Douluo: I achieve godhood through System

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In the backyard of the Dugu family residence. 

Dugu Yan sat on the sofa, her eyes fixed on Wang Li—or more precisely, on the two cards in Wang Li's hand. She quickly reached out and drew one of them. 

Comparing it with the card in her own hand, her face lit up with delight as she played her card, exclaiming excitedly: 

"I'm out of cards!" 

Wang Li glanced at the single card left in his hand, then at the two cards remaining in Dugu Bo's hand. His expression turned serious—it was time to determine the winner. 

"Grandpa, it's my turn to draw!" 

Dugu Bo looked grave, though the numerous paper notes stuck to his face made him look rather comical. 

He had only two cards left and shuffled them back and forth several times before placing them in front of Wang Li. 

"Xiao Li, which one will you choose?" 

Wang Li looked left and right. Since they were all spirit masters, cheating with spiritual power was out of the question. In the end, it came down to luck and psychological strategy. 

"Left or right… let me think..." 

Left! 

After a moment's hesitation, Wang Li drew the card on the left. Taking a closer look, he saw it was a nine, which perfectly paired with the nine in his hand. With a smile, he played the pair and said: 

"I'm out of cards too!" 

As soon as he spoke, Dugu Yan's eyes curved with a smile. 

"Grandpa lost again..." 

She picked up two paper notes, sticking one to her own hand and handing the other to Wang Li, who placed it on Dugu Bo's face. Dugu Bo looked helpless, but in truth, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. 

These peaceful family moments were something Dugu Bo cherished. In the past, he had been constantly suppressing deadly toxins, living in agony and despair. Compared to those days, this was pure bliss. 

After a round of laughter, Dugu Yan glanced toward the door and frowned as she said: 

"The people outside are so rude. They're spying on us openly and secretly, even following us when we go out shopping." 

Wang Li, shuffling the cards, replied casually: 

"Well, it's only natural. After all, Grandpa has a spirit bone to trade. People coveting it is no surprise. We just need to get through these days. If we manage to trade it for another spirit bone, we'll retreat to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for a while to avoid their prying eyes. We can also focus on cultivating and improving our strength. When that time comes, we'll be busy again." 

Following Dugu Yan's gaze, Dugu Bo let out a cold snort and said: 

"They're just a bunch of cowards. Few forces can afford to trade a spirit bone with us. These people outside neither have anything to trade nor the courage to act. Ignore them." 

Having finished shuffling the deck, Wang Li spoke again: 

"This is Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. If we were in one of the kingdom capitals below, it wouldn't be this peaceful." 

"Grandpa, Sister Yan Yan, I've hidden the Spirit Beast card. Let's keep playing." 

… 

The day of the spirit bone auction hadn't arrived yet, so they treated the days leading up to it as a vacation. Their primary activity was playing cards. 

Occasionally, they would cultivate a bit, but soon after, they would return to their game. Time flew by, and the day of the spirit bone auction finally arrived. 

Dugu Bo led the way, followed by Wang Li and Dugu Yan. The three of them headed to the Heaven Dou Auction House. Along the way, the gazes and surveillance they had endured seemed to vanish completely upon arriving at the auction venue.

Under the guidance of a servant, they arrived at the top-level VIP box of the Heaven Dou Auction House. Soon after, an elderly man approached them, bowing respectfully as he spoke: 

"Your Eminence, the head spirit bone you wish to auction will be the grand finale of this event. Therefore, it will require some time before it is presented. As a gesture of gratitude for choosing the Heaven Dou Auction House, we will not charge any handling fees for this auction and will provide you with the most comprehensive service." 

This was only natural. The announcement of a spirit bone being auctioned at the Heaven Dou Auction House alone had already created a massive buzz, drawing countless visitors and generating immeasurable influence—far surpassing what any handling fee could bring. 

Dugu Bo nodded. He was well aware that just having their spirit bone appear at the Heaven Dou Auction House would bring them immense profits. 

After the elderly man left, Prince Xue Xing arrived as well. As a representative of the royal family, he subtly informed Dugu Bo that the imperial family had dispatched additional troops into the city to maintain order and ensure the smooth progress of the auction. 

This signified the royal family's full support. Even though Dugu Bo was known for his aloof personality, he expressed his gratitude to Xue Xing and, by extension, the royal family behind him. 

Once the VIP box was left to just Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Wang Li, Dugu Bo gazed through the transparent glass at the other VIP boxes and said in a low voice: 

"Quite a few representatives of different factions have shown up. Whether they can produce a suitable spirit bone to trade remains to be seen." 

The rarity of spirit bones lay in their exceedingly low drop rate. Even for soul beasts over ten thousand years old, not every death resulted in a spirit bone. 

Thus, whether they could obtain a suitable spirit bone today was still uncertain. 

The auction began swiftly. One treasure after another was brought to the stage, each undergoing fierce bidding before being successfully sold. Not a single item went unsold. 

Today, not only were the VIP seats filled to capacity, but even the regular seats were packed. While many attendees lacked the qualifications to bid on a spirit bone, that didn't stop them from coming to catch a glimpse of it. 

Three hours passed in the blink of an eye. Another item was successfully auctioned, and the host on stage couldn't help but beam with joy. Then, his demeanor grew serious, and his voice became more animated: 

"Distinguished guests, today's auction is nearing its conclusion. Now, we will present the final and most anticipated item: a spirit bone." 

"As one of the most treasured artifacts in the soul master world, I need not elaborate on the significance of a spirit bone to a soul master. Now, let us welcome His Eminence, the Jade Phosphor Douluo, to present the finale: a gemstone-type Illusion Head Bone." 

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere in the venue turned electric. 

In the VIP box, Dugu Bo stood up and instructed Dugu Yan and Wang Li: 

"I'll head to the stage. Don't separate from each other. If we manage to trade for a suitable spirit bone, I'll take you both out of the city immediately." 

Seeing the two nod in agreement, Dugu Bo felt reassured and left. Moments later, he leaped onto the stage, his aura spreading outward to silence the crowd. Only then did he retrieve a box from his storage soul tool. 

Opening the box revealed a head bone radiating a dazzling glow, which instantly captivated everyone. Dugu Bo spoke firmly: 

"Approximately thirty thousand years old, gemstone-type Illusion Head Bone. I'm not looking for money—I only seek to trade for a suitable spirit bone: plant-type, poison-type, or dragon-type." 

At that moment, countless individuals in the regular seats stared enviously, their eyes red with desire. Even many in the VIP boxes were visibly struggling to control their excitement. 

Someone couldn't help but speak up: 

"Your Eminence, are you certain you won't accept a trade in gold spirit coins? I'm willing to offer my entire fortune—three hundred thousand gold spirit coins!" 

Before Dugu Bo could respond, someone immediately interrupted, saying: 

"I'll offer 400,000 gold spirit coins." 

The bids quickly escalated as people competed, pushing the price up to 800,000 gold spirit coins in no time. However, Dugu Bo frowned. Money held little importance to him. His gaze shifted toward the VIP boxes—only those seated there would have the means to produce a spirit bone for trade. 

Within the VIP section, a few individuals exchanged hesitant glances, but none dared to speak up. Such a transaction was exceedingly risky. Revealing possession of a spirit bone without successfully trading it could lead to catastrophic consequences, even endangering their lives. 

Before long, Ning Fengzhi's voice rang out. As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, with a Titled Douluo always by his side for protection, he had the confidence to make an offer: 

"Your Eminence, Jade Phosphor Douluo, our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan is willing to trade a 40,000-year-old Left Arm Bone of the Man-Faced Demon Spider. What do you think of this proposal?" 

Among the six types of spirit bones that soul masters can absorb, head and torso bones are the most valuable, while limb bones are relatively less so. Trading a 30,000-year-old head bone for a 40,000-year-old left arm bone seemed to be a fair deal for both parties. 

Dugu Bo, clearly tempted, nodded and said: 

"Agreed. However, allow me to ask one last time—does anyone else wish to offer a trade for this head bone?" 

His words echoed through the venue, but no one responded. Even if someone wanted to trade, no one could produce a spirit bone superior to the 40,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider bone. The room fell into a tense silence. 

After a long pause, Dugu Bo shook his head, storing the head bone back into his spatial soul tool. Finally, he declared: 

"Sect Master Ning, I'll trade with you!" 

Dugu Bo then stepped down from the stage and returned to his VIP box, leaving countless onlookers staring after him in disappointment. 

Shortly after, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin entered Dugu Bo's VIP box together. With a hint of exasperation, Ning Fengzhi remarked: 

"Your Eminence, if you'd told us about this head bone earlier, we could have arranged a private trade. Now, with all this public attention, I'm afraid it will only invite trouble in the future." 

Dugu Bo responded with a faint smile: 

"I had hoped to use this method to find the most suitable spirit bone. But as it turns out, only Sect Master Ning made an offer. Honestly, I had no idea that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan possessed a 40,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider bone." 

Ning Fengzhi chuckled and shook his head. 

"In the world of soul masters, spirit bones are always kept secret. Without absolute strength, who would dare expose their trump card so casually?" 

"As for this bone, the Man-Faced Demon Spider is an exceptionally cruel creature. It can rapidly grow stronger by devouring other soul beasts. Once it reaches ten thousand years, it even gains an additional stealth ability." 

"Years ago, we suffered great losses because of it, which is why we killed it in bitter revenge. This spirit bone, though powerful and 40,000 years old, has remained unused due to its attributes. It's been kept in storage until now. Who would have thought it would finally come in handy?" 

As Ning Fengzhi finished speaking, Chen Xin stepped forward, retrieving an ornate box from his spatial soul tool. Opening it revealed a nearly intact left arm bone radiating a deep, eerie glow. 

Dugu Bo once again took out the Illusion Head Bone, stepping forward personally to exchange it with Chen Xin. Both parties were visibly tense throughout the process. Only after each had secured their respective spirit bones did the atmosphere finally ease. 

Ning Fengzhi's smile grew even brighter. After witnessing the strength of Wang Li and Dugu Yan at the Soul Master Tournament, he began to feel a sense of urgency. The children of others were so remarkable, while his own daughter, though talented, still had much to catch up on.

Exchanging a 40,000-year-old spirit bone for a 30,000-year-old one might seem like a loss at first glance, but in truth, the right fit is more important than anything else. Moreover, the spirit bone he received was a head bone, so it wasn't a loss—it was truly a lucky trade.

Ning Fengzhi then turned his gaze to Wang Li and Dugu Yan, smiling as he extended an invitation. 

"Wang Li, Dugu Yan, you're always welcome to visit the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. Rongrong is back from the academy. You're around the same age, so I'm sure you'll have much in common."

Wang Li politely declined. 

"Uncle Ning, thank you for your kindness. However, because of the spirit bone, we plan to go into seclusion with Grandfather for a while to avoid being watched."

Ning Fengzhi felt a bit disappointed. During the Soul Master Tournament, both Wang Li and Dugu Yan had truly stunned him with their performance. Though Ning Rongrong's classmates were also talented, he had hoped that his daughter could form ties with even more outstanding individuals.

"That's really a shame," he said regretfully. "But it's understandable. Spirit bones are treasures, so it's only natural that some people might have ulterior motives."

He then turned to Dugu Bo. 

"Your Eminence, Jade Phosphor Douluo, we'll take our leave now."

Dugu Bo nodded. 

"Please don't trouble yourselves. We'll be leaving soon as well."

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin then left the VIP section and exited the Sky Dou Great Auction House. Countless eyes followed them, but with Chen Xin at their side, no one dared to make any moves.

Once they were gone, Dugu Bo made no intention of staying either. He turned to Dugu Yan and Wang Li. 

"We should leave as well and head straight out of the city."

Both of them nodded. They followed Dugu Bo, and soon, they had left the auction house and exited Sky Dou City. 

Though the people had left, the exchange of the spirit bones would continue to be a hot topic among the masses for some time. 

---

*Ice and Fire Eyes!* 

Dugu Bo retrieved the left arm spirit bone of the Man-Faced Demon Spider that he had traded for, sighing. 

"Spirit bones are rare, and we had no choice but to take what we could get. Still, getting a 40,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider bone is a stroke of luck."

"Xiao Li, Yan Yan, I'm sorry for the trouble. Yan Yan, go ahead and absorb this. The dominance of the Man-Faced Demon Spider's poison will significantly enhance your poison skills."

Wang Li didn't mind not obtaining the plant-type spirit bone he had hoped for and encouraged Dugu Yan. 

"Yan Yan, go ahead and absorb it. During this time, you should focus on breaking through to Soul Power level 60."

Dugu Yan looked apologetically at Dugu Bo and Wang Li, but she didn't want to disappoint them. Taking out the left arm spirit bone, she began absorbing it.

The 40,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider spirit bone took Dugu Yan over four hours to completely absorb. Once her breathing steadied, she opened her eyes and said: 

"Grandfather, Xiao Li, I did it."

Wang Li asked curiously, 

"What benefits did you gain from it?"

Dugu Yan immediately responded: 

"There are three main benefits. First, my soul power has broken through to level 59. Second, my poison skills have been enhanced by about 20%. Third, I gained the spirit bone skill—the Man-Faced Demon Spider's Stealth ability."

After speaking, she demonstrated her new skill. 

As soul power flowed into the spirit bone, a dark glow emanated from her left arm. In an instant, Dugu Yan was entirely enveloped by the glow. Then, she vanished from both Dugu Bo and Wang Li's sight. 

Both of them were stunned. Despite their high spiritual power, they couldn't detect Dugu Yan's position. 

Soon after, Dugu Yan reappeared, smiling. 

"The Man-Faced Demon Spider's Stealth ability allows me to completely hide my presence, both my form and my aura, until I make a move."

"And I can maintain it during combat, though it consumes a lot of soul power. Additionally, it only works while my soul power is in flux—if my soul power is steady, the concealment effect won't activate."

(End of Chapter)