Old and Young Alike

Dugu Bo was, after all, a ready-made Titled Douluo-level fighter. To Ming Lunyu, he was no pawn that could be easily discarded. Tang Fu'er had also explained just how terrifying Dugu Bo was, making Ming Lunyu value this unique talent all the more.

"He can't defeat any Titled Douluo, but he can leave the other side with only a Titled Douluo standing." Those were Tang Fu'er's exact words, concise yet revealing Dugu Bo's strategic value.

"Yanyan!" Facing his most beloved granddaughter, Dugu Bo's tone became unusually stern. "Being able to cure you is already a blessing amid misfortune. Don't ask for more than he can give."

Dugu Bo also knew that although Ming Lunyu was a genius, he was no god. The gap in their strength was like a heavenly chasm; no matter how miraculous his Second Martial Soul was, it could not turn the tide.

Dugu Yan's expression darkened. She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and fell silent.

Ming Lunyu smiled easily. "Miss Dugu, if you truly wish to cure your grandpa, I do have a way. It's just... I don't know what Senior Dugu thinks of it."

For some reason, seeing the gentle smile at the corner of Ming Lunyu's lips made Dugu Bo feel a chill run down his spine.

"Young Master Ming, what exactly is this method? Please, tell me." Dugu Bo raised a hand to stop the visibly agitated Dugu Yan and spoke solemnly.

Ming Lunyu did not keep them in suspense and immediately explained the effects of Inverse Yin Yang.

The grandfather and granddaughter stared at each other.

"Martial Soul optimization, but... turning into a girl?"

Dugu Yan glanced at Dugu Bo, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly, unsure what to say. The thought of her grandpa becoming a girl struck her as utterly bizarre, and also...

Excited?! Dugu Yan screamed inwardly. No, no, no! This isn't right! Dugu Yan, is something wrong with you?! How could you be excited? It must be an illusion. Yes, that's it... But...

Unlike Dugu Yan, whose mind was in turmoil, Dugu Bo furrowed his brows and seriously considered the feasibility of this proposal.

To be fair, if this so-called contract was truly so miraculous, then Dugu Bo himself would be the one to benefit in the end.

Not only would his Martial Soul have a chance to evolve, but his body's foundation could be reforged, his toxins cleared away, and becoming a girl would be equivalent to living a second life.

That was simply heaven-defying. Not only would he gain a great deal of lifespan and have more time to accompany his granddaughter as she grew up, but he could also use a body with even greater talent to strive for higher realms.

And the price was merely being unable to disobey Ming Lunyu's orders and becoming a girl.

The first point did not matter at all. Strictly speaking, Dugu Bo had already sold his life to Ming Lunyu, so obeying orders was only natural.

As for the latter...

Dugu Bo pondered for a long while before finally raising his head.

"Young Master Ming, this old man has made up his mind. I accept your arrangement."

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan grasped her grandpa's hand, her eyes full of complicated emotions.

Dugu Bo chuckled and stroked his granddaughter's head, softly comforting her by her ear.

How strange. The person involved was actually the one comforting Dugu Yan.

Ming Lunyu nodded. "In that case, let us begin at once."

"Wait," Dugu Bo said, raising a hand. "Could you give this old man half a day to settle matters from his past?"

"Of course," Ming Lunyu replied casually.

Dugu Bo left with Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan still had to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy, while Dugu Bo was going to settle things with Prince Xue Xing.

Years ago, he had received Prince Xue Xing's favor, but had consequently become bound by him as well. Holding to the belief that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, Dugu Bo had served Xue Xing ever since. In truth, he had long since repaid what little he owed Xue Xing. This time, Dugu Bo was going to inform him of that fact and announce his retirement to the outside world.

Only after everything had been settled did Ming Lunyu truly relax.

To be honest, if Dugu Bo had refused, Ming Lunyu would not have forced him. But in that case, Dugu Bo would only have been a fighter he could command, rather than a trusted confidant.

"Brother, looks like we'll have another Titled Douluo before long!"

Ma Hongjun was extremely excited.

That was a Titled Douluo! There were supposedly fewer than five in the entire continent, yet their group was about to have two Titled Douluo.

Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the upper three sects, was said to have only two Titled Douluo!

"Brother, we're this awesome now. Should we start a sect or something, like those major factions?"

Ming Lunyu thought for a while, then shook his head. "It's too early, too early. I do have such thoughts, but our foundation is still too shallow and our strength is not great enough. We are at the age when our Soul Power cultivation is fastest, so we should seize the time to grow stronger. As for building a faction... perhaps we can keep an eye out for outstanding young soul master talents and try to recruit them when the time is right."

Ma Hongjun sat beside Ming Lunyu and leaned against him. "Then, Brother, what kind of faction do you want to establish?"

Ming Lunyu raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle and gazed toward the sky, anticipation flashing through his eyes. "I want to establish a force that can bring justice to the continent, a force with irresistible power, one that drags every Evil Soul Master hiding in the shadows into the sunlight and executes them!"

His words rang with force, brimming with Killing Qi.

He was not some noble person. He used schemes and tricks as well, and over the years, his hands had become stained with blood—though all of it belonged to the scum of the City of Slaughter. Yet he still hated those lawless, worthless Evil Soul Masters who slaughtered innocent lives for their own selfish desires.

Less than three hours later, Dugu Bo returned to the treasured valley.

"Young Master Ming, I am ready." Dugu Bo clenched his fists and spoke in a deep voice.

"Mm."

Ming Lunyu raised his hand. The Gray Bead entwined with Black and White Qi appeared, and two gray Soul Rings rose around him.

Contract.

Gray threads connected to Dugu Bo.

"I am willing."

As the words fell, the gray threads wove themselves into a great cocoon. Dugu Bo's transformation began.

At the same time, Ming Lunyu clearly sensed that he could design Dugu Bo's initial appearance within his mind.

"..."

"I... absolutely am not... a nail polish fetishist!"

Ming Lunyu closed his eyes, his expression twisted.

An hour later.

A green-haired twin-tailed girl in a thin cheongsam opened her eyes. Her emerald vertical pupils resembled those of a snake, yet they were not cold and sinister. Instead, they held a hint of slyness.

"So this is... this old man's new body..."

Dugu Bo moved her body while touching her throat.

"This is my voice? It sounds rather nice."

"Although my height has shrunk, my body proportions are quite perfect."

"Eh, what's with my nails? Are they built in?"

Dugu Bo raised a jade-like hand. Her fingertips were dyed emerald green, like lustrous, translucent jade.

Her toes flexed. A pair of delicate lotus feet painted with matching nail polish wore no shoes, yet remained utterly spotless. That was because Dugu Bo was not standing on the ground at all, but hovering roughly ten centimeters above it.

Ming Lunyu coughed awkwardly several times.

"I still... couldn't resist..."

Fortunately, those present either noticed but chose not to mention it, or had not noticed at all.

"Young Master Ming..."

"Now that you're one of us, you can just call me by name... Of course, you can call me Young Master too." Ming Lunyu spoke half-jokingly, not truly expecting Dugu Bo to address him as Young Master.

"Young Master? That works too." Dugu Bo quite liked the title and immediately began using it.

"Gulp~"

The female Dugu Bo had an entirely different sense of aesthetics from her male self.

Originally, he had merely thought that Ming Lunyu was indeed handsome and possessed an otherworldly temperament. But after changing sex, the feeling immediately became much stronger. Under the effects of estrogen, the instant Dugu Bo met Ming Lunyu's gaze, her heart gave a violent jolt and her mind went blank.

Only after a long while did she recover, hurriedly explaining, "Young Master, this old man has only just been reborn. I have not adjusted yet."

Ming Lunyu gave an "Oh," without suspecting anything.

Ma Hongjun and Tang Fu'er both clicked their tongues, thinking, Another lustful vixen.

They had not been girls for just a day or two, especially Ma Hongjun, who had spent longer as a girl than as a boy. She could be said to understand women's thoughts perfectly, and Dugu Bo's reaction made it obvious what was going on.

Though they were wary inwardly, Ma Hongjun and Tang Fu'er still welcomed Dugu Bo's addition.

Then the three began further explaining their circumstances to Dugu Bo.

"What? So that's what happened!"

Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun's experiences left Dugu Bo clicking his tongue in amazement, repeatedly exclaiming at how terrifying it was.

After all, the fact that two children without the strength to truss a chicken had fought their way out of the City of Slaughter was simply too worldview-shattering.

Then he heard that Tang Fu'er was actually the fusion of Tang Chen and the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King, prompting another wave of sighs.

Who would have thought that a peerless Douluo who had once roamed the world would ultimately end up parasitized by a beast? Tang Chen had been a legend among the older generation of soul masters. Even Dugu Bo had held Tang Chen in great reverence. Who could have imagined it? Truly, the ways of the world were unpredictable...

By the end, Dugu Bo suddenly noticed a crucial point.

"So, the three women around Young Master were all originally men?"

Ming Lunyu said, "Ah, uh..."

"And they range from old to young. You really take them all, old and young alike! No, that should include both men and women too?"

Ming Lunyu said, "Heh..."