Dugu Yan, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Queen

Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After another full three days of cultivation, Xue Ke finally completely refined the medicinal effects of the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. Like Tang San, her body had reached a state where neither water nor fire could harm her, and all poisons were warded off.

Why do I feel like this is useless? Xue Ke had already learned the defensive external technique Golden Bell Shield. As long as her opponent's Soul Power Level was not more than ten levels above hers, they would not even be able to touch her. What use was being immune to water and fire?

Being immune to all poisons is somewhat useful, though. I won't have to worry about Tang San poisoning me, and his Eight Spider Lances' venom won't work on me either. Of course, that's assuming he can touch me.

The Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass mainly improved one's physique, so Xue Ke's Soul Power Level did not increase because of them. There was nothing she could do about that.

Taking out the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew from her Storage Ring, Xue Ke began absorbing it as well.

"Sister Yan, open the door!" Xue Ke called from outside the apartment.

"Coming!" A series of footsteps sounded, and Dugu Yan opened the door.

"What do you need from your sister?" Dugu Yan asked.

"Let's talk inside."

After entering the room, Xue Ke took an Earth Dragon Golden Melon from her Storage Ring and stuffed it into Dugu Yan's hands. "Sister Yan, eat this."

"Little sister, is this melon ripe?" Dugu Yan asked suspiciously.

Xue Ke's face darkened. Rubbing her forehead helplessly, she said, "This originally came from your family's vegetable garden. It's called an Earth Dragon Golden Melon. Eating it can raise your Soul Power Level, and it may even cause your Martial Soul to evolve."

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and the melon in her hands suddenly looked incredibly tempting.

"Sister Yan, sit down and eat it. Then circulate your Soul Power to absorb its medicinal properties. I'll stand guard for you."

Dugu Yan obediently sat down cross-legged and wolfed down the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, leaving nothing behind—not even the rind.

Before long, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent behind Dugu Yan, its tongue flickering, shone brilliantly and hissed. Its entire body gradually doubled in size, while a large crown-shaped bulge grew from its head. Its pair of jade-green snake eyes radiated endless majesty.

Dugu Yan slowly opened her eyes and carefully sensed her current Soul Power Level. Then an earthshaking scream rang through the room, startling Ye Lingling in the next room so badly that her hand shook and shattered her teacup.

"I-I actually broke through to level 40! Little sister, I love you to death!"

Seeing Dugu Yan about to pounce, Xue Ke hurriedly dodged to the side, avoiding Dugu Yan's "loving pounce."

"Sister Yan, no need for that. This was your family's to begin with—I'm only returning it to its rightful owner. Turn around and look at your Martial Soul."

Dugu Yan turned around and carefully examined her Martial Soul, her face full of disbelief.

"My Martial Soul actually evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Queen! According to the clan records, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Queen is the ultimate evolved form of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent. Even Grandpa's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor is slightly inferior to it."

The successive surprises made Dugu Yan suddenly feel as though none of this was real.

"Sister Yan, congratulations!"

Now that her Martial Soul had evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Queen, Dugu Yan's snake venom should no longer be so easily countered by Tang San.

Thinking of this, Xue Ke could not help but complain. In the battle between the Imperial Fighting Team and the Shrek Team in Suotuo City, Tang San had broken Dugu Yan's snake venom with nothing more than Realgar Wine and fire. Xue Ke felt that made no sense at all.

The realgar in Realgar Wine could indeed restrain snakes, scorpions, and other venomous creatures to a certain extent, and it had some detoxifying effect. But it could only neutralize ordinary snake venom. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent was clearly no ordinary snake; otherwise, Dugu Bo could never have cultivated to become a Titled Douluo with this Martial Soul.

According to Dugu Bo's own account in the animation, even a tiny amount of his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor venom could instantly turn someone into a puddle of pus. Although Dugu Yan's Martial Soul was not the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, her poison could not possibly be so weak that it was on the same level as ordinary snake venom, right?

For the first time, Xue Ke felt that the "physics and chemistry" knowledge she had learned on Blue Star was completely useless in the "magical" place that was Douluo Continent.

"Sister Yan, once you obtain your fourth Soul Ring, your Soul Power Level will rise again because of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. Your cultivation speed will also be faster than before."

"Sister Yan, your first three soul skills are all area-of-effect skills. Although they cover a wide range, the poison mist spreads too slowly and cannot take effect quickly. Put simply, your greatest weakness right now is that you lack explosive offensive methods."

"I suggest that your fourth Soul Ring should come from a soul beast capable of granting you an explosive soul skill. That would greatly increase your combat power," Xue Ke advised.

"Your suggestion sounds quite good. Your sister will give it serious thought." Dugu Yan nodded in agreement.

After returning to her dormitory, Xue Ke sat down and fell into thought.

Should I give the other immortal herbs to the rest of the Imperial Fighting Team?

Yu Tianheng definitely can't have any. He's a core member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and will surely oppose Spirit Hall in the future. Giving him immortal herbs would just be asking for trouble.

Thinking of Yu Tianheng, Xue Ke felt it was necessary to have a serious talk with Dugu Yan. As a potential enemy and someone Spirit Hall would target in the future, Yu Tianheng could very likely drag Dugu Yan down with him if she stayed with him.

During the time she had spent with Dugu Yan, Xue Ke felt that they truly got along well. She could not bear to see this close big sister, who looked fierce but was kind by nature, suffer anything bad in the future.

Mm—time to break up a pair of lovebirds. Xue Ke clenched her fists.

Heaven Dou City, Prince's Mansion

Xue Qinghe had finally finished dealing with the matters at hand. Glancing at the white potted plant Xue Ke had given him on his desk, he complained, "That bratty little sister of mine has been back for so long, yet she still hasn't come to see me. Did she get herself a sister in Dugu Yan and forget all about me, her brother?"

Xue Qinghe endured it for a moment and found peace, but after taking a step back, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He paced back and forth around the room.

Spreading out a sheet of paper and picking up a brush, he swiftly wrote, "Bratty little sister, come see me tomorrow, or your brother will give you a bird's-nest hairstyle and forbid you from combing your hair for three days."

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. Crumpling the paper into a ball, he tossed it aside, picked up his brush, and rewrote the letter: "Xiao Ke, have you been well lately? Have you missed your brother? Your brother misses you very much. I miss the Molten Osmanthus Cake you made for me, playing chess with you, and taking walks with you after meals. Will you come see your brother tomorrow?"

Satisfied, Xue Qinghe folded the finished letter and placed it into an envelope. He wrote the words "To Xue Ke, my dear little sister" across it, then called for a servant to deliver it to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Hmph, bratty little sister! Just wait until I get my hands on you!" Thinking of Xue Ke's delicate, smooth little face, Xue Qinghe reached out and clenched his hand in the air, the corners of his lips unconsciously curling upward.