Martial Soul: Iron-Eating Beast, Never Be a Slave

Heibai, originally bathed head to toe in purple lightning, slowly began to "pick up" silver lightning arcs while resisting the Heavenly Lightning.

At the same time, Zhao Mu was astonished to discover that his First Soul Ring, whose thousand-year status had originally been represented by pure purple, was gradually becoming mixed with streaks of silver.

After witnessing the strange phenomenon of his third Soul Ring, Zhao Mu found it much easier to accept the bizarre changes in his First Soul Ring.

Moreover, from the mutated First Soul Ring, Zhao Mu could sense an increasingly powerful and active force of lightning.

Potato had not deceived him. Getting struck by lightning really did make one stronger!

Perhaps because Heibai had directly confronted the lightning and provoked it, the lightning in the sky became even more Berserk, its quantity already surpassing that of Dugu Bo's evolution.

Bolts of Heavenly Lightning continuously crashed down upon Heibai. The silver arcs around Heibai's body grew increasingly numerous until they matched the purple arcs in number.

Zhao Mu's First Soul Ring also changed from purple to silver-purple.

Although Thunder-Striking Bamboo possessed the lightning element, its lightning was ultimately still somewhat inferior to Heavenly Lightning. By absorbing Heavenly Lightning this time, both Heibai and Zhao Mu naturally received another boost.

The lightning died out, and the dark clouds dispersed.

With Heibai taking the majority of the Heavenly Lightning, leaving only some residual lightning to strike Dugu Yan, Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul successfully transformed into a Jiao.

Perhaps because Heibai had helped her take a shortcut, or perhaps because Dugu Yan herself was not strong enough, the Jade Phosphorous Jiao transformed from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent retained more of a serpent's traits.

Fortunately, the flaw in the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul had been resolved.

Both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan breathed sighs of relief.

Moreover, the evolution of Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent had allowed her Soul Power Level to leap from level thirty-five to level forty.

"Grandpa, the evolution of my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul has raised my Soul Power Level straight to level forty. Once I obtain a Soul Ring, I can break through to Soul Ancestor and become the first student in our academy to reach Soul Ancestor!"

Seeing Dugu Yan's proud smile, Dugu Bo smiled happily as well. It was already enough that Dugu Yan had come through safely; reaching level forty in Soul Power was an additional delight.

Reaching level forty at her age, while not comparable to those inhuman cultivation freaks, still made her exceptionally outstanding. Her future was equally limitless.

Dugu Bo immediately said, "Good. Once you stabilize and recover, I'll help you hunt a suitable soul beast for your fourth Soul Ring."

Zhao Mu, who had also heard that Dugu Bo would be accompanying Dugu Yan to hunt a Soul Ring, spoke up. "Since the Martial Soul toxins in you and your granddaughter have been removed, I've fulfilled my previous promise. It's time for me to leave as well."

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was certainly good, but the key was that Zhao Mu did not recognize Immortal Herbs. Rather than wait around here, he might as well think of another solution.

Hearing that Zhao Mu wanted to leave, Dugu Bo, who was standing beside Dugu Yan, became displeased. His smile immediately vanished as he said, "Brat, you can't leave yet!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mu, who had been relaxed, instantly became vigilant. He slowly stepped backward toward the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, clearly prepared to dive in for safety at the slightest disagreement.

Naturally, his tone was no longer so polite. "Old man, I healed the Martial Soul toxins in you and your granddaughter according to our agreement. Don't tell me you're planning to go back on your word?"

Dugu Bo snorted. "What do you mean, go back on my word? I never said I would let you leave after you treated Yan Yan and me."

Zhao Mu: "..."

Zhao Mu thought back and realized Dugu Bo really had never said that.

He had been careless.

"Grandpa."

Dugu Yan immediately wrapped her arms around Dugu Bo and said anxiously. Zhao Mu had first treated the Martial Soul toxins in both her and her grandfather, then had Heibai withstand the Heavenly Lightning for her during her evolution. Having received Zhao Mu's kindness, Dugu Yan naturally did not want Dugu Bo to attack him.

Dugu Bo patted Dugu Yan's hand, signaling her not to worry, before turning back to Zhao Mu. "You brat saved Yan Yan and me. Though my reputation outside is not good, I, Dugu Bo, am not someone who repays kindness with hatred, so I will not kill you. But you accidentally entered this treasured place and learned everything about it. If I let you leave and you reveal this place to others, it may bring great trouble upon me. Therefore, I will not let you leave."

The value of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was immeasurable, even to a Title Douluo. If Zhao Mu left and spread word of it, powerful figures might come coveting this place.

"I can promise I won't tell anyone about anything here!" After learning Dugu Bo's concern, Zhao Mu immediately made his position clear.

Zhao Mu himself needed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, so naturally he would not want more people to know about it. Even if he left this time, he would likely return in the future to consider obtaining Soul Rings here.

Yet Dugu Bo still shook his head at Zhao Mu's promise. "I never believe in such meaningless promises. I will not kill you, but neither will I let you leave. If you want to leave, unless... unless you are willing to marry my granddaughter, Yan Yan!"

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"If you marry my granddaughter Yan Yan, then we'll be family. Everything here will be yours as well. With your intelligence, I'm sure you wouldn't want outsiders coveting this place."

"As long as you agree to marry Yan Yan, not only will I let you leave and give you freedom, I will also protect your safety," Dugu Bo said to Zhao Mu with a smile.

Zhao Mu immediately replied, "Then aren't you afraid I'll agree verbally and go back on my word afterward?"

Dugu Bo said, "Of course, words alone won't do. I also need you to swear upon your Martial Soul. If you violate it, your Martial Soul will shatter and never be restored."

Heibai: ('ω')

Heibai felt a chill run down his back. This was their business, so why did they have to make a bear swear on it?!

"Grandpa! Stop trying to force a match! I already have someone I like!" Before Zhao Mu could speak, Dugu Yan, standing nearby, could no longer hold herself back after hearing Dugu Bo's idea.

Seeing Dugu Yan's firm attitude, Dugu Bo first tossed Zhao Mu a sentence. "Think it over carefully!"

Then he pulled Dugu Yan aside.

"Yan Yan, I'm doing this for your own good!"

Dugu Yan stomped her feet anxiously. "Grandpa, I told you, I already have someone I like. Stop making arrangements for me!"

Dugu Bo's face turned cold. "The person you mean should be that brat from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, right? I don't approve of you being with him. Besides, that brat is not as good as this brat."

Dugu Yan would not tolerate Dugu Bo speaking ill of Yu Tianheng.

"Grandpa, Tianheng's Soul Power Level and strength might not be as good as his right now, but Tianheng comes from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and has the clan's foundation. In the future, he may not necessarily be inferior to him."

Dugu Bo sighed. "It is precisely because he comes from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that I don't want you to be with him."

"Yan Yan, these great clans all have the most complicated rules. If you are with him, with your temperament, you will most likely clash with his family."

"And relations between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have always been the hardest to handle. If you go to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I'm afraid you'll suffer grievances!"

"Furthermore, Yu Tianheng isn't the only heir of his generation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. You should know that in these great clans, brothers turning against each other for benefits is commonplace. Winning is naturally good, but if he loses, there will be no good outcome."

"But this brat is different. If what he says is true, and he is alone with no one to rely on, then after you are together, the only people he can rely on will be us."

"At that time, he can be considered to have married into our Dugu Family. Not only will you not suffer any grievances, but with his talent, his future achievements will certainly not be beneath mine. Then he can protect you for life—he might even become the strongest live-in son-in-law!"

Though Dugu Bo's words sounded somewhat reasonable, Dugu Yan would not relent because of them.

Dugu Bo returned to Zhao Mu. "Brat, what have you decided?"

When reading novels, these scenes of being offered a girl might seem exciting, but when it happened to Zhao Mu, it felt like returning home and being forced into a blind date. It was rather awkward.

"Senior, your granddaughter and I are ten years apart. This is..."

"Brat, are you saying I'm too old?!" Age was a woman's greatest taboo, and Dugu Yan became displeased.

Dugu Bo, however, did not care. "It's only ten years. It's nothing. Think about it: when you're around twenty, Yan Yan will be thirty. How happy will your little life together be?"

As he spoke, Dugu Bo gave Zhao Mu a look that all men understood.

Zhao Mu glanced at Dugu Yan. He had not looked carefully before, but upon examining her now, he had to admit that Dugu Yan had a very good figure—graceful curves, ample where she should be ample, rounded where she should be rounded. Perhaps due to her Martial Soul, formerly the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, her slender, snake-like waist was naturally seductive. Now that the Jade Phosphorous Serpent had evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Jiao, she possessed an entirely different charm.

"Grandpa, I don't care, I refuse! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll leave and never come back!"

Dugu Yan said angrily.

Hearing Dugu Yan refuse so firmly, Zhao Mu swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

Zhao Mu had originally thought that agreeing would not hurt. He would not be losing out, Dugu Yan was not unattractive, and Douluo Continent did not seem to require monogamy anyway.

Besides, they were both men. Why pretend to be a saint?

Fortunately, before he had said anything, Dugu Yan had adamantly refused. Otherwise, if he had agreed and then been rejected, how awkward would that have been? Blind dates were already awkward enough.

Seeing Dugu Yan stubbornly refuse, Dugu Bo softened and said nothing more. However, he naturally would not easily let Zhao Mu leave.

Dugu Bo insisted on keeping Zhao Mu not only because Zhao Mu knew about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but also because of all the extraordinary qualities Zhao Mu had displayed. Setting aside everything else, Zhao Mu had already reached Quasi-Soul King at the age of seven. His future was absolutely boundless. For such a person, if he was an enemy, he had to be eliminated immediately; if not, then he had to be recruited as soon as possible.

Although Zhao Mu had taken Dugu Bo's Dan Pearl, he had still cured the Martial Soul toxins in both Dugu Bo and Yan Yan. Furthermore, he had stepped forward to withstand the Heavenly Lightning during Yan Yan's Martial Soul Evolution. Therefore, Dugu Bo could not possibly kill Zhao Mu. That left only recruitment.

And ordinary friendship was far from enough for recruitment.

At first, Dugu Bo had thought of forming a marriage alliance, but unfortunately neither side was willing.

Then what other relationship could be close enough?

After thinking for a moment, a glint flashed through Dugu Bo's jade-green pupils.

He then said, "Brat, since you are unwilling to become my disciple, why don't we become sworn brothers?"

Aside from marriage and master-disciple ties, the only remaining bond was brotherhood.

Although their age difference was rather great, to Dugu Bo, who had always acted freely, that was no issue at all.