Douluo: The Ultimate Self

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Before the others could say anything, Yang Xiong vanished from sight. Everyone was stunned, especially Zhao Wuji, while Tang San quickly ate Oscar's recovery sausage to heal his wounds.

Yang Xiong chased after the Titan Giant Ape for several kilometers until he reached a relatively open area. He then called out, "Anyone from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect, please step forward."

There was no response. Helpless, Yang Xiong took out the sect leader's token given to him by Ning Fengzhi. "Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect members, this token represents the sect leader. Please come forward immediately."

A sigh echoed from the shadows, followed by the emergence of a figure.

Upon seeing the person, Yang Xiong was astonished. "Teacher Lin Gong? Is that you? Have you been the one secretly protecting me all along?"

Lin Gong looked somewhat exasperated. "I've taught you for six years. Why is it so surprising that I'm protecting you?"

Yang Xiong was dumbfounded. "Teacher Lin, aren't you only a Soul King? How can you protect me in the Great Star Dou Forest?"

In Yang Xiong's mind, the person protecting him should at least be a Soul Emperor or Soul Sage. To think it was only a Soul King! In the Great Star Dou Forest, even Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage, was in danger—let alone against a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast like the Titan Giant Ape.

Lin Gong's expression turned indignant. "What kind of attitude is that? Who told you I'm just a Soul King?"

Yang Xiong was still bewildered. "If I remember correctly, when you were my homeroom teacher, you said you were a Soul King. Could it be you've made progress in recent years?"

A mocking smile appeared on Lin Gong's face as he summoned a massive Purple Emperor Bamboo staff. Around him materialized two yellow, three purple, and three black soul rings.

Seeing Lin Gong's soul rings, Yang Xiong was utterly shocked. "How is this possible? You're a Soul Douluo? How could the sect send a Soul Douluo-level elder to protect me?"

Yang Xiong knew well enough that Soul Douluos were typically inner sect elders. How could one be assigned to protect a mere Great Soul Master like him?

Lin Gong smirked proudly. "I'm the Ninth Elder of the sect. How could a little brat like you understand? If I didn't see potential in you, do you think I'd bother protecting you?"

"Unfortunately, you've gone astray. Back then, you loved studying so much that I thought you were destined for research. But instead, you've focused solely on physical training—it's completely backward."

Yang Xiong looked puzzled. "This doesn't make sense. As a sect elder, how do you have a thousand-year fifth soul ring? With a top-tier plant martial soul like the Purple Emperor Bamboo, if you had optimal soul rings, you should have become a Title Douluo."

Lin Gong's expression faltered. "What do you know? I wasn't originally from the sect—I joined the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect decades ago due to certain circumstances. Though I hold the title of elder, I'm actually an honorary guest. If Ning Fengzhi hadn't repeatedly invited me, and if I weren't so bored, would I have bothered teaching you kids?"

Yang Xiong quickly asked, "Teacher Lin, did you follow me into the Sunset Forest back then? No wonder I heard classmates mention that you stopped teaching for a while."

Lin Gong's expression turned cold. "A mere Soul Grandmaster dares venture into the Sunset Forest alone? If I hadn't secretly followed you, you'd have died countless times by now."

Yang Xiong pressed further. "Teacher Lin, can you sense the presence of a Title Douluo nearby? Or are there any Title Douluos around us right now?"

Lin Gong shot Yang Xiong a glare. "Do you think Title Douluos grow on trees? I'm only a Soul Douluo—how could I sense a Title Douluo? Haven't you read enough books to know there's a qualitative difference between a Soul Douluo and a Title Douluo?"

Yang Xiong continued, "Teacher Lin, can you tell if the Title Douluo who defeated Zhao Wuji a few days ago is still here?"

Lin Gong's expression grew serious. "How do you know the one who beat Zhao Wuji was a Title Douluo? Based on your strength, you shouldn't have been able to sense the fight that night."

Yang Xiong smiled. "To injure a powerful Soul Sage like Zhao Wuji without causing serious harm likely required immense physical strength—a feat beyond a Soul Douluo."

Lin Gong nodded. "Indeed, a Title Douluo appeared that night. Their strength and aura were extraordinary—comparable to Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. Why do you ask?"

After some thought, Yang Xiong replied, "Teacher Lin, please help me chase the Titan Giant Ape."

Lin Gong's expression turned grave. "Even though I'm a Soul Douluo, I'm no match for that Titan Giant Ape, let alone rescuing someone from it."

Yang Xiong's expression also grew serious. "Who said anything about rescuing anyone? Since I'm in the Great Star Dou Forest, I need some toxins for body tempering. Along the way, if we encounter any millennium-old venomous spiders or snakes, I want to capture them for their poison. Please help me keep an eye out, Teacher Lin."

Lin Gong looked puzzled. "What are you thinking? The sect has plenty of resources for toxins. Why would you personally come to the Great Star Dou Forest?"

Yang Xiong quickly responded, "Let's follow the trail first. We might find something unexpected."

Lin Gong sighed and led Yang Xiong deeper into the forest, moving much faster than Yang Xiong could on his own.

As expected of a school teacher, Lin Gong's knowledge was extensive, and his speed was remarkable. He could sense spirit beasts' presence and even determine their age almost instantly.

The Titan Giant Ape's rampage had scared off many weaker spirit beasts. Only the stronger ones remained along its path.

After helping Yang Xiong catch two 1000 year old spirit beasts, Lin Gong suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Hmm, this is strange. There's a Man-Faced Demon Spider over two thousand years old. Do you need its venom?"

Yang Xiong was overjoyed and visibly excited. "Teacher Lin, spider toxins are exactly what I need most. Let's go capture it!"

Sure enough, after traveling about eight hundred meters, they spotted an enormous spider. Its body was pitch black, with a torso over one and a half meters long and legs stretching over three meters. Each leg was razor-sharp, and its abdomen bore white patterns forming a human-like face—a Man-Faced Demon Spider.

However, this Man-Faced Demon Spider was clearly injured. Its body was bloodied, and its abdominal shell had been cracked open.

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