Chapter 23: Big Trouble

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Li Luochen, wielding his Dragon Pattern Staff, delivered a series of blows to Dugu Yan until she could only defend herself, protecting her snake tail. By now, her once jade-green tail had turned bright red.

Dugu Yan was in tears, overwhelmed by the humiliation. She had never endured such treatment in her life. The more she thought about it, the angrier and more wronged she felt. Finally, she released her martial soul protection and collapsed to her knees, sobbing loudly. This sudden outburst left Li Luochen completely stunned.

"You... you brute! How dare you bully me like this! Waaaahhh!"

'Is it really that serious? She's crying already? Great, I'm in deep trouble now. I can't handle people crying, especially not in public—it's so embarrassing.'

'Bullying a young girl with my cultivation level... I feel like I should dig a hole and bury myself. Why do I suddenly feel a spotlight on my back?'

'The Death Star must be shining right above my head. I need to run, but if I do, I might as well kiss my life goodbye.'

As Li Luochen contemplated this, he took a step back—but that step caused him to bump into someone behind him.

Li Luochen: 'Danger!!!'

With trembling hands, he slowly turned his head. It felt as though an entire century had passed before he finally saw...

A tall, lanky figure, resembling a spear in stature. His hair and beard were ink-green, and his eyes gleamed like emeralds, radiating an otherworldly aura. He seemed almost illusory, like a phantom.

His face was expressionless—or rather, completely rigid. His sunken cheeks and messy green hair gave him a wild appearance, while his plain gray robe added to his mysterious demeanor.

The green-haired elder spoke, his words accompanied by a faint stench of venom.

"Hmph, brat, you think you can just run after bullying my granddaughter? Not so easy. You're the first person to dare lay a hand on her."

As Li Luochen listened to Dugu Bo's words, he swallowed hard. 'It's over. My life is forfeit!'

Without further ado, Dugu Bo delivered a punch straight to Li Luochen's face, followed by an uppercut that sent him flying into the air. Dugu Bo then unleashed a flurry of punches, keeping Li Luochen suspended mid-air. (For reference, imagine the scene from the anime where Zhao Wuji beats up the turtle teacher from Canghui Academy.)

"AAAAHHHHH—"

Li Luochen found himself unable to use his spirit power or activate any defensive measures. He endured a brutal beating all over his body. Fortunately, Dugu Bo hadn't used his snake venom—only his spirit power.

When Dugu Yan saw her grandfather arrive, she immediately regained her confidence and stopped crying.

"Serves you right for bullying me, pretty boy! Grandpa's giving you what you deserve!"

Though her eyes were still red from crying, Dugu Yan was now elated. The pain from earlier seemed to have vanished, and she was practically ready to clap and cheer.

After a few minutes—which felt like an eternity to Li Luochen—Dugu Bo finally spoke.

"Hmph! Boy, dying won't be that easy. I'll make sure you wish you were dead."

With that, Dugu Bo hoisted the unconscious Li Luochen over his shoulder and left, with Dugu Yan following closely behind.

---

Meanwhile, at Blue Tyrant Academy—

"Principal! Principal! Something terrible has happened!"

The emotional exchange between Flender and Liu Erlong was abruptly interrupted.

"Spit it out already! Nothing's going to collapse while I'm here!" Liu Erlong barked.

"Pant… pant… That… that senior student Li Luochen got into a fight on the street with the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo. He was beaten and taken away by the Poison Douluo!"

One of the students rushed in, panic evident in their voice.

"What?! Tell me exactly what happened!" Flender shouted. He had only left Li Luochen alone for a short while, and now this had happened—with a Title Douluo involved, no less.

The student recounted the events on the street in painstaking detail.

"Erlong, I need to go rescue my student. You stay here," Flender said firmly. He knew the mission might cost him his life, but for the sake of his student, he couldn't hesitate. However, he didn't want Liu Erlong to put herself in danger.

"What nonsense is this, Flender! Do you think I, Liu Erlong, am the kind of person who lacks backbone? Your student is my student too. Even if I die, I'll go with you!"

Liu Erlong's fiery and righteous personality shone through. Though she was impulsive and prone to falling in love easily, she was also fiercely loyal and courageous.

Flender didn't argue. He was touched that Liu Erlong was willing to risk her life alongside him. There was no time to dwell on it now.

Flender summoned his martial soul and enveloped Liu Erlong in its energy, carrying her with him as they set off to find Dugu Bo.

---

In a dimly lit cave, Li Luochen slowly opened his eyes.

'A familiar cave... Damn it, did I forget to check the almanac today? Running into this venomous old man and beating up his granddaughter... My life is over. I haven't even reached my peak yet.'

"You're not dead, so get up. I don't have time to waste on you," Dugu Bo said coldly, his back turned. His glowing green eyes in the dark cave were particularly menacing. Nearby, Dugu Yan stared at Li Luochen with a strange expression.

---

A few minutes earlier—

"What?! Grandpa, this pretty boy is only twelve years old? He's two years younger than me! How can his spirit power level be higher than mine? And how is his second soul ring a thousand-year one?"

Dugu Yan couldn't believe it. This "pretty boy" was younger than her, yet his achievements were astonishing. A thousand-year second soul ring was impressive enough, but his age made it even more unbelievable.

"Not only that—I've checked. His spirit power is currently at level 37. His second soul ring is at least two thousand years old, and his third soul ring is at least six thousand years old. His martial soul is that staff he used to beat you—the Dragon Pattern Staff."

"It's a fairly strong high-tier martial soul, though slightly inferior to our family's Jade Phosphorous Snake. But for someone so young to achieve this much..."

"I suspect his innate spirit power is at least level eight."

Dugu Bo spoke calmly, having thoroughly assessed Li Luochen's current strength. With level 37 spirit power and over-limit soul ring absorption, his combat ability was enough to defeat even a Spirit Ancestor with optimal soul rings.

"What?! At least level eight innate spirit power? Mine is only level seven!"

Dugu Yan was shocked. Then, another thought crossed her mind.

"Hmm? This brat is about to wake up. Yan Yan, let Grandpa interrogate him first."

Dugu Bo was deeply curious about what Li Luochen had meant when he said, "The snake venom in your body has already affected you in ways you don't realize."

Those words struck a nerve. Dugu Bo had spent his entire life immersed in poisons, and the toxins had seeped into his very bones. Though he appeared vigorous now, he knew he wouldn't live past twenty more years.

He wondered if this boy had noticed something. Perhaps he could help them detoxify. No matter the method, Dugu Bo was willing to try anything—even if it was just to help his granddaughter. That was why he hadn't killed Li Luochen outright.

Dugu Bo was determined to seize any possible opportunity. If there was even a slim chance of helping his granddaughter, he would take it.

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