Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's Feelings

The yellow Soul Ring on Dugu Yan's body suddenly lit up. Her green eyes turned red, and the emerald scales on her snake tail were covered by a layer of faint red light.

Dugu Yan opened her mouth, spitting out a thick red mist that surged toward Xing Tian.

This was Dugu Yan's first soul skill, Jade Phosphorous Red Poison, also known as Excitement Poison. Beyond the lethality of the toxin itself, it also possessed auxiliary and control effects.

Through mental control, she could force teammates into an excited state, boosting their attack power and speed, or cause opponents to suffer mental exhaustion until death.

However, Dugu Yan was still somewhat arrogant; she simply released the soul ring skill without infusing it with her Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison.

"Sister Yan, you underestimate me far too much."

Xing Tian's hand transformed into a blade as his thousand-year Soul Ring lit up. His hand-blade turned pitch black, and the black light on the twin scythes of the Dark Evil Spirit Mantis Martial Soul behind him intensified, causing the surrounding light to dim.

The next moment, Xing Tian swept his hand-blade horizontally. The black color instantly transformed into a crescent-shaped black beam that flew out, slicing the red poisonous mist directly in two. The cut was smooth and flat, its texture not at all like mist.

The surface of the cut was no longer red but black, and this blackness rapidly eroded the poisonous mist until it dissipated entirely into black smoke.

Xing Tian smiled faintly: "Sister Yan, my first soul skill perfectly inherits the innate soul skill of the Dark Night Fierce Mantis, Night Fierce Light. Its cutting power and erosion are unparalleled; this level of poisonous mist will only be eroded away by the darkness."

Dugu Yan was so angry she stomped her feet. Xing Tian had used only two fingers to execute his soul skill; such a casual gesture was a massive insult to her.

Ye Lingling and Ye Renxin could only sigh; as expected of a top-tier Martial Soul and a thousand-year soul skill, the power was terrifying.

But the most surprised person was actually Dugu Bo. He had to marvel at Xing Tian's talent once again: "This brat has actually adapted to the Martial Soul Semi-Mimicry combat style! And he's already using his newly acquired soul skill with such proficiency."

"What's even more exaggerated is that, unlike other Soul Masters with Martial Soul Semi-Mimicry, he doesn't condense a single soul skill between himself and his Martial Soul; he executes a single soul skill in perfect synchronization with his Martial Soul."

"It's equivalent to making the original soul skill exert nearly double the power. How did he achieve this? To reach this level of control, it requires not only years of cultivation but also immense strength. Could it be that he is truly born with wisdom, capable of learning anything he sets his mind to?"

Just as Dugu Bo was marveling, Dugu Yan grew fierce: "Stinky brat, don't get cocky. Take a look at my Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison!"

This time, Dugu Yan used her Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison to execute her first soul skill, forming a mixed poison that multiplied the toxicity several times over.

Dugu Yan unleashed her first soul skill again, but this time the poisonous mist was not red, but a mixture of red and green.

Unlike the faint, fragrant red poison from before, this mist had a pungent, nauseating stench that made one's head spin.

Xing Tian felt the might of the poisonous mist and was inwardly impressed: "What a Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison. Its focus isn't the toxin itself, but its ability to fuse with various poisons to create a mixed poison with geometrically increasing toxicity. I need to get serious."

Xing Tian executed his first soul skill again, but unlike before, this was no longer child's play.

His entire right arm turned completely black, as did the right scythe of the Dark Evil Spirit Mantis. The two seemed to share a telepathic connection, echoing each other.

A sound of tearing air erupted, and another crescent-shaped black beam was slashed out, though this time in a vertical direction.

This time, the poisonous mist began to split in two before the black beam even touched it.

When the black beam passed completely through the mist, the mist vanished without a trace, leaving only a few red and green specks of light in mid-air.

The black beam had not weakened much and continued straight toward Dugu Yan. A suffocating pressure bore down on her, and Dugu Yan felt as if she were about to be swallowed by an endless darkness.

Just as the black beam was about three feet from Dugu Yan, it suddenly veered, slashed toward the sky, and vanished as a black dot.

Dugu Yan's eyes went blank, her Martial Soul Possession deactivated, and her clothes were soaked through with sweat. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, reacting like someone who had just escaped death.

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of Xing Tian's head, and he stumbled, nearly falling. Turning around, he saw that Dugu Bo had flicked him with his finger.

Dugu Bo's hand glowed with a faint ink-green light as he cursed: "You little brat, biting the hand that feeds you! Who told you to strike so hard? Do you want to taste this old man's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison?"

Xing Tian felt that life was too difficult. No matter how much of a genius he was, his body was only six years old; controlling his strength to this degree was already no small feat.

Seeing the expression on Xing Tian's face, Dugu Bo felt he might have gone a bit too far, but he still snorted coldly, glared at him, and then helped Dugu Yan up, channeling gentle soul power into her while checking on her with concern.

"Yan Yan, are you hurt?"

Dugu Yan finally regained her senses and stood up shakily, the arrogance on her face completely gone: "I'm fine, Grandpa. Don't blame Xiao Tian; my skills were inferior. You were right, I brought this on myself."

"You are very strong, but that doesn't mean my Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison has lost. Its most terrifying aspect is that the more poisons it mixes with, the more violent the toxicity becomes. Next time, I will definitely beat you!"

Dugu Yan spoke tough words, but her tone wasn't very forceful. Most importantly, the way she looked at Xing Tian was unusual—somewhat flirtatious, with her little face flushed red.

Xing Tian didn't pay much attention to Dugu Yan's abnormality and simply said in a normal tone: "Then we shall spar again when the time comes!"

But the other three saw the entire scene clearly.

Could Yan Yan have taken a liking to this brat? That detestable little brat, still acting so calm and collected, he didn't even notice! It infuriates me!

Dugu Bo was gnashing his teeth inwardly, but he gradually convinced himself.

If Yan Yan really likes him, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. This brat is indeed excellent; I just hope he doesn't let Yan Yan down, otherwise, I will make sure he knows the power of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison!

But then Dugu Bo hesitated, thinking: Wait, Brother Ye clearly intends for him to be his grandson-in-law. Does this count as biting the hand that feeds me? Ah, forget it. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; I won't worry about it!

Ye Renxin's inner thoughts were much simpler and calmer than Dugu Bo's. It was normal for a girl to like a strong, handsome boy, especially since Xing Tian was young and had endured inhuman suffering, which easily stirred a girl's compassion.

He didn't mind if Dugu Yan was around Xing Tian, but he was worried that his granddaughter, Ye Lingling, might not be able to accept it.

Ye Lingling appeared cold and aloof on the outside, but she was delicate and sensitive on the inside. As a support-type Soul Master with no combat ability, she had long understood that her other half must be a partner. When her grandfather, Ye Renxin, brought Xing Tian back to the Ye Mansion, she had understood his intentions.

She just didn't want it—not because she disliked Xing Tian. Much like the reason Dugu Yan liked him, she had a good impression of Xing Tian. Furthermore, she had saved him, preventing him from dying in front of her, which made the significance of their connection too special.

Therefore, her feelings for Xing Tian were complex and intense, far surpassing Dugu Yan's.

She didn't want it only because she felt she shouldn't have such thoughts.

If Sister Yan can be with Xiao Tian, that would be nice too...

She could only convince herself of this, but the downturned corners of her mouth and her lost expression betrayed that she was lying.