Douluo's self has a soul beast clone

Inside the cave.

Li Chang'an tightly embraced Dugu Yan, as if trying to meld her into his very being, oblivious to the world as they poured out their emotions to each other.

Not far away, Dugu Bo stood with a dark expression, feeling overwhelmed by the nauseatingly sweet scent of young love. The thought of his precious granddaughter being snatched away by this boy did little to improve his mood.

He had no doubt that if he weren't there, these two youngsters would be engaging in even more outrageous behavior. After all, young people are easily impulsive. Just hugging was already quite restrained.

"Ahem, you two, that's enough."

Dugu Bo couldn't help but cough twice, as a reminder.

The two lovebirds seemed to awaken from a dream, separating with some embarrassment. However, their hands remained tightly clasped, unwilling to let go. This sight made Dugu Bo shake his head. He sighed and said, "Yan'er, you are still young, barely in your teens, with a long life ahead. You will encounter many more talented young men, perhaps even more outstanding than this boy. Are you truly set on him?"

Dugu Yan, still in a state of bashful shyness, slightly raised her head, her eyes revealing a clear and unwavering determination. Her tone was firm as she said, "Grandpa, I don't care about the future. All I know is that the only future husband I acknowledge right now is him!" As she spoke, she turned her gaze to his side, her eyes now solely focused on Li Chang'an's figure.

Li Chang'an was deeply moved by her words and couldn't resist pulling the girl into his arms once more, stating firmly, "Yanzi, I will never let you down in this life! I promise you will be my lawfully wedded wife!"

Dugu Yan was so touched that her eyes welled up with tears, deeply moved. Little did she know that someone was adding in his mind: indeed, a lawfully wedded wife, but who says a lawfully wedded wife can only be one?

Dugu Bo scoffed after hearing this, "Promise? What can you promise with? Do you think the royal marriage arrangement can be dismissed just like that? You truly don't know the immensity of the world!"

The Heaven Dou Empire was by no means as weak as described in the original story. Despite the fierce battles with the Spirit Hall in the original work, the royal family didn't seem to have a single Titled Douluo. In reality, it's obvious that if such a large empire didn't even have a Titled Douluo, how could it have stood for thousands of years? It would have been overthrown long ago.

The depths of the Heaven Dou Empire were far greater than imagined! The original story's depiction was so lacking simply because the author deliberately weakened the empire's strength to highlight the protagonist's awesomeness. However, the Heaven Dou Empire in reality must have had Titled Douluos to stand for so many years. Not many, but conservatively estimated, one or two should exist. Besides that, Soul Douluo and Soul Sage-level experts must also be numerous.

Otherwise, a dignified great empire with abundant manpower, resources, and materials, couldn't even find some geniuses in the entire world? And couldn't cultivate a Titled Douluo?

Possessing such vast manpower and material resources, yet being inferior to those sects with only a few hundred or thousand members?

Is that reasonable?

It doesn't conform to basic logic at all!

So the only explanation is that the Heaven Dou Empire was hiding its strength.

As for why the hidden Titled Douluos of Heaven Dou didn't come out when the country was about to be destroyed in the original story,

There are two possibilities.

One is that they knew the enemy was too strong, and even if their one or two Titled Douluos, regarded as their trump cards, were brought out, they would only be sending themselves to their deaths, unable to change the predetermined outcome. So they simply continued to hide, protecting some of the royal family members, preserving useful bodies for a future comeback. At the very least, they could protect the royal family's last bloodline and dominate a region.

The other possibility is that the royal family's Titled Douluo experts might have been secretly assassinated by experts sent by the Spirit Hall in advance. After all, if Qian Renxue wanted to infiltrate, she would inevitably have to eliminate some hidden threats to reduce the risk of exposure. She even killed the princes, would she care about these one or two Titled Douluos?

In short, upon closer examination, there are many explanations that can justify whether the royal family has Titled Douluos.

But to say that the Heaven Dou Empire couldn't cultivate experts, with the foundation of a great empire, that's simply illogical.

So, even though Dugu Bo is a Titled Douluo, he wouldn't dare to confront the behemoth that is the Heaven Dou Empire. Moreover, Li Chang'an was the emperor's personally appointed son-in-law, obviously highly valued by him.

If he were just an ordinary noble, it might be easier, and considering his status as a Titled Douluo, they might be able to peacefully dissolve the engagement. But someone so valued by the emperor wouldn't be easily swayed, even by a Titled Douluo.

Faced with Dugu Bo's scoff and disapproval, Li Chang'an replied with a determined expression, "I know that I am still weak now, just a mere Soul Grandmaster, unable to resist this marriage arrangement. But I believe that weakness is only temporary! When I become a Soul Douluo in the future, or even a Titled Douluo, even the royal family won't be able to easily manipulate my fate."

"Titled Douluo? Easier said than done." Dugu Bo shook his head repeatedly at his arrogant words, finally saying with disdain, "Even if you are exceptionally talented and can become a Titled Douluo in the future, how long will that take? Fifty or sixty years? Are you going to make my precious granddaughter waste her youth and wait for you for decades?"

Under normal circumstances, it would take at least fifty or sixty years for a genius with full innate soul power to cultivate to the Titled Douluo level, even the fastest ones. By then, Dugu Yan would be old and past her prime.

Moreover, marriage arrangements don't wait for people.

When Li Chang'an is about twenty years old, or at the latest no more than thirty, the royal family will inevitably urge him to marry the princess.

And once he marries the princess, it will be too late.

What's done is done, even if Li Chang'an can cultivate to the Titled Douluo level in the future, what's the point? By then, he'll probably be a grandfather.

At that time, is he going to divorce the princess and marry Dugu Yan?

Wouldn't that make him a complete scumbag who abandons his wife and children?

And how could Dugu Bo trust his granddaughter to such a person who could do such a thing?

"I'm willing to wait!"

Dugu Yan heard Dugu Bo say this, but replied with a firm face: "Whether it is fifty years or sixty years, I can wait for Chang'an to become a Titled Douluo and come to marry me."

"Silly girl..."

After hearing this, Li Chang'an embraced the girl with a distressed and moved expression. He did not expect Dugu Yan to be so deeply in love with him.

It can only be said that a girl who is just beginning to fall in love regards love as everything. She is even willing to wait bitterly and unswervingly for that pure and beautiful feeling. First love is the most unforgettable.

Dugu Bo shook his head repeatedly as he watched. He did not expect his granddaughter to be so affectionate towards this kid. If he forcibly separated these two people now, I am afraid that his granddaughter would hardly be able to fancy other men in this life.

Dugu Bo, who was old and sophisticated, naturally understood the principle that first love is the most unforgettable. As the saying goes, what you can't get is always the best. If he forcibly separates the two now and does not allow them to meet, it will only have the opposite effect and cause Dugu Yan to develop a rebellious mentality. The more she cannot get her first love, the more unforgettable it becomes. Then, she will infinitely beautify this feeling in her heart.

To be honest, Dugu Bo deeply realized that bringing Li Chang'an here was a completely wrong decision. If he hadn't done anything from the beginning and let his granddaughter be depressed for a while, maybe she would have given up this relationship because of a misunderstanding.

As a result, he tied this kid over and then let his granddaughter express her feelings to him.

Now it's over, the long-brewing fruit of love has completely matured. It is impossible to cut off the relationship between the two.

Dugu Bo really regretted it.