Dugu Bo shook his head again and again, hurriedly replying,
"This junior wouldn't dare. I was simply overwhelmed with awe by Your Excellency's divine might."
Long Yun turned around. His eyes were deep as the starry sky as he quietly regarded Poison Douluo before him.
"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison in your body has already seeped into your bones. Even your Soul Power can no longer suppress it, correct?"
Long Yun's expression was calm, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
At those words, Dugu Bo's heart missed a beat.
His greatest secret had been seen through at a glance by this powerful figure.
"Your Excellency's discerning eyes see all. This crippled body of mine is of no consequence, but I pity my granddaughter, Yanyan. She's still young, and she inherited this deadly poison as well. I beg Your Excellency to show mercy and save her life!"
Dugu Bo could no longer care about the dignity of a Titled Douluo. His knees bent, and he sank to the ground.
As long as Dugu Yan could be saved, he was willing to do anything.
Looking at Dugu Bo kneeling on the ground, Long Yun gave a slight wave of his hand. A gentle yet irresistible force immediately lifted Dugu Bo upright.
"I don't like people dropping to their knees at the slightest thing."
Long Yun spoke slowly, lightly turning his palm over.
Two dazzling balls of light appeared out of thin air, suspended in midair.
On the left was a strange herb, emerald green from root to tip and bearing nine leaves. It gave off a refreshing fragrance that seemed to reach the heart and lungs. Just one breath of it made the Soul Power in one's body flow faster.
On the right was a fruit shaped like a coiled dragon, crimson all over. Faint dragon roars seemed to emanate from within it, and it radiated a warm vitality.
"These are the Nine-Jointed Jade Fragrant Herb and the Earth Dragon Red Blood Fruit."
Long Yun looked at the two Immortal Herbs and explained to Dugu Bo,
"This Nine-Jointed Jade Fragrant Herb can dispel the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in both your body and your granddaughter's. It will transform the poison into the purest origin Soul Power. It won't harm your foundations; on the contrary, it will take your poison cultivation to an even higher level."
"As for this Earth Dragon Red Blood Fruit, it contains the blood of a true dragon. It can temper your Martial Soul and transform your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor."
At this, Long Yun looked at Dugu Bo and casually added,
"Once you take them, not only will the poison be completely eliminated, but your bloodlines will also be improved. From then on, the path to godhood won't be difficult for you."
Godhood.
Those two words struck Dugu Bo's ears like a thunderclap on a clear day.
On Douluo Continent, becoming a Titled Douluo was the ultimate goal countless people could never reach in a lifetime. Gods, meanwhile, were supreme beings found only in legends.
Yet the dean of Rainbow Academy spoke of "godhood" so casually, as if he were discussing some trivial matter.
Dugu Bo stood frozen in place, his mind completely blank.
He looked at the two Immortal Herbs radiating a sacred aura, then at Long Yun's unruffled expression. At last, the overwhelming joy and astonishment in his heart erupted.
"Thump!"
Dugu Bo fell to his knees again. This time, his eyes were blazing with fervor and boundless reverence.
"Your Excellency, I can never repay your divine grace! I, Dugu Bo, am willing to follow you for the rest of my life and serve at your side. Should I break this vow, may heaven and man alike destroy me!"
Dugu Bo's voice was hoarse, yet every word rang like iron.
He knew this was the greatest—and only—chance of his life to change his fate.
If he could follow this unfathomable being, then perhaps godhood truly wouldn't be a dream anymore.
Looking at Dugu Bo kneeling once more, Long Yun shook his head helplessly.
"I told you, I don't take followers."
Long Yun turned toward the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and spoke softly,
"However, my Rainbow Academy could use a few teachers to watch over the herb garden and guide the students. If you don't mind, you can stay at the Academy as an honorary teacher."
Dugu Bo was so excited at those words that he nearly jumped up.
A teacher at Rainbow Academy.
Didn't that mean he could stay at Rainbow Academy openly from now on—and remain by the side of this godlike powerhouse?
"This junior is willing! I couldn't ask for more!"
Dugu Bo answered again and again, his hands trembling as he accepted the two Immortal Herbs.
Following Long Yun's instructions, he carefully separated some of the Nine-Jointed Jade Fragrant Herb and stored it in his Soul Tool, preparing to take it to Dugu Yan.
Then he took a deep breath and swallowed the remaining herb along with the Earth Dragon Red Blood Fruit.
Two entirely different energies erupted inside Dugu Bo's body in an instant.
One was cold, the other hot, yet neither was violent. Instead, they gently washed through his extraordinary meridians and eight channels.
Dugu Bo felt the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, which had clung to his bones like a parasite, meet its nemesis. It began to dissolve at a frenzied pace.
The poison hidden in his marrow and organs was enveloped by the medicinal power of the Nine-Jointed Jade Fragrant Herb, transformed into incomparably pure Soul Power, and poured continuously into his dantian.
At the same time, the medicinal power of the Earth Dragon Red Blood Fruit began to take effect.
A massive Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor phantom appeared behind Dugu Bo.
Nourished by the crimson energy of dragon blood, the enormous Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor let out a pained yet piercing cry.
Its snake skin began to peel away, replaced by blue-green dragon scales. Two majestic dragon horns slowly broke through the skin atop its head, while powerful dragon claws emerged from its belly.
"Roar!"
A clear, majestic dragon's cry rang through the valley.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor evolved into a higher-grade Martial Soul—the Jade Scale Dragon!
The aura around Dugu Bo began to soar wildly.
His Soul Power had been stuck at level ninety-one for years, but now its bottleneck shattered like a sheet of paper.
Level ninety-two.
Level ninety-three.
Level ninety-four.
Only when it reached the peak of level ninety-four did that surging Soul Power finally begin to settle.
Dugu Bo opened his eyes. Two streaks of green divine light flashed through them and vanished.
Feeling the surging Soul Power within him, rolling like the tide, and his powerful body, no longer plagued by the slightest discomfort, he was overcome by wild joy.
"Level ninety-four... My Soul Power actually reached level ninety-four!"
"And my Martial Soul evolved into the Jade Scale Dragon!"
Dugu Bo stared at his hands, his voice turning shrill with excitement.
In the past, the poison that plagued him left his Soul Power unstable, earning him the reputation of being the weakest Titled Douluo on Douluo Continent.
But now the poison was gone, his Martial Soul had evolved, and his Soul Power had leapt three levels, reaching level ninety-four.
If he ran into Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan again now, he could beat him until he was rolling on the ground.
From this day on, the title of weakest Titled Douluo had vanished without a trace.
Even more exciting was that Your Excellency hadn't refused to let him stay at Rainbow Academy.
That meant Dugu Bo—and the entire Dugu Family—had an immeasurably bright future ahead.
"Hahahaha!"
Dugu Bo couldn't help throwing his head back in laughter, his voice filled with relief and exhilaration.
Once he had finally calmed down enough to thank Long Yun again, he discovered that the place before him was already empty.
The corner of the white robe and the two mystical little dragons had long since disappeared from beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
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