Douluo Traversal: I Pulled Out a Dou Technique and You Didn't Explode?

"Your physique has gotten quite a bit stronger again. At this rate, won't you turn into a humanoid soul beast?"

Nine-Heart Begonia Curse

Liu Bai flexed his wrist.

"It has indeed gotten quite a bit stronger, but humanoid soul beast is an exaggeration. I'm only slightly stronger than battle Soul Masters of the same level."

Dugu Bo rolled his eyes.

"You're even pretending to be modest in front of this old man. There's no need for that. As a genius, you should show your edge. You needn't be humble about everything, or you'll lose your drive to improve."

Liu Bai smiled. Modest?

No, he was not modest at all. He simply did not show it. Looking across the continent, how many people could truly catch his eye?

He possessed the advantages of two worlds: the dual systems of Dou Qi and Soul Power, as well as Twin Martial Souls consisting of an elemental Martial Soul and a Body Martial Soul. Even if Tang San appeared before him now, he would absolutely be crushed by Liu Bai within the same rank!

Of course, that was on the condition that Tang Xiaosan did not use hidden weapons. That hidden weapon system was still far too insidious. At this early stage, it was practically a dimensionality-reducing strike.

Liu Bai was confident, but never arrogant. Tang San might be despicable, but no one had ever called him weak.

Without comparing him to people from other worlds, Tang Xiaosan had been powerful from childhood to adulthood on Douluo Continent.

Liu Bai still needed some time if he wanted to completely surpass him and ensure that no matter what Tang San used, he would not be a match for Liu Bai.

The three of them had now absorbed the Immortal Herbs. Dugu Bo had completely resolved his poison problem; his Martial Soul evolved, and his Soul Power reached level 93. Dugu Yan's Soul Power Level directly rose to level 37, jumping six levels in succession, while her Martial Soul likewise evolved into the Jade Scale Poison Dragon. Liu Bai reached level 25, rising three levels, and had also completed the Ice and Fire Golden Body Refinement, successfully condensing a Dou Qi Cyclone.

All three of their strengths had undergone leaps of varying degrees.

After staying another night at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Liu Bai took several more Immortal Herbs he recognized. The next day, Dugu Bo personally sent them back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Ah, we're finally back. I wonder how Lingling is doing. Has that girl missed me after not seeing me for days?"

Dugu Yan stretched lazily, fully displaying her perfect figure.

As she spoke, she glanced back at Liu Bai. Liu Bai was looking at her as well.

"Well? What do you think of your sister's figure?"

Liu Bai was slightly embarrassed. Had she caught him sneaking a look?

"Sister Yanyan definitely has the best figure."

Dugu Yan turned back and wrapped an arm around one of his.

"Sigh, little brother Xiao Bai is growing up so fast. You'll soon be taller than your sister."

Liu Bai had not expected Dugu Yan to link arms with him so directly, and he was momentarily stunned.

"What are you standing around for? Let's go."

"Oh, okay."

Dugu Yan pulled Liu Bai toward the academy grounds.

Today happened to be a holiday at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

When the two found Ye Lingling, she had just awakened from sleep. Dugu Yan directly pulled her to her feet while she rubbed her bleary eyes.

"Lingling, get up, get up. Sister Yanyan is back."

"Ah, oh. Sister Yanyan, Xiao Bai, you're back. Did getting your Soul Rings go smoothly?"

Ye Lingling was wearing adorable purple pajamas and was clearly still half asleep.

Dugu Yan immediately started kneading her little face.

"Lingling, wake up already. The sun is practically on your backside!"

"Ah, ah, ah, okay, okay! Sister Yanyan, I'm awake. Stop kneading, stop kneading."

Only after Ye Lingling begged for mercy did Dugu Yan let her go. Ye Lingling rubbed her slightly reddened cheeks with a resentful expression, even shooting Liu Bai a fierce glare.

Liu Bai: ...

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Lingling, guess what level my Soul Power is now."

Dugu Yan played coy.

Ye Lingling blurted out.

"Level 32."

She did not say level 31, because since Dugu Yan had asked that way, she definitely had not merely risen one level.

Absorbing a Soul Ring usually only raised one or two levels. If it was not level 31, then it had to be level 32.

But Dugu Yan shook her head smugly.

"Wrong, wrong. Guess again, guess again."

Ye Lingling tilted her head.

"It can't be level 31, can it? Would Sister Yanyan ask me if it were level 31?"

Dugu Yan raised a hand and flicked her forehead.

"Silly girl, can't you guess higher? Your Sister Yanyan is now a level 37 Soul Elder."

"Oh, level 37."

Ye Lingling covered her aching forehead and answered instinctively.

Wait, level 37? Not 31?

"Level 37? Sister Yanyan, you're not joking, are you? You didn't take any medicine that drains your body, did you?"

She worriedly checked Dugu Yan's body. Her Martial Soul was the Nine-Heart Begonia, making her exceptionally sensitive to vitality. Yet after examining her, she found nothing wrong. On the contrary, Dugu Yan's body was in better condition than it had ever been before.

But how was that possible? Sister Yanyan could not possibly be teasing her, could she?

"Don't worry, Lingling. I improved by taking Immortal Herbs. There are no side effects at all, and my Martial Soul even evolved."

"What? Immortal Herbs?!"

Liu Bai noticed Ye Lingling's reaction.

"What, Sister Lingling? You know about Immortal Herbs too?"

Ye Lingling fell silent for two seconds, then nodded.

"I know a little. Our clan once recorded some information about Immortal Herbs."

Her expression gradually turned serious.

"Sister Yanyan, where did you find the Immortal Herbs? Was there perhaps one called Sacred Heart Begonia among them?"

"Sacred Heart Begonia?"

Dugu Yan turned to look at Liu Bai. Liu Bai had been responsible for identifying the Immortal Herbs, while she did not recognize a single one.

Liu Bai thought for a moment.

Sacred Heart Begonia? He truly did not know. This Immortal Herb had never appeared in the original work, and he did not dare touch any herbs he did not recognize, since he had no idea whether they were poisonous.

"Sister Lingling, can you describe what this Sacred Heart Begonia looks like?"

Ye Lingling nodded, then got up and picked up the storage bracelet placed on a nearby cabinet.

She took out a painting and handed it to Liu Bai.

"This is what the Sacred Heart Begonia looks like. Xiao Bai, I'm counting on you. This Immortal Herb is simply too important to our Nine-Heart Begonia Clan. Please think carefully."

Liu Bai nodded and examined it closely after taking it. Judging by its appearance alone, it was almost no different from an ordinary begonia flower.

But there was an annotation beneath it: Sacred Heart Begonia, violet-gold in color and emitting a strange fragrance from its entire body. Ordinary Soul Masters who consume it may cleanse their meridians and forge a body of icy skin and jade bones. If consumed by a Soul Master of our Nine-Heart Begonia Clan, it can cause the Martial Soul to evolve, break the Martial Soul curse, and achieve the Sacred Heart Begonia!

Liu Bai was astonished. It could actually help Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Masters evolve their Martial Souls and break the Martial Soul curse.

The Nine-Heart Begonia Clan had seemingly incurred heaven's envy because its Martial Soul was too heaven-defying.

Since ancient times, it had always been passed down through a single line. At most, two inheritors could exist at the same time, and usually only one person in each generation could inherit the Martial Soul. Only after the previous inheritor died would the next one appear.

This left the clan with few descendants and made it difficult for it to grow stronger. It was also regarded as a "lonely destiny."

If Liu Bai remembered correctly, the Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Masters of this generation were Ye Lingling and her mother.

If Ye Lingling could obtain the Sacred Heart Begonia and evolve her Martial Soul, then her descendants could inherit her Martial Soul as well. The curse of the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan would naturally be broken.

No wonder the usually quiet and reserved Ye Lingling had looked so excited upon hearing the words "Immortal Herbs."

With an opportunity to break her clan's curse placed right before her, anyone would find it difficult not to feel excited.

Damn, Big Brother, Couldn't You Fall Somewhere Else?

Liu Bai confidently recalled the scene at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. There were too many Immortal Herbs there, and it was difficult for him to remember all of them.

However, there did seem to be a violet-gold begonia flower.

Anything capable of growing at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was certainly no ordinary plant. Combined with its appearance, it was most likely this so-called Sacred Heart Begonia.

Liu Bai nodded.

"There really was an Immortal Herb like that. It was most likely the Sacred Heart Begonia you mentioned, though I can't be certain."

Ye Lingling became excited and moved closer to Liu Bai.

"Xiao Bai, can you sell me that Immortal Herb? Any condition is fine, as long as I can obtain it."

As Ye Lingling drew closer, a faint begonia fragrance drifted into his nose.

"Anything really is fine?"

Ye Lingling met Liu Bai's gaze. She seemed to suddenly think of something, but then firmly nodded.

"Yes, anything is fine!"

Liu Bai nodded.

"Alright, but that Immortal Herb isn't mine. It belongs to Sister Yanyan's grandfather, so I can't decide on it directly."

Dugu Yan came over and waved a hand casually.

"Hey, I thought it was something serious. Since that Immortal Herb is so important to you, Lingling, we'll just give it to you. My grandfather definitely won't say anything."

Liu Bai thought about it. If Dugu Yan spoke up, Dugu Bo truly would not say anything.

But bringing Ye Lingling to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well...