Time passed bit by bit, just as Feng Baiyu had said. Half an hour later, Dugu Xin slowly opened his eyes.
Dugu Xin could barely contain his excitement. He was just about to speak when Dugu Bo clapped a hand over his mouth.
Dugu Bo furrowed his brow and hissed, "Don't make a sound! The young master and Yan Yan are still absorbing their Immortal Herbs. If you disturb them, I'll twist your ears right off!"
Dugu Xin suddenly understood and hurriedly clamped his mouth shut, not daring to raise his voice.
"Xin'er," Dugu Bo asked, "did that [Snake Scale Fruit] change your Martial Soul?"
"Of course!" Dugu Xin's eyes brimmed with delight, but he understood that this was no time to make a fuss.
If he disturbed Yan Yan and the young master while they refined their Immortal Herbs, they'd be guilty beyond redemption—even if they died a hundred times over!
Just then, Feng Qingluan turned his head and focused a thread of Soul Power, sending his voice across the several dozen feet between them. "Brother Dugu, you can go back first. With me keeping watch here, I'll make sure nothing disturbs the two of them."
Dugu Bo naturally trusted Feng Qingluan. He and Dugu Xin bowed to him from afar in farewell, then quietly made their way out.
After the Dugu father and son left, only Feng Baiyu and the other two remained at the [Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well].
Meanwhile, after leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Xin could no longer keep his excitement in check.
Dugu Bo saw right through his son's thoughts and said, "Xin'er, release your Martial Soul and let your father have a look."
"Yes." Dugu Xin gave a low shout. "Martial Soul Possession!"
At his deep shout, Soul Power burst forth from his body.
A tide of crimson light swept outward. Fine, scarlet scales appeared across his skin, each one glinting like metal and refracting dangerous, fiery light in the sun.
A massive serpentine phantom slowly took shape above Dugu Xin's head. Its entire body was covered in fiery red scales, and its eyes were a deep, dark gold, as if they held flames capable of burning everything to ash. As the phantom swayed, the air around it seemed to catch fire. The weeds on the ground withered instantly, giving off a faint, charred smell.
The instant his Martial Soul Possession was complete, Dugu Xin threw back his head and roared. The serpentine phantom let out a deafening hiss in response.
Looking at his son's Martial Soul, Dugu Bo couldn't help swallowing.
How was this a [Fire Scale Snake]? It was clearly a [Fire Scale Python] Martial Soul!
In the Martial Soul lineages of the Soul Master world, the [Fire Scale Snake] and [Fire Scale Python] were both snake-type Martial Souls centered on the fire attribute. Yet there was a world of difference between them in form, ability, and potential for growth—like two bloodlines branching from the same source, only to follow entirely different paths of evolution.
The [Fire Scale Snake] was more lithe. Its serpentine phantom had a slender body and granted a great increase in speed. Its movements were nimble as a ghost, and it excelled at darting about and wearing down its foes.
The [Fire Scale Python], by contrast, was thick as a pillar and could reach more than a dozen zhang in length. Its attacks were powerful, and its defenses were astonishing. Built around overwhelming strength and fire, it was a top-tier presence even among the Power Attack System.
"It really is a [Fire Scale Python]!" Looking at his son's Martial Soul, Dugu Bo couldn't help bursting into laughter. "Xin'er, even though you turned down the young master's offer of an Immortal Herb, that [Fire Scale Fruit] is no less than an Immortal Herb to you!"
The [Fire Scale Python] had plenty of room to grow. The Dugu Family's records even mentioned a [Fire Scale Python] Soul Master who had evolved into a [Fire Scale Golden Python].
That [Fire Scale Golden Python] stood on the same level as the [Golden Crocodile King], and was even stronger than the [Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon].
If his son really managed to evolve, the Dugu Family might have a chance to compete for the title of the foremost Beast Martial Soul family!
No, wait!
His own Martial Soul had a chance to advance into the [Jade Scaled Serpent Emperor], and Yan Yan's Martial Soul was sure to evolve at least once! In other words, all three members of their family had different forms of snake-type Martial Souls, each one capable of matching the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
"Heh, heh!" Dugu Bo laughed aloud. "That young master was worth acknowledging!"
"Father," Dugu Xin suddenly said, "do you think it's possible that the [Fire Scale Fruit] was an Immortal Herb all along? Even though I refused, the young master still gave me the best possible choice?"
"Gasp!" Hearing Dugu Xin's words, Dugu Bo said, "That really could be true!"
Dugu Bo looked toward the [Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well] and murmured, "The young master is truly benevolent!"
The kindhearted young master was currently immersed in refining the medicinal power. He was completely unaware of the commotion outside and couldn't respond in the slightest. Feng Baiyu remained in meditation for a full three days and nights! If not for his steady breath and steadily rising Soul Power, Feng Qingluan would have worried that something had gone wrong.
As time passed, Feng Baiyu finally finished refining the three Immortal Herbs.
His eyelashes twitched. At last, his eyes—shut tight for three days and nights—slowly opened.
Feng Baiyu took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. When he breathed out, the air carried a faint, grassy fragrance.
Feng Baiyu raised a hand and clenched it into a fist, feeling the unceasing rush of Soul Power within him. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips. The medicinal power of all three Immortal Herbs had been completely refined. He had now reached Soul Elder, though he wouldn't know his exact level until he absorbed a Soul Ring.
Feng Baiyu could feel that his meridians had widened several times over, and his Soul Power circulated more than twice as fast as before.
He stood and stretched his limbs. His joints cracked sharply. His gaze swept over the surroundings, taking in Dugu Yan, still meditating in the [Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well], and Feng Qingluan, watching him from nearby.
"Grandpa, I'm done." Feng Baiyu hurried over to Feng Qingluan, unable to suppress his smile. "I can clearly feel that my Soul Power has surged, but I can't tell exactly what level I've reached."
At this, Feng Qingluan reached out and took his wrist, probing it with a thread of Soul Power. A moment later, he snatched his hand back, astonishment and joy in his eyes. He couldn't help exclaiming, "You child... You're not even eight, yet your Soul Power is probably already close to level forty! If we can find a fifteen-thousand-year Pure-Blooded Phoenix Soul Beast for your third Soul Ring, you should be able to break through to Soul Ancestor and prepare for your fourth Soul Ring!"
"My third Soul Ring can challenge fifteen thousand years?" Feng Baiyu was delighted by the news.
He had never imagined that the combined effects of the [Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum] and [Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone] could improve him so much!
But he soon understood. It wasn't just the work of the two Immortal Herbs—he also had the [Gold of Life] inside him to thank!
As Feng Baiyu refined the Immortal Herbs, the [Gold of Life] had also been speeding up the transformation of his body.
As for the [Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew], while it had improved Feng Baiyu's spiritual power, it had also raised the age of his eye Spirit Bone to the ten-thousand-year level!
Feng Baiyu looked toward his grandfather and examined his attributes.
Before long, a long string of information appeared in his mind.
[Name]: Feng Qingluan [Martial Soul]: Azure Luan [Age]: 108 years old. [Cultivation]: Level 97 Titled Douluo [Soul Skills]: [Wind Brake Arrow Feather] [Sorrowful Wind Whistle] [Wind Whirl Azure Billows] [Doomsday Wind Orb] [Fierce Phoenix Thousand Birds] [Qingluan Soaring Swan Startle] [Martial Soul True Body] [Azure Sky Cloud Sea Sound Dust Extinction] [Long-Crying Qingluan at East Suburb] [Spirit Bones]: 4,000-year-old [Raging Wind Bird Torso Bone], 88,000-year-old [Black Feather Sky Dragon Eagle Skull], 70,000-year-old [Emerald Demon Bird Right Arm Soul Bone], 400,000-year-old [Nine Heavens Eagle] Left Arm Bone.
At that moment, Feng Baiyu's [Fire Phoenix True Sight] could see through all the information about Titled Douluo experts!
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