The Grind King!

"Grandpa, is that little brat really okay?"

Dugu Yan asked her grandfather with a face full of worry.

Poison Douluo, who had just been about to cultivate, stopped for the one hundred and eighth time. Looking at his granddaughter helplessly, he said, "Granddaughter, this is already the one hundred and eighth time you've asked, and we've only been back for an hour."

"I... I... I'm just worried about my little brother as his big sister!" Dugu Yan's little face reddened. Then she lifted her chin and spoke proudly.

"If you're really that worried about the kid, then go check on him." Poison Douluo could not help letting out a sigh.

What kind of magic did that kid possess? They had only known each other for such a short time, yet his granddaughter looked as though her soul had been stolen.

"Really?"

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up.

"But I suggest you cultivate properly."

Dugu Bo sighed and said earnestly, "You've seen Little Chen's talent. A nine-year-old Soul Ancestor, with four thousand-year Soul Rings besides. He's ruthless with himself too—he jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without hesitation."

"Someone like him is destined to become famous throughout Douluo Continent. He might even reach level one hundred, become a god, and ascend to the God Realm."

"If you truly only see him as a younger brother, then none of this matters. But if you want to be with him, then you need strength worthy of standing beside him."

"A person like Little Chen definitely won't lack women around him in the future."

"..."

Listening to her grandfather, the light in Dugu Yan's bright eyes dimmed somewhat.

She was not stupid. Naturally, she understood what her grandfather meant.

Outstanding people shone wherever they went and were pursued by everyone.

If she did not work hard, younger, prettier, more talented girls might very well appear by Little Chen's side.

Still, her prideful self said, "I only see him as my little brother. It's just that the sun has already set, and I'm tired too. I'm going back to rest."

"This little girl!"

Poison Douluo muttered with a mixture of laughter and helplessness, then began forcing the toxins within his body into his soul bones as well.

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Sword Douluo looked at his grandson, silent and deeply self-reproachful.

Especially when the sight of Chen Lang's body, half frozen and half scorched red, surfaced in his mind, his heart bled.

He wondered whether he had been wrong...

Back when his grandson had spent those three years Slacking Off, he had seemed happy every day and had not needed to endure such painful, dangerous things.

"Old man, what are you thinking about? Don't tell me I'm about to get a grandma?"

Just as Sword Douluo was immersed in his memories, a teasing voice rang out.

At some point, Chen Lang had already gotten dressed. He looked at his grandfather with a mischievous grin.

"You brat, what nonsense are you talking about? I'm already an old man."

Seeing that his grandson was fine, Sword Douluo finally let out a breath of relief. A faint smile appeared on his face as he said, "You, on the other hand, should work a little harder so your grandpa can have the chance to hold a great-grandson sooner."

"Grandpa, I'm only nine. I'm still a baby myself..." Chen Lang said helplessly.

Sure enough, grandpas were all the same in every world. They all wanted to see the grandsons they had raised with their own hands marry and have children early.

"Baby, my ass!"

Sword Douluo glared fiercely at his grandson. "From what I can see, you're not that small!"

"What?"

Chen Lang froze. But seeing the shameless old gleam in his grandfather's eyes, a rare flush appeared on his fair, clean face.

Yes, for the first time in his life, Chen Lang felt embarrassed.

"What's there to be embarrassed about in front of your grandpa?"

Seeing his grandson in such an awkward state, Sword Douluo laughed heartily. "I personally bathed you when you were little."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Chen Lang hurriedly raised a hand to stop his grandfather from going any further. Annoyed, he said, "We're both grown men. Don't bring up this kind of thing again!"

"You brat!"

Sword Douluo laughed and scolded him. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good. I can even resist a great deal of damage from ice- and fire-element soul skills." After sensing the changes in his body, Chen Lang's face filled with excitement.

"Then shall we head back now?"

"Why go back? This place is a treasure trove. Besides, there are so many heavenly treasures here. Taking them will be of great use to you too."

Chen Lang began introducing the effects of some herbs to his grandfather. "See that pink flower? It's called Aromatic Silk Beauty, the bane of all poisons. It can neutralize every kind of toxin.

"Of course, it cannot detoxify by itself, but it can suppress poison.

"And there's also..."

Listening to his grandson rattle off the names and effects of one medicinal herb after another, Sword Douluo was utterly shocked.

He had not expected his grandson to know so much.

At that thought, bitterness rose in his heart. He interrupted Chen Lang's explanation and said, "Lang'er, if you feel tired or if it's too hard, you don't need to cultivate so desperately. Your grandpa only wants you to grow up happy."

"..."

Chen Lang, who had been introducing these heavenly treasures, suddenly trembled at those heartfelt words. His eyes instantly reddened.

Because in his previous life, no one cared whether you were happy.

When you were in school, they only cared about your grades and how many points you could score.

After graduation, they only cared about what job you did and how much money you earned.

Once you started working, they cared whether you had a girlfriend, urged you to get married, have a child early, and start a family.

But it seemed no one ever cared whether you were tired, happy, or truly content.

Especially boys. Even if their teeth were broken, they would only swallow them with blood.

So when he heard Sword Douluo say those words, Chen Lang's heart suddenly lurched. All the bitterness and hardship seemed to have found an outlet, turning into tears.

But he still held them back. With a smile, he said, "I'm very happy. Especially since my grandpa is so awesome—I'm even happier."

No matter how powerful his grandfather was, he still could not stand against Spirit Hall.

If he wanted to protect this warmth, he had to possess formidable strength and influence!

"Hahaha, you brat!"

Sword Douluo was quite pleased by his grandson's flattery and laughed heartily.

But he knew his grandson had only said that to make him happy. So, as his grandfather, he would simply be happy.

Because his intuition told him that his precious grandson seemed to be under enormous pressure—pressure that even his current strength could not resolve.

Otherwise, his grandson would not have said such things.

Chen Lang understood Sword Douluo, but wasn't Sword Douluo also the one who understood his grandson best?

Looks like I need to work harder to improve my strength.

Sword Douluo could not help clenching his fists. Since Poison Douluo is here, I can ask him for a favor and head to Spirit Hall to practice my swordsmanship with those old fellows.

Yet Chen Lang had not expected that while he started grinding, he would drag Sword Douluo into the grind as well.

And once Sword Douluo began grinding, all of Spirit Hall would soon be drawn into it too.