...
Walking on the wide streets of Tiandou City.
Hu Liena seemed to be in a good mood because she had just won a battle.
She held Na'er's little hand and walked ahead.
The two whispered to each other, and occasionally Na'er's clear laughter could be heard.
Xuan Hao lagged behind by a few steps and was pulled to the back by Dugu Yan.
"Hello!"
Dugu Yan lowered her voice, her green eyes fixed on Hu Liena walking ahead, her gaze filled with apprehension and inquiry:
"Xuanhao, tell me the truth."
"Who exactly is this woman?"
"To possess such terrifying mental power at level thirty-four, and even have such strange ice and fire attribute attacks... This is simply something a normal Soul Master could not do!"
"She's a monster!"
Dugu Yan gritted her teeth and said, "Even if it were my grandfather... I mean, even if he were a Title Douluo, he couldn't possibly be this monstrous at her level, right?"
Seeing Dugu Yan's deeply distressed expression, Xuan Hao felt a pang of pity and could only reach out and pat her shoulder to comfort her:
"Yanzi, don't take it too hard."
"It's not that you're too weak, it's that she's too strong."
Xuan Hao sighed and said with a serious expression:
"Let me put it this way, in the current Douluo Continent, the Soul Master and even the Soul Sect realm..."
"Aside from me, this incomprehensible cheat, Hu Liena is undoubtedly the number one!"
"Whether it's a power attack type, an agility attack type, or any other type, as long as your mental strength is inferior to hers, you're guaranteed to be instantly killed."
"Losing to her is not shameful at all."
"real?"
Dugu Yan looked at him suspiciously, "You're not just saying that to comfort me, are you?"
Why would I need to lie to you?
Xuan Hao shrugged.
"Her mental strength has undergone a qualitative change; it's a kind of dimensional reduction attack.
Don't even mention you; even if the current Royal Fighting Team attacked together, they definitely wouldn't last a minute."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan felt a little better.
Since no one can beat us, it's not shameful.
But then she frowned, her eyes filled with curiosity:
"But... how come I've never heard of such a freak before?"
"And where did she come from? How did you end up picking her up?"
"Well..."
Xuan Hao chuckled and began to play dumb:
"As I already said, we met outside.
As for our specific backgrounds... we're all from the same world, why should we need to know each other before?
I didn't ask any further questions."
"Besides, a hero's origins are irrelevant."
Xuan Hao gestured towards Hu Liena in front of him with his chin and said with a smile:
"And look, even though she's quite strong, she's actually a very nice person.
Look how well she gets along with Na'er!"
"A good person?"
Dugu Yan's lips twitched, as if she had heard a joke:
Are you serious?
"That look in his eyes just now... that sharpness, that domineering, that arrogance..."
How could you associate this kind of woman with the word "good person"?
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao looked puzzled.
"Yanzi, the Soul Master world is all about respecting the strong.
Which genius Soul Master isn't arrogant and disdainful of everyone else?"
"If you make her approachable, like a friendly older sister next door... would she still be a peerless genius?"
"Moreover, it is precisely because she is strong and proud enough that she does not need to pretend or please anyone."
"Once this kind of person accepts you, they become the most trustworthy partner."
"Like..."
Xuan Hao pointed to himself and laughed shamelessly:
"Just like me."
"..."
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at his smug grin.
Although this statement is somewhat illogical, upon closer examination, it seems... not entirely wrong.
After all, birds of a feather flock together.
Anyone who can hang out with a pervert like Xuan Hao must be a pervert themselves.
...
We arrived at the main entrance of Qibaozhai.
Whether it was Xuan Hao's exceptionally good luck or Ning Fengzhi's exceptionally perceptive informants in Tiandou City who learned of Xuan Hao's return to the city in advance, it is unclear.
When Xuan Hao led a group of beautiful women into Qibaozhai, Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Ning Rongrong walked towards them.
"Brother Xuanhao—!!"
With a delighted shout, a white figure flew over like a swallow returning to its nest.
"Ouch! Be gentle, be gentle!"
Xuan Hao reacted quickly, catching Ning Rongrong and spinning her around in the air to dissipate the force before landing steadily.
"You silly girl, why are you still like a cannonball?"
"Hmph! Who told you not to come visit me for so long!"
Ning Rongrong clung to Xuan Hao's neck, pouting with a look of dissatisfaction, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.
Ning Fengzhi wore his signature gentle and refined smile, but his gaze swept meaningfully around Xuan Hao's back.
Goodness.
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and a stunningly beautiful blonde girl they'd never seen before, with Gona in her arms, plus their own Rongrong...
This lineup looks like a prince going on a tour to choose his concubines.
"Hehe, young friend Xuanhao, it seems you've been having a great time these past month."
Ning Fengzhi teased with a half-smile:
"Not only has my cultivation improved a lot, but the number of suitors around me is also increasing."
"Uncle Ning, you're wronging me."
Xuan Hao spread his hands innocently, "When it comes to gatherings with friends, naturally we need to find people who are pleasing to the eye.
Do you expect me to invite a bunch of burly men to eat together?"
"I don't like men, and I don't have any strange fetishes.
I'm afraid I won't be able to eat if I'm surrounded by a bunch of smelly men."
"..."
Ning Fengzhi was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head helplessly and chuckled:
"Your mouth always seems to be so right."
"Alright, since you young people have all gotten together, I won't be a nuisance."
Ning Fengzhi waved his hand, "You guys go play in the backyard. All the expenses today will be on Rongrong's tab. We two old bones won't get involved in your fun."
"Alright! Uncle Ning is so generous!"
Xuan Hao's eyes lit up, and he immediately seized the opportunity.
With Ning Rongrong, this "little rich woman," around, today's feast will not only be top-notch, but more importantly—it's free!
...
As he watched the group of energetic young people disappear at the end of the corridor, Ning Fengzhi's smile gradually faded, replaced by an unusual solemnity.
"Uncle Bone, did you notice that just now?"
"Mm." Gu Rong nodded.
"That blonde girl following behind Xuan Hao... is quite something."
"Although her soul power fluctuation is only around level 34, that's not the point."
"The key point is... her mental strength."
"Too strong... ridiculously strong, even unbelievable."
"How strong is it?"
Ning Fengzhi pressed.
Gu Rong paused for a moment, then said, "At least... he has reached the Soul King realm."
"In fact, in terms of pure mental strength, he may have already touched the threshold of Soul Emperor."
"What?!"
Ning Fengzhi's expression changed.
A Soul King? Or even a Soul Emperor level of mental power?!
Appearing on a Soul Master of level 30 or so?!
"How is this possible?!"
Ning Fengzhi said incredulously, "For low-level Soul Masters, mental power is the most difficult attribute to cultivate and improve.
Unless one is born with a mutated mental power or absorbs a top-tier mental soul bone..."
"But even so, it's impossible to cross two entire major realms!"
"That's exactly what I find strange."
Gu Rong shook his head, his expression grave:
"That little girl must be an extremely rare mind control type Soul Master.
Such Soul Masters are inherently difficult to deal with within their own level and possess absolute dominance."
"But she... possesses spiritual power far exceeding her cultivation level."
"You should know very well what this means, Fengzhi."
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath and nodded.
Of course he knew.
A mind control master, once they achieve mental dominance, represents absolute control, and can even kill with a single blow.
"With this level of mental strength... even a Soul Master of level 40 or even an ordinary Soul King would probably not have a chance to resist her."
"A single mental shock is enough to render the opponent incapable of fighting."
"Invincible among its peers... No, this is practically a dimensional reduction attack!"
Ning Fengzhi looked towards the backyard.
"Where exactly did Xuanhao learn about this kind of monster?"
"First, there was the evolution of the Dugu Yan martial soul, and now a mysterious girl with spiritual power comparable to a Soul Emperor has appeared..."
"This kid's luck, or maybe it's the family behind him..."
Ning Fengzhi murmured softly, his gaze growing increasingly profound:
"It seems we need to raise our assessment of him even higher."
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