Dugu Yan, Deeply Shaken

After a single blow, Dugu Yan watched as Ye Xi merely took half a step back before steadying herself. She froze in place, unable to recover for a long while.

Dugu Yan had naturally seen people catch soul skills barehanded before.

But that was usually something high-level Soul Masters did when completely overpowering lower-level Soul Masters.

So Dugu Yan had considered many possibilities. For example, Ye Xi might summon her martial soul, or dodge directly—but she had never imagined that Ye Xi would choose to take it barehanded.

What Dugu Yan had not expected even more was that Ye Xi had truly caught it with her bare hand, paying only the price of half a step backward.

"There's no need to continue this spar, right?"

"If you're going to use poison, then I'll have to summon my martial soul."

Ye Xi shook out her slightly numb arm and looked calmly at Dugu Yan.

There were actually two reasons she could take Dugu Yan's soul skill barehanded. One was her powerful physique, and the other was the External Soul Bone on her arm.

Without the External Soul Bone, the Bloodthirsty Bone Blade, Ye Xi could still have taken the attack, but she definitely would not have done so as easily as she had just now.

"No need."

"Yan Yan, come back."

Dugu Bo beckoned to Dugu Yan. Once she returned, he turned his gaze toward Ye Xi.

"Xiao Xi, based on the strength you've displayed so far, there really aren't many among the younger generation who could defeat you with certainty."

There was a trace of emotion in Dugu Bo's voice.

"You flatter me, Senior."

Ye Xi smiled and walked toward Tian Yao.

Meanwhile, Dugu Yan silently returned to Dugu Bo's side. She said nothing, merely staring at the ground with the look of someone deeply shaken.

Seeing Dugu Yan's expression, Dugu Bo said nothing. He simply reached out and gently stroked her hair.

"Xiao Xi, when will the next detoxification be?"

Dugu Bo looked at Ye Xi and asked softly.

"The next detoxification will be three days from now."

"Senior, you also know that my soul power has reached the Level Thirty bottleneck. I need to go to the Soul Beast Forest and obtain a soul ring."

"Three days from now, I'll go to your residence to detoxify you."

Only after giving it some thought did Ye Xi provide an exact time.

"There's no need to go to so much trouble. I'll come myself then."

"I'll take Yan Yan back first."

Dugu Bo waved his hand indifferently and led Dugu Yan toward the exit of the mansion.

"I'll see you out, Senior."

As soon as Ye Xi spoke, she followed Dugu Bo toward the mansion gate.

Standing at the mansion gate, Ye Xi watched Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan gradually disappear into the distance before reaching out to close the gates.

Elsewhere.

Walking along the bustling street, Dugu Bo looked at the silent Dugu Yan beside him and could not help asking, "Yan Yan, did that shake you up?"

Dugu Bo's voice was gentle and kind, and as he spoke, he stroked Dugu Yan's hair.

"Grandpa, I just didn't expect the gap between us to be so great."

"Our soul power is about the same, but the gap in our strength is simply too large."

Dugu Yan looked up at Dugu Bo, a trace of dejection in her voice.

Although close combat was not Dugu Yan's specialty, she knew very well that even if she used her strongest Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, her chances of winning were practically nonexistent.

"That's normal."

"Anyone with Innate Soul Power Level Seven or above can be called a genius, but among those geniuses, how many can truly be called prodigies?"

"I haven't known Ye Xi for long, but there is one thing I can say with near certainty."

A smile appeared on Dugu Bo's face as he spoke unhurriedly.

"What?"

"Grandpa, what is it that you can be certain of?"

Dugu Yan looked at Dugu Bo, her eyes filled with confusion.

"As long as Ye Xi doesn't fall midway through her journey, she will stand at the peak of the younger generation. The achievements she can attain in the future will be beyond imagination."

Dugu Bo's voice was calm, as though he were simply stating a fact.

Although he had not known Ye Xi for long, the talent and ability she had displayed were things Dugu Bo had never seen in his life.

Dugu Bo knew quite a few talented individuals, but when it came to someone capable of contending with Ye Xi, he truly could not think of anyone for the moment.

Reaching Level Thirty soul power at the age of nine and being able to catch a soul skill cast by a Soul Master of the same level barehanded—either accomplishment alone would be exceptionally rare on the continent.

As for accomplishing both at once, Dugu Bo had only ever seen Ye Xi do so.

Hearing this, Dugu Yan said nothing. After taking a deep breath, a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.

"Yan Yan, you can seriously consider what I told you this morning."

"Anything Heaven Dou Royal Academy can teach you, Grandpa can teach you as well. But people like Ye Xi are rare."

"If you follow her now, you definitely won't regret it in the future."

Dugu Bo patted Dugu Yan's shoulder, his tone exceptionally serious.

"Grandpa, I'll seriously consider what you said."

"I'll head back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy first."

Dugu Yan looked at Heaven Dou Royal Academy ahead. After saying goodbye to Dugu Bo, she headed toward the academy.

"Go on."

Watching Dugu Yan leave, Dugu Bo clasped his hands behind his back and headed toward the residence where he lived.

After returning to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Yan found a quiet place to sit. Her eyes were filled with deep contemplation, while the image of Ye Xi catching that soul skill barehanded kept replaying in her mind.

Who knew how much time had passed.

A somewhat cool voice drifted up from behind Dugu Yan.

"You're back?"

That cool, slightly ethereal voice interrupted Dugu Yan's thoughts.

"Ye Lingling, why are you here?"

Dugu Yan glanced at Ye Lingling behind her, seeming somewhat distracted.

"I happened to be passing by."

"I also wanted to ask whether you wanted to go to the Simulated Cultivation Field to train."

Ye Lingling merely stood silently some distance away and did not approach Dugu Yan.

"Not in the mood."

After replying, Dugu Yan quietly stared ahead.

"Something on your mind?"

Ye Lingling asked.

"Mhm..."

Dugu Yan softly murmured in acknowledgment and told her everything that had happened.

After finishing, Dugu Yan looked at Ye Lingling and asked softly, "Lingling, if it were you, what would you choose?"

Hearing this, Ye Lingling did not answer Dugu Yan's question. Instead, she stood quietly where she was, as if lost in thought.

After a long while, Ye Lingling directly started walking in one direction.

"The Simulated Cultivation Field is that way. You're going the wrong way."

Dugu Yan was not at all surprised by Ye Lingling's reaction.

That was because Ye Lingling was simply solitary by nature and did not like talking.

"I'm going home."

Ye Lingling replied without stopping.