Dugu Bo immediately began recalling the time Yue Guan and Gui Mei had hunted him down.
The more Dugu Bo thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was indeed the case. Back then, Yue Guan and Gui Mei had had many opportunities to capture him, yet had let him slip away for all sorts of reasons.
He had thought himself lucky, never expecting Chrysanthemum Guan had spared him out of old sentiment.
At that thought, Dugu Bo did not know what to say for a moment.
"Enough. You can catch up later. Yue Guan, Gui Mei, your cultivation has reached Rank 96. By rights, you should join my Worship Hall. Are you willing?" Qian Daoliu asked the two.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged glances, both somewhat conflicted.
In the end, Yue Guan stepped forward and dropped to one knee. "Grand Elder, Old Ghost and I have served Her Holiness the Supreme Pontiff for many years. We recognize Her Holiness's abilities, so..."
"Joining the Worship Hall will not prevent you from continuing to follow Bibi Dong." Qian Daoliu interrupted Yue Guan expressionlessly.
"Does Grand Elder want us to help you monitor Her Holiness the Supreme Pontiff?"
"This old man is not so despicable. Whether you wish to remain by Bibi Dong's side is your freedom. I will not interfere, even if you join the Worship Hall. However, once you enter the Worship Hall and receive its benefits, you must not become Xue'er's enemy, nor may you do anything that desecrates the Angel God."
After hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Yue Guan and Gui Mei had no more reservations and agreed in unison.
"Very good. Next, this old man will teach you the method of condensing a Soul Core. Once you condense a Soul Core, your Soul Power reserves will increase dramatically, far surpassing Titled Douluo of the same rank who have not condensed one." With that, Qian Daoliu began guiding the toxins within Dugu Bo's Soul Power to compress continuously.
With Qian Daoliu's help, Dugu Bo's Soul Power soon became liquid, then continuously gathered around his Dan Bead as its center. At the same time, the toxins in his body fused into it as well.
After more than half a day, the Soul Core within Dugu Bo's body officially took shape. His Soul Power broke through two ranks in succession with almost no resistance, reaching Rank 93. At the same time, his hair changed from dark green to grayish white, then turned black again as his Soul Power broke through. His skin also became firmer. At this moment, he looked like a middle-aged man in his forties, with none of his previous aged appearance remaining.
"Hahaha!" Dugu Bo could not help throwing back his head and laughing. The toxin backlash that had plagued their Jade Phosphorous Serpent Lineage for years had been permanently resolved just like that.
Dugu Bo trembled with excitement, tears even sliding from the corners of his eyes.
Meanwhile, Yue Guan and Gui Mei were utterly dumbfounded. This Soul Core was simply too miraculous. They were not surprised by Dugu Bo's breakthrough; as the Grand Elder had said, Dugu Bo had suffered backlash from his own toxins and had inevitably expended a great deal of Soul Power suppressing them. With the backlash resolved, it was only natural for his cultivation to rise.
What surprised them was that Dugu Bo was now Rank 93, yet the depth of his Soul Power was no less than that of a Rank 95 Super Douluo.
One had to know that there was a world of difference between Rank 95 Titled Douluo and those below Rank 95. For a Soul Core to bridge the gap in Soul Power between them was simply unbelievable.
At the same time, Yue Guan and Gui Mei were immensely excited. They had just witnessed how the Grand Elder had helped Dugu Bo condense his Soul Core. With their Rank 96 strength, condensing Soul Cores of their own would not be difficult.
Once their Soul Cores took shape, the two of them could suppress Titled Douluo of the same rank without Soul Cores through Soul Power alone, and might even be able to fight Rank 97 Titled Douluo.
"Thank you, Grand Elder, for bestowing this method and saving my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Lineage. From this day onward, I, Dugu Bo, will obey the Grand Elder's every command without a word of objection!"
Qian Daoliu waved his hand upon hearing this. "Dugu Bo, one must at least cultivate to Soul Douluo to have a chance of successfully condensing a Soul Core. Your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Lineage suffers backlash from Martial Soul toxins. I fear it will be difficult for your lineage to cultivate to that realm."
Dugu Bo's expression changed drastically. He had just seen a glimmer of hope—was it about to be shattered already?
Unwilling to accept this, Dugu Bo hurriedly dropped to one knee. "Does Grand Elder know of any way to alleviate it?"
After pondering for a moment, Qian Daoliu said, "Yue Guan, does the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well contain any Immortal Herbs suitable for the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Lineage? Preferably one that can evolve this girl's Martial Soul. If so, the backlash from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's Martial Soul toxins should cease to exist."
Upon hearing this, Yue Guan turned and found an Immortal Herb, then handed it to Dugu Bo. It was a blood-red fruit that emitted waves of strange fragrance. "Old Poison, this Immortal Herb is called the True Dragon Blood Fruit. It is an Immortal Herb that can only possibly grow where a True Dragon has fallen. After consuming it, a Martial Soul possessing dragon bloodline can evolve.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent already contains a trace of True Dragon bloodline. Once your granddaughter consumes it, she should be able to transform into a flood dragon. From then on, your Dugu Family will no longer suffer backlash from Martial Soul toxins."
Dugu Bo clearly had not expected such a divine medicine to be growing in his herb garden. No wonder it had drawn the Grand Elder here in person.
Yet Dugu Bo felt no displeasure at having his medicinal garden taken over. There was only excitement. To Dugu Bo, his greatest wish had always been to resolve the toxin backlash afflicting the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Lineage. Now that the problem had been solved, let alone the herb garden, they could have his life if they wanted it!
"Come, Yan Yan, eat this fruit!"
Dugu Yan accepted the fruit, thanked Qian Daoliu and Yue Guan, then swallowed it directly.
Once the fruit entered her stomach, Dugu Yan felt waves of scorching heat rise within her body. She immediately sat cross-legged and began refining its medicinal power.
Dugu Yan spent two days and two nights before she finally refined the True Dragon Blood Fruit's medicinal power enough for her Martial Soul, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, to undergo the expected evolution.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent now grew four claws, while a dark-green horn emerged from the top of its head. Its Martial Soul's imposing presence increased dramatically, even making Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor feel suppressed.
"Tsk, tsk, Old Poison. After your granddaughter's Martial Soul evolved, its quality may well rival the Golden Crocodile King of the Second Worship."
"The Golden Crocodile King? Does that mean Yan Yan's Martial Soul is already a Super Martial Soul?"
"Most likely. Little girl, does your Martial Soul now have a place to store toxins?" Yue Guan asked Dugu Yan.
"Yes, Elder Yue Guan. My Martial Soul's toxins are now stored in the horn atop its head. At the same time, I can feel that my strength and speed after Martial Soul Possession have both increased considerably. They are no weaker than that Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master at our academy."
"Hahaha! Good, good, good! Excellent! My granddaughter Yan Yan has the potential to become a Super Douluo!" Dugu Bo could not help bursting into laughter.
"This Martial Soul truly is remarkable. Little girl, give your Martial Soul a name!" Yue Guan suggested.
After thinking for a moment, Dugu Yan said, "From now on, my Martial Soul will be called the Green Phosphorus Poison Dragon! After all, a flood dragon is still a dragon!"
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