All Is Illusion; Only Strength Is Real!

"Don't you think this Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma is especially suited for your Tianheng?"

"Yes! Yes!" Dugu Yan nodded without hesitation.

"Once Yu Tianheng's Martial Soul successfully evolves, won't he gaze at you affectionately and say, 'My Yanyan treats me the best!'"

"Mhm, mhm!" Dugu Yan's heart blossomed with joy as she had already begun fantasizing.

"I'll pack up the remaining Dragon Ganoderma for you as well, to serve as your dowry when you marry into the Yu family?"

"That's a good idea! Grandpa, help me take care of this Dragon Ganoderma. When I marry in, I can use it to please my future father- and mother-in-law!"

Seeing his granddaughter's beaming face and lovestruck eyes, Dugu Bo's face was full of helplessness.

Liu Yanyang continued, "When the time comes, if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's leader and Yu Tianheng tell you that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is very important to their clan, would you offer it to them with both hands?"

"Why not? Tianheng's is mine, and mine is Tianheng's. There's no difference between us," Dugu Yan said proudly.

"Foolish!" Liu Yanyang snapped.

Dugu Bo was about to say something, but when he saw Liu Yanyang shoot him a glance, he immediately sighed, shook his head helplessly, turned away with his hands behind his back, and stopped involving himself in the matter.

"Bastard! You dare insult me? Are you tired of living?" Dugu Yan immediately summoned her Martial Soul, her pair of cold vertical pupils fixed fiercely on Liu Yanyang.

Liu Yanyang laughed loudly.

"I think you're the one tired of living! You don't understand even the simplest principle that wealth should not be flaunted! You're actually foolish enough to give it away for free! I truly have no idea how you've survived until today!"

"Third Soul Skill—Jade Scale Purple Poison!" A Soul Ring beneath Dugu Yan's feet lit up, and a vast cloud of purple poisonous mist instantly engulfed Liu Yanyang.

He looked at Dugu Yan with a disdainful smile. Soul Power surged through him, and with a casual wave of his hand, the poisonous mist instantly dispersed.

"How is that possible? Why does my poison have no effect on you at all?" Dugu Yan asked in panic.

Liu Yanyang did not answer such a stupid question. He merely stared at Dugu Yan with contempt.

"Do you know what this Dragon Ganoderma means to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

"As long as they seize this treasure land, their clan will be guaranteed to produce a Titled Douluo in every generation. Their clan will flourish and prosper, remaining undefeated for ten thousand years!"

"Once they hear this news, do you think they won't be tempted by this treasure land? Only by holding such an important place in their own hands can they rest easy!"

"When that time comes, do you think your grandfather—the owner of this treasure land—will hand it over or not?"

"Bastard, stop spouting alarmist nonsense! I'll be the future young sect master's wife of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Do you think they would dare make things difficult for my grandfather?"

"Hahaha!" Liu Yanyang laughed loudly, shaking his head as he looked at Dugu Yan.

"Are you truly stupid, or only pretending to be? Compared to the clan's prosperity and survival, do you think the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect would care about the future young sect master's wife?"

"Take a guess—between his clan's future and continuation, and you, whom would Yu Tianheng choose?"

"Even if the two of you are deeply devoted to each other, do you think Yu Tianheng would dare defy his clan for your sake?"

"No... he wouldn't. Tian... Tianheng wouldn't abandon me." Dugu Yan's voice trembled as she did not dare imagine it.

Liu Yanyang mocked, "See? Even you yourself have started to doubt it!"

Hearing Liu Yanyang's mockery, Dugu Yan burned with anger and forced herself to speak firmly.

"My grandfather is a Titled Douluo. He... they wouldn't dare do anything reckless!"

"When I say you're stupid, you really are stupid. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is a True Dragon-type Martial Soul and naturally possesses the lightning attribute, which completely suppresses the Bilin Snake. Do you think your grandfather can win?"

"Or do you think your grandfather, with deadweight like you in tow, can escape the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's encirclement? When the time comes, if they use you to threaten your grandfather, what is he supposed to do?"

Liu Yanyang spoke each word with force and conviction.

Frightened, Dugu Yan collapsed onto the ground, muttering, "No... no..."

Liu Yanyang shook his head and said with a hint of disappointment, "Do you know that after absorbing this Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma, with your grandfather's guidance, becoming a Titled Douluo will be practically guaranteed for you?"

"Yu Tianheng was only level 36 at eighteen. Whether he can break through to Titled Douluo in this lifetime depends on whether his ancestors' graves start smoking!"

"Do you still think Yu Tianheng is worthy of you? When you become a Titled Douluo in the future, he'll only be able to look up at you—and he'll only deserve to look up at you."

Liu Yanyang's gaze turned sharp as he stared fixedly at Dugu Yan.

"Remember this: in this world, everything can be false, including family affection, love, and friendship... Only strength is real, because it will never betray you!"

His voice was deafening, causing Dugu Yan's eyes to widen.

Knowing that Dugu Yan had taken his words to heart, Liu Yanyang immediately administered another heavy dose of poison, saying sinisterly, "Take a guess. Is Yu Tianheng truly with you because he likes you? Or because of your grandfather?"

"Waaah!" Tears poured down Dugu Yan's face as she sobbed and ran outside.

She understood why her grandfather had never been very willing to let her be with Yu Tianheng, and why he had turned away when Liu Yanyang scolded her!

Watching Dugu Yan's retreating figure as she fled in a panic, Liu Yanyang sighed. He did not know whether Yu Tianheng loved Dugu Yan or not, but what did it matter whether he did or didn't?

He and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had never been on the same path, much less Old Poison. Whether through coaxing or deception, both he and Old Poison sought to sever the connection between Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng.

"Little monster, thank you. All these years, I only wanted to protect Yanyan from getting hurt, and I neglected other aspects." Dugu Bo patted Liu Yanyang on the shoulder and sighed.

Liu Yanyang waved his hand and said calmly, "When Dugu Yan was born, her mother died in childbirth, and her father also died young. Although she had you, Old Poison, by her side, she was ultimately still lacking in love, and she had no companions her own age."

"Meeting someone like Yu Tianheng, who was stronger than her, it was only natural for her to fall for him. Old Poison, I've played the bad cop for you. The good cop part is up to you now."

Dugu Bo nodded and chased after Dugu Yan.

Liu Yanyang shook his head, took out an Alchemy Furnace from his storage ring, and prepared to refine antidotes for Dugu Bo and the others.

Fortunately, he had studied alchemy under Old Monster for a year a few years ago. These Detoxification Pills were not difficult to make; the key was using his blood as the medicinal catalyst.

He ignited the Alchemy Furnace with Soul Power and placed the necessary herbs inside. Liu Yanyang then began quietly waiting for the pills to take shape.

As dusk approached, Liu Yanyang finished refining the final batch of pills and lay atop a large rock, watching the fading glow of the setting sun.

He was already a level-forty Quasi Soul Ancestor. He only lacked a Soul Ring to break through, so it was time to start planning how to obtain his fourth Soul Ring.