If I were you, I'd be cursing me in my heart right now. But no matter—anger or not, you'll have to bear it. After all, I'm a Titled Douluo."

As expected of the famously eccentric Dugu Bo, his sudden statement left Chen Ming dumbfounded.

Chen Ming couldn't figure out what Dugu Bo meant by that. Nor did he understand why this man was so tactless.

Even if Chen Ming had been cursing him internally, was it necessary to point it out and make things awkward for everyone?

Being a Titled Douluo is impressive, sure, but don't think that makes you untouchable. Watch out, or one day I might take it out on your granddaughter!

Dugu Bo convinced he'd cracked a decent joke to ease the tension, shifted the topic to serious matters.

"Kid, tell me everything that happened that day. Don't leave out a single detail. I'm a Titled Douluo with sharp eyes—you won't get away with lying to me."

"Sharp eyes? Yeah, right. In the original story, Xiao Wu, a massive transformed soul beast, was right under your nose, and you didn't even notice. And a whole Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well full of immortal herbs? You didn't know how to use a single one. Your sharp eyes are more legendary than any Ultimate Douluo's," Chen Ming thought, rolling his eyes internally.

Still, he kept a neutral expression, calmly organizing his thoughts before recounting the events of that day.

Chen Ming didn't embellish anything, stopping his explanation at the part where he stabilized Dugu Yan's soul power. He deliberately left out the rest.

At this point, in Dugu Bo's mind, the story naturally continued to Chen Ming carrying his granddaughter to seek treatment—conveniently skipping over anything significant that might have occurred.

What piqued Dugu Bo's interest, however, was Chen Ming's claim about stabilizing Dugu Yan's soul power.

"You're saying you, on your own, stabilized Yan Yan's soul power and even suppressed the chaotic poison within her?"

Dugu Bo's brows furrowed deeply, forming a tight "^" on his forehead as he eyed Chen Ming with growing suspicion.

Everyone knew that stabilizing someone else's soul power was typically something only higher-level soul masters could do for lower-level ones. A lower-level soul master could at best maintain stability for someone stronger than them, but that was about it.

At the level of a Soul Grandmaster, most couldn't even fully manage their soul power. Trying to stabilize someone else's would likely cause more harm than good.

How could this kid, on his own, stabilize his granddaughter's soul power?

There was something he wasn't saying!

Dugu Bo nodded inwardly, convinced his judgment was correct.

"Yeah, that's exactly what happened," Chen Ming answered confidently, his conscience clear.

"What's your level?"

"At the time, I was at level 23, close to breaking through to level 24. After stabilizing Dugu Yan's soul power, it also gave mine a bit of a push, and I broke through to level 24."

"Breaking through after stabilizing someone else's soul power..." Dugu Bo's brows furrowed even tighter as he pondered the situation, eventually arriving at a possible explanation.

Could it be a martial soul fusion technique? Or perhaps there was some sort of compatibility between his granddaughter's martial soul and this kid's?

Was it possible that during Dugu Yan's soul power rampage, the two of them accidentally fulfilled some conditions for a martial soul fusion technique, which then allowed her soul power to stabilize?

"Can you describe exactly what you did at the time?" Dugu Bo asked his curiosity now thoroughly piqued.

"It was simple," Chen Ming began. "I combined my soul power and spiritual power, then guided..."

"What are you talking about?"

Dugu Bo had been bracing himself to hear Chen Ming talk about compatibility or some profound, mystical connection. He was even prepared for the possibility that Chen Ming and his granddaughter shared a martial soul fusion technique. But Chen Ming's explanation left him utterly baffled.

"Combining soul power and spiritual power, and then..."

"Ridiculous! I've been a Titled Douluo for years, and I've never heard of anyone being able to combine soul power with spiritual power! Even though I'm not particularly skilled with spiritual power, I know enough to say this: soul power is soul power, and spiritual power is spiritual power. They're fundamentally different. How could they possibly merge?"

Dugu Bo shot Chen Ming a sharp glare, his soul power surging and filling the underground chamber with an oppressive atmosphere.

He started to wonder if this kid thought he was too easygoing and had decided to spew nonsense.

"May I ask what level of soul power Senior Dugu currently possesses?" Chen Ming asked cautiously after about thirty seconds of stunned silence, his tone probing.

Soul power and spiritual power can't merge?

Goodness, if that statement were to spread to other Titled Douluos, it would probably leave them laughing until they choked. Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi would be rolling on the floor at such an absurd claim.

It might be excusable for a low-level soul master to misunderstand, but how could a Titled Douluo say something so foolish?

"Ninety-one, Titled Douluo! So what... what about it?!" Dugu Bo initially didn't catch Chen Ming's implication, but when he did, his beard practically bristled in anger, and his fists itched for action.

What's wrong with being a Level 91 Titled Douluo? Did being a Titled Douluo somehow offend you?

Sure, I might not know how I broke through to the Titled Douluo rank, and my soul power hasn't improved even once since... but I'm still a Titled Douluo! What about it?!

Despite his anger, Dugu Bo began to grasp Chen Ming's point.

Soul power and spiritual power—two seemingly unrelated energies—might, potentially, possibly, probably, somehow, be able to merge. It's just that he had never discovered this fact after all these years.

Could it be some kind of secret technique?

"I don't believe your claim. Show me if you can!"

Though his pride as a senior was wounded, Dugu Bo couldn't ignore the possibility that this method might help resolve his family's longstanding issues. So, he forced himself to push past his embarrassment and challenge Chen Ming.

In his mind, this technique had to be either a high-level secret art or some kind of rare inheritance, requiring special talent to master. Otherwise, how could a Titled Douluo like him have never heard of it?

"You're putting me on the spot here…" Chen Ming spread his hands helplessly.

"Fine, no rush. Take a few days to rest and demonstrate when you're ready," Dugu Bo thought. But before he could speak, he noticed something peculiar gathering in Chen Ming's outstretched palms.

"This is soul power. Pretty ordinary," Chen Ming said, raising his left hand in front of Dugu Bo.

"And this is spiritual power… Don't look at me like that. My level is too low, so I can't manifest spiritual power outwardly. I'm just demonstrating."

"And then…"

Chen Ming brought his palms together and closed his eyes. A moment later, an unfamiliar energy emanated from his hands—something Dugu Bo had never encountered before.

"Like this."

Chen Ming opened his hands, revealing that both were enveloped in a layer of soul power. But this soul power was unlike any Dugu Bo had ever seen.

Though faint, it undeniably contained a trace of spiritual intent.