Dugu Yan: Grandpa, You've Changed...

The girl looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. She was tall and well-proportioned, wearing a fitted purple dress that outlined her already graceful curves.

She had long green hair tied into a high ponytail, and a lovely face.

Her pair of green eyes were like the finest emeralds. With every glance, they carried a hint of the spoiled, willful arrogance that came from being doted on.

But beneath that arrogance now lurked a trace of excitement and curiosity that she could hardly conceal.

When Jiang Zhen emerged, Dugu Bo's originally somewhat stern face immediately broke into a smile. He hurried forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Young master, you've left seclusion."

His gaze swept over Jiang Zhen, and he was instantly shocked.

Although he could not clearly sense Jiang Zhen's exact rank, the aura emanating from him was as steady as an abyss and as imposing as a mountain, utterly unfathomable.

Especially those eyes. They seemed calm, yet it was as though they could see straight through a person's heart, concealing a power that made one's soul tremble. Compared with yesterday, he was worlds apart!

This deepened the awe in his heart by several degrees.

"Senior Dugu, there's no need to be so formal."

Jiang Zhen gave a slight nod, then shifted his gaze to the girl behind him.

Dugu Bo quickly stepped aside and introduced her with a smile. "Young master, this is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan."

"Yan Yan, come over quickly. This is Young Master Jiang Zhen, who solved our clan's Martial Soul problem. Hurry up and thank him!"

His words were filled with pride and gratitude.

Dugu Yan stepped forward and, following her grandfather's earlier instructions, gave a proper bow. Her voice was clear, though it carried a hint of scrutiny.

"Dugu Yan thanks you, Young Master, for your assistance."

Although she bowed, her beautiful green eyes secretly and boldly sized up Jiang Zhen.

When her grandfather returned last night, he had excitedly told her that the defect in her Martial Soul had been resolved and had her consume the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

But the result was exactly as her grandfather had said. Her Martial Soul had undergone a earth-shaking transformation, and her Soul Power had surged directly from rank thirty-two to rank thirty-seven!

Was all of this truly because of this handsome young man standing before her? And she had heard that he was even a few years younger than her?

Her grandfather treated him with almost excessive respect, which made her somewhat puzzled.

Even if he had rendered them an enormous favor, with Grandpa's status as a Titled Douluo, there was no need to go this far, was there?

She did not know the details of how Dugu Bo had been casually suppressed by the Ice Empress in the valley yesterday, with his life placed in another's hands.

Out of concern for his dignity, Dugu Bo had naturally kept the matter deeply hidden, merely saying that Jiang Zhen had helped him.

Thus, although Dugu Yan had her doubts, she felt even more recognition based on the facts before her.

She was also curious about how Jiang Zhen could possess such abilities. As for her grandfather's almost humble respect, there was a trace of confusion deep in her heart.

"Miss Dugu, you're too kind. We each got what we needed, that's all."

Jiang Zhen smiled calmly, as though he had merely done something insignificant.

He could sense the probing in the Girl's gaze, along with the hint of concealed pride, but he did not care.

"Young master, take a look!"

Unable to suppress his urge to show off, Dugu Bo gave Dugu Yan a meaningful glance.

"Yan Yan, let Young Master see your new Martial Soul!"

Dugu Yan nodded and took a deep breath. Excitement appeared on her pretty face.

She took a step back and shouted, "Jade Scale Poison Dragon, possess me!"

A dense Emerald green radiance surged from Inside the Body, accompanied by a faint, clear and melodious sound carrying a trace of Dragon Might, rather than the hiss of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent she had possessed before.

As the radiance faded, a green dragon-shaped phantom coiled behind her. It was slightly smaller than Dugu Bo's Martial Soul, but its form was remarkably similar.

The Jade Scale Poison Dragon had four sharp claws growing from its abdomen, a pair of wings on its back, and a ferocious head with a small protrusion atop its forehead.

However, compared with Dugu Bo's nearly solid Martial Soul, its might and solidity were indeed somewhat inferior. It lacked the weathered dominance born of age, but possessed more youthful vigor and agility.

Yet the poisonous aura it emitted was more condensed and... nobler. It was no longer the sinister poison that had once been cold and corrosive to the bone.

"Good. Congratulations, Miss Dugu. Your Martial Soul has undergone rebirth through nirvana. Your future is limitless."

Jiang Zhen offered his sincere praise.

The effects of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon were even better than he had expected.

Hearing Jiang Zhen's praise, Dugu Yan raised her chin slightly, and the pride on her face grew even stronger. Clearly, she was extremely satisfied with her new Martial Soul.

Jiang Zhen looked at the Jade Scale Poison Dragon, pondered briefly, then said to Dugu Bo, "Senior Dugu, since the Martial Soul has evolved into this form, I have a suggestion."

"Please, Young Master!"

Dugu Bo immediately listened with solemn attention.

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul possesses fierce poison, but it is too sinister. Thus, following the Control System route in the past was a way of making the best of its strengths and avoiding its weaknesses—using poison to control the battlefield."

Jiang Zhen analyzed, "But now that it has evolved into the Jade Scale Poison Dragon, its poison has fused with its Dragon type bloodline, becoming even more domineering and majestic. Its strength and physique will also increase accordingly."

"If you remain fixated on pure control, you'll inevitably waste the Assault System talent of this Dragon type Martial Soul."

He looked at Dugu Yan. "In my opinion, when Miss Dugu obtains Soul Rings in the future, she should favor poisonous Dragon type Soul Beasts as much as possible. As for her Spirit Skills, she should focus on offense and use battlefield control as a supplement."

"By fully unleashing the might of this domineering dragon poison and following the path of an Assault System Battle Soul Master, her prospects may be even broader."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo's eyes shone brightly. He suddenly slapped his palm and exclaimed, "Brilliant! One word from you has truly awakened this old man from his dream! I was so happy before that I failed to consider this!"

"That's right. Yan Yan's Martial Soul is now a Poison Dragon, so it should naturally possess a dragon's dominance! The Assault System is perfect for her!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as though he could already see Dugu Yan wielding dragon poison and slaughtering her way across the battlefield in the future.

The Control System was certainly good, but what grandfather would not want his granddaughter to be even more imposing?

Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes also lit up as she listened.

She had always been competitive by nature. Although following the Control System route had been a helpless choice in the past, she had always felt that it lacked a sense of unrestrained satisfaction.

Now that she heard she could charge head-on like those Assault System Spirit Masters while retaining the power of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's poison, boundless anticipation immediately surged in her heart.

Her impression of Jiang Zhen also quietly improved. She felt that he truly possessed some genuine insight.

"Yan Yan, hurry up and thank Young Master for his guidance!"

Dugu Bo urged her.

"Thank you, Young Master, for your guidance."

Dugu Yan's thanks this time were clearly more sincere than before.

"It was nothing."

Jiang Zhen waved his hand. "We can discuss this in detail later. After being in seclusion for an entire night, I'm feeling a little empty."

Dugu Bo immediately understood. He hurriedly stepped aside and led the way. "It was this old man's oversight! I already had a light breakfast prepared. Young Master, Miss Lan Xi, this way, please. Yan Yan, come along too."

The group then headed toward the dining hall.

But Dugu Yan's question about why her grandfather treated Jiang Zhen with such respect remained like a loose thread, buried deep in the Bottom of the heart.

(Water Dragon King Spirit Bone Skill Four was added in Chapter 48.)

(Soul Bone Skill Four: Summon a phantom of the Primordial Sea through the Primordial Sea Realm, transforming the battlefield into a deep-sea domain.)

(The environment enveloping the area is related to the enhanced Soul Power. Within this domain, Jiang Zhen is as though the Water Dragon King himself had descended. The might of the Water Element rises dramatically, while all fire attributes are absolutely suppressed.)