The Maid Outfit

But he also had a granddaughter, Dugu Yan, who suffered from the same poison Martial Soul as he did.

Dugu Bo knew that his granddaughter was less talented than he was. If he couldn't cure the deadly poison in her body, he might have to bury her before he died.

For his granddaughter, his pride and freedom meant nothing. He was willing to give up everything.

Lin Ye was a little surprised. Dugu Bo had just revealed something that could determine whether he lived or died?

What Lin Ye didn't know was that Dugu Bo had already suffered a bout of poison the night before.

Lin Ye knew Dugu Bo's character. He also knew that Dugu Bo would never grovel just to cling to life. If he was willing to go this far, it had to be for his granddaughter.

The man really was devoted to his granddaughter. No wonder people said grandparents doted on their grandchildren.

When he saw Snow Empress looking at him for guidance, Lin Ye asked without thinking, "Sister Xue Nu, do you have a way?"

Snow Empress nodded slightly. "His cultivation has reached a certain level, but he has only a crude grasp of his own power. He is also burdened by the poison of his Martial Soul. It would be simple to resolve—he only needs the Soul Core Method."

A Soul Core? Lin Ye paused. He really did know about those.

Soul Cores originated with Soul Beasts, and Soul Masters later learned how to form them. They became widespread in the Soul Master World ten thousand years later.

Soul Cores had many benefits. For instance, successfully forming one could help a Soul Master break through in cultivation. Compared with ordinary Soul Masters, those with Soul Cores had greater endurance.

Soul Cores also let Soul Masters recover their Soul Power faster.

In Douluo Dalu II, Huo Gang had three Soul Cores: the Spiritual Soul Core, the Extreme Ice Soul Core, and the Spatial Soul Core.

So Dugu Bo's poison could be cultivated into a Soul Core as well?

Only then did Dugu Bo belatedly realize that Snow Empress wasn't the one in charge among the three of them. It was this little brat.

Despite his surprise, he reacted without delay and pleaded with Lin Ye. "I beg you to help me, young friend."

Lin Ye thought for a moment, then asked Snow Empress, "Would this put you out?"

Snow Empress didn't know why he was asking, but she answered simply, "No."

"Please help me, young friend. I'm willing to work like an ox or a horse to repay you for saving me." Seeing hope, Dugu Bo pleaded again.

Lin Ye smiled. "You don't need to work like an ox or a horse. But when I need you to do something in the future, you can't refuse."

Dugu Bo was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. "Of course. Of course."

"Mm. One more thing: you can only use the Soul Core Method yourself. You may pass it on to your descendants, but you mustn't share it with anyone else. Can you do that?"

Lin Ye made this demand because Soul Cores gave Soul Masters far too great a boost. If the method spread widely, it would strengthen the Soul Master community, which would do Soul Beasts no good.

He couldn't take someone else's weapon and use it to slaughter their underlings. He couldn't let Snow Empress help them only to suffer for it.

Of course, Soul Cores would one day become widespread among human Soul Masters. Lin Ye had no intention of stopping that. But he couldn't be the one to spread them.

Dugu Bo naturally had no objections. He looked eagerly at Snow Empress.

Seeing that Lin Ye had agreed, Snow Empress extended a slender finger and lightly pointed at Dugu Bo from a distance.

A streak of white light landed on Dugu Bo's forehead, then vanished without a trace. His eyes grew unfocused as the method for cultivating a Soul Core appeared in his mind. Before long, he had committed it to memory.

A few breaths later, he suddenly burst into delighted laughter. "Ha, ha, ha! Wonderful! Wonderful! This is truly marvelous!"

Lin Ye: "..."

Just look at him. He looked like some country bumpkin who'd never seen the world.

When his laughter subsided, Dugu Bo cupped his hands toward Snow Empress and Lin Ye once more. "Words can't express my gratitude. If you ever need anything from me, I'll walk through fire and climb a mountain of blades without hesitation."

Lin Ye nodded, thoroughly satisfied. This was a good attitude.

Before leaving, Lin Ye pointed at a medicinal herb. "That one's called an Earth Dragon Golden Melon. It suits your Martial Soul. Eat it, and it'll do you a lot of good."

Following Lin Ye's finger, Dugu Bo saw a tuber. Unlike an ordinary sweet potato, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon had a layer on its surface that looked like Dragon Scales.

Dugu Bo's face lit up. If it suited him, it would suit his granddaughter too. He had already decided to give the Earth Dragon Golden Melon to her.

When he turned back to thank them, the three of them had already gone some distance away.

Dugu Bo couldn't help reflecting that what he'd thought was a calamity had turned out to be a tremendous opportunity.

Meanwhile, Lin Ye and the others had left the Poison Array. Lin Ye handed a bracelet to Ice Empress.

"Bing'er, this is for you. Wear it, and it'll conceal your Soul Beast aura."

The bracelet was the Ancient Soul Tool. Just as Lin Ye had said, it could conceal a Soul Beast's aura. It could also conceal a Soul Master's aura.

Dugu Bo had recognized Ice Empress at a glance earlier, which had alerted Lin Ye.

Soul Beasts stood out too much in human society. It wasn't that they were afraid; having other people covet them was just a nuisance.

Ice Empress rolled her eyes and complained, "You brat, show some respect. Call me 'big sister.'"

Lin Ye was speechless. Hadn't they already been over this?

Women. Their name was changeable.

Next, Lin Ye turned to Snow Empress and said awkwardly, "Sorry, there's only one."

Snow Empress shook her head, unconcerned. "It doesn't matter. I don't need one. Ordinary Titled Douluo can't see through my concealment techniques anyway."

So that was it. As expected, a powerful expert was on another level! Lin Ye thought. He probably hadn't gotten one for Snow Empress because she didn't need it.

Heaven Dou City was close to Sunset Forest. An hour later, the three of them had arrived in the city.

The restless Ice Empress looked this way and that, finding everything novel. She was like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.

By chance, Lin Ye spotted the display window of a clothing store. Among the many outfits was a black-and-white maid uniform.

A maid outfit! Lin Ye's eyes lit up. It looked like it would suit Ice Empress.

"Hey, hey, Lin Ye, why are we going in there? Didn't you say you'd buy me something tasty?"

"We'll get something tasty later. First, I'm buying you some pretty clothes."

Lin Ye was generous, buying Ice Empress more than a dozen outfits at once. Naturally, he didn't leave Snow Empress out either. He couldn't play favorites.

It was just a shame that Qipaos didn't exist on the Douluo Continent. Otherwise, he would definitely have gotten one for Snow Empress too.

By the time the three of them left the clothing store, Ice Empress had undergone a complete change of style.

She was only five feet tall, with a baby face, flawless skin, bright, watery eyes, an upturned nose, and rosy, glossy lips.

Her shoulder-length, emerald-green hair was tied into twin ponytails. Cat-ear ornaments sat on her head, and she wore a black-and-white maid outfit.

She looked like a little doll brought to life.

Now that was a sight for sore eyes.

Ice Empress hummed a little tune, blissfully unaware of what human maid outfits meant. She just thought it looked pretty.

Looking at Ice Empress's new outfit, Lin Ye came up with a wicked idea.

Holy Soul Village was in Fasinuo Province of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Holy Soul Village—just hearing the name, you'd think it was impressive, right? In reality, it was only a small village with three hundred households.

According to a local legend, a great Soul Saint had come from the village a hundred years ago. That was how Holy Soul Village got its name. The villagers often boasted about the story.