**Chapter 300: The Gods of the Present World**

**Chapter 300: The Gods of the Present World**

The mother and daughter never expected his arrival. They exchanged a glance and smiled awkwardly.

The patriarch of Zhu Family glanced at the message sent back by Zhu Zhuyun and then looked at Zhao Ling's portrait before addressing them. 

"It's said that the Demon Suppression Douluo is actually more handsome than depicted in this portrait. Even the best artists across the entire Douluo Continent cannot capture his unique charm. Would you two like to see him in person?"

Upon hearing her father's evaluation of Zhao Ling, Zhu Zhuqing nodded without hesitation.

Zhu Zhuqing's mother considered joining in but caught the sharp look from her husband and quickly shook her head. 

Forget it. Life is more important. No matter how handsome the Demon Suppression Douluo is, what does it matter to a married woman like her?

"Zhuqing... Do you want to go to the Tiandou Empire and meet the Demon Suppression Douluo???" The patriarch of the Zhu Family asked, a fake, gentle smile on his face.

Zhu Zhuqing was taken aback by her father's question. She didn't know whether to answer "Yes, yes, no, yes" or "No, yes." Looking up at her mother, she saw her desperately signaling with her eyes, as though trying to convey something.

At first, Zhu Zhuqing didn't understand, but recalling her father's earlier unfriendly gaze, she shook her head.

"No, Qing'er doesn't want to go to the Tiandou Empire. Qing'er just wants to stay with Father and Mother for now."

"Well... that's right..."

Finally, the patriarch of Zhu Family smiled—a genuine expression this time.

He had been deeply upset that his eldest daughter had defied him by attending Lanba Academy in the Tiandou Empire without his permission. If his youngest daughter insisted on going to the Tiandou Empire too, where would his dignity as a father be?

He was also frustrated that the mother and daughter had just made fun of his appearance.

'My looks are quite good, even by the standards of the Xing Luo Empire, right?' he thought.

After all, how else could he have married such a beautiful woman and fathered two daughters as delicate as porcelain dolls?

If it weren't for the fortune teller who had inexplicably visited their family three years ago, at least one of them would have been engaged to the royal family by now.

But now that the fortune teller had meddled with their lives, both daughters had lost their royal engagements.

Still, he found some comfort in the thought that his daughters had the potential to become gods in the future.

However, he later discovered that the "fortune teller" was actually the Demon Suppression Douluo in disguise, and his frustration deepened. He longed to confront him but knew he couldn't defeat him.

He could, however, prevent his youngest daughter from seeking out that charlatan.

The patriarch of the Zhu Family couldn't understand how the Demon Suppression Douluo, supposedly the number one person beneath the gods, displayed abilities that no Titled Douluo possessed.

Could it be... had the Demon Suppression Douluo already reached the realm of the gods?

The patriarch gasped at the possibility. If the Demon Suppression Douluo was indeed a living god, it would be an incredible revelation.

Gods were beings only spoken of in myths, not something one could encounter in reality. Now, his daughters had become disciples of such a being. This connection could elevate their family to unimaginable heights.

In the future, the Zhu Family could surpass even the Haotian Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Family, or even the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

However, there was a troubling rumor: the Demon Suppression Douluo was known for his fickleness, his many female admirers, and his greed.

He feared the master-disciple relationship might change as his daughters grew older. If that were to happen, there would be nothing he could do. His unease deepened as he imagined his daughters being hurt by such a man.

Ultimately, the patriarch realized he couldn't control his eldest daughter, who was already away from home. But his youngest daughter? She had to be kept away from the Demon Suppression Douluo.

Zhu Zhuqing and her mother exchanged a quiet look, their eyes lingering on Zhao Ling's portrait.

---

Switching back to the night a few days ago, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had returned to their dormitory.

The dormitory resembled a modern high-end living space, with two people sharing a room.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had come to Lan Ba Academy together and, as close as sisters, naturally chose to live together.

Dugu Yan took out a weakened version of the Eight Immortals Pill from her storage soul guide device. The pill emitted a delicate fragrance as she swallowed it and sat cross-legged to begin refining it.

Ye Lingling, watching curiously, waited for a minute.

She soon noticed that Dugu Yan's soul power was growing rapidly. In just a few minutes, Dugu Yan's soul power had increased by two levels, moving from level 27 to level 29.

At thirteen, with a soul power of level 29, Dugu Yan was still weaker than Tang San, Xiao Wu, and others in the original story.

But to Ye Lingling, this was incredible.

For a soul master, advancing to each level was a tough challenge. The earlier stages were relatively easier, but breaking through two small levels in just a few minutes was unprecedented.

Normally, at their age and strength, breaking through three or four levels in a year would be seen as a sign of genius. Yet here was her best friend advancing two levels in mere minutes.

Is this the method the Demon Suppression Douluo used? Ye Lingling thought. It was so miraculous it almost felt like a miracle.

The Demon Suppression Douluo—not only was he incredibly handsome and as strong as a Titled Douluo, but he could also refine such extraordinary elixirs. Ye Lingling couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

If only she had known earlier, she wouldn't have spoken ill of him. Perhaps, if she had been kinder, he might have given her a pill for Yanyan's sake.

When Dugu Yan finally opened her eyes and checked her body's condition, a joyful expression spread across her face.

In just a few minutes, she had advanced two small levels, and the improvement was stable, with no waste of soul power.

Most importantly, Dugu Yan sensed a slight improvement in her cultivation aptitude. While it wasn't much, it was clear.

She felt a warm sense of happiness. "Brother Ling must have had me in mind when he gave me such a precious elixir."

'If he didn't care for me, how could he have given me such a valuable gift?'

(End of this chapter)