Chapter 3

**Chapter 3: What a Poor Person**  

Not long ago, Zhao Ling's soul power finally broke through to level 90, and he set his sights on acquiring a Thousand-Tier Ant Emperor soul ring as his ninth soul ring.  

The Thousand-Tier Ant Emperor wasn't just a perfect match for Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer; it also aligned exceptionally well with Zhao Ling's Netherworld Demon Suppression Tower. Its incredible power and unmatched defense made it irresistible. How could he not want one?  

However, hunting the Thousand-Tier Ant Emperor nearly cost him his life. Those familiar with the original story would know that the three Thousand-Tier Ant Emperor brothers were inseparable.  

Hunting one of the Ant Kings meant retaliation from the other two. Still, Zhao Ling was unwilling to give up on such a powerful soul ring. He devised intricate plans and tricks to separate the three Ant Kings, ultimately grinding one of them down in a grueling battle. The effort left him severely injured.  

Just as he was about to absorb the soul ring, the other two Ant Kings arrived, enraged. Cornered, Zhao Ling had no choice but to use his eighth soul skill, 'Pagoda Protecting the True Body', to shield himself while attempting to absorb the ring.  

But the Ant Kings' relentless assault quickly overwhelmed his defenses. Within ten minutes, Zhao Ling was coughing up blood, his protective shield on the verge of shattering.  

At this critical moment, the system awakened—a system that strengthened him by having him write a diary. A transparent light curtain enveloped him, rendering the furious attacks of the two Ant Kings futile.  

Relief and frustration swept over Zhao Ling. Why hadn't the system awakened earlier? Was surviving more than a decade of hardship not enough? After all those years of hiding and struggling to reach Titled Douluo, was this system just toying with him?  

Still, it had arrived just in time to save his life. Zhao Ling successfully absorbed the soul ring of the defeated Ant King, breaking through to Titled Douluo.  

With his newfound power, Zhao Ling counterattacked. He unleashed the enhanced Nether Demon Suppression Tower, empowered by the Thousand-Tier Ant Emperor's soul ring. Its destructive force struck fear into the remaining two Ant Kings.  

The Ant Kings resisted with all their might, but Zhao Ling, now wielding his ninth soul skill, 'Nether God and Demon Suppression', smashed them into pieces. The impact reverberated through the Star Dou Forest, shaking the earth and sending countless creatures fleeing.  

Though victorious, Zhao Ling lamented the waste of the two soul rings. As a Titled Douluo, he couldn't absorb more. But the system surprised him again, removing his original seventh and eighth soul rings and allowing him to reabsorb the two Ant Kings' rings.  

The fusion of the three soul rings created a powerful 100,000-year soul ring. Adding to his fortune, the Ant Kings miraculously dropped two soul bones, which Zhao Ling promptly absorbed.  

After years of hardship, Zhao Ling's efforts had paid off. Now a level-92 Titled Douluo with the system on his side, he finally felt he could walk the Douluo Continent with confidence—as long as he avoided provoking Super Douluo or demigod-level opponents.  

Smiling with relief, Zhao Ling walked down the road. His joy, however, attracted curious and concerned stares from the villagers.  

"Why is this stranger grinning like that?" one villager whispered.  

"He was just standing under a tree, staring into space. Now he's walking around with that weird smile. Could he be mentally ill?"  

The villagers shook their heads, looking at Zhao Ling with pity.  

"What a shame," another murmured. "He looks normal, but his mind must not be right."  

Unaware of their thoughts, Zhao Ling felt their stares and whispered comments. He frowned in confusion.  

"What's going on? Why are they looking at me like that?"  

He decided to ignore them. Glancing at the sun—hanging at an angle of 60° in the eastern sky—he muttered to himself, "It's getting late. I'd better find a place to stay."  

Suddenly, the system's transparent screen appeared before him:  

[It's very late? Host, are you sure it's not 11 a.m.? Please hurry up and stop delaying the mission.]  

Zhao Ling's face flushed as the system exposed his lie. He coughed awkwardly.  

"Ahem… Mission? There's still a week left, isn't there? After more than a decade of hardship, can't I enjoy myself now that I'm a Titled Douluo?"  

The system remained silent, and Zhao Ling eventually rented a small house in the village.  

The house, located at the village's west end, was dilapidated and isolated—hundreds of meters from the nearest home. This arrangement left Zhao Ling feeling a bit depressed. He had hoped to rent a place closer to Ah Yin for convenience, but the villagers refused to allow it.  

Elsewhere, Ah Yin, still annoyed by Zhao Ling's diary, was startled when Aunt Shen next door came over with a warning.  

"A mentally ill outsider rented the house at the west end of the village," Aunt Shen said sternly. "Be careful not to go near that place."  

Ah Yin immediately realized the "outsider" must be Zhao Ling. She hadn't expected the villagers to mistake him for being mentally unstable.  

Suppressing her laughter, she replied, "Don't worry, Aunt Shen. I won't go near that house."  

"If that lunatic does anything strange, scream for help," Aunt Shen added. "The villagers and I will deal with him."  

Ah Yin nodded earnestly, biting her lip to stop herself from laughing. Once Aunt Shen left, she returned to her room and burst into laughter.  

"Hahaha! Poor Zhao Ling. He's been mistaken for a lunatic for no reason!"  

Wiping tears from her eyes, Ah Yin imagined Zhao Ling's reaction if he discovered what the villagers thought of him.  

"If he knew, he'd probably die of embarrassment!" she mused, rolling on her bed in laughter.  

—

PS: Power Stone Challenge! For every 100 Power Stones, I'll release 1 bonus chapter every weekend.  

(End of this chapter)