"What do you mean, 'can'?"
Yu Yuanzhen shoved Dugu Bo aside in annoyance.
"My precious grandson isn't someone your granddaughter can just claim! Move along, move along."
"Old Jade Dragon, what's wrong with my granddaughter?"
Dugu Bo glared.
"She's only three years older than Tianchen, and as the saying goes, 'A woman three years older brings home a golden brick.' That little age gap doesn't matter at all!"
"Besides, my granddaughter is already a Level 20 Soul Grandmaster..."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo's voice suddenly dropped.
His granddaughter was an eleven-year-old Level 20 Soul Grandmaster. Under normal circumstances, he certainly wouldn't have thought her talent was lacking.
But now, standing before Yu Tianchen, that eight-year-old Level 36 Soul Elder—a complete freak—
his granddaughter really did seem a little...
"Um, Senior Dugu Bo, I think we can wait until we've grown up before talking about something like that."
Seeing Dugu Bo grow awkward mid-sentence, Yu Tianchen hurriedly spoke up.
He really didn't want to talk about this so early.
Even with Shui Bing'er, who had a somewhat ambiguous relationship with him, he'd urged her to focus on cultivation first.
"That works too. Anyway, I have a feeling you won't escape my granddaughter's grasp!"
Seeing that Yu Tianchen had given him an out, Dugu Bo wasn't stubborn enough to refuse it. He took the opportunity and went along with it.
Though he said that, he'd already started entertaining the idea.
An eight-year-old Soul Elder, and a Level 36 one at that.
A thousand-year first ring, and a ten-thousand-year third ring.
With a prodigy like this, unique across the entire continent, he'd have to win the boy's heart while he was still young.
Once he grew up, would his granddaughter even have a chance?
Though he was very confident in his granddaughter's looks,
Dugu Bo still wanted to get in first.
He didn't mind powerful people being surrounded by a bevy of beauties.
But no matter what,
his granddaughter had to be the first to get a piece of the meat!
Hearing Dugu Bo's bold declaration, Yu Yuanzhen said nothing and merely smiled.
As if.
That girl from Skywater City was practically already at the table. You, Old Poison Freak, still wanted to cut in line?
Get to the back and wait.
Yu Yuanzhen wasn't actually opposed to Dugu Bo's granddaughter spending time with Yu Tianchen or anything like that.
On the contrary, given Dugu Bo's standing as a Titled Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen was quite happy for the man's granddaughter to get to know his grandson.
But he also knew his grandson's temperament and figured Yu Tianchen most likely wouldn't agree to Dugu Bo's plan.
That was why he'd joked around a little, giving them both a chance to step down gracefully.
Yu Tianchen had no idea what Yu Yuanzhen and Dugu Bo were thinking.
Seeing that the subject had finally been dropped, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go, Grandpa Dugu Bo. Since we're going to detoxify Miss Dugu Yan first, we should get moving."
"Good. And don't keep calling me 'Senior.' It's too formal. Your grandfather and I are of the same generation, so just call me Grandpa."
"Uh... all right, Grandpa Dugu Bo."
Hearing Yu Tianchen address him differently, Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction.
Then, under his guidance, the three of them went to the edge of the hollow in the valley containing the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, stopping at the entrance to a cave near the outer perimeter.
"Grandpa!"
As soon as they entered the cave, a pretty girl with dark purple hair ran over.
"Yan Yan, you weren't waiting too long, were you?"
Dugu Bo's face immediately lit up at the sight of her. He stepped forward and gently ruffled the girl's hair.
"Come, let me introduce you."
He briefly introduced Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianchen.
Dugu Yan politely greeted Yu Yuanzhen, then looked at Yu Tianchen with curiosity.
"So you're the genius my grandpa keeps talking about whenever he comes home?"
She spoke with a hint of defiance.
"Yeah. If your grandpa hasn't met anyone more talented than me, then he must be talking about me."
Yu Tianchen replied with a grin.
"Hmph, you're not modest at all. What level are you? I'm already—mmph!"
Just as Dugu Yan was about to say more, Dugu Bo clapped a hand over her mouth.
"All right, Yan Yan. Don't be rude."
Dugu Bo's voice carried a trace of helplessness.
If this had happened a few days ago, he wouldn't have minded his granddaughter comparing herself with Yu Tianchen.
Back then, Yu Tianchen had only been Level 27. Although that was still higher than Dugu Yan's level, the difference hadn't been quite so outrageous.
Now, he was already Level 36. What was a girl who'd only just entered the Soul Grandmaster realm supposed to compare with this freak?
"All right, Grandpa Dugu Bo. There's no time to waste, so let's get started."
Yu Tianchen didn't dwell on what Dugu Yan had said earlier. He smiled at Dugu Bo.
"The poison in Miss Dugu Yan's body has been with her since birth, carried over from her mother's womb. Her cultivation isn't very advanced yet, so she doesn't need to go through a process as complicated as yours. I'll channel lightning to wear away the poison that's built up in her body, then strengthen her body a little."
"The process will be painful, but at least it won't be so complicated."
Dugu Bo nodded.
"Then we'll do it your way. Shall we start here?"
"Let's go to the mountaintop. It'll be easier for me to use my Martial Soul there."
Yu Tianchen thought for a moment before answering.
"All right."
Dugu Bo nodded. Then he led Dugu Yan after Yu Tianchen and Yu Yuanzhen to the summit of the hollow surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Dugu Yan was completely bewildered the whole way.
Only after they reached the summit did she look at Dugu Bo.
"Grandpa, what exactly are we doing?"
"From what you said, am I poisoned?"
"It's all right, Yan Yan. It might hurt a little in a moment, but you must endure it."
Dugu Bo spoke to Dugu Yan sternly.
Then he stepped aside and said to Yu Tianchen:
"Go ahead and begin, Tianchen."
"All right."
Yu Tianchen nodded and brought his palms together. The Five Thunder Shock Drums appeared behind him, blazing with radiant lightning.
Then he stamped one foot and rose into the air.
"Five Thunder Shock Drums, Limit Excitation Stance!"
With Yu Tianchen's low shout,
the Five Thunder Shock Drums, which had been radiating pale blue lightning, instantly transformed into dazzling violet bolts.
At the same time, dark clouds began to gather overhead.
"Miss Dugu Yan, release your Martial Soul and circulate your meditation method with all your might. I'm starting!"
Even Yu Tianchen's voice seemed to crackle with lightning.
He raised his hand and pointed sharply downward.
A violet bolt of heavenly lightning, thick as an arm, came crashing down from the dark clouds above.
Dugu Yan had only just heard Yu Tianchen when she started to say something. Then the violet lightning suddenly struck.
"Ah!!"
She cried out and tried to run, but the lightning struck her directly.
It roasted her to a crisp, leaving her dark purple hair standing straight up, every strand bristling.
"Hic."
Her mouth opened slightly, and a wisp of black smoke rose out.
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