I, Dugu Bo, Vow to Protect You for a Lifetime; Three Years Later, the Second Trial of Life

Dugu Bo suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of clear, emerald light shimmering within his green pupils like jade submerged in a deep pool.

"Haa~" He exhaled a long, turbid breath.

The breath condensed into a column of dark green mist in the air before slowly dissipating.

As that breath left him, Dugu Bo's originally green hair visibly transformed into a deep, solid black.

Seeing the change in Dugu Bo's hair color, Ye Shuyuan teased, "Yo-ho, Old Poison, your hair has actually turned black."

The mention of black hair made Dugu Bo's eyes light up. His voice was filled with excitement as he stared fixedly at Ye Shuyuan:

"Is that true?!"

Seeing Dugu Bo questioning him, Ye Shuyuan was displeased: "Do you think this old man would lie to you about something like this?"

He gave a cold snort, pulled a mirror from his storage Soul Tool, and tossed it to Dugu Bo: "See for yourself."

Dugu Bo caught the mirror and examined it closely. When he saw that his hair was indeed entirely black, he began jumping around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his shrieks piercing and shrill.

"Wonderful, simply wonderful! The poison problem that has plagued our Dugu family for decades is finally resolved!"

Ye Qingzhou, who was busy searching for immortal herbs, naturally heard Dugu Bo's frantic laughter. The corner of his mouth twitched, feeling incredibly awkward and speechless.

This Dugu Bo is a bit too excited, isn't he?

He hadn't been this excited in the original story.

Suddenly, a line of text appeared, frame by frame, in his mind.

[Number of patients healed: 1/10]

Ye Qingzhou's little brain stalled. Wait, that's it? It's already done?

Seeing Dugu Bo so ecstatic, Ye Shuyuan was naturally happy for him, but not to the point of jumping up and down like a child.

Ye Shuyuan coughed once, but Dugu Bo didn't hear him. He coughed a second time, heavier, but Dugu Bo still didn't notice.

It wasn't until the third time that Ye Shuyuan released the soul power fluctuations of a level 91 Title Douluo, forcing the excited Dugu Bo to calm down.

He scolded Dugu Bo: "Dugu Bo, calm down!"

Although Dugu Bo was a level 92 control-type Title Douluo and Ye Shuyuan's level 91 power couldn't cause him any real harm, it was more than enough to stop Dugu Bo's near-manic behavior.

Having calmed down, Dugu Bo apologized sheepishly: "Apologies, apologies. It's just that I was truly too excited—so excited that I lost my composure."

If it were Ye Shuyuan in his shoes, having solved the issues of the Nine Heart Begonia lineage, he would likely be just as Dugu Bo was.

Dugu Bo shed his usual casual demeanor, his expression turning cold and serious, his tone carrying an unquestionable weight of reliability:

"Old Ye, from this day forward, I, Dugu Bo, pledge my life to protect you."

"Anyone who wishes to harm you or your family must step over my corpse first."

"You are not just my savior; you are the benefactor of the entire Dugu family!"

"I..."

Before Dugu Bo could finish, Ye Shuyuan interrupted him.

"Forget it. Having your word is enough for me."

The two chatted for a while longer until Ye Qingzhou arrived before them, holding two immortal herbs in his hands.

"Grandfather, I've found the herbs suitable for you and Sister Dugu Yan."

"They are the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo and the Earth Dragon Golden Melon."

Both the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo and the Earth Dragon Golden Melon were herbs that appeared ten thousand years later; like the other immortal herbs, they had not yet truly evolved into plant-type soul beasts.

Looking at the two herbs in Ye Qingzhou's hands, Ye Shuyuan chuckled: "Not bad, my grandson's eye for quality is just like mine."

The Ink Jade Divine Bamboo was the most suitable herb for his Nine Heart Begonia in this entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and its quality was among the top ten.

As for the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, it would be an excellent choice for that little one, Dugu Yan, to absorb.

Seeing Ye Qingzhou looking out for his granddaughter, Dugu Bo laughed heartily and ruffled Ye Qingzhou's hair: "Good lad, I really didn't misjudge you."

Ye Qingzhou, having his hair ruffled by Dugu Bo, felt helpless and thoroughly uncomfortable.

"Old Poison, if you keep pulling, my hair won't be saved!"

Dugu Bo didn't care in the slightest: "What's the big deal? With me around, finding you the best barber in the world is no problem at all."

However, seeing Ye Qingzhou's resentful gaze, he finally stopped.

Looking at the two herbs in Ye Qingzhou's hands, Ye Shuyuan said: "No time to lose. Let's go; we should head back to Tiandou City first."

"Wait a moment."

Before Ye Qingzhou could react, Dugu Bo tossed the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch toward him.

"Put the herbs in there. From now on, this little trinket is yours."

"Consider this the first gift from me, Dugu Bo."

Holding the two herbs, Ye Qingzhou scrambled to catch the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch flying toward him.

After securing it safely, he let out a sigh of relief and placed the two herbs inside.

He spoke to Dugu Bo with annoyance, "Old Poison, couldn't you have waited until my hands were free before tossing that over?"

Dugu Bo hummed a little tune and spread his hands, "But you caught it, didn't you?"

Watching the two of them bicker, Ye Shuyuan shook his head, though his eyes were filled with smiles.

God Realm.

Everything the God of Life had just done to give Ye Qingzhou a head start had been seen by him.

"Xiao Lu, isn't this a bit too simple..."

The God of Life tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips, "Is it? I think it's just fine."

"Just tell me, when Dugu Bo's toxins were being cured, was Ye Qingzhou by his side, and did he play a part?"

"Did he not interject when the immortal herbs were being explained?"

"And when I was healing the wounded, did I mention any other requirements?"

Destruction was rendered speechless, but upon careful reflection, he realized his wife actually had a point.

"You win."

Seeing that Destruction had been persuaded, Life wore a smug little expression, "It's time to prepare the Second Trial. Let's set a simple one for the second."

Three years later, Star Dou Great Forest.

Ye Qingzhou successfully finished absorbing his fourth black ten-thousand-year soul ring.

The voice of the God of Life appeared in his mind.

[First Trial of Life: Reach the Soul Ancestor rank before the age of twelve, number of wounded healed 10/10, completed.]

[Obtained God Trial reward: 10% affinity with the Life God King, all soul ring ages increased by two thousand years.]

"Finally finished, the First Trial of Life."

Ye Qingzhou felt a sense of relief. Ever since he left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he had first used the Earth Dragon Golden Melon to resolve the toxins in Dugu Yan's body, and then followed his grandfather to complete the second part of the God Trial.

In addition to healing the wounded, he had also needed to engage in meditation training.

Now, having absorbed his soul ring, he had leaped to become a level 41 Soul Ancestor.

He stood up from the ground, and four soul rings—purple, purple, purple, and black—appeared around him.

Ye Qingzhou looked at the first purple soul ring at his feet and muttered to himself, "Only the color of the first soul ring has changed."

As he spoke, the voice of the God of Life emerged in his mind once more.

[Second Trial of Life: Comprehend 'Wildfires cannot burn it out, the spring breeze brings it back to life.']