The little farce from earlier soon passed.
But Tuoba Xuan said goodbye to Dugu Bo at the entrance to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
He still had something more important to do.
Following the instructions in the letter he had sent earlier, Tuoba Xuan went alone to a tavern.
The tavern was bustling with people, and Tuoba Xuan didn't stand out as he moved through the crowd.
Tuoba Xuan went up to a private room on the second floor and released his spiritual power to sweep the area.
He immediately found his grandfather's room.
That's right.
At the end of the letter Tuoba Xuan had sent back to the Sacred Dragon Sect, he had asked Tuoba Xi to find time to come to Heaven Dou City.
And so—
Following the unique traces Tuoba Xi had left behind,
Tuoba Xuan found him without a hitch.
Tuoba Xuan pushed open the door.
"Grandpa, it's been a long time."
Tuoba Xuan spoke with a soft laugh.
The two had not seen each other for a whole year.
So the moment Tuoba Xi saw Tuoba Xuan, he sprang to his feet, excitement plain on his face.
"Xuan, haha!"
A look of anticipation gleamed in Tuoba Xi's eyes.
"Do you know how shocked I was when I got your letter?"
Tuoba Xi gave Tuoba Xuan's shoulder a heavy slap with his broad palm.
"I never thought you would change so much in just one year."
Tuoba Xuan laughed too.
"Grandpa, I called you here because there's something important I need to tell you."
Tuoba Xi already knew everything Tuoba Xuan had experienced over the past year.
He also knew about Tuoba Xuan's current strength and talent.
So when he heard Tuoba Xuan say he had something important to discuss,
his expression immediately turned serious.
"Go ahead, Xuan."
Tuoba Xi's immense spiritual power spread in every direction, forming a sealed-off space.
Tuoba Xuan didn't say anything.
He simply took out an exquisite wooden box, from which a vigorous vitality radiated.
"Grandpa, take a look at this."
Tuoba Xuan opened the box.
Inside lay a yellow-brown, melon-shaped fruit.
Tuoba Xi froze. He could feel the fruit drawing him in.
"What is this?"
Tuoba Xi asked in confusion.
"Grandpa, this is called the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. It can increase the bloodline purity of dragon-type Soul Masters and improve the quality of their Soul Power."
"Grandpa, you've been stuck at level eighty-nine for years. I think this fruit can help you break through and become a Titled Douluo."
Tuoba Xi drew in a sharp breath.
How could he not have researched outside aids to help him break through and become a Titled Douluo?
So he had a vague idea that Immortal Herbs existed.
He just hadn't expected such a divine treasure to end up in his grandson's hands.
But Tuoba Xi firmly waved his hand.
"No, Xuan. Grandpa's talent has long since run dry. This fruit is so precious; you should be the one to take it."
Tuoba Xuan smiled.
"Grandpa, there's no need to worry. I've already absorbed the Immortal Herb that was right for me. I prepared this one especially for you."
Only then did Tuoba Xi put on a reluctant expression.
Truthfully, he desperately wanted the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.
The Sacred Dragon Sect had long been stuck at the top of the Lower Four Sects.
Tuoba Xi had also been stuck at the level-eighty-nine bottleneck for a long time.
He had tried countless ways to break through.
But none of them had worked.
Most importantly, he knew the continent was about to be turned upside down.
Only by becoming a Titled Douluo would he have the strength to protect his grandson and his sect.
"Very well. Since you've put it that way, Xuan, I'll accept it."
Tuoba Xuan smiled. That was more like it.
"Since we're here, come with me to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. You can absorb the Earth Dragon Golden Melon there, and while we're at it, we can hunt a ninth Soul Ring for you."
"The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?" Tuoba Xi stared blankly for a moment.
Tuoba Xuan smacked his forehead. He'd forgotten that he hadn't told his grandfather about Dugu Bo yet.
"Grandpa..."
Tuoba Xuan explained the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to Tuoba Xi as concisely as possible.
"So that's how it is!"
Tuoba Xi suddenly understood.
"I never would have thought that you and Poison Douluo would become friends, Xuan."
"There's no time to lose. Let's go, Grandpa."
With that, the two wasted no more time. They hurried out of the tavern and headed for Dugu Manor.
Once they arrived at Dugu Manor,
Tuoba Xuan immediately dragged Dugu Bo and his granddaughter away from their reminiscing.
The four of them then set off together for Sunset Forest.
There were three main reasons for this trip to Sunset Forest.
First, to cure the flaw in Dugu Yan's Martial Soul.
Second, to obtain Tuoba Xuan's fourth Soul Ring.
Third, to get his grandfather a ninth Soul Ring and help him become a Titled Douluo.
"Brother Tuoba, your grandson's talent is something this old man has never seen before."
"Would you be interested in bringing our families even closer together?"
On the way to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Dugu Bo asked with a mischievous grin.
He still hadn't given up on setting Tuoba Xuan and Dugu Yan up.
Tuoba Xi had certainly heard of Dugu Yan.
He also knew about her strength and talent.
And since Tuoba Xuan was his only descendant,
he naturally wanted his grandson to have a big family of his own.
Before long, the two shameless old men hit it off.
Tuoba Xi and Dugu Yan were left looking exasperated.
"Grandpa, don't forget what I told you about Shui Bing'er."
Tuoba Xuan couldn't listen to any more and gently tried to stop him.
Tuoba Xi waved it off without a care.
"So what? Shui Bing'er can be the second wife, then."
Tuoba Xuan: "..."
In this world, where strength ruled above all,
having multiple wives or multiple husbands was perfectly normal.
Take Tuoba Xi and Dugu Bo, for example. In their youth, they had plenty of beautiful young women around them.
That topic was enough to get Tuoba Xi and Dugu Bo talking at length.
The two chatted loudly. Anyone who didn't know them would have thought they were in-laws.
Dugu Yan covered her ears and turned away.
Tuoba Xuan simply sped up and overtook the other three.
The four soon arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"What a treasure trove, Brother Dugu."
Looking at the strange sight before him, Tuoba Xi couldn't help but sigh again and again.
Tuoba Xuan didn't want to deal with those two old geezers anymore. He focused on preparing pills for Dugu Yan.
In the end, Tuoba Xuan chose an Ice Immortal Jade Muscle Bone and an Immortal Herb called Ink Jade Divine Bamboo.
The Ice Immortal Jade Muscle Bone could unlock Dugu Yan's potential and even enhance her beauty.
The Ink Jade Divine Bamboo could increase the bloodline strength and resilience of Dugu Yan's Martial Soul.
Tuoba Xuan: "This is an Ice Immortal Jade Muscle Bone. Its defining trait is its toughness..."
Then Tuoba Xuan used his own blood essence to combine the medicinal ingredients and refine a healing pill for Dugu Yan.
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Dugu Bo found a Soul Bone for Dugu Yan.
He also taught Dugu Yan how to fuse toxins.
With the help of Tuoba Xuan's pills and the two Immortal Herbs, Dugu Yan successfully stabilized the toxins.
As a result, Dugu Yan's Soul Power Level had reached the level-forty bottleneck.
The good news was that Tuoba Xi had also successfully absorbed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon during this time, and his Soul Power had officially reached the peak of level ninety.
He needed only one Soul Ring to become a Titled Douluo standing at the summit of the continent.
Tuoba Xi had even chosen his title.
He would be Sacred Dragon Douluo.