With the preliminaries concluded and the ranking tournament set to begin in a month, the five qualifying teams had a full month to adjust and train.
Early the next morning, Mu Yang took Shui Bing'er to visit Dugu Mansion, seeking an audience with Dugu Bo.
Back when the preliminaries ended yesterday, Mu Yang had already mentioned to Dugu Bo that he would be visiting today, so it wasn't an abrupt visit.
"Mu Yang, do you have some kind of connection with Jade Phosphor Douluo?"
On the way to Dugu Mansion, Shui Bing'er curiously asked Mu Yang.
Dugu Bo's title was somewhat unique. "Poison" was his official title, but since the word "Poison" carried a negative connotation, most people referred to him as "Jade Phosphor" instead as a sign of respect.
"He's our great benefactor."
Mu Yang glanced around cautiously, then sent a mental transmission.
"Our great benefactor?"
Shui Bing'er blinked in confusion, not fully understanding.
"I can't go into details, but just remember—he's someone we owe a great deal to. If there's ever a chance to help him in the future, we should do our best."
Mu Yang didn't explain further. The favor from the Immortal Herb Elder was something he alone needed to remember. There was no need to inform Shui Bing'er, who wasn't aware of it.
Even though Mu Yang's talent meant he was destined for greatness with or without Immortal Herbs, those priceless treasures had greatly accelerated his path to power.
Moreover, while his natural talent was high enough that the boost from Immortal Herbs wasn't too significant, the same couldn't be said for Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, and the others.
Without the enhancements from Immortal Herbs, their soul power levels would have fallen far behind him long ago.
Of course, Immortal Herbs had their limits—the fact that all seven members of Shrek became gods couldn't be credited entirely to the herbs.
Tang San becoming a god? That was because he had the protagonist template—he was naturally destined for it.
Xiao Wu? That was because the Asura God King chose Tang San as his successor, and she was essentially a supporting attachment.
Oscar? He was a food-type Soul Master born with innate full soul power, likely the first in recorded history, which led to him being favored by the Food God.
Ning Rongrong? Similar to Xiao Wu—she benefited from Oscar. Since Oscar inherited the Food God's position, the Nine-Colored Goddess, the Food God's wife, passed her godhood to Ning Rongrong.
As for Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun?
In Mu Yang's opinion, they were simply swept along for the ride.
If Tang San hadn't ascended as the Sea God, and if he hadn't merged his Asura inheritance with Xiao Wu's support, then those three wouldn't have become gods—even with Immortal Herbs.
Before Qian Renxue, only two gods had appeared on the Douluo Continent in thousands of years—Sea God and Angel God.
Across such a vast timespan, countless genius Soul Masters had emerged. Even those who consumed Immortal Herbs wouldn't necessarily rank among the top prodigies.
Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun reaching Titled Douluo at just over twenty years old was purely because of Tang San.
The only reason they inherited divine positions was because the previous gods recognized Tang San's status as the dual inheritor of the Sea God and Asura God.
"Oh~"
Shui Bing'er nodded, even though she didn't fully understand.
Before long, the two arrived outside Dugu Mansion.
Just as they reached the entrance—before they could even step forward—a slightly thin figure emerged from the mansion gates.
It was none other than Dugu Bo himself.
By all rights, as a senior, Dugu Bo didn't need to personally greet younger visitors, especially when the gap between his power and theirs was still immense—they were nowhere near his nine-ring Titled Douluo level.
However, the sheer talent that Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er had displayed was enough for Dugu Bo to lower his seniority and personally receive them.
Dugu Bo personally coming out to welcome Mu Yang wasn't without reason. Mu Yang was destined to become a Food-type Titled Douluo, and more importantly, he possessed a Food-type soul skill capable of detoxification.
In the future, both Dugu Bo and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, would face the backlash of their snake venom, and when that time came, Mu Yang's help would be crucial.
As for Shui Bing'er, her exceptional talent was even more astonishing. At such a young age, she was already not far from reaching six rings. Even innate full soul power paled in comparison to her potential.
As long as she didn't perish prematurely, her future status among the continent's powerhouses was guaranteed—well worth a nine-ring Titled Douluo treating her with respect.
"Greetings, Senior."
Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er bowed politely.
"Haha, no need for such formalities!"
Dugu Bo waved it off with a laugh, then teased Mu Yang, "Kid, why aren't you off whispering sweet words to your little girlfriend? What brings you to this old man's place?"
"Senior, I've come bearing a gift today."
Mu Yang paused briefly, then added with a smile, "I guarantee you'll like this present."
"A gift?"
Dugu Bo was momentarily stunned, then his expression turned somewhat strange.
By logic, Mu Yang didn't owe him anything. If anything, he was the one who would need Mu Yang's help in the future.
If someone were to be giving gifts, shouldn't it be him instead? Why was it the other way around?
So then, the question arose—why was Mu Yang giving him a gift?
Because he was a Titled Douluo? That didn't make sense.
Blazing Fire Academy had, by some stroke of luck, produced two Titled Douluos in recent years—both of whom were closely related to Mu Yang. Even Sky Water Academy had a Titled Douluo, who was Shui Bing'er's relative.
Dugu Bo was well aware of his own limitations.
Even though he had been a Titled Douluo for many years, his soul power wasn't particularly high, his soul ring configuration wasn't ideal, and he wasn't skilled in one-on-one combat.
Among those three Titled Douluos, he wasn't even confident in defeating one, let alone facing two or three at once—he'd likely have no chance of escape.
Clearly, Mu Yang wasn't giving him a gift just because he was a Titled Douluo.
After all, if Mu Yang encountered a problem that Huo Lie and the others couldn't solve, then Dugu Bo wouldn't be able to help either.
However, Dugu Bo was an optimistic man.
Since he couldn't figure out Mu Yang's intentions, he decided not to dwell on it. Instead, he warmly invited the two into the mansion.
Inside the hall, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er sipped tea while Dugu Bo intently flipped through the Soul Core Secret Method.
A long while later, after roughly skimming through it, Dugu Bo set the book down.
"Kid, is this method really as miraculous as it claims?"
Rubbing his temples and suppressing his shock, Dugu Bo asked with a serious expression.
Mu Yang nodded. "Of course. My aunt and Bing'er's aunt both broke through to Rank 90 by condensing a Soul Core."
"So that's why!"
Dugu Bo suddenly understood.
Huo Lie, Mu Xiyue, and Shui Yanyu had all become Titled Douluos within just a few short years.
Dugu Bo had long found it puzzling.
After all, reaching Titled Douluo was no easy feat.
Take the Elemental Academy as an example—it was common for them to have no resident Titled Douluo at all. If even one or two Titled Douluos emerged across ten generations of deans, it was already impressive.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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