I Traveled to Douluo and Split into Five People

Getting up, Dugu Bo held Ning Yulin down with one hand and grabbed Dugu Yan with the other. He sped like lightning and soon entered Sunset Forest. Ning Yulin tried his best to memorize their route as they arrived at the poisonous miasma.

"Hold your breath for now. I'll deal with the miasma."

After setting the two of them down, Dugu Bo began handling the poisonous miasma. He could have simply carried them through the air, but he had to give this brat a scare and let him properly witness the abilities of Poison Douluo.

He formed a hand seal, then swung his arm. The poisonous miasma parted to either side, revealing a narrow path that led straight into the depths.

"See? My grandpa is amazing, right? There are barely any people in the world who can withstand his poison."

Hearing his granddaughter's admiring voice behind him, Dugu Bo could not help feeling pleased with himself. Yet he secretly sighed as well. There really were few who could withstand his poison, but most of those who could were capable of taking his life.

"Amazing, amazing."

Ning Yulin's voice came from behind him, and Dugu Bo frowned. Brat, I know your family is powerful, but isn't that half-hearted tone looking down on me a little too much?

They passed through the poisonous miasma and arrived before a cliff face. Not a blade of grass grew there. It was incomparably smooth, without a single handhold for climbing. Dugu Bo wanted to make things difficult for the brat again. We're here. Let's see how you plan to get up.

Then Dugu Yan spoke.

"Grandpa, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and take us up!"

"Yanyan, you..."

Forget it, forget it.

Dugu Bo sighed inwardly, grabbed the two of them again, and leaped up before landing.

A few minutes later.

Ning Yulin finally saw the things that could allow someone to defy fate and change their destiny. The pool of intermingled red and blue water, the countless rare treasures shining with divine radiance.

The hazy heat and sulfurous scent made his chest feel stuffy for a moment.

Suppressing his excitement, Ning Yulin quickly adapted to the environment. He then turned and applied Life Force Attachment to Dugu Yan, allowing her to adapt as well.

"Everything is here, brat. What happens next is none of my business, but don't forget the promise you made me."

Ning Yulin said nothing. He was considering which plant would suit Dugu Yan.

The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid could strengthen one's foundation, restore one's vitality, and remove impurities. It seemed like a good choice. The poison in Dugu Yan's body ought to count as an "impurity." There was also the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. Though it had "dragon" in its name, it was a treasure of the Earth Element. It was hard to say whether it would be good or bad for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, but if Dugu Yan took it, there was over an eighty percent chance that the Jade Phosphorous Serpent would evolve.

Of the rest, the Starfall Jade Bead Grass, which could absorb and convert energy, might be useful. The Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma was about the same.

Once the toxins were removed from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, it truly had little advantage against other powerful Martial Souls. Ning Yulin could not say for sure which would work best for her, so he told Dugu Bo about the possibilities he had considered and let him decide.

Dugu Bo was very tempted by the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. If the Jade Phosphorous Serpent could evolve into an Earth Element Flood Dragon, it would be considered among the finest Martial Souls. But...

"Yanyan's personality isn't steady enough. If she truly obtains the power of an earth dragon, it may backfire. Let her take the one that strengthens her foundation and removes impurities. We can think of something from the Spirit Rings in the future."

After careful consideration, Dugu Bo chose the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. First, he did not know whether Ning Yulin was telling the truth, though this brat most likely would not harm his granddaughter. Second, based on his experience, such things might have restrictions. It was safer to choose one without an obvious attribute. Third, compared to the unknown and unpredictable possibility of evolving into an earth dragon, it was better to lay a solid foundation.

Only after the foundation was laid could a tall building be raised.

While the two spoke, Dugu Yan did not voice any opinion at all. When she had first entered this place, the dense energy had made her uncomfortable. Once she adapted, however, the gorgeous and fantastical scenery began to draw her in. While the two were discussing things, she was playing among the flowers and butterflies.

"There are actually butterflies here?"

Just as Ning Yulin was about to dig up the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid for Dugu Yan, he noticed what she was doing and realized there were butterflies here. Logically speaking, it was extremely difficult for any other animals to exist within the environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, aside from Immortal Herbs and rare treasures.

Could this butterfly be some kind of mutated Divine Beast?

But its Soul Power fluctuations did not seem particularly strong...

He dug up the Immortal Herb and handed it to Dugu Yan, explaining how to consume it. After watching her swallow it and begin absorbing it, Ning Yulin stared at the butterfly for a moment before suddenly grabbing it.

After examining it closely, he found that it was not a butterfly with any unusual bloodline. It might simply have looked very different from butterflies outside because of the environment here.

There was no need to kill it. He could just see whether it had a Spirit Ring or something.

After guarding Dugu Yan for a while and sensing that there was no problem, Dugu Bo walked over.

"I thought you, brat, would be able to hold out for another year or two."

He had long seen that Ning Yulin was outwardly gentle but inwardly unyielding. He seemed calm and carefree on the surface, but he hid his depths well. Dugu Bo had thought they would remain deadlocked for a year or two, but he had not expected him to "admit defeat" so quickly.

It seemed he was in a hurry.

"Time waits for no one, old—Grandpa. Spirit Hall has sent a signal to the continent through the matter of the Clear Sky Sect. Peace won't last much longer."

Looking at Dugu Yan, Ning Yulin sighed. He did not regret the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. He only regretted that they had not learned how to refine Immortal Herbs into pills. Though An Lan had consulted Chrysanthemum Douluo's materials on Immortal Herbs and had Yang Wudi teach him some knowledge of medicine refining, treasures on the level of Immortal Herbs were simply beyond his ability to handle.

To maximize their effects, they could only follow the original route and swallow them whole.

If only we could open a passage to another dimension. We could go to Battle Through the Heavens or some other cultivation world and learn alchemy.

"You're so young, yet you spend every day worrying. What kind of life is that? At your age, you should be enjoying yourselves! If the sky falls, I'll be there to hold it up..."

As he spoke, Dugu Bo paused for no apparent reason, then coughed.

"And Sword Bone from your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We old fellows will hold it up!"

Chapter 74: Finally Here

Ning Yulin waved a hand and said nothing more. He began considering how to bring the other four in without Dugu Bo discovering them.

When will this old man leave?

What would happen if he learned about the other four?

No! This is our greatest secret. Until we have enough power to protect ourselves, we can't tell anyone.

Once Dugu Yan finishes absorbing it, I'll find an excuse to stay here first...

They waited for two hours.

Dugu Bo and Ning Yulin watched as Dugu Yan's hair gradually returned to its normal color. At the same time, much turbid air escaped from her nose and mouth before dispersing into the air.

"So it isn't the kind that directly expels filth through the surface of the body? This Immortal Herb truly is domineering."

Muttering under his breath, Ning Yulin went over to greet her.

"How do you feel?"

Dugu Yan clenched and opened her fists, moving her body a little. Absorbing the Immortal Herb had caused her body to develop slightly more. She now looked entirely like a young girl, having left the little girl stage behind.

"My body... feels so light. So comfortable."

Ning Yulin raised a hand and caught hers. Just as he was about to release Soul Power to examine her internal condition, he could not help squeezing it several times. So soft, like there aren't any bones at all! And that waist... she's completely become a waist spirit already!

Although her bodily functions still did not permit it, Ning Yulin felt intensely stirred.

He suppressed his restless thoughts and carefully examined the condition within her body.

It continued for more than ten minutes.

Then he nodded to Dugu Bo.

"Very good. The residual poison in Yanyan's body has been completely cleared. As long as she doesn't add any poison-attributed Spirit Rings in the future, she won't need to worry about being poisoned again."

Her physique had become exceedingly pure.

Dugu Bo swallowed, unable to believe Ning Yulin's words. He personally checked her as well. He nearly burst into tears. At last, one of his problems had been resolved.

Perhaps I'll even live to see Yanyan's children.

The old man's thoughts changed quickly.

"Yanyan, release your Martial Soul and let us see it."

Ning Yulin was curious whether her Martial Soul had undergone any changes.

"Wait a moment."

She replied, then closed her eyes slightly and focused before letting out a low shout. She summoned her Martial Soul without possessing it. Ning Yulin and Dugu Bo leaned closer to observe it.

The tiny Jade Phosphorous Serpent did not appear much different from before. Its scales were still jade green, but they had previously been a dull, dark shade that made people feel danger and discomfort at a glance. Now, they were a bright green, seeming far more lively.

Other than that, there were no visible external changes. It still possessed some venom, but that belonged to the Martial Soul's innate ability and was entirely converted from Soul Power, so it would not cause any aftereffects of poisoning. Of course, its power was weaker than before.

She tried using her First Spirit Skill. It had originally absorbed the poison in her body, converted it into energy, and expelled it. Now that she no longer had poison in her body, it had become the absorption and conversion of energy.

It was somewhat similar to the effects of An Lan and Tian Rui's Energy Gathering Ring. Its output was a little inferior, but in another regard, she far surpassed the two of them.

She had extremely strong control over the converted energy. While it was not one hundred percent, it was still eighty or ninety percent. With just a little practice, she could easily develop some Self-Created Soul Skills with this ability.

Then Dugu Yan discovered something surprising.

"My Soul Power... I increased by five levels of Soul Power! I'm level sixteen now!"

She was incredibly excited. At this rate, she would soon be able to add her second Spirit Ring and further catch up to Ning Yulin's pace. Ning Yulin was only a year older than her, yet he was ahead by two Spirit Rings, which had made her feel somewhat inferior. However, she had never shown it, so neither Dugu Bo nor Ning Yulin knew.

Now, she felt capable again!

She probably would not need to wait until next year to add a Spirit Ring. Conservatively speaking, by the age she would be at during the original story, she should be ahead by at least one Spirit Ring. If she worked hard enough, even two would not be impossible.

"Yanyan's problems have finally all been resolved. I've lived up to your trust."

Turning around, Ning Yulin cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo.

"As for your problem, after thinking it over, there is only one method for now..."

None of them knew Buddha Tang's poison techniques. Yang Wudi's skill level could not cure Dugu Bo's poison either. For the time being, they could only use the original method involving Spirit Bones.

Moreover, Tang Yin's idea had provided another route.

With Ning Yulin around, Dugu Bo could continuously replace his Spirit Bones. He could force the toxins into a Spirit Bone, then replace it once it reached its limit.

"Later, I'll help you find a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Then you'll be able to rest easy."

"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone? You certainly talk big. If you find one, keep it for yourself! I don't need you worrying about me."

"Grandpa!"

Dugu Yan protested sweetly.

"Alright, alright, Grandpa won't say it anymore."

With his granddaughter's problem completely resolved, the massive weight in Dugu Bo's heart finally fell away. He no longer had any worries. As for his own problem, just as he had said, there was no need for two children to worry about it.

He gave Ning Yulin a look.

According to their earlier agreement, Dugu Yan had received her share and her hidden danger had been resolved. As for the remaining things, he would not ask how Ning Yulin intended to take them.

"Then let's go back."

Dugu Bo was surprised by Ning Yulin's words.

"You're leaving just like that? You don't want them?"

He was not going to take one for himself?

"How could I not want them? I just need to go back and prepare first."

"You brat, you don't want Yanyan and me to see your secret, do you?"

Compressing his voice into a line, Dugu Bo glared at Ning Yulin in displeasure as his voice entered the latter's ear.

This old man was still so sharp. Ning Yulin merely smiled without speaking. Dugu Bo frowned. He was not interested in Ning Yulin's secrets, but...

"Yanyan can't know either?"

However, Ning Yulin did not know how to transmit his voice, so he could only keep smiling.

Dugu Bo snorted. He was in a good mood today, so he could not be bothered to argue.

"Yanyan, let's go. Leave this brat here by himself!"

Dugu Yan looked back at Ning Yulin, not understanding how he had offended her grandfather again. Ning Yulin spread his hands.

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan grabbed Dugu Bo's arm. "There's no food or water here. How can you leave him here alone?"

"Yanyan. Be more careful!"

Dugu Bo spoke earnestly.

"He's guarding against the two of us. We're practically family already, yet he's still hiding things. He's no good. I think you should just leave this brat. He's hiding things from you now, and who knows how much more he'll hide from you in the future!"

His voice was not quiet at all. He was clearly saying it for Ning Yulin to hear. Yet Dugu Yan's single question left him speechless.

"Grandpa, do you dare say Grandma knew everything about you?"

"This..."

Dugu Bo was at a loss for words.

She gave a soft huff, making the exact same motion Dugu Bo had made not long ago.