Progress in Strength

Five years had passed since they last met, but Dugu Bo's appearance had not changed. He was still tall and thin, and even sitting there, he resembled an ancient pine.

His ink-black hair hung loose behind him. Beneath his sharp brows, his eyes were a dark green, and when he wore a stern expression, he gave off a cold, fierce impression.

Of course, although Dugu Bo wore a stern expression in front of his son, Dugu Xin, his demeanor was relatively gentle. He spoke seriously but calmly:

"You stay here every day, boy. Your Soul Power cultivation isn't slow, and you can gain some combat experience sparring with Long Yin and the others, but you've never been through a real life-and-death struggle. You're still short on tempering..."

"How could that be?" Dugu Xin immediately protested. "I went to a Soul Beast forest with Brother Shu, Brother Yin, and the others to hunt Soul Beasts before. How can you say I've never been through a real life-and-death struggle?!"

"Hm?!"

Dugu Bo's face darkened. He fixed Dugu Xin with an imposing stare and said in a low, oppressive voice, "What? My words don't carry weight anymore, is that it?"

"But it's true," Dugu Xin muttered.

"You...!"

Dugu Bo's swordlike brows shot up, and he was about to say more.

"All right, all right-"

Ling Yi spoke up at just the right time. He poured a bowl of wine for both father and son and said gently, "Senior, Xiao Xin, do me a favor and stop arguing for now-"

"Hmph!"

Dugu Bo snorted coldly and glared at his son Dugu Xin with the dark green eyes that could usually frighten children into tears.

To his surprise, Dugu Xin did not even look at his father. He simply turned his head toward the lotus