"I've read plenty of books, so naturally I know a great deal about things like Immortal Herbs."
Ye Yunxi continued, "Senior Dugu, all you need to do is gather the poison inside this bead."
As she spoke, Ye Yunxi took a bead from her clothes.
"Once the poison is gathered inside, there's a good chance it can store your poison attack."
Dugu Bo had no doubts. Dugu Yan had already evolved into a dragon, so why would he question it? He swallowed the bead and the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, then sat cross-legged and began absorbing them.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison that had accumulated inside his body surged forth under the medicine's pull, turning into wisps of inky black qi that all converged toward the precious bead.
The poison source was drawn out of his meridians, and the bone-deep agony vanished without a trace. The warm medicinal power of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon burst open, while the lingering effects of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well nourished his organs. His Soul Power surged wildly like a rising tide.
Rumble!
Vast Soul Power shot straight into the sky. A green-blue Martial Soul phantom suddenly appeared. As the serpent's body trembled, its scales fell away and dragon scales grew in their place. Its serpent head transformed into a dragon's, its whiskers unfurled, and its tail became covered in dark golden patterns.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul had fully evolved into the Jade Scale Poison Dragon!
Poison and earth, its two attributes, fused into one. Dragon might surged, and its poisonous essence grew pure and concentrated, no longer in danger of backfiring.
His Soul Power soared steadily, reaching level ninety-two.
His Soul Power settled firmly at level ninety-two, making him a Titled Douluo. All restraints were broken; his poison illness and cultivation bottleneck were resolved in a single stroke!
Dugu Bo slowly opened his eyes, his gaze glittering. His gaunt frame stood straight as a pine, his complexion rosy and healthy, no longer showing the slightest trace of illness. His aura felt whole and refined. Every bone and limb in his body felt incomparably at ease—a lightness he had not known for decades.
He sprang to his feet and bowed deeply to Ye Yunxi. His aged voice brimmed with reverence and sincerity as he bent at the waist. "Miss, your great kindness has given me a new life! I, Dugu Bo, will follow your lead for the rest of my days!"
Dugu Yan hurriedly bowed as well, her eyes brimming with awe.
With a gauzy veil still covering her face, Ye Yunxi curved her lips in a faint, composed smile and waved a hand. Her voice was clear and cool. "It was a small favor. There's no need to dwell on it."
With that, she turned and headed for the woods beyond the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, preparing to return.
But her foot caught on an Immortal Herb's roots between the stones. Her balance gave way, and she stumbled forward, crashing heavily onto the bluestone ground.
Thud! The impact sent a gust of wind sweeping the pale-moon gauze from her face. Only a corner remained clinging to her temple, leaving half her breathtaking face exposed to the daylight.
Her peach-blossom eyes shimmered, framed by long lashes; her nose was finely shaped, and her lips were rosy. Her skin was as fair as snow. That half of her face, a blend of cool elegance and bewitching allure, was stunning enough to take one's breath away, like an immortal descended into the mortal world.
Dugu Yan's pupils shrank, and her heart began to pound wildly. She could hardly believe such peerless beauty existed; even another woman would be shaken to the core by the sight.
Dugu Bo was even more shaken. His sunken eyes remained fixed on that half of her face, terror surging in them as the blood rushed to his head.
There was no mistaking that face!
His aged voice trembled as he blurted out, filled with utter shock and reverence:
"Im—Imperial Concubine!"
"What? Grandfather, she's the Crown Prince's consort?" Dugu Yan exclaimed in surprise, unable to hide her envy of the woman's beauty.
"Ow!"
Ye Yunxi clutched her bottom. "That really hurt. I didn't expect to be recognized again."
"Imperial Concubine, I'll remember the kindness the Dugu Family owes you for the rest of my life. I, Dugu Bo, am willing to become your aide."
The moment Dugu Bo saw that it was Ye Yunxi, he dropped to one knee. If she had been an ordinary young woman, that would have been one thing, but she was the Imperial Concubine. He dared not show her disrespect.
The evolution of their Martial Souls into dragons had finally freed the Dugu Family from the poison that had plagued them for generations. He would never forget such a great kindness.
Dugu Yan followed Dugu Bo's example.
"Don't make such a big deal of it. In private, I'm just an ordinary girl. That's why I deliberately wore a veil."
Ye Yunxi spread her hands. "You two can get up now."
Seeing Ye Yunxi's cheeks flushed, Dugu Bo felt his heart give an unexpected flutter.
Even a Titled Douluo could feel that way... No wonder the Crown Prince wanted to marry her.
This woman was the very embodiment of a beauty who could bring a nation to ruin.
Ye Yunxi gently rubbed the sore side of her bottom. A trace of helplessness crossed her peach-blossom eyes, and she spoke in an even tone. "Well, since my identity has been exposed, there's no need to hide it anymore."
Her peerless features were now fully revealed, cool elegance mingling with bewitching charm. As her gaze shifted, the faint allure of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox spread around her, and even the surrounding plants seemed to soften.
Dugu Bo bowed his head, scarcely daring to breathe. Dugu Yan stared without blinking, her heart filled with nothing but wonder and reverence.
Just then, a cold mechanical voice suddenly rang out in Ye Yunxi's mind.
[ Ding! Main quest triggered: Form a Bond with Poison Douluo ] [ Congratulations, host. Quest complete: You helped Dugu Bo and his granddaughter cure their poison and break through their cultivation bottlenecks, earning Poison Douluo's lifelong loyalty. ] [ Quest reward: One thirty-thousand-year top-grade Soul Ring, Soul Power affinity +20%. Choose a compatible attribute! ]
As the system's announcement faded, the source power of a Soul Ring gathered in Ye Yunxi's dantian, warm and potent. Golden-red light swirled around it, its aura rich and full. It was an attack-type Soul Ring, perfectly suited to her Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Martial Soul.
A glint flashed in Ye Yunxi's eyes, and her heart lifted with quiet delight. Her expression remained calm, as placid as still water.
She was a level-fifty Soul King, already just one Soul Ring away from condensing her fifth Soul Skill. This thirty-thousand-year Soul Ring had come at just the right time!
Dugu Bo looked up and saw Ye Yunxi's calm expression. He hurriedly declared, "Imperial Concubine, I'll never forget your kindness! From now on, Sunset Forest is your back garden, and you may take as many Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well as you please! My granddaughter and I are also willing to brave fire and water for you, without hesitation!"
Dugu Yan nodded firmly as well. Her Jade Scale Dragon Emperor Martial Soul quivered, and she declared, "So am I!"
Ye Yunxi gave a slight nod, a faint smile curving her lips. "There's no need to be so formal. Let's just say today's events were a fortunate coincidence."
"As for the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, two are enough for me. The rest can remain in your care."
As she spoke, Soul Power stirred faintly around her, and the aura of the thirty-thousand-year Soul Ring quietly drew inward. She clenched her hand, feeling the Soul Power in her meridians surge ever more powerfully. The beginnings of her fifth Soul Skill had already appeared.
She had taken a tumble and lost her cover, but gained a tremendous opportunity.
A deal like that was well worth it.
Ye Yunxi brushed the dust from her skirt and headed for the woods, her steps light as she moved with Lingbo Microsteps. Before long, she had turned into a faint shadow.
"Until we meet again, Senior Dugu."
Her cool voice drifted on the wind, its lingering echo not yet faded.
Dugu Bo and his granddaughter bowed as they saw her off. Only after that peerless figure had vanished into the depths of the woods did they slowly straighten.
Dugu Bo gazed in the direction she had gone, reverence filling his sunken eyes. He said solemnly, "That woman was born with extraordinary gifts. Her future accomplishments will be beyond measure."