Dugu Yan's Dowry

Yu Tianjiao felt the warmth of her lips against his, and his heart stirred. He could clearly sense Dugu Yan's gratitude and hope.

He gently patted her back, soothing her.

"Mm. I have a way. Don't worry."

He let go of Dugu Yan and turned to Dugu Bo. His expression remained grim, but a hint of hope was hard to hide in his eyes. Yu Tianjiao's own expression grew solemn.

"Senior Dugu, the root of the problem in you and Yanzi lies in the conflict and imbalance between the poison of your Martial Souls and your life force.

"The Seven-Colored Poison Manual records a special method of treatment. It's not the usual way of using medicine or Soul Power to counteract poison. Instead, it requires refining a pill with a particular method, using heavenly treasures and earthly materials to imbue it with a strange power.

"This kind of pill can harmonize the toxins at their source and eliminate the flaws in your Martial Souls, so their poison no longer erodes your bodies."

"Pills?" Dugu Bo frowned. The word was unfamiliar to him. On the Douluo Continent, Soul Masters were more accustomed to consuming heavenly treasures and earthly materials directly. "I've lived this long, yet this is the first I've heard of them. Are you sure this so-called pill can cure the poison in me and Yanyan? Even I'm helpless against it!"

After all, Yu Tianjiao was his future grandson-in-law, so Dugu Bo's attitude was much better than usual.

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan chided him unhappily, clutching Yu Tianjiao's arm without the slightest attempt to hide how close they were. "If Tianjiao says he has a way, then he definitely has one! Just let him try!"

Ye Lingling spoke up softly as well, her words showing the same unconditional trust in her boyfriend.

"Grandpa Dugu, Tianjiao would never lie about something like this. Back then, he said he'd regain his cultivation talent in three years, and now he has. Why not trust him and let him try?"

Meeting Dugu Bo's scrutinizing gaze, Yu Tianjiao smiled with calm confidence.

"Senior, Yanzi is my girlfriend, and I'm a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. My clan has its pride. I would never cheat or swindle anyone, and if anything happened to you, I don't think I could ever face Yanzi again."

At Yu Tianjiao's words, Dugu Bo fell silent.

Though he had only met Yu Tianjiao a few times, he had come to understand him to some extent.

The boy was indeed proud to a fault. If he could do something, he'd say so; if he couldn't, he'd never pretend otherwise.

Besides, Dugu Bo trusted his granddaughter.

If she trusted him, then he would give him a chance too.

"Tell me, what do you need? If you're refining pills, I assume you'll need some medicinal ingredients."

Dugu Bo let out a long breath and looked at Yu Tianjiao.

"I'll need to borrow a few Immortal Herbs from your garden, as well as a quiet place rich in fire-attributed energy. I'll refine a Break Calamity Pill for you right here.

"This pill was created specifically to counter this kind of deadly poison, which sinks into the bones and takes root in the Martial Soul. Once it's ready, you'll see for yourself whether it works.

"And if you're lucky, your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul might even evolve as a result."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across Dugu Bo's meticulously tended medicinal garden, where spiritual energy shimmered in the air. He had already picked out several targets.

The ingredients needed for the Break Calamity Pill formula provided by the system could all be replaced with substitutes from this garden. Their quality might not be quite good enough, but Dugu Bo's poison was nothing compared to the Woeful Poison Body. The Green Lotus Core Flame inside Yu Tianjiao could actually resolve it on its own.

If the system hadn't suddenly assigned him a quest, he would've handled Dugu Bo the same way as Nalan Jie!

"Hmph!"

Dugu Bo gave a heavy snort, but his fierce desire to survive and his trust in his granddaughter ultimately outweighed his suspicions of Yu Tianjiao and his pride in his mastery of poison.

He looked at Dugu Yan, her face full of anticipation, then at the composed and confident Yu Tianjiao and the resolute Ye Lingling. In the end, he waved his dark green sleeve and pointed to a stone cave beside the garden, where wisps of heat drifted from its entrance.

"Fine! Let's see what you've got up your sleeve, boy! That's the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Just use the fire side; there's enough fire-attributed energy there for you to do as you please! Take whatever you want from the garden! But let me make one thing clear: if you can't refine anything worthwhile, or if you dare try anything funny..."

He hadn't finished speaking when the fearsome pressure of a Titled Douluo began to surge. Dugu Yan immediately protested.

"Grandpa!"

Dugu Bo's imposing aura collapsed at once. He opened his mouth, but in the end could only grit his teeth and say:

"Actually, there's no need for you to try anything funny. As long as you treat Yanyan well, all this will be her dowry. If she's willing, you can take whatever you like."

At that, Dugu Yan quickly chimed in.

"Tianjiao, take whatever you want! What's mine is yours!"

Dugu Bo: ಠ言ಠ.

Yu Tianjiao couldn't help smiling at the sight, but he quickly turned serious and cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo.

"Don't worry, Senior. I'll do everything I can."

Then he gently squeezed Dugu Yan's hand and gave Ye Lingling a reassuring look.

"Yanzi, Lingling, wait here for me."

With that, Yu Tianjiao strode toward the fragrant medicinal garden. His eyes swept over the radiant, exotic flowers and herbs, and he swiftly cross-referenced the formula in his mind with the knowledge from the Seven-Colored Poison Manual as he began gathering the ingredients.

Thanks to his six-grade alchemy skill, he handled each ingredient with great expertise. That put Dugu Bo somewhat at ease.

It looked like the boy really did know what he was doing...

Yu Tianjiao worked with speed and precision. Before long, he had gathered all the ingredients needed for the pill, each one brimming with astonishing spiritual energy.

Holding these priceless Immortal Herbs, the sort that would drive most Soul Masters wild, Yu Tianjiao took a deep breath and headed straight for the Yin-Yang Well—no, the Yang side of the Yin Yang Dual Instrument Eye.

The moment he drew near, a wave of scorching heat washed over him.

But Xiao Yan, who had already gained a Soul Ring formed from the Green Lotus Core Flame, wasn't afraid of a little heat. If anything, he looked entirely at ease.

"Here will do."

Yu Tianjiao found the spot where the energy was most concentrated and set down the ingredients he'd gathered.

The next moment, he flipped his left hand, and the Buddha Fury Fire Lotus Martial Soul appeared. The exquisite blue-green lotus and the deep purple Soul Ring revolving around it left Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling stunned.

"Tianjiao actually added a Soul Ring to his other Martial Soul too?"

Dugu Yan blinked, puzzled.

If she remembered correctly, Yu Tianjiao had said before that he wouldn't consider adding a Soul Ring to the Fire Lotus Martial Soul until he reached at least the Soul Saint level.

"Is that the boy's Second Martial Soul? A Fire Lotus?"

Unable to make out the details, Dugu Bo asked curiously.