Withstanding the Pressure, Reaching the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye

"Grandpa, Xiao Yan is really amazing.

"You have no idea—he runs 'Heaven' all by himself in Heaven Dou City, and it's incredibly famous.

"And at the Soul Fighting Arena, he is unquestionably invincible among those of the same rank. No one is his opponent."

Dugu Yan spoke up for Lu Yan.

She hoped her grandpa would form a good impression of him.

Dugu Bo smiled. "Good, good. Then Grandpa would like to see for himself what kind of outstanding youth could earn such praise from my Yanyan."

The smile did not reach his eyes.

He wanted to see which reckless kid had swallowed a bear's gall and leopard's courage, daring to deceive Dugu Bo's precious granddaughter.

Inside the "Heaven" shop, Lu Yan had been meditating when the chime of the door opening woke him.

"Xiao Yan." Dugu Yan's voice arrived before she did, her tone unable to hide its delight.

Joy rose in Lu Yan's heart, and he immediately stood up.

Since Dugu Yan had come at this time, there must have been progress regarding the Immortal Herbs.

"Sister Dugu..." A smile had just appeared on his face, and before he could finish his greeting—

Hmph!

An ice-cold snort, as tangible as a heavy hammer, smashed viciously into his chest.

In an instant, an unimaginable, terrifying pressure descended like a towering tsunami.

Lu Yan felt the air around him freeze solid, becoming a cage as deep as the sea. Enormous pressure squeezed him from all directions.

Almost instantly, it forced him to bend over uncontrollably, his bones letting out overloaded cracking sounds.

A metallic sweetness surged up his throat. The edges of his vision darkened, as though he would be crushed apart by this sheer force the next second.

Lu Yan clenched his teeth and circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Soul Power surged through his meridians, trying to offset the omnipresent impact, but it only allowed him to hold on a little longer and take a few more breaths.

A tall, gaunt figure radiating a sinister chill slowly entered the shop from behind Dugu Yan.

Dugu Bo's pair of jade-green snake eyes locked onto Lu Yan without a trace of emotion.

"Kid," Dugu Bo said in a hoarse, venomous voice, every word carrying bone-piercing cold, "you're the one who wants to enter this old man's Medicine Garden?"

"Th-this junior is Lu Yan. Greetings, Poison Douluo, Senior." Veins bulged on Lu Yan's forehead, each word seeming to squeeze out through clenched teeth. "That is... precisely what this junior seeks."

"Then let's see whether you have the qualifications."

A cold glint flashed through Dugu Bo's green eyes, and his aura surged once more.

Crack!

Lu Yan could now hear crisp cracks coming from all over his body. The air around him seemed solidified, and every breath was incomparably precious.

Dream Butterfly, Possess Me.

Butterfly Wings bloomed behind him, while two yellow Spirit Rings hovered at his side.

Only then did Lu Yan feel somewhat better.

"Grandpa, what are you doing?" Dugu Yan was shocked and furious. In a flash, she spread her arms and resolutely blocked Lu Yan's path.

"You're not allowed to bully him."

Dugu Bo's control over Soul Power had reached perfection. The terrifying pressure, enough to crush a Soul Elder, cleverly bypassed Dugu Yan without spilling even the slightest bit onto her. It remained like an invisible mountain, firmly suppressing Lu Yan behind her.

"Grandpa, if you keep this up, I... I'll never speak to you again." Dugu Yan's eyes reddened anxiously as she directly brought out her trump card.

Dugu Bo's brows twitched sharply. He cast a cold glance at the youth who still stood stubbornly without kneeling beneath pressure comparable to that of a Soul Ancestor.

A trace of satisfaction flashed through his green eyes.

At last, he withdrew the pressure.

As the pressure vanished, Lu Yan's body swayed, and he nearly fell. He gasped heavily, cold sweat covering his forehead while every muscle in his body Trembled uncontrollably.

"Xiao Yan, are you all right?" Dugu Yan immediately turned and supported him, her voice full of guilt and concern.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know Grandpa would..."

Lu Yan waved his hand, signaling that he was fine.

He knew clearly that Dugu Bo had not intended to kill him.

Otherwise, he would already have been a corpse in that instant. He was merely somewhat exhausted now; after circulating his Soul Power through several cycles, he would recover.

"Kid," Dugu Bo's voice rang out again, "becoming this old man's grandson-in-law is no simple matter."

Grandson-in-law?

Lu Yan's heart jolted, and he instinctively looked at Dugu Yan.

When had he become Dugu Bo's grandson-in-law?

Standing before him, Dugu Yan's face flushed red as she repeatedly signaled him with her eyes.

Lu Yan immediately understood—so Dugu Yan had used this method to obtain Dugu Bo's chance to take him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

"This junior will definitely continue working hard."

Naturally, he could not let Dugu Yan's goodwill go to waste.

"To endure pressure beyond your rank, you deserve the title of genius. This old man temporarily acknowledges you."

After praising him, Dugu Bo added in a sinister tone, "This old man has only one granddaughter, Yanyan. I absolutely will not allow outsiders to bully her. If you ever dare bully Yanyan in the future—

"This old man will definitely not spare you."

The grim killing intent seemed tangible, making the temperature inside the shop seem to drop several degrees.

Lu Yan's expression turned solemn as he promised seriously, "Rest assured, Senior.

"I, Lu Yan, swear here that for the rest of my life, I will do everything in my power to protect Yanyan and keep her safe. I will absolutely not betray the feelings she has shown me today."

Dugu Yan's face reddened even further at the side.

"It had better be so." Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction, his expression easing slightly. "Since I promised Yanyan, this old man will not go back on his word. I'll take you to the Medicine Garden, and consider it a meeting gift for you."

He, of the Dugu Clan, could not be stingy.

Dugu Bo set off with Lu Yan and Dugu Yan, transforming into a streak of light through the air.

A Titled Douluo's speed was astonishing. Lu Yan only felt the wind howl beside his ears as the scenery around him sped backward, blurring into patches of color. He could not see the route at all.

After an unknown amount of time, Dugu Bo stopped.

"We've reached it."

Lu Yan steadied himself and looked up.

In an instant, the wondrous sight before him left him so shocked that he lost the ability to speak.

Before him lay an enormous pool, yet one divided with bizarre clarity.

The pool on the left churned with scorching water like magma, resembling a volcanic crater and steaming with heat. The pool on the right, however, was an eerily blue that was piercingly cold, exuding strands of chill that condensed over the medicinal herbs.

Ice and fire—two utterly opposing extreme energies that should have repelled one another—had instead achieved a subtle yet breathtaking balance here, together forming a wondrous spectacle of Heaven and Earth.

Countless rare flowers and strange herbs grew along the pool, spreading outward.

Spiritual energy gathered there.

The flowers and grasses came in countless forms and brilliant colors, each radiating spiritual energy so dense it seemed impossible to disperse, breathing out mist woven from ice and fire.

The valley resembled a legendary immortal realm above the clouds.

Lu Yan could not hide his excitement.

This was his true foundation, something no treasure in the world could compare with.

The foundation upon which the Shrek Seven Devils became gods.

Now, it belonged to him.

Lu Yan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart before turning to Dugu Bo.

"This junior has a question. Might Senior answer it for me?"

Dugu Bo nodded.

"Senior, are you suffering from severe poison?"

Boom!!!

The moment those words left his mouth, it was like thunder erupting from clear skies.