Who Told You to Be So Pretty, Sister Yanyan!

Every word was like a cold needle, precisely piercing the possibility that Dugu Yan least wanted to face.

She recalled her grandfather, Dugu Bo, with his ever-present melancholy, and the indescribable worry deep in his eyes when he occasionally looked at her.

She recalled the suppressed aura of pain emanating from the secret chamber where he cultivated... Details she had deliberately ignored now flooded her mind like a tide.

"They are currently lying in wait, like hibernating venomous snakes, perhaps not yet unleashed, making you feel good."

Lin Xia's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"But as your cultivation deepens and the poisons you use become stronger, or... when you attempt to break through to a higher realm..."

Lin Xia didn't continue, but the terrifying scene described in her unfinished words was enough to send chills down Dugu Yan.

Martial Soul Backlash!

The higher the cultivation level, the stronger the backlash!

This is a cursed Curse that no top-tier Poison-type Martial Soul Master can escape!

"No... impossible..."

Dugu Yan shook her head subconsciously, her voice weak, carrying a final struggle.

"Grandpa... Grandpa must have a way to suppress it... He never told me..."

"Senior Dugu Bo?"

Lin Xia tilted her head slightly, and the smile on her face became somewhat meaningful.

"Of course he knows. And the backlash he suffers will only come sooner, be more intense, and be more painful than yours."

These words were like the last straw, completely breaking down Dugu Yan's psychological defenses.

Grandpa... he's been silently enduring it all?

To protect themselves, they never mentioned it?

The immense shock and belated worry for her grandfather overwhelmed her instantly.

"If you don't believe me, Sister Yanyan"

Seeing Dugu Yan's swaying and unfocused appearance, Lin Xia softened her tone and guided her with understanding.

"Perhaps you could go find your grandfather Dugu Bo, now and ask him for an explanation. I believe he will give you... the truth."

"Grandfather..."

Dugu Yan murmured those two words as if grasping at the only straw.

I'm so eager to go home!

She had only one thought in mind right now—to see her grandfather immediately!

Questioning? Seeking confirmation? Seeking comfort?

Even she couldn't tell the difference.

The sheer volume of information and the potentially terrifying truths left her mind in turmoil.

Seeing Dugu Yan's distraught and bewildered state, Lin Xia sighed softly, like a helpless little adult.

He knew that now was the perfect time to throw out the second bait.

"And, Sister Yanyan."

Lin Xia's voice returned to its previous calmness, carrying a soothing power.

"The Martial Soul Evolution is no easy feat. It requires extremely rare and compatible natural treasures to activate, neutralize, and reshape the Martial Soul Origin. Each of these materials is incredibly precious and extremely rare."

Lin Xia paused, her clear gaze falling on Dugu Yan's pale face, filled with genuine concern.

"Perhaps you could... after confirming the poisoning with your grandfather, discuss with him the issue of materials needed for your Martial Soul Evolution."

"After all, this concerns your future path, and you need the experience and resources of your elders to support you. I believe that Senior Dugu Bo will do everything in his power for his only granddaughter."

Dugu Yan understood Lin Xia's words this time, and heard them perfectly clearly.

The core message couldn't be clearer: the final decision on how to solve your problems and fulfill your Covet rests with your grandfather Dugu Bo.

And I need to talk to him.

This isn't just for you, it's for him too.

Dugu Yan took several deep breaths, trying to calm her turbulent emotions.

Looking at the little boy in front of her, who was only seven years old but seemed to be able to see through people's hearts and control everything, she truly felt the weight of the identity of "Holy Son of the Spirit Hall" for the first time.

This was no ordinary child prodigy; his intellect, methods, and grasp of the situation far exceeded her imagination.

"I... I'll talk to my grandpa."

Dugu Yan's voice was still a little hoarse, but her eyes had refocused, carrying a do-or-die determination.

This matter concerned her life and future, and her grandfather's secrets and pain; she dared not be perfunctory in the slightest.

"I will tell him exactly what you said, word for word."

Dugu Yan paused, her purple eyes fixed on Lin Xia, filled with a final trace of doubt and confirmation.

"Xiao Xia, you... you really aren't lying to me, are you? About the poison, about evolution..."

She needed a final reassurance, even if that reassurance might be fragile.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xia's smile faded, replaced by a solemnity and dignity far beyond his years.

In the depths of those clear eyes, it seemed as if golden holy light flowed.

He straightened his small back slightly, and an invisible yet captivating air of dignity arose spontaneously.

"I am Lin Xia, the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall."

His voice was not loud, but every word was resounding, like the chimes of a temple, carrying an unquestionable sanctity and promise.

"Words are law, and what I say is law. What benefit would I gain from deceiving you?"

Lin Xia shook her head slightly, her eyes open and sincere.

"Actions that harm others without benefiting oneself are not the actions of a wise person. I swear by the honor of the Spirit Hall that every word I have spoken is true. To remove the poison from you and to help your Martial Soul Evolution, both I and the Spirit Hall have something to ask of you, but this is absolutely not a lie or deception."

Seeing Lin Xia's solemn expression, feeling the weight of his words and the natural pressure brought by his status as "Holy Son," Dugu Yan's last doubts dissipated.

Yeah, what's in it for him?

The Holy Son of the Spirit Hall holds such a prestigious position, why would he fabricate such a shocking lie to deceive himself?

The cost and the risk are completely disproportionate.

Dugu Yan nodded heavily, indicating that she had completely accepted this explanation.

However, a more fundamental question, like a hidden reef beneath the water, surfaced in her mind.

She was not an ignorant girl; she knew all too well that there was no such thing as a free lunch, especially not the "goodwill" from the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall.

"Xiao Xia, my brother."

Dugu Yan's voice regained some of its usual coolness as she looked directly into Lin Xia's eyes and asked the most crucial question.

"What exactly is your purpose in doing this? To help me remove the poison, to aid my Martial Soul Evolution... What does the Spirit Hall, or rather you, want from me and my grandfather?"

Lin Xia showed no surprise or evasion in the face of this crucial question.

Lin Xia's pure smile reappeared on her face, but this smile now contained a hint of candid cunning, a mature calculation beyond her years.

"First!"

Lin Xia extended her little index finger, her tone frank.

"Naturally, we hope that your grandfather, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, can join the Spirit Hall."

Lin Xia stated her biggest goal directly, without any attempt to hide it.

Seeing that Dugu Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she wanted to say something, Lin Xia immediately continued, her tone carrying a strange sense of tolerance and nonchalance.

"Of course, Sister Yanyan, you don't need to feel pressured or resistant immediately. As I said, this is 'hope,' not something to be forced. Your grandfather is Titled Douluo, a powerful figure standing at the top of the continent, and he has his own pride and choices. The Spirit Hall respects the wishes of any powerful person."

Lin Xia changed the subject, her eyes becoming even more sincere.

"If your grandfather, after careful consideration, ultimately decides not to join the Spirit Hall... that's fine too!"

Lin Xia's words startled Dugu Yan once again.

"I, Lin Xia, will still help you if I can."

Lin Xia's tone was filled with unwavering determination. He leaned forward slightly, blinked his clear eyes, and a hint of childlike playfulness and... pure appreciation appeared in them.

"After all..."

Lin Xia's voice suddenly took on a soft, gentle tone, as if it were a heartfelt expression of admiration.

"It's because you're so beautiful, Sister Yanyan!"