Dugu Bo

Hearing Ye Feiyang greet them like that, the girls were all taken aback.

Ning Rongrong curled her lips and teased with a smile, "Teacher, do you even hear yourself? You call this early?" She raised a hand and pointed at the sun overhead—It was almost noon already. How was that early?

Ye Feiyang chuckled, completely unembarrassed. "Fine, then. Are you all ready? If you are, we'll set off now."

"Teacher, where are we going?" Xiao Wu skipped forward, grabbed Ye Feiyang's arm, and asked.

"Falling Moon Forest. You all know where that is, right?" Ye Feiyang told the truth. He had genuinely never been to Falling Moon Forest, and he had no shame about being directionally challenged. Still, he knew that near Heaven Dou City, any random coachman would know the way there.

Ning Rongrong grinned. "Teacher, whether we know doesn't matter. As long as the coachman knows, that's enough~"

Ye Feiyang snorted and retorted, "Who said we're taking a carriage? Were the movement techniques I taught you just for decoration? This is the perfect chance for you to practice your footwork and get familiar with using your soul skills..."

He turned to Shui Bing'er, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry. "Little Bing'er, I remember you have a soul skill called Phoenix Wings Soar, which lets you fly, right?"

"Yes, Teacher, I can indeed fly. Do you want to see my wings?" Shui Bing'er quickly nodded, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"I wouldn't mind seeing them, but what I mainly mean is that you'll be carrying me while flying there." Ye Feiyang stated his true intention.

Shui Bing'er froze for a moment. Once she understood, the tips of her ears instantly reddened. "Really, Teacher...? Then do you want me to hold you while flying, or... do you want to ride me?"

Ye Feiyang put on an utterly righteous expression. "Whatever feels more comfortable. You can decide."

The other four girls immediately widened their eyes—Why did something so wonderful have to fall into Shui Bing'er's lap? Their gazes were brimming with envy, and even a trace of jealousy.

Shui Bing'er secretly rejoiced. Being able to press close to her teacher at such intimate range was practically a dream come true. Still, she was a little worried and said softly, "Hehe~~ Teacher, if you want to ride me, I might... only be able to hold on for a little while." Her Soul Power was limited, and she truly could not carry someone through the air for too great a distance.

Ye Feiyang waved a hand dismissively. "It's no big deal. I just want to experience what flying feels like. We don't need to fly for long."

Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side and watched coldly. She had completely seen through them—Among these people, aside from herself, every last one of them started making suggestive remarks the moment they found an opening, with no attempt whatsoever to conceal their intentions.

She sneered inwardly. This is hilarious. Don't they understand that not fighting is itself a form of fighting? Do they not know that Teacher once carried me on his back all the way here? A bunch of little weaklings... Just wait. Once I cultivate a thicker skin, let's see how I strike back!

Just as the five girls, filled with excitement, prepared to follow Ye Feiyang out through the academy gates, Ye Feiyang suddenly frowned, keenly sensing an unusual presence.

The pressure of a Titled Douluo was approaching Supreme Academy without the slightest concealment, carrying a hint of hostility. He narrowed his eyes slightly and said to the five girls behind him, "We have a visitor. Judging by this, they aren't friendly. Go back inside and stay there. Don't come out."

Though his tone was calm, it carried an unquestionable authority. The girls exchanged glances, asked nothing further, and obediently retreated into the room.

The instant their figures disappeared through the doorway—

A tall, thin figure, straight as a spear, descended from the sky and landed steadily in the academy courtyard. His hair and beard were both dark green, and his jade-green eyes were filled with chilliness. The visitor was none other than Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

"Ye Feiyang?"

"Dugu Bo?"

The two spoke almost simultaneously. The moment their gazes collided in midair, they had already confirmed each other's identities.

Dugu Bo drifted down and stood before Ye Feiyang. The overwhelming pressure of a Titled Douluo surged forth like a tide, attempting to suppress him through sheer force of presence. Yet Ye Feiyang stood where he was as if nothing had happened, not even twitching a brow.

Just a Titled Douluo? It was not as if he had never beaten one up before. Ye Feiyang thought to himself, I was just planning to visit the Yin Yang Well, and now its owner has come knocking on my door. What a coincidence!

"Poison Douluo, what brings you to my Supreme Academy?" Ye Feiyang spoke first, his tone revealing little emotion.

Dugu Bo looked Ye Feiyang up and down several times, then snorted coldly. "This old man just returned to Heaven Dou City, and someone asked me to give you some 'guidance.' You should know very well why I am here, boy."

Ye Feiyang smiled and frankly admitted, "Oh, I know perfectly well." Then he suddenly changed the subject and asked leisurely, "By the way, has your granddaughter, Dugu Yan... returned to Heaven Dou City?"

Dugu Bo was stunned, completely unable to keep up with Ye Feiyang's train of thought. "This old man came to teach you a lesson. What does my granddaughter have to do with it?"

Ye Feiyang burst into laughter, his tone carrying provocation. "Poison Douluo, perhaps you still haven't understood. My Supreme Academy is not a place anyone can barge into at will. If you came to bring gifts, I welcome you with open arms. But if you came to cause trouble... then you'll have to leave something behind. For example, how about using your granddaughter as compensation?"

Dugu Bo's expression turned utterly cold, and the killing intent in his eyes deepened. "Boy, you have quite the mouth on you!"

The moment he finished speaking, a small jade-colored snake slithered out from his collar. It flicked its tongue at Ye Feiyang, radiating a dense aura of deadly poison and fierce killing intent.

Ye Feiyang raised a brow and glanced at the little snake. "Nine-Section Emerald? I didn't expect to find such a supreme specimen among Zhu Ye Qing here... Looking at its quality, it should make an excellent nourishing soup."

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Dugu Bo had already felt that Ye Feiyang was looking down on him and had been forcibly holding back his anger. Now Ye Feiyang was even setting his sights on his beloved venomous snake? This was simply courting death!

Yet Ye Feiyang continued adding fuel to the fire. "How about this? Give me that little snake as a gift, or send your granddaughter here to become my disciple as an apology, and I'll let you leave. What do you say?"

He was deliberately pushing this old poisoner, wanting to see just how much longer he could endure.

"You're courting death!"

Dugu Bo was completely enraged. Nine pitch-black soul rings erupted behind him, and the pressure of a Titled Douluo swept through the entire academy. Even the surrounding air seemed to freeze solid.

The five girls secretly watching from behind the door could not help holding their breath. Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er looked extremely nervous as they whispered, "It's Poison Douluo! Teacher will be all right, won't he?"

But Ning Rongrong could not help letting out a snort of laughter. She said confidently, "You should be worried about that old man instead. Let's see how he gets out of this."

In that instant, Ye Feiyang's figure flickered. He was so fast that he seemed illusory, and no one could see what he had done. By the time everyone focused again, the Nine-Section Emerald was already in Ye Feiyang's hand, struggling and writhing in his palm but unable to break free in the slightest.

"Old poisoner, I'll be taking this little snake first." Ye Feiyang's voice carried a smile. Eight soul rings slowly emerged behind him. Though he had one fewer soul ring than Dugu Bo, the aura they gave off was not inferior in the least.

Dugu Bo was utterly dumbfounded—He had not even seen how Ye Feiyang made his move before his pet snake had been captured. Panic immediately rose in his heart, and he began regretting his rash decision to come provoke Ye Feiyang.

Though he knew nothing about musical instruments, he was exceptionally skilled at beating a retreat. At that moment, he had only one thought: He should never have come. Even if he had come, wouldn't it have been fine to greet Ye Feiyang politely? Why had he insisted on putting on such a high-and-mighty attitude?

Sigh, it was too late to say anything now. If he had not owed someone a favor, he would never have wanted to trouble Ye Feiyang—It was not as though he had not heard of Ye Feiyang's achievements.

"Release my Nine-Section Emerald! Otherwise, I'll turn your Supreme Academy into a poisonous wasteland where not a blade of grass can grow!" Dugu Bo shouted fiercely despite his inner weakness, attempting to force Ye Feiyang to release his snake through threats.

Ye Feiyang only laughed harder. "Old stubborn fool, if I really wanted to eat you, would I wait around while you spouted threats here? I could just drag you into the wilderness and deal with you there. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"You... what exactly do you want?" Dugu Bo's face alternated between green and white, but he inexplicably felt relieved—It seemed Ye Feiyang did not intend to kill him.

Ye Feiyang truly had no intention of killing Dugu Bo. This old poisoner at least had the title of an "angel investor" in the soul master world, so it would be quite suitable to keep him around as a useful pawn. Though Ye Feiyang had not met Dugu Yan yet, that did not stop him from doing her a favor from afar first.

"I can return this little snake to you." Ye Feiyang shook the Nine-Section Emerald in his hand and continued, "I can also help your granddaughter resolve the pain caused by the backlash from her poison cultivation. What do you say?"

Dugu Bo froze on the spot, doubting whether he had heard correctly. "What did you say? You can solve my granddaughter's problem? Then what do you want?"

"I want the herb garden you have in Falling Moon Forest. Do you accept that condition?" Ye Feiyang directly stated his demand.

Dugu Bo's heart was full of doubt. How did Ye Feiyang know about his granddaughter's condition? And that herb garden was his secret—How did Ye Feiyang know about it too?

Seeing Dugu Bo's disbelieving expression, Ye Feiyang spoke unhurriedly and listed Dugu Bo's symptoms one by one. "You have suffered the backlash of your own poison for years. The toxins have long since invaded your internal organs. I can tell just by looking at your symptoms—Your complexion is waxy yellow, your lips are bluish gray, and you occasionally cough up pale green mucus. Your meridians sometimes send stabbing pains through your body, your bones ache terribly, and you are easily irritable and prone to losing emotional control... Am I right?"

With every sentence Ye Feiyang spoke, the shock on Dugu Bo's face deepened. By the time Ye Feiyang finished, Dugu Bo's entire body had stiffened—Ye Feiyang was completely right! He had never mentioned those symptoms to anyone. How did Ye Feiyang know so much about them?

Since Ye Feiyang even knew about the hidden ailment in his body, perhaps he really could cure Yan Yan? At that moment, Dugu Bo suddenly found the young man before him extraordinarily imposing. How could Ye Feiyang still be an enemy? He was practically a savior!

He cursed himself inwardly. What was I thinking, coming here to provoke Ye Feiyang? What does pride matter? I've spent my life doing whatever I pleased... I should have just asked whether Ye Feiyang could treat Yan Yan's illness from the start!

"Y-You mean it? You can really resolve the problem with my granddaughter?" Dugu Bo's voice carried both urgency and disbelief.

Ye Feiyang nodded calmly. Even in the worst-case scenario, he could simply copy Tang San's method for resolving the backlash from Dugu Yan's poison cultivation. Besides, he had a system. As long as he found a suitable cultivation method, he could settle the matter easily. There was no need to make it so troublesome.

It had to be said that people in this world had barely unlocked the skill tree for creating their own cultivation methods. Their cultivation depended entirely on inheritances and soul ring skills. If they were placed in the cultivation world, they would have been ground to dust long ago.

"Why would I lie to you? Do you think I have nothing better to do than joke around with you?" Ye Feiyang rolled his eyes and continued, "Besides, if you hand your granddaughter over to me, you might even have to kneel and thank me in the future!"

He shook the Nine-Section Emerald in his hand, smiling a little wickedly. "So? Take me to your herb garden in Falling Moon Forest, and I'll help your granddaughter completely resolve the backlash from her poison cultivation. If you dare say no, I'll stew this little snake into soup right now."

Dugu Bo did not hear Ye Feiyang's latter threat at all. The instant he heard that Ye Feiyang was willing to treat his granddaughter, he was so excited he nearly jumped up—It was merely a herb garden. Only an idiot would refuse such a guaranteed profit.

Ignoring Ye Feiyang's threat, he was just about to agree when someone suddenly rushed into the courtyard from outside—It was Xue Qinghe.

When Xue Qinghe arrived, her face was filled with concern. She had clearly been worried that something might happen to Ye Feiyang. But after entering the courtyard and seeing the subtle atmosphere between Ye Feiyang and Dugu Bo, she felt as if her coming had been unnecessary. It seemed she had worried for nothing!

She had always believed Ye Feiyang could do anything. How could a mere Poison Douluo possibly be his match? Xue Qinghe forcibly suppressed the chaotic emotions in her heart and slowly stepped forward.

Ye Feiyang spoke first, his tone somewhat distant. "What brings His Highness the Crown Prince to my Supreme Academy?"

The instant Xue Qinghe heard Ye Feiyang deliberately emphasize "Crown Prince," her chest tightened with discomfort. This damned man! Did he really have to hold such a grudge? She had only been a little jealous and made a few sarcastic remarks. Did he have to keep wearing such a cold expression even now?

She was proud as well, so she simply ignored Ye Feiyang's coldness and turned to Dugu Bo, asking, "Poison Douluo, what brings you here?"

Seeing Xue Qinghe's manner, Dugu Bo muttered inwardly, The relationship between these two must be anything but ordinary. Xue Qinghe clearly came to support Ye Feiyang!

In the past, he might not have given Xue Qinghe any face. But now... blood was still flowing from his body, and the pain was nearly enough to make him unable to stand. Where could he find the confidence to remain tough?

"This old man came to exchange soul skills with Dean Ye. I did not expect my skills to be inferior, and I was just planning to send my granddaughter here to study under Dean Ye!" Dugu Bo hurriedly changed his wording, lowering his posture as much as possible.

The moment Xue Qinghe heard that, she became even more displeased. Send his granddaughter? If she remembered correctly, Dugu Yan was already nineteen. At that age, discussing marriage would not even be unusual. What was Dugu Bo trying to do? Was he sending Ye Feiyang a disciple, or a wife?

She was furious, truly furious! Xue Qinghe suppressed her anger and said coldly, "I see. It seems you have already reached an agreement." She was not usually like this. Dugu Bo's words had simply bothered her too much.

"Poison Douluo, shouldn't you treat your injuries first? If you keep bleeding like this, someone might really die." Xue Qinghe deliberately reminded him.

It would have been better if she had not mentioned it. The moment she did, Dugu Bo immediately felt dizzy and weak in the legs, while the wounds on his body seemed to hurt even more. "Uh, Dean Ye, I agree to the condition you just mentioned. Please be sure to take good care of my granddaughter..." He felt as if he could no longer hold on. If he kept bleeding, he might truly be about to meet his ancestors.

Ye Feiyang shook his head and raised a hand, releasing a gentle green light that enveloped Dugu Bo. "Third Soul Skill: Spirit Source Revival."

The wounds on Dugu Bo's body healed at a visible rate, and the pain gradually faded. He stood frozen in place, his face filled with shame. "Dean Ye repays resentment with kindness. This old man truly... has nowhere to hide his shame."

He explained sincerely, "To be honest, I came today because I owe someone a favor and could not refuse. This old man has heard quite a bit about Dean Ye's deeds, and I had no wish to make trouble for myself. As for that herb garden, I'll give it to you! And this Nine-Section Emerald... If Dean Ye truly wants to eat it, how about I find you another one?"

Before he could finish, Ye Feiyang had already tossed the Nine-Section Emerald back into his arms. The little snake was so frightened that it immediately slipped back into Dugu Bo's sleeve, not daring to poke its head out again.

"Take your snake back. Since you agreed, please take us to Falling Moon Forest now." Ye Feiyang added thoughtfully, "By the way, looking at you, do you need to rest for a day before we set out tomorrow?"

Dugu Bo hurriedly shook his head, afraid Ye Feiyang might change his mind. "No need! We can leave now!" Although Ye Feiyang had not yet fulfilled his promise to treat his granddaughter, Dugu Bo inexplicably wanted to believe him. After all, he himself had already run out of options for his granddaughter's illness. Ye Feiyang was his last hope.

What a joke. If everything Ye Feiyang said was true, he had no reason whatsoever to refuse.