The Wrong Decision
Suddenly, the Heaven- and Earth-Harmonizing Umbrella spun behind Zhou You's head, and a red halo appeared on the edge of the umbrella. The ribs and handle in the center gradually disappeared, leaving only a red edge and a dark center like Eclipse in a deep cave, which slowly rose.
This Eclipse unleashed an unparalleled and terrifying devouring power. Countless vines, roots, flowers, and even sand and gravel, as well as the swarm of Ghost Scorpions that had been playing a minor role on the battlefield, were all swallowed up by the "great sun" that roamed Zhou You, as if they had encountered a black hole siphon.
In a mere instant, everything within a ten-meter radius of Zhou You was swallowed up by the Eclipse like a canvas. In a short while, except for the spot where Zhou You stood, only an empty crater remained on the surrounding ground.
The Ghost Vine seemed to have been paused. Although it had no facial expression, those around it could still sense its bewildered and helpless emotions.
Not to mention it, even Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and the Dugu grandfather and grandson who were watching the battle were somewhat bewildered.
"Then... what kind of Soul Skill is that?" Dugu Bo asked somewhat awkwardly.
After a moment of stunned silence, Yue Guan quickly realized what was happening. He stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "Is it devouring? That seems plausible, but the power..."
Well, then he remembered that this was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, so it wasn't surprising that it had such power.
The Gui Mei's eyes gleamed, its admiration almost overflowing!
Dugu Yan's gaze was vacant; she suddenly began to doubt whether she and the other person were really the same age.
Dugu Bo's face twitched. He finally realized that the Poison Formation he had set up was completely meaningless to Zhou You. If this kid had revealed this Soul Skill earlier, he could have easily wiped this place out.
This kid... is he deliberately trying to show off in front of me?
As expected of that show-off's student, seemingly calm on the surface, but secretly a little show-off!
Dugu Bo inwardly cursed, not only had he failed to make things difficult for Zhou You this time, but he had also managed to put on a big show.
Although there were still some challenges ahead in the Poison Formation, Dugu Bo was already losing interest.
On the battlefield, Zhou You raised his left hand above his head and caught the Heaven- and Earth-Harmonizing Umbrella, which had returned to its original state and was slowly falling into his palm.
He closed the umbrella canopy, pointed the tip at the Ghost Vine in front of him, and once again captured the opponent's Soul Core with his Mental Power. It seemed to be terrified, and at this moment the Soul Core was motionless, becoming a live target.
A tiny glimmer of light shot up from the tip of the umbrella, which quickly swelled to the size of a fist.
Zhou You estimated the power and decided to adjust it to around a six-pounder cannon.
Just as he was about to fire the Qi Cannon, Dugu Bo appeared.
That's enough for now, kid.
Zhou You controlled the power of the umbrella with ease, immediately dispersing the light sphere at the tip of the umbrella, disintegrating the Heaven- and Earth-Harmonizing Umbrella, and returning it to his body.
"So, I've successfully broken through the formation?"
"I suppose you've succeeded?" Dugu Bo said vaguely, somewhat reluctantly.
When they reunited with the others, they were already inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Zhou You immediately spotted the strange hot spring emitting steam and cold air.
There were also Medicine Gardens full of all kinds of exotic flowers and herbs around, but the Immortal Herbs were not something that could be seen at a glance.
Indeed, if the Immortal Herbs were so conspicuous, even if Dugu Bo had no idea about their effects, there would be no reason for him to ignore them.
At the very least, they would capture a Soul Beast or something to test the medicinal properties of these Immortal Herbs.
Just as Zhou You was about to go closer to take a look, a figure blocked his way. He looked down and saw that it was Dugu Yan.
At this moment, the little girl was looking at him with shining eyes, and without needing to sense it, he could see the admiration in her eyes.
"You... you're so amazing!" Dugu Yan's face was flushed.
"Um, thank you." Zhou You could only stop and respond.
Just as I was about to walk past her, I heard Dugu Yan continue, "What was that just now? Was it Soul Skill? What ring are you at now? I'm only at two rings, but I'll be at three soon. Grandpa said my Talent is pretty good..."
Upon hearing his granddaughter's words, Dugu Bo couldn't help but want to facepalm.
Compared to other junior Soul Masters, Dugu Yan was almost a Soul Grandmaster at the age of 13, which was certainly a good Talent. However, compared to a freak like Zhou You, it was somewhat humiliating.
Fortunately, Dugu Yan was self-aware.
"But I think Grandpa was probably just trying to comfort me. Compared to you, I'm far inferior..." she admitted.
She knew that the Ghost Vine was a Ten-Thousand-Year Rank Soul Beast. Usually, Dugu Yan only dared to watch it from afar and dared not approach it, let alone fight it head-on like Zhou You.
Dugu Yan even suspected that if her grandfather hadn't intervened, Zhou You might have actually killed it.
So she really wanted to know.
"Why are you so strong?" Because she rarely communicates with others, Dugu Yan speaks very directly, without beating around the bush.
At this moment, she also changed from her previous shyness and became very proactive, bombarding him with questions one after another like a machine gun.
"Diligent study and hard practice." Zhou You offered these four words.
"So that's how it is." Dugu Yan had no doubt that Zhou You was just giving her a perfunctory answer.
"Grandpa originally planned to take me to register for the Heaven Dou Royal Academy today."
"Oh?" As soon as she said that, Zhou You remembered that Dugu Yan did indeed represent the Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the Soul Master Tournament in the original novel.
But after today's incident, will the other person still enroll in that college?
"My granddaughter will be enrolling in the Spirit Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy, right?" Dugu Bo heard his granddaughter's words, gently patted Dugu Yan's little head, but his eyes glanced at the two Ghost Chrysanthemum, Douluo.
"No problem," Yue Guan replied immediately, "Her cultivation level and Talent are sufficient."
For the Central Academy, Dugu Yan's Talent was sufficient; she was a genius in the general sense.
Of course, they can't compare to the Golden Generation. Thanks to Zhou You's influence, the current Golden Generation is much stronger than in the original timeline.
Xie Yue and others have even joined the Soul Master team representing the Spirit Hall in the most recent competition, participating as the second team to experience the atmosphere of the competition in advance.
Zhou You was not interested in this kind of training exercise in preparation for the competition, and because the higher-ups intended to use him as a surprise weapon in the official competition, he did not join.
Besides, their team of eight is already overcrowded, so there's no reason for them to form a second team and need someone as a substitute. If Zhou You doesn't go, the seven of them are just right.
With Lonely Goose joining the Central Academy at this time, it's possible that she could obtain a sample of Whale Rubber, given her Talent. Ever since learning about the effects of this substance on Soul Masters, the Spirit Hall has been secretly acquiring Whale Rubber.
Aside from the extremely rare Ten-Thousand-Year Rank whale sacs, the Central Academy alone has accumulated a considerable amount of 1,000-year-old and Hundred-Year Rank Whale Rubber in its inventory.
Dugu Yan's level was stuck at the second ring, so she had one last chance to take Whale Rubber.
However, having such a large Medicine Garden in front of her, with rare and precious herbs growing here, it's clear that Dugu Yan has been cultivating according to the usual path of Soul Master until now, which shows that working in isolation is indeed not a good idea.
Zhou You felt that not only should Dugu Yan enroll in school, but Dugu Bo should also relearn.
Since that Thesis caused a sensation in the Soul Master World, Zhou You has stopped publishing many of his subsequent research findings. It is believed that after Dugu Bo joins the Spirit Hall, he will definitely reshape his understanding.
I now realize what a terrible decision it was to let Zhou You in today.