LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 21: Chapter 21
**Chapter 21: Is He Unworthy?**
Despite Yue Guan's oppressive Titled Douluo aura, Zhao Ling remained unbothered. Even under his protection, Ah Yin felt no pressure whatsoever.
Zhao Ling smiled calmly at Yue Guan. "Ju Douluo, Miss Dong'er, if there's nothing else, we'll head to rest now."
With that, he and Ah Yin left, leaving the Spirit Hall leaders exchanging surprised glances.
Yue Guan's expression turned serious. This man endured my pressure without breaking a sweat... Could he be a Titled Douluo as well? The thought made him uneasy. If Zhao Ling was indeed a Titled Douluo, his strength might even surpass his own.
The question lingered in Yue Guan's mind. Where did such a powerful but unknown figure come from? Could he be from the Haotian Sect, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, or the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family? Or perhaps the Xingluo Empire—or even the mysterious Sea God Island overseas?
As Yue Guan pondered the possibilities, the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum martial soul behind him dissipated, and his Titled Douluo aura subsided.
---
The hotel receptionists were equally stunned. To witness a Titled Douluo up close was an unforgettable experience—but it seemed there might be more than one Titled Douluo here tonight.
The man with the old, yellowed soul master certificate had shrugged off the pressure of a Titled Douluo as though it were nothing. That meant he, too, was likely a Titled Douluo. The realization terrified them.
Thinking back to their earlier rude comments about Zhao Ling, the receptionists were now filled with regret and fear. 'Thankfully, he didn't take offense. Otherwise, we'd be lucky to leave here alive.'
---
Bibi Dong turned to Yue Guan, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Elder Ju, what do you think of him?"
Yue Guan pondered for a long moment before replying. "I can't see through him. His strength is immense—greater than mine, possibly even stronger than His Holiness the Pope."
His words left the Spirit Hall leaders in stunned silence. Stronger than the Pope? What level of power would that even be? The thought was too terrifying to comprehend.
Bibi Dong, however, remained composed. She already knew from the diary that Zhao Ling was a Titled Douluo, but she hadn't realized his strength might surpass her teacher's.
This revelation strengthened her resolve. If the diary's warnings came true and her teacher turned against her, she would need a powerful ally. Zhao Ling could be that ally.
'If the beastly teacher targets me again, even if I avoid Yu Xiaogang, he won't hesitate to act if I fall for someone else.'
The solution was clear: she needed someone strong enough to protect her. And Zhao Ling? He wasn't just powerful—he was already infatuated with her.
A faint smile crossed her lips. 'If the opportunity arises, I must win him over. After all, I don't hate him…'
---
That night, the hotel staff couldn't seem to leave Zhao Ling alone. They approached him seven or eight times, offering to explain the hotel's services and amenities. One particularly bold and beautiful receptionist even hinted she could provide "extra services."
Zhao Ling dismissed them all without hesitation. 'What a joke! Ah Yin is next door. If she catches me messing around, I'm finished.'
---
The next morning, Zhao Ling knocked on Ah Yin's door. "Ah Yin, are you up? Let's head down for breakfast. The waiter said it's served on the second floor."
A lazy voice came from inside. "I'm up. Just wait a bit—I'll be out soon."
But Zhao Ling quickly realized that "a bit" had very different meanings for men and women. Nearly an hour passed before Ah Yin finally emerged.
She looked radiant, her features glowing as if she'd had the best sleep of her life. Her makeup was delicate and flawless, enhancing her already stunning beauty. The sight left Zhao Ling momentarily speechless.
Ah Yin had noticed Zhao Ling's admiration for Bibi Dong the previous day, and it had stung her pride. Bibi Dong's beauty is undeniable—maybe even slightly better than mine. No wonder Zhao Ling was captivated.
Determined not to be outshone, Ah Yin had risen early to apply her makeup with care. She wasn't about to lose to anyone in Zhao Ling's eyes.
"Zhao Ling, do I look good today?" she asked, tilting her head slightly with a soft, teasing smile.
Zhao Ling nodded immediately. "You look amazing—absolutely stunning," he said, barely hiding the drool threatening to escape his mouth. He quickly turned away and called up his diary panel, eager to pour out his thoughts.
---
[Wow, what's going on with Ah Yin today? She's already incredibly beautiful, but with this makeup, she's even more breathtaking. It's like she's aiming straight for my heart.]
[It's strange, though. Ah Yin hasn't worn much makeup these past few days. With her bare face already beating most women, why does she even need makeup?]
[Or maybe… women dress to impress? Could she be doing this for me? That's possible—very possible! How could I resist?]
[I wonder how Tang Hao would feel if he knew that his future wife put on makeup just to win me over. Would he turn into the Hulk?]
[Too bad he'll never know. What a pity… or maybe not. This is getting fun.]
---
As soon as Zhao Ling uploaded his diary entry, a notification popped up: Diary rating: C. Reward: First soul ring for the second martial soul—50,000 years.
Zhao Ling frowned. "What's with this system? The first soul ring for my second martial soul is only 50,000 years? Tang San's second martial soul had soul rings over 100,000 years! Is the system saying I'm not worthy?"
Just as his frustration peaked, a new message appeared on the virtual panel.
---
[Host, don't feel discouraged. All soul rings provided by the system are growable. With time, they can reach 100,000 years—or even 1,000,000 years.]
---
Zhao Ling blinked, his irritation giving way to surprise. A million-year soul ring? That would be... outrageous.
As he imagined his second martial soul decked out with golden, god-level soul rings, he couldn't help but grin. Now that's a future worth looking forward to.
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(End of this chapter)