Dugu Bo: The Brat Has Some Nerve!

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the second day had arrived.

But for Jiang Liang, it was torment that made every day feel like a year.

Every minute and every second, he endured pain as though his flesh were being torn apart.

Dugu Bo suffered even more than he did.

With Sword Mother stopping him, he had no way to dive in and pull Jiang Liang out, so he could only stand guard on the shore.

An entire night passed without him closing his eyes, leaving his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion.

Dugu Yan glanced at her grandfather's anxious back, then looked toward Sword Mother beside her, who remained calm as she admired the Immortal Herbs on the ground.

She could not help but mutter to herself, This sister is far too composed, isn't she?

Isn't she worried at all about whether that little brat lives or dies?

It was not that Sword Mother was unconcerned. There was simply no need for concern.

As Jiang Liang's Martial Soul, she could sense his condition at any time.

She could tell that although Jiang Liang was in immense pain, his body was steadily growing stronger.

If Jiang Liang's body had previously been equivalent to a Martial Practitioner First Realm—

Then it was now already at the peak of the Martial Practitioner Second Realm.

Just one step away from Qi-Blood Unity, and he would enter the Third Realm.

Could he succeed?

Sword Mother glanced at the surface of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, her brows knitting slightly.

Time passed quickly, and another half day went by.

Jiang Liang felt the pain throughout his body gradually fade, replaced by the clear, liberated comfort of his muscles and bones stretching loose.

Qi and blood surged through his meridians like a rushing stream, while every inch of skin and bone radiated a heavy, solid strength.

Even the ice and fire energies within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well no longer affected him in the slightest.

He stretched his stiff muscles and bones in the water, but rather than swimming up immediately, he looked down toward the bottom of the spring.

Jiang Liang remembered that the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had formed after the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King, two of the Nine Dragon Kings, had fallen here.

Then perhaps the Spirit Bones of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King lay beneath this spring.

Those were God-level Spirit Bones!

They were far more valuable than Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones.

Now that he had absorbed the ice and fire energies, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well no longer posed any threat to him.

Should he go down and take a look?

The moment Jiang Liang had that thought, Sword Mother's gentle voice drifted over to him.

"Xiao Liang, since you've succeeded, hurry up and come out. Don't keep everyone worried."

Hearing Sword Mother's voice, Jiang Liang could only give up helplessly.

If there really were Spirit Bones beneath the spring, they would not be going anywhere.

Hunting Soul Rings was more important for now.

He could retrieve those Spirit Bones the next time he came.

With that in mind, Jiang Liang flipped over in the water and swam toward the surface.

But he did not know that, as he turned and swam upward, a faint azure glow suddenly lit up deep at the bottom of the spring.

Splash!

The moment Dugu Bo saw Jiang Liang emerge from the water, delight surged through his heart.

"Brat, you finally decided to come out!"

"If you'd stayed in there any longer, I would've thought you died inside!"

"Grab my hand, now."

As he spoke, he grabbed Jiang Liang by the arm and pulled him ashore.

Dugu Yan hurried over as well, but when she saw that Jiang Liang was completely naked, her face immediately turned red.

"Y-You... why haven't you put on any clothes?"

Dugu Yan quickly covered her face and turned away, a faint blush spreading even to the tips of her ears.

Jiang Liang merely grinned and lifted his chin. "I'm letting you admire this handsome young man's physique for free. Isn't that nice?"

"Pah!" Dugu Yan stomped her foot in embarrassment and anger. "You're just a little brat. What's there to see?"

Dugu Bo's face turned green with rage beside them.

This damned brat had just escaped death in that spring, yet he still had the nerve to flirt with his granddaughter!

He snatched up the clothes nearby and threw them at Jiang Liang. "Quit talking nonsense! Get dressed!"

"Tch, you're just jealous because my skin is so smooth." Jiang Liang looked utterly disdainful, though he obediently put on his clothes.

After changing, he spotted Sword Mother walking over and immediately ran up to her excitedly.

"Fairy Sister, I did it!"

"I saw it. Xiao Liang, you did wonderfully." As gentle as ever, Sword Mother slowly bent down and rubbed the top of his head.

She said softly, "But you were still one step short. You haven't reached Qi-Blood Unity, where the blood inside your body becomes as thick as mercury."

"Only upon reaching that level, like a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate, can one truly undergo a complete transformation."

Jiang Liang nodded slightly. "I understand, Fairy Sister. I'll work hard from now on and reach that level as soon as possible!"

Sword Mother chuckled softly and pinched his little cheek. "All right, then Sister will wait."

"Next, we should go Hunt Soul Rings."

"Mm!" Jiang Liang grinned and nodded firmly.

Dugu Bo walked over at that moment and asked, "You're leaving in such a hurry?"

Jiang Liang answered with a smile, "Of course. I still don't have my first Soul Ring."

Dugu Bo was astonished.

This brat was truly extraordinary. He had only just awakened his Martial Soul, yet he already possessed such an impressive physique.

When Dugu Bo pulled Jiang Liang ashore earlier, he had secretly checked the brat's pulse and discovered that his body was already comparable to that of a four-ring Soul Ancestor.

What kind of concept was that?

He did not even need a Martial Soul or Soul Rings now. With his body alone, he could withstand a Soul Elder head-on.

Once this brat grew up, Douluo Continent would likely be turned upside down.

Dugu Bo continued, "Since you're going to Hunt Soul Rings, this old man will lend you a hand."

"Tell me, what kind of Soul Ring do you want?"

"As long as it exists in Sunset Forest, this old man can catch it for you."

"No need. The Soul Ring I want isn't here."

Jiang Liang waved away Dugu Bo's goodwill and casually summoned his Martial Soul, the Cold Moon Sword.

While they had been on the road, he had already discussed with Sword Mother whose Soul Ring they should add first.

Sword Mother's suggestion was to add a Soul Ring to his natal Flying Sword first—the Cold Moon Sword.

As for herself, it did not matter whether she gained one or not, depending on the situation.

After all, she did not need those rings to increase her own strength.

The instant Dugu Bo saw that sword, he was stunned by the frigid aura flowing around it!

"What powerful ice attribute! No, it even has a dark attribute!"

"This is actually a dual-attribute Sword Martial Soul!"

"And this Sword Martial Soul... it looks even sharper than the Seven Kill Sword!"

Dugu Bo frowned slightly and looked at Jiang Liang strangely. "Brat, don't tell me you're Sword Douluo's disciple?"

Dugu Yan also looked at him in surprise upon hearing that.

"No, Your Excellency. Please don't make wild guesses. My master won't let me reveal her name." Jiang Liang deliberately put on a mysterious air.

Seeing that he did not wish to speak, Dugu Bo did not press the matter further.

He glanced at the Cold Moon Sword Martial Soul in Jiang Liang's hand and asked again, "You really don't need this old man to help you Hunt Soul Rings?"

Jiang Liang shook his head. "No. My master said that Sister and I should hunt this Soul Ring together, so I can train my swordsmanship."

Dugu Bo was secretly amazed. This brat's master really was an expert.

Something as important as hunting a Soul Ring was being used solely to train this brat's swordsmanship.

He turned and glanced at Sword Mother. With this unfathomable sister beside the brat, it was no wonder he was so assured.

Thus, he stopped insisting and prepared to send Jiang Liang and Sword Mother away.

The group boarded a carriage and returned from Sunset Forest to Heaven Dou City once more.

No one spoke along the way, until they reached Heaven Dou City.

Jiang Liang turned to look at Dugu Yan, who still wore an indignant expression.

Could Dugu Yan still be brooding over what had happened earlier?

Dugu Yan seemed to notice his gaze as well. She turned and snapped, "Little brat, what are you looking at?"

Jiang Liang raised his brows, and a mischievous smile suddenly appeared on his face.

"Big Sister, come here. I have something secret to tell you!"

Dugu Yan's delicate brows furrowed. With her arms crossed over her chest, she said impatiently, "Little brat, what are you up to now?"

"Bend down." Jiang Liang blinked, wearing a deliberately serious expression.

Dugu Yan bent down slightly in suspicion and brought her ear closer.

The next second, Jiang Liang swiftly turned his head and gave her soft cheek a quick peck.

Dugu Yan froze on the spot. Her cheeks instantly burned bright red, the flush spreading from her face all the way to her ears, and she did not react for a long while.

Meanwhile, Jiang Liang leaped off the carriage like a little fox that had stolen some meat and darted away.

"Hehe, Big Sister, wait for me to come back!"

By the time he finished speaking, he had already slipped into the crowd and entered Heaven Dou City.

Behind him came only Dugu Bo's furious roar.

"You shameless little brat! You dare take advantage of my granddaughter! This old man will skin you alive!"