Dugu Yan's Gratitude

"How do you feel?"

After seeing them open their eyes, Huang Long immediately walked over, crouched in front of them, and asked with concern.

"It feels like my body has been rebuilt from scratch." Xiao Wu clenched her fist.

Dugu Yan also lowered her head to look at her hands, feeling as though she could punch a cow to death with one blow.

Huang Long smiled. "That's what it feels like when your physical strength improves."

Xiao Wu blinked and suddenly asked, "Lord Dragon God, can I condense a Soul Ring now?"

"Wait a moment. Let Uncle Sea Dragon and the others assess your current physical strength first."

As Huang Long spoke, he stood up and called over Dugu Bo, Sea Dragon Douluo, and Sea Maiden Douluo, who were nearby.

The three walked over. Upon learning that Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu had already consumed Whale Rubber, they immediately stepped forward to examine them.

Dugu Bo placed his hand on Dugu Yan's pulse and circulated his Soul Power to examine her carefully. His expression changed drastically at once.

"It really improved! Yan Yan's physical strength is now comparable to that of a high-level Soul Ancestor!"

"I never thought Whale Rubber, which those aristocratic clans used as an aphrodisiac, could also strengthen the body!"

Dugu Bo was utterly amazed.

Whale Rubber had existed on Douluo Continent for centuries. How had no one ever discovered that it had such an effect?

Sea Dragon Douluo also examined Xiao Wu and was surprised to find that her physical strength had likewise reached the Soul Ancestor level.

In other words, Xiao Wu could now absorb a Soul Ring of around five thousand years without any problem.

As for Dugu Yan, the limit she could withstand was roughly between six and seven thousand years.

Xiao Wu was immediately overjoyed. She hurried to an open area nearby and began condensing her third Soul Ring.

For her, having her third Soul Ring reach such an age was already excellent. She was easily satisfied.

Dugu Bo was also rubbing his hands together as he considered what sort of fourth Soul Ring he should find for Dugu Yan.

Yet while Dugu Yan watched her grandfather's excited expression, she began to hesitate.

She walked over to Huang Long and asked softly, "Huang Long, can I continue taking Whale Rubber?"

Dugu Bo froze slightly, looking at his granddaughter with a face full of confusion.

But Dugu Yan's next words nearly scared the soul out of him.

"I want to try using a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring for my fourth Soul Ring!"

With a boom.

Those words exploded in Dugu Bo's mind like a bolt from the blue.

"No!"

Dugu Bo hurriedly said, "Yan Yan, I know you want to become stronger now, but ten-thousand-year Soul Rings and thousand-year Soul Rings are completely different concepts!"

"Even if your physical strength meets the requirement now, how could your soul withstand the soul shock of a ten-thousand-year soul beast?"

Before he could finish, Dugu Yan cut in, "Grandfather, I want to try!"

As she spoke, her gaze was unwavering and her voice rang with determination, leaving Dugu Bo at a loss for words.

"Holy Son, Sea Dragon, hurry and say something! We can't let Yan Yan take such a risk!"

Huang Long stroked his chin. "Perhaps... we can give it a try."

"Holy Son?" Dugu Bo stared at him in disbelief.

Huang Long smiled and explained, "Let her try first. I'll help as well, and besides, the three of you Titled Douluo are right here."

"Even if something unexpected happens, the three of you can interrupt the absorption of the Soul Ring, can't you?"

Dugu Yan folded her arms and smiled smugly. "Well, Grandfather? Even the Holy Son agreed. Are you still going to hesitate?"

Dugu Bo turned to look at Sea Dragon Douluo and Sea Maiden Douluo.

Although neither of them had spoken, the smiles on their faces clearly showed that they supported Huang Long's decision.

Seeing how insistent Dugu Yan was, Dugu Bo could only sigh helplessly and agree.

Once Huang Long saw that Dugu Bo had agreed, he had Sea Dragon Douluo bring out a piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber.

Though thousand-year Whale Rubber could also improve Dugu Yan, the effects would be too slow. It was better to use ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber directly, as it would be more effective.

However, Dugu Bo was somewhat worried whether Dugu Yan's current physical strength could withstand the energy of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber.

Huang Long waved his hand, telling him not to worry.

With Dugu Yan's current physical strength, absorbing ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber did carry risks, but they were not entirely uncontrollable.

As long as the softened Whale Rubber was divided into several portions after being roasted, and Dugu Yan ate them separately, they could avoid an overload of medicinal power.

Besides, he would be at her side throughout the process.

He could suppress the heat-induced side effects produced by the Whale Rubber with the ice-attribute energy of the Ice Dragon King Soul Bone. He could also protect Dugu Yan's heart meridians and prevent them from being scorched by the Whale Rubber's side effects.

After hearing his proposal, Dugu Bo finally set his mind at ease and allowed Dugu Yan to absorb that portion of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber.

Time slipped quietly by.

In the blink of an eye, the second day had arrived.

The morning sunlight poured down from the top of the valley, wrapping around everyone as though draping them in a layer of golden gauze.

Huang Long, Dugu Bo, Sea Dragon Douluo, and Sea Maiden Douluo had not slept all night, keeping watch beside Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu the entire time.

Watching the third soul ring beneath Xiao Wu gradually solidify, they silently nodded.

Then, all four of them turned their gazes toward Dugu Yan. Seeing that her skin had gradually returned to its normal color, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

After an entire night, it seemed Dugu Yan had completely refined that ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber.

Now, they only needed to wait for her to wake up.

And Dugu Yan did not keep them waiting long.

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she opened her eyes and sharply exhaled a mouthful of white, murky air.

"Yanyan, how do you feel? Is anything uncomfortable?" Dugu Bo immediately crouched down and asked.

Dugu Yan smiled and shook her head. "No, Grandpa. I feel great right now! It feels like I have endless strength throughout my whole body!"

"And I feel like circulating my Soul Power is even smoother than before."

As she spoke, she looked at Huang Long with eager eyes. "Huang Long, does that mean I can absorb a soul ring of around ten thousand years now?"

"You should be able to." Huang Long nodded slightly.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo immediately stood up, ready to find the most suitable fourth soul ring for Dugu Yan.

Huang Long suggested that he should preferably capture a dragon-type soul beast.

Even if it was not a dragon-type soul beast, one with dragon bloodline would do.

Absorbing that kind of soul ring could also improve the bloodline of Dugu Yan's martial soul.

Dugu Bo immediately nodded in agreement and left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in a single stride.

But just as he left, Dugu Yan gently tugged on Huang Long's sleeve and pulled him aside.

Huang Long was momentarily stunned by the tug and turned to ask, "What is it this time?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to thank you."

Dugu Yan spoke softly, her cheeks faintly flushed. "Thank you for helping Grandpa and me so much, so..."

She stopped halfway through, looking up at him as though she were still hesitating over something.

Just as Huang Long was about to ask, she suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and leaned forward, lightly touching his lips. Like a dragonfly skimming the water, she pulled away at once.

Huang Long's pupils contracted slightly, and his entire body froze in place.