Behind them, Liu Erlong stared longingly at Dugu Bo's departing figure.
If only she had the strength of a Titled Douluo, would she have been injured? That soul bone might've already been hers.
So many had died for it in vain.
But now that Dugu Bo had gone after it, there was no doubt—it was his.
Dugu Yan… what luck she had. A powerful Titled Douluo grandfather who treated her so well.
In the wilderness, following the chaotic battle over the soul bone, bodies lay strewn across the ground.
Qin Ming stood trembling, staring in horror at the mountain of corpses before him.
Among them lay the lifeless body of Yan Que'er.
Of the seven teachers who had come with him, only five—including himself—survived.
And that was only thanks to the two Soul Douluo elders who had fought tooth and nail to protect them.
Why had it come to this?
All he'd wanted was to contest a soul beast—how had it turned into a bloodbath?
So many soul masters, acting like madmen, killing each other for a single soul bone?
It was the first time he'd witnessed such senseless slaughter since joining the academy.
Now, Qin Ming, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin huddled together, breathing heavily, eyes full of vigilance.
Fire Dragon stood not far away, clearly injured and exhausted, but staying close.
A sea of Soul Kings, Soul Emperors, Soul Sages… and even a notorious gang of rogue soul masters that had joined mid-battle.
They were surrounded.
"Hey, old man Bai. Whether you keep the soul bone or not, you better pay me the one million gold coins you promised,"
Fire Dragon said wearily, glancing sideways at Bai Baoshan.
The Fire Leopard Sect, led by Huo Yanbao, had long been driven out by focused attacks. Their sect master had been forced to flee in disgrace, leaving the soul bone behind.
Now, that ten-thousand-year soul bone was in Bai Baoshan's hands.
"Hmph. Don't worry. You'll get what you're owed."
Before Bai Baoshan could respond, the hot-tempered Zhi Lin cut in with a grunt.
"Bai Baoshan! You people from Heaven Dou Academy better hand over the soul bone right now!"
A Soul Sage from the opposing side shouted arrogantly.
"Hah. Just a Soul Sage, and already talking big?"
Zhi Lin sneered at the man with clear disdain.
After all, a ten-thousand-year soul bone was worth millions of gold coins—everyone wanted a piece of it.
"Elder… maybe we should give it up."
"Even if we keep it, the losses will be too great. Is one soul bone worth so many lives?"
Qin Ming looked down at Yan Que'er's corpse beside him. Struggling with guilt, he stepped forward and spoke hesitantly.
"…What did you just say, Qin Ming?!"
Zhi Lin's fury erupted as he barked at him.
If they hadn't stayed behind to protect him and the others, they'd have escaped with the soul bone long ago.
What good were these Soul Sages and Kings in a real fight?
Qin Ming froze, clearly unprepared for such a harsh outburst.
Heaven Dou Academy wasn't Shrek. Nor was it a tightly bound family clan. The teachers had no blood ties—just professional roles.
They stayed out of kindness.
And now he was telling them they hadn't done enough? That they should surrender the soul bone to protect everyone else?
Were they that close?
"No one will take the soul bone from Heaven Dou Academy."
"Spare me your righteous morality—power speaks louder than pity."
Zhi Lin snapped coldly, utterly disgusted.
Beside him, Bai Baoshan's eyes were filled with disappointment. Any plans he had to promote Qin Ming vanished on the spot.
"So… our lives mean less than a soul bone."
Qin Ming's eyes dulled. He seemed shattered.
The once warm Heaven Dou Academy suddenly felt so cold.
"If Director Fu were here… he'd never let a single one of us die…"
He mumbled quietly to himself.
Has this kid gone stupid?
Fire Dragon glanced sideways at him, curling his lip in disdain.
So what if a few Soul King teachers died?
Heaven Dou Academy didn't even pay them that much—at best, a few thousand gold coins each.
Now they had a ten-thousand-year soul bone?
He was jealous just thinking about it.
"Well then, since you won't hand it over…"
"Don't blame us for taking it by force!"
"They're injured. Those Soul Douluo have already fought once and taken hits."
"This is our chance—everyone, attack!"
With that, cries of battle erupted again.
A group of Soul Sages who hadn't fought earlier—and were still in peak condition—launched the assault.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul Avatar!"
The sky erupted in a brilliant cascade of soul skills—all aimed squarely at the group in the center.
Bai Baoshan and Fire Dragon scrambled to activate their own abilities and block the attacks.
Zhi Lin guarded the remaining teachers.
The field, once quiet, descended into chaos again.
At that moment, a figure appeared in the sky—Dugu Bo, in his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor form, descended like a divine judgment.
"Anyone who dares touch that soul bone… dies."
His cold voice thundered across the battlefield.
"It's Poison Douluo!"
"He has no shame! How dare a Titled Douluo call it 'his' soul bone?!"
Soul Douluo, Soul Sages—even the rogue bandits—felt like they'd swallowed shit.
They were so close, only to lose everything again.
"Your Excellency… you want the soul bone?"
"Don't forget—Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is backed by the royal family!"
Bai Baoshan trembled as he tried to argue.
"Aren't I part of the royal family too?"
That retort silenced him instantly.
Right. Dugu Bo was an official guest elder of the Heaven Dou Empire.
With a flick of his finger, the soul bone flew straight into Dugu Bo's hand.
This was a Titled Douluo. They weren't even on the same level.
And more than that—this particular Titled Douluo specialized in wide-area, anti-mob combat.
If he cast his ninth soul skill, not a single one of them would survive.
Once Dugu Bo secured the soul bone, the crowd fell into a deep silence.
All that fighting—and in the end, they'd gained nothing.
"Yan'er, here's your soul bone."
"Lin Feng already has two. Now you'll have one too."
Dugu Bo winked at Dugu Yan and handed the soul bone over with a fond smile.
But before she could even react—
"Lin Feng, this is for you!"
Dugu Yan beamed as she handed it directly to Lin Feng.
"Yan'er, I can't accept this."
"Grandpa's right. You still don't have a soul bone. You should absorb it."
Lin Feng pushed it back with both hands.
Off to the side, Dugu Bo watched the two of them insist on giving it to each other.
Next time I find a treasure, I'm keeping it to myself for retirement.
30 Advance Chapters on !
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