A grey figure descended from the sky and stood atop an ancient tree. He looked down at the elderly Dugu Bo, a cold smile forming on his sinister face.
"Dugu Bo, I never expected you to end up like this!"
The figure was a grey-robed man in his sixties. His face was pale and bloodless, his features dark and cold. His sharp grey eyes, filled with a chilling gloom, made him look like a demon from hell.
When Dugu Bo became a Titled Douluo, he was full of power and glory, unmatched on the Douluo Continent. But he had made many enemies. Even after retreating into seclusion, his foes were unwilling to leave him in peace. This grey-robed elder was one of his strongest adversaries back then.
"Kun Yu!"
Dugu Bo's pupils shrank, and a serious expression appeared on his wrinkled face. Kun Yu was a Rank 89 Spirit Douluo with the ancient divine beast martial spirit, Xuanwu (Black Tortoise). His abilities were terrifying, especially his defense.
Even when Dugu Bo was still a Titled Douluo, Kun Yu had been a formidable opponent. Dugu Bo had tried several times to kill him, but Kun Yu's Xuanwu Armor made him nearly invincible, forcing Dugu Bo to retreat in defeat.
Now that Dugu Bo had lost all his spirit power and fallen from his former glory. Meanwhile, Kun Yu's strength had only grown, and he was on the verge of becoming a Titled Douluo himself.
"Haha! To think that the mighty Poison Douluo has fallen so low. How pathetic, Dugu Bo!"
Kun Yu's grey hair draped over his shoulders as he crossed his arms, looking at Dugu Bo with mockery in his eyes.
Their feud had lasted decades, ever since they were youths. One wielded the divine Xuanwu, the other the Jade-Scaled Snake Emperor. Both possessed unique martial spirits and were leaders of their generation.
Yet, regarding talent, Kun Yu was always inferior to Dugu Bo. He had been defeated countless times and had nearly died at Dugu Bo's hands. Their rivalry became irreconcilable.
Though Kun Yu had become a peak-stage Spirit Douluo in his old age, Dugu Bo had already reached the level of Titled Douluo, far beyond his reach. Kun Yu had burned with frustration for years, thinking he would never have his revenge. But upon hearing that Dugu Bo had lost his spirit power, Kun Yu saw his chance for vengeance.
This time, Kun Yu came to the Sunset Forest to kill Dugu Bo with his own hands and erase the humiliation of the past.
"You coward! Why didn't you come when my grandfather was still a Titled Douluo? You want to seek revenge now that he's lost his spirit power. Someone as despicable and shameless as you will never become a Titled Douluo!"
Dugu Yan's voice was cold as she stood before her grandfather, protecting him. She faced Kun Yu without fear and said, "If you want to hurt him, you'll have to get through me first!"
Seeing Dugu Yan's determination, Dugu Bo felt a wave of comfort. His stubborn and proud granddaughter had finally grown up. She was even willing to defend him now.
But his heart was filled with worry. Dugu Yan, though talented, was only level 55. Facing Kun Yu, a level 89 veteran, she had no chance of victory.
"Yanyan, you can't beat him! Run! Run!" Dugu Bo shouted in desperation.
"Haha! Run? It's too late!"
Kun Yu sneered, his cold grey eyes locking onto Dugu Yan. A flicker of malice flashed across his gaze as he said, "Dugu Bo, I didn't expect your granddaughter to be here too. How lucky for me! Now I can kill you both and eliminate all future threats!"
As he spoke, eight brilliant spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—rose around him, and a powerful gust of wind surged from his body.
The gust nearly sent Dugu Yan flying!
She gritted her teeth and desperately circulated her spirit power to stabilize herself. Five spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black—gradually rose from her body. Her Spirit King-level power surged rapidly, allowing her to resist the crushing pressure.
"A Spirit King at your age is quite impressive, but you're still nothing before me."
Kun Yu crossed his arms with an arrogant expression, glancing indifferently at Dugu Yan on the ground, his face full of disdain.
Dugu Bo had defeated him many times, stripping him of all his pride. Today, Kun Yu intended to torture and humiliate both grandfather and granddaughter to regain his lost honor before finishing them off.
"Tsk! My grandfather defeated you back then, and now you dare boast shamelessly. What's so great about being a Spirit Douluo? I'll take you on!"
Dugu Yan's purple hair fluttered as she shouted. The image of the Jade-Scaled Snake Emperor coiled around her, and her eyes glowed coldly. Stomping on the ground, she launched herself like an arrow toward Kun Yu in mid-air.
Facing an eight-ringed Spirit Douluo, Dugu Yan showed no fear and instead initiated the attack. This boldness caught Kun Yu off guard, and a flicker of rage burned in his heart as he felt underestimated.
"Little girl, you're far too inexperienced. Today, I'll show you how miserable it is to challenge a Spirit Douluo!"
Kun Yu's face darkened, and his murderous aura flared. As Dugu Yan approached, a savage gleam flickered in his eyes. He raised his right hand and swung it toward her head, intending to end her life with one blow.
But as Kun Yu's palm was about to strike Dugu Yan, his body suddenly stiffened. He couldn't move. Even his spirit power was sealed, trapped within him!
An invisible force had pinned him in the air, rendering him immobile!
Kun Yu could only watch helplessly as Dugu Yan's small fist flew toward him with lightning speed, landing directly on his face!
"Ah…!"
Kun Yu screamed as blood spurted from his mouth and nose. Dugu Yan's punch sent him crashing from the sky to the ground, his face buried in the dirt. He looked utterly pitiful.
"Uh… what just happened?"
"Was I this strong??"
Dugu Yan blinked in confusion, staring at Kun Yu, who lay crumpled on the ground. She was stunned. A moment ago, she had prepared to face death, thinking she stood no chance against Kun Yu. She had charged at him with the sole intent of landing at least one hit to give this despicable man a taste of pain before she died.
But she had not only hit him—she had beaten Kun Yu until his face was swollen. It was unbelievable.
"Uh… what just happened?"
Even Dugu Bo was dumbfounded. He had no idea what was going on.
On the ground, Kun Yu's face was a bloody mess, and his mouth was filled with mud. He lay motionless, not because he didn't want to move but because he couldn't.
"What's happening? Why can't I move? Why can't I use my spirit power?!"
Kun Yu's thoughts spiraled in anger and confusion, yet he found no explanation.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan smirked as she approached him, rolling up her sleeves. Her fists rained down on Kun Yu like a storm.
"Old man, let's see you act arrogant now! I'll slap your face, stomp on your lungs, and beat you so hard you'll be picking your teeth up off the ground!"
Dugu Yan cursed as she relentlessly punched and kicked Kun Yu. His once-proud face swelled with bruises, his teeth were knocked out, and one eye turned black while the other became purple. He looked utterly defeated.
This was the ultimate humiliation for Kun Yu, who had always been prideful.
By now, Kun Yu suspected someone was intervening in the shadows. His face twisted with fury, his bloodshot eyes gleaming as he roared in rage.
"Is this an anti-spirit domain?! Who sealed my spirit force?! Who's hiding in the shadows and playing tricks on me?!"
His furious roars echoed through the heavens.