Chapter 118: The Full Story

A phantom image—Lin Dapao’s speed was so extreme that he left a blur behind. It was a feat that completely transcended the limits of human cognition; if he were to compete in the Olympics, he would leave any sprinter—or even a "flying dog"—in the dust.

Moving with incredible velocity, he arrived before the old man in an instant. He threw another punch, aiming to smash the old man down. However, the old man’s self-created footwork was bizarrely elusive. Every time Lin Dapao’s fist came within an inch of his body, the old man would slide backward, causing the blow to strike nothing but air.

After three consecutive punches missed their mark, Lin Dapao felt a surge of frustration. Refusing to accept defeat, he flashed forward to attack once more. But this time, the old man had anticipated his pattern. Before Lin Dapao could even throw his punch, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, followed by a mouthful of blood as he staggered backward.

A red skull had suddenly appeared, striking him square in the chest. It was a rare and formidable treasure—the very reason Lin Dapao had coveted it—and taking a direct hit from it was no small matter.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Lin Dapao’s gaze toward the old man shifted. "Heh, I must admit, you are truly a worthy opponent. I, Lin Dapao, declare war on you! We shall fight until one of us falls!" Only now did he treat the old man as a genuine adversary; previously, he had looked down on him, even knowing the old man was from the same era as his own master.

"Very well!" The old man’s reply was sharp and simple. Yet, that single word carried a weight of absolute resolve. He took a step forward, the red skull in his hand shimmering with an increasingly crystalline light. As the old man advanced step by step, Lin Dapao, who stood motionless, finally realized the true terror of his opponent.

"Truly worthy of a man from my master’s generation; his strength is immense," Lin Dapao thought, his expression growing solemn. He shifted his weight, heels lifting slightly, ready to unleash a lethal strike at any moment.

The two remained in a standoff, but the distance between them closed steadily. Song Nianqiang, watching from the sidelines, held his breath, terrified of missing a single movement that could provide a lifetime of insight. A duel between masters of this caliber was bound to offer enlightenment—though whether one could grasp it depended entirely on individual aptitude.

Ultimately, Lin Dapao made the first move. He launched himself like a shell from a cannon, pouncing toward the old man. Yet, the old man held his ground, his posture unchanged. Unable to land a hit, Lin Dapao soared upward, leaping directly over the old man’s head.

The maneuver startled the old man. Youth was a privilege; they could execute such high-difficulty feats with ease. In response, the old man’s head snapped 180 degrees, followed by his arms and legs, effectively reversing his entire orientation.

"Impressive indeed!" Seeing an man of his age perform such a feat, Lin Dapao couldn't help but praise him.

"Heh, you’re not so bad yourself," the old man replied with a crooked smile. "But this is my signature skill; if it weren't effective, my head would have been moved to someone else's shoulders long ago."

"Then let's continue!" Lin Dapao’s fighting spirit was fully ignited. A natural prodigy, he had reached the realm of a Grandmaster by the age of twenty. Discovered by the Honored Elder, he became his disciple and had lived up to every expectation, his strength skyrocketing. While he couldn't yet match his senior brother, he was far superior to most "big figures."

Yet, this old man was a legend from his master’s era, and after all these years, his strength was unfathomable. Lin Dapao had to be serious; against anyone else, he would have finished the fight in a few blows.

Lin Dapao dashed to the side, reaching a table. With one hand, he easily hoisted it and began to advance toward the old man, each step measured and steady.

The old man saw the intent and immediately devised a counter. He raised the red skull, and a pale red mist drifted out. Lin Dapao’s expression shifted instantly, and even the Honored Elder, who had been sitting as steady as a mountain, showed a flicker of movement.

"I didn't think you had actually mastered it. To think such a vile technique would reappear in this world!" Lin Dapao dropped the table and leaped backward, clearing the range of the red mist, and glared at the old man.

"Heh, how could a miraculous technique like the Red Poison Ghost Mist simply vanish? Over the years, I’ve traveled across the lands, refining anyone whose birth date aligned with my needs. But I’m still missing a final piece. Today, I shall complete it! Behold—these two boys! Once I refine them, my technique will reach perfection, and I shall be supreme in heaven and on earth! Hahahaha!"

He let out a maniacally twisted laugh. Hearing this, Song Nianqiang frowned, though he looked toward the Honored Elder, who was still casually eating and drinking, hoping for an explanation.

"Honored Elder, greetings!" Song Nianqiang, displaying his thick-skinned nature, sat down opposite the elder.

"Boy, so you want to know why he needs you two to cultivate his Red Poison Ghost Mist?" The Honored Elder, a monster who had lived for over a century, saw through his thoughts instantly.

Song Nianqiang grinned sheepishly, waiting for the elder to continue.

"Sly boy," the Honored Elder chuckled, then began to explain the secrets of the technique. The Red Poison Ghost Mist was a highly toxic vapor; a single touch would spell the end of one's life. The cultivation method was incredibly difficult, requiring children born on a "Pure Yang Day"—the 8th of August or the 28th of August each year—as they possessed innate vitality. The old man had somehow acquired the fat boy’s birth data and tracked him down.

The elder glanced at Song Nianqiang and continued with a smile, "But after coming here, he met you—someone with a powerful soul and knowledge of soul-cultivation arts. So, he changed his mind. He wants to refine you both simultaneously. By doing so, his skull will gain a primary soul—yours—and its power will be elevated by more than a grade!"

The Honored Elder finally hit the nail on the head. Anyone would be tempted to upgrade their life-bound weapon to such an extent, but unfortunately for the old man, he had been discovered.

When Song Nianqiang had visited the second-hand market and bought a Ghost King token from the Honored Elder, the elder had sensed a powerful figure trailing Song Nianqiang, clearly harboring ill intent. The elder, not wanting to see his successor to the soul-arts perish prematurely, had secretly ordered Lin Dapao to tail the threat.

Tonight, with the thunder and lightning providing the perfect cover for a kill, the old man had arrived to control the staff, waiting for the two to walk into his trap.

He never imagined that his every move was being watched. Lin Dapao had originally intended to capture him directly, but as it was a mission from the Honored Elder, he had deferred to him, bringing the elder along. When they arrived and saw the old man moving against them, the Honored Elder’s cough had been the signal that saved Song Nianqiang’s life.