Dugu Yan

Xia Liang touched his lower abdomen in amazement. That burst of aura just now had been Soul Power—the sign of an increase in Soul Power Level.

This was only his sixth Advanced Medicinal Bath, not even a full cycle, yet his Soul Power had already broken through from level twenty-nine to the level thirty bottleneck?

The difference amounted to only ten days.

One level of Soul Power in ten days? It seemed the Shui Family's Advanced Medicinal Bath might not compare to the Profound Water Pill from the era of the Unrivaled Tang Sect, but its effects were still quite good.

At the very least, the foundation of this level of Soul Power was stable. The medicinal potency accumulated day by day could be fully absorbed by his body, so it should not affect his future cultivation.

With his eyes closed, Xia Liang sensed the more abundant Soul Power within him, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

He really had broken through.

He was now a level thirty Quasi-Soul Elder.

Qin Ming would come tomorrow to ask for his answer about joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He could discuss it with him then. If the academy refused his conditions, there would be no need to join.

After all, he only needed to obtain his Third Soul Ring from a thousand-year Soul Beast. There were plenty of ways to do that; he did not necessarily need the academy's help.

The next morning.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

First floor of the cafeteria.

Within the spacious, noisy kitchen, the air was filled with oily smoke and the aroma of stir-fried meat.

Including the supervising Head Chef and Xia Liang, twenty chefs were working hard.

The piercing scrape of Iron Pots against spatulas, the sounds of chefs tossing their woks, and the Head Chef's commands rose and fell throughout the kitchen.

Yet among the crowd dressed as chefs stood a purple-haired, green-eyed young woman in an academy uniform. She stood behind one chef, seemingly saying something.

Not only the academy's students, but even the laborers working there knew that this purple-haired, green-eyed young woman was Dugu Yan, the Poison Douluo's granddaughter.

Even Prince Xue Xing, who held the highest authority over personnel at the academy, had to show Dugu Yan some respect when he saw her.

Therefore, even when Dugu Yan came to the Academy Kitchen, the Head Chef did not dare say a word.

Watching Xia Liang cook, Dugu Yan forced a smile onto her face. "Master Xia, what kind of work do you do?"

Xia Liang merely turned to glance at Dugu Yan before continuing to cook.

Seeing that he had ignored her the entire time, Dugu Yan was beginning to lose heart. If she had not wanted to redeem herself through another Soul Battle, she certainly would not have fawned over a chef in the kitchen.

After reviewing their battles over the past few days, Dugu Yan had found the weakness in the Skeleton Martial Soul's Rib Defense. Those ribs were indeed formidable, but they were not Absolute Defense.

The bottom of the entire rib cage had no defensive foundation of bone, only a thin protective film of Soul Power. That was clearly the weak point.

If her poison mist could launch a fierce attack against that film of Soul Power from below, then with their seven-level gap in Soul Power, the poisonous gas would certainly seep inside the ribs.

At that point, Master Xia would only be able to suffer a fate worse than death from the poison gas inside the enclosed ribs.

To verify this speculation and reclaim the dignity she had lost, Dugu Yan had waited outside the kitchen since early morning.

Her purpose was to challenge him to another Soul Battle. She had already lost twice anyway; the worst outcome would merely be losing once more.

And the best outcome would be washing away her humiliation! "Master Xia, your job is being a chef, but you're also a Soul Master, aren't you? In that case, you should spend your time cultivating. How can you bury yourself in a kitchen?"

Using the same coquettish approach she usually used on her grandfather, Dugu Yan spoke gently. "How about this? I'll apply to Prince Xue Xing and let you cultivate as a Soul Master during the day too, all right? But on one condition: we have another Soul Battle. I promise it'll be the last one!"

Xia Liang kept tossing the wok, still ignoring Dugu Yan beside him.

Seeing this, the Head Chef walked over to Dugu Yan and said in a trembling voice, "W-Well, Miss Dugu, this is the kitchen. If you have no business here, please leave. Could you not flirt with our chef?"

Dugu Yan merely gave the Head Chef a cold look and did not reply.

Yet with that single look, the Head Chef felt as though his entire life was over. Would the Poison Douluo come knocking tonight?

Near noon, lunch for the students had already been prepared. The other chefs remained in the kitchen, while Xia Liang went outside alone for some fresh air.

He had been granted the title of Special Grade Chef by Prince Xue Xing and the Three Education Commissioners. He could cultivate at the Mimicry Cultivation Field at night, and could also leave his post during the day when there was no work.

Like a snake, once Dugu Yan locked onto a target, she would cling to it relentlessly. She had not even attended her morning classes and had remained in the kitchen for most of the day.

The moment she saw Xia Liang leave the kitchen, she ran after him.

"Master Xia, are you afraid I found one of your weaknesses, so you don't dare have another Soul Battle with me?" Dugu Yan asked tentatively.

Xia Liang did not answer directly. As he walked forward, he looked around.

Students who had just finished class approached him head-on. Some greeted him warmly with a "Hello, Master Xia." Others smiled politely before running toward the cafeteria.

"Master Xia!" Dugu Yan's voice suddenly hardened.

Xia Liang stopped and turned to look at Dugu Yan. "I told you. No matter how many times we fight, the loser will be you."

"Is that so? I wouldn't be so sure."

Dugu Yan folded her arms and gave a sinister smile. "Your Rib Defense might not be impossible to overcome. If I concentrate all my poison mist beneath your feet and attack, you'll definitely be poisoned!"

Xia Liang smiled as well. "Then if I plug your mouth, can you still release poison mist?"

Dugu Yan froze, staring at Xia Liang in astonishment.

Only when Soul Masters with the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul reached the strength of a Soul King could they possibly force poison mist into the ground in the form of toxins, or silently inject it into the air, allowing them to secretly unleash large-scale Poison Control.

She had not yet reached the level of a Soul King and could only spray poison mist from her mouth.

During their last Soul Battle, her mouth had been blocked by the thumb of that enormous skeletal palm. She had thought it was a coincidence. So he had done it intentionally?

Dugu Yan glared at Xia Liang and said resentfully, "You can't keep my mouth plugged all the time!"

"Ha..." Xia Liang shook his head in disappointment.

Dugu Yan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Even if I don't plug your mouth, your poison can't hurt me at all."

Xia Liang's expression was exceptionally serious. "Do you think I don't know? Mixed Poison is a terrifying Poison Skill in which the toxicities of multiple poisons are combined, allowing them to complement and stimulate one another, ultimately creating poison upon poison."

"The three layers of poison mist you used back then had three clearly distinct colors that did not interfere with one another. That proves the three toxins did not affect each other, nor did they enhance each other's toxicity. With such garbage Mixed Poison, how could you possibly break my defense?"

Dugu Yan was somewhat surprised. "So you understand poison?"