Snake Sheds Dragon, the Method

Dugu Bo's expression turned grave, and he swept his sleeve.

Soul power became a gentle breeze, dispersing all the Green Phosphorus Snake Poison to the edge of the valley, lest it contaminate this land blessed by Heaven and Earth.

Dugu Yan's soul power surged and ebbed like tides, her aura steadily climbing at an astonishing rate, growing stronger and stronger.

An even more astonishing change occurred in her Martial Soul itself.

The Green Phosphorus Snake floating behind Dugu Yan began to twist unnaturally.

A jade-green glow emerged from its body as the Green Phosphorus Snake coiled itself into a ball.

At the same time.

Catalyzed by the immense yet gentle medicinal power of the immortal herb, the Snake-shaped Dragon Blood Orchid, Dugu Yan's Soul Power Level began to soar like a force breaking through all obstacles.

Level 26, Level 27, Level 28...

Her soul power was like a torrent freed from its shackles, charging onward without restraint before finally breaking through to Level 30 and stabilizing firmly at the realm of a quasi-Soul Elder.

Dugu Bo's eyelids twitched as he watched, his heart overwhelmed with shock.

He had lived for most of his life, yet he had never seen such a heaven-defying Spirit Grass. This rate of cultivation increase was simply horrifying.

Even Fallen Soul Masters who used evil arts to devour the soul power, blood, and even souls of others—

Could Absolutely Not increase their cultivation so swiftly and... steadily.

"Lu Yan."

Dugu Bo could not help speaking, a trace of barely perceptible concern in his voice.

"Could such a forceful increase in cultivation... cause hidden damage to Yan Yan's foundation in the future?"

He feared it was being achieved at the cost of exhausting her potential.

"Rest assured, Senior." Hearing this, Lu Yan explained.

"The Snake-shaped Dragon Blood Orchid is an immortal treasure nurtured by Heaven and Earth, not one of those harsh and violent medicines.

Its true miraculous effect lies in strengthening one's foundation, cleansing the Meridians, and improving innate aptitude.

The increase in cultivation is merely a secondary effect.

It will bring Sister Yan Yan nothing but benefits in the future."

This explanation finally allowed Dugu Bo to set his worried heart at ease.

A benevolent smile spread across his face. Squinting at Lu Yan, he teased.

"Good kid, and you're still calling me 'Senior.'

What, are you planning to go back on your word? Or do you dislike my Yan Yan?"

"I wouldn't dare. Absolutely Not." Lu Yan hurriedly waved his hands, his expression sincere.

Dugu Bo burst into hearty laughter, his voice loud and full of playful mischief. "Then why aren't you changing what you call me already?"

Lu Yan promptly called out, "Grandpa."

That single "Grandpa" delighted Dugu Bo beyond measure. Stroking his beard, he answered repeatedly, "Ah."

The more he looked at Lu Yan now, the more pleasing he found him.

His talent was exceptional, his knowledge remarkable, his temperament steady, and his appearance proper. Standing beside his beautiful granddaughter, they truly were a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in Heaven.

After a long while.

Dugu Yan's Soul Power Fluctuation settled.

Dugu Bo stared intently at his granddaughter's Martial Soul. The Green Phosphorus Snake had finally broken free from the constraints of its old body and undergone an astonishing transformation.

Two distinct fleshy protrusions had appeared atop its once-smooth snake head, while beneath its belly... claws had grown.

"This is..." A sharp gleam burst from Dugu Bo's eyes.

Just then, Dugu Yan slowly woke.

Feeling the surging new power within her, her Beautiful Eyes filled with delight. Her first reaction was to search for Lu Yan.

"Xiao Yan, I broke through to Level 30!"

She sprang to her feet joyfully and, like a Young Swallow returning to its nest, rushed into Lu Yan's arms on a fragrant breeze, giving him a great big hug.

Dugu Yan's impact forced Lu Yan half a step back. He then naturally raised a hand and gently patted her back, smiling as he congratulated her. "Sister Yan Yan, congratulations."

At the side, Dugu Bo glared so hard that his beard seemed to bristle, his heart sour.

His granddaughter had grown up and could no longer be kept close. Yan Yan had always relied on and been closest to him, her Grandpa, before this.

"Ahem!"

Dugu Bo coughed twice, making his presence known.

"Yan Yan, come over and let Grandpa take a look."

Only then did Dugu Yan realize that she had been... overly excited. Two rosy flushes instantly bloomed across her pretty face, and she hurriedly withdrew from Lu Yan's embrace and went to her grandfather.

Dugu Bo sighed and placed a hand on his granddaughter's shoulder.

His soul power probed.

A strand of pure soul power carefully entered her body and inspected it thoroughly.

A Moment Later.

Dugu Bo's body jolted, and wild joy erupted from his eyes.

Perfect.

It was truly gone, completely.

The Green Phosphorus Snake Poison that had plagued the Dugu Family for generations like a parasite clinging to the bone had vanished entirely from his granddaughter's body, cleansed away without a trace.

The family curse of hundreds of years, the inherited fate of dying young generation after generation... had been completely shattered today.

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan softly called out as she saw his excited expression.

"Good, good, good!!!" Dugu Bo said "good" three times in a row.

"Sister Yan Yan," Lu Yan spoke at the right moment, reminding her with a smile, "it isn't only your soul power. Your Martial Soul should have changed quite a bit as well."

At his words, Dugu Yan willed it and summoned her Martial Soul again.

"It really changed!"

Dugu Yan stared at her Martial Soul in delight.

Not only were there fleshy protrusions and claws, but even its snake scales had become completely different. They looked more like... dragon scales.

"What a Martial Soul Evolution." Dugu Bo clapped his hands in praise. His eyes were exceptionally keen. "My Green Phosphorus Snake Emperor Martial Soul possesses Bloodline suppression over all snakes under Heaven. But Yan Yan's Martial Soul has now surpassed the category of snakes. This is clearly Snake Transforms into Flood Dragon—perhaps it is even evolving toward a True Dragon."

The strength of the Green Phosphorus Snake relied more on its terrifying poison; in terms of Martial Soul quality, it could not be considered top-tier.

If she could use this opportunity to make a leap in the level of her life and evolve into a higher-ranked Dragon-type Martial Soul—

Yan Yan's future path of cultivation would be smooth and unobstructed.

Dugu Yan tried circulating her soul power and using her Soul Skills again. As expected, their power had increased by far more than a single degree, leaving her even more delighted by her own changes.

Seeing this, Lu Yan struck while the iron was hot. "Grandpa, for Sister Yan Yan's upcoming Third Soul Ring, I suggest deliberately seeking out a soul beast with a Dragon Bloodline.

Absorbing its soul ring may further stimulate her Martial Soul and promote its complete transformation toward a True Dragon."

"Exactly what I had in mind." Dugu Bo nodded heavily, his eyes full of gratification and anticipation.

Hearing Lu Yan naturally call him "Grandpa," Dugu Yan's cheeks grew even hotter. It seemed she had missed many things while unconscious?

"Xiao Yan." She gently hugged Lu Yan's arm, lifted her face, and looked at him with a hint of coquettish pleading in her eyes.

"Help Grandpa next, okay? You definitely have a way, don't you?"

Feeling the soft touch against his arm, Lu Yan nodded, though his expression turned solemn.

"Grandpa, your situation differs from Sister Yan Yan's." Lu Yan said in a deep voice.

"Your cultivation is profound. The poison has become entangled too deeply with your own soul power and bloodline, to the point where they have nearly merged into one.

Though the power of the immortal herb is strong, if we forcibly remove it, it may harm your foundation and even... endanger your life."

Dugu Yan's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Her grip on Lu Yan's arm tightened unconsciously, and her voice took on a sobbing tone. "Xiao Yan, there has to be a way.

You're so capable. You can definitely save Grandpa.

I don't want Grandpa to die... I don't..."

"Hahaha." Dugu Bo instead let out a hearty, open-minded laugh and comforted her. "Yan Yan, don't cry."

He then said, "Lu Yan, being able to save Yan Yan and lift the Dugu Family's generations-long calamity is already an immense kindness.

I have lived for so many years. I have watched Yan Yan grow up healthy, and now she has found a fine match. I have already gained more than enough.

Life and death are fated. There is no need to force the matter."

"Grandpa..." Tears shimmered in Dugu Yan's eyes. Seeing her grandfather pretend to be at ease, her heart felt as though it were being cut by knives.

"However," Lu Yan had barely spoken when Dugu Yan clasped his hand tightly, her eyes full of pleading. "However what?"

"However, there is a method that can ease Grandpa's suffering when the poison flares up, allowing you to no longer remain trapped in this place suppressing the poison. It's just..."

Lu Yan paused, his tone grave. "This method treats the symptoms but not the root cause. It can only serve as a temporary measure.

The poison will still remain and continue to accumulate. We will need to seek another way to eradicate it completely."

"What method?"