The two of them froze.
Xue Qinghe could tell that Dugu Bo didn't seem entirely unwilling to get involved after all, and a sliver of hope rose in his heart.
If he could get someone else to share the burden, the pressure on his side would certainly ease. Dugu Bo had no reason to make things difficult for him.
With that, Xue Qinghe released Lin Yan's little hand.
Lin Yan understood. He immediately completed Martial Soul Possession.
The Evil Fire Demon Dragon, wrapped in purple-red flames, plunged into Lin Yan's body. Before long, scorching heat enveloped him.
Dugu Bo studied the scene before him for a long while. At last, a trace of concealed surprise appeared in his eyes.
"His Martial Soul's flames are of such high quality? And his dragon bloodline is so pure! Just what kind of Martial Soul is this?"
That was right. From Dugu Bo's perspective, Lin Yan's Evil Fire Demon Dragon Martial Soul was far superior to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Whether in the strength of its flames or the purity of its dragon bloodline, Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was no match.
That was also why, back on the Soul Fighting stage, Yu Tianheng's Martial Soul enhancement had weakened as soon as the two of them released their Martial Souls.
He had been suppressed by the Martial Soul!
Dugu Bo took a few steps toward Lin Yan, then said,
"Launch an attack at me!"
Lin Yan pretended not to understand and turned an inquiring gaze toward Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe nodded.
"You don't need to use a Soul Skill. Just attack the senior with your flames."
With permission granted, Lin Yan wrapped his right fist in Evil Fire and punched Dugu Bo's outstretched palm.
Bang!
Fist met palm, then they separated!
Dugu Bo frowned as he looked at his palm. He found that a wisp of Evil Fire had attached itself directly to it.
The air fell silent for a moment.
Dugu Bo began carefully sensing its temperature and destructive power. Xue Qinghe and Dugu Yan watched his expression closely throughout.
Dugu Yan especially had clenched her hands into fists, afraid her grandfather might do something rash to Lin Yan.
Before long, Dugu Bo raised his eyes.
"What kind of fire is this? Why can it affect a person's mind?"
Lin Yan said,
"I call it Evil Fire."
"Evil Fire?" Dugu Bo stood up and turned to look at Xue Qinghe.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince... where did you find this boy?"
Clearly, in his agitation, he had nearly called Xue Qinghe by his real name.
Xue Qinghe didn't take offense. He merely nodded, a faint smile of satisfaction on his face.
"Does the senior believe now that Lin Yan can't fully control his flames?"
Dugu Bo knitted his brows.
From what he could sense, Lin Yan's Evil Fire did indeed have the power to disturb a person's mind, but it was nowhere near uncontrollable.
"Is it because he's only just awakened his Martial Soul? Or am I simply too powerful, and this level of Evil Fire can no longer make the boy lose control?"
"Whatever the reason, it seems the other party didn't necessarily cripple Yu Tianheng on purpose."
He stared at Lin Yan for a long while, as if trying to find a trace of guilt on his face. But Lin Yan had nerves of steel.
Then he glanced at his granddaughter and saw that her beautiful eyes were full of concern for Lin Yan.
At last, Dugu Bo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case, there's nothing left to argue about."
Dugu Bo rose and stepped over beside Xue Qinghe, speaking with complete composure.
"Yu Tianheng started the trouble. He was simply outmatched and badly injured as a result."
"Even if that old dragon comes in person, he won't have much to say."
And with that, the matter was settled...
Dugu Bo's words had made his position clear. Xue Qinghe and Dugu Yan both let out faint smiles.
"That old man really is cautious. This wasn't easy."
Xue Qinghe privately formed that assessment of Dugu Bo.
At that moment, seeing that the tension among them had eased, Dugu Yan ran straight over to Lin Yan.
"Lin Yan, are you all right?"
The girl had wanted to ask that for a long time. But with the Crown Prince and her grandfather there, they had seemed locked in a silent standoff. Knowing better than to act rashly, she had held back.
Now that Dugu Bo had made his position clear, she immediately ran over to check on Lin Yan.
The atmosphere in the room was no longer tense. The girl crouched down and felt around Lin Yan's body, examining him from head to toe. Even Dugu Bo felt jealous watching her...
Xue Qinghe took it all in and secretly felt relieved that, in this unseen contest, Dugu Yan had become Dugu Bo's weak spot.
"Senior, when the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan arrives, I hope you'll help explain things clearly."
In a sense, Dugu Bo could speak for both himself and the imperial family in this dispute.
If the title of Rank 91 Titled Douluo alone wasn't enough to make the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wary, then what about an imperial family retainer...
It was only Yu Tianheng. He hadn't died, and he hadn't been completely crippled!
Xue Qinghe believed Dugu Bo alone could settle the matter.
At last, Dugu Bo glanced at Xue Qinghe and let out a cold snort...
The two of them had reached an unspoken understanding over Lin Yan's grievous injury of Yu Tianheng.
Xue Qinghe would stand by Lin Yan, no matter what.
As for Dugu Bo...
He watched his granddaughter still hovering around Lin Yan and silently sighed.
Honestly, if Dugu Yan hadn't been there today, Dugu Bo would have been ninety percent certain he could wash his hands of the whole affair.
What a pity... Who knew what had gotten into his granddaughter? She'd let a child steal her heart.
Dusk.
A cool breeze gently lifted the fallen leaves from the ground, sending them dancing through the air.
The Crown Prince's Mansion blazed with light. Inside a dimly lit secret chamber,
"Were you doing that on purpose today, or was it an accident?"
Qian Renxue had changed back into her female form and brought Lin Yan to the secret chamber to question him.
Lin Yan looked up.
"Huh? I didn't do it on purpose!"
Looking at his unmistakably innocent face, the girl couldn't tell what Lin Yan was thinking.
At last, she let out a soft sigh.
"Never mind."
"What you did was reckless, but it wasn't all bad."
From Spirit Hall's point of view, Lin Yan crippling Yu Tianheng meant eliminating a genius from a hostile force.
That actually benefited Spirit Hall.
It was just that he'd made far too much of a spectacle...
"Remember this: when sparring with someone in the future, do your best not to destroy their meridians."
"Unless I give you permission."
Seeing Qian Renxue's serious expression, Lin Yan immediately nodded obediently.
"I understand, Sister Xue'er."
"I won't be reckless again..."
The boy's obedient manner softened Qian Renxue's heart.
Then she let go of her stern expression and smiled faintly.
"Mm."
"How are you? Bai Baoshan didn't hurt you badly, did he?"
Qian Renxue was referring, of course, to the time Bai Baoshan had used Soul Power to forcibly suppress Lin Yan.
Lin Yan said,
"My meridians feel a little sore. I'll probably need a few days to recover."
As Lin Yan said this, he showed just the right amount of gratitude, making Qian Renxue soften even more.
Qian Renxue ruffled Lin Yan's hair.
"Don't worry. Sister Xue'er won't let you suffer for nothing over this."