Xiao Xia, Does Martial Soul Evolution... Always Require Enduring Such Inhuman Agony?
Dugu Yan's eyes instantly became incredibly firm, even carrying a hint of resolute madness.
Without further hesitation, she reached out her still trembling hand and grabbed the icy, bone-chilling "Nether Jade Phosphorous Skull"!
The feeling upon holding it was like holding a combination of an ancient piece of ice and a red-hot iron, a mixture of icy cold and burning pain, accompanied by a strong sense of soul-erosion.
Despite her discomfort, under the intensely tense gaze of Dugu Bo, the focused attention of Bibi Dong, and the calmly encouraging gaze of Lin Xia, she closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and stuffed the hideous purplish-black Skull Fruit, along with its twisted dark purple stem and black jade leaves, into her mouth all at once!
It didn't have the chewy texture I expected.
The moment the Immortal Herb entered the mouth, it melted instantly, like ice thrown into a furnace!
Boom--!!!
It was as if a toxic volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years had been detonated inside Dugu Yan's body!
An indescribable torrent of terror, mixed with extreme cold, Corrosion, and Toxic, along with a savage and ferocious nature originating from ancient times, exploded instantly in her mouth, esophagus, and stomach!
This power was so violent and ferocious, a thousand times more painful than the previous transfer of the toxins!
"Ah--!!!"
A shrill, inhuman scream suddenly burst from Dugu Yan's throat!
She felt as if she had been struck by an invisible giant hammer, arching her back violently, her eyes instantly turning bloodshot and Red! The blood vessels under her skin bulged and writhed wildly like purple earthworms, and eerie purplish-black patterns spread across her skin at a visible speed!
A sweet, pungent, and nauseating toxic fumes, far more concentrated and repulsive than before, erupted from every pore of her body!
"Yan Yan!"
Dugu Bo was terrified and instinctively wanted to rush forward.
"Don't move!"
Lin Xia's voice was like thunder, carrying an undeniable power, instantly freezing Dugu Bo's figure.
At the same time, Lin Xia's eyes narrowed, and the golden light of the "Sun Wheel Guard" that he had been maintaining surged to its maximum, enveloping Dugu Yan completely!
This time, however, the golden light did not soothe the pain. Instead, it transformed into an incredibly strong protective shield, firmly binding the terrifying poison power within Dugu Yan's body that was about to erupt out of control, Sheer Force suppressing it within her body to prevent it from leaking out and harming others or being wasted!
"Guide it! Senior Dugu, use your Soul Power to protect her heart and Soul Core! Sister Yanyan, feel your Martial Soul! It Covet! It is transforming! Do not resist! Let it devour! Let it evolve! Transform all the pain into your newborn power! Spirit Bone! Converge the erupting power into the Spirit Bone!"
Lin Xia's voice was like a resounding bell, carrying a strange Infiltrator power and a calming force, directly resounding deep into the soul of the agonizing Dugu Yan, and also reaching the ears of the extremely anxious Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo snapped out of his daze, suppressing the panic in his heart. He placed his palms on Dugu Yan's back again, and poured his boundless Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison Soul Power into her, transforming it into the strongest dam to protect his granddaughter's fragile heart.
He could clearly feel that the terrifying energy from the "Nether Jade Phosphorous Skull" was like the wildest primordial beast, rampaging through his granddaughter's meridians and Martial Soul Origin, tearing and Corrosion wildly, and then being instinctively bitten, devoured, and fused by the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul within her body, which had been fully activated!
Dugu Yan's consciousness was on the verge of collapse under the impact of boundless pain and violent energy.
She felt like a wrecked ship on Nutao verge of disintegrating, adrift in a raging sea of poison.
But Lin Xia's voice, like Sea God, her grandfather's continuous and powerful protective force, and the deep-seated Covet to be extraordinary and powerful, were like three strong chains that firmly bound this wrecked ship, preventing it from falling apart!
"Ugh--!"
Another mournful cry shattered the silence of the valley.
Dugu Yan's body suddenly arched, as if being repeatedly twisted by an invisible force.
On the skin's surface, emerald green toxins surged and permeated wildly like living creatures, instantly dissolving and festering wherever they passed, revealing the bright red, writhing flesh beneath.
The next moment, a domineering life force originating from the Immortal Herb itself Sheer Force stimulated the body, causing flesh and blood to grow wildly, Sheer Force covering and healing the ulcerated area.
Dissolving, tearing, regenerating... this hellish cycle played out repeatedly on her body, each time accompanied by a tooth-grinding hissing sound and the groans of her bones bearing unbearable burden.
Her Martial Soul, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, had already manifested uncontrollably, coiling around her. But at this moment, the serpent's shadow was also writhing and twisting in pain, its once pure emerald green scales now distorted.
Eerie, deep purple lines, like living poisonous vines, spread and eroded wildly, stretching the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's form into a hideous and terrifying shape. The light that flickered in its eyes was no longer spiritual, but rather the pure, painful light of destruction.
It is no longer a guardian spirit, but more like a painful shackle Wrap Dugu Yan's soul.
"Yan Yan!"
Dugu Bo's heart was clenched so tightly that he almost suffocated.
He instinctively lunged forward, his withered hand rising, the Soul Power of Titled Douluo surging at his fingertips—to interrupt!
This suicidal process must be stopped immediately!
What is the Martial Soul Evolution, what is future potential? Compared to the extreme pain that Yan Yan is enduring at this moment, they are all as insignificant as a feather!
"Senior!"
Lin Xia's deep voice carried an undeniable power, instantly freezing Dugu Bo in his tracks.
"Toxic Immortal Herb, undergoing a process of cleansing the marrow and rejuvenating the bones—this is an inevitable ordeal! Interrupting it now will render all previous efforts futile, and the backlash from the toxins will only intensify!"
"But she..."
Dugu Bo's voice was hoarse and trembling as he watched his granddaughter faint again from excruciating pain, only to be torn awake by even more intense agony. Her beautiful eyes were filled with empty despair and physiological tears, and his heart felt like it was being ripped apart.
Bibi Dong, who had been silently watching this scene, had a very subtle ripple in the depths of her purple eyes.
She tightened her arms around Lin Xia, as if trying to completely dispel the heart-wrenching fear she had felt by the spring, her voice carrying a barely Frisk unease.
"Xiao Xia, Martial Soul Evolution... requires enduring such inhuman pain?"
She was asking about Lin Xia, but her gaze seemed to travel through time, landing on the disciple who had almost been annihilated in the red and blue torrent at the bottom of the spring.
Lin Xia felt the force from her master's arm, shook her head slightly, and her voice was somewhat weak.
"Not entirely, Master. Each immortal Immortal Herb possesses unique properties, and the compatibility between the individual and the Immortal Herb is even more crucial. This Toxic Immortal Herb is extremely potent and domineering. Although Sister Yanyan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul is also of the poison attribute, the difference in grade is too great. It's like a child trying to bear the weight of a mountain; without immense Guts and a great stroke of luck, it will be..."
He paused, then looked at Dugu Yan again with a serious expression.
At this moment, Dugu Yan's body was once again impacted by the out-of-control power of the Toxic Immortal Herb. Large areas of her skin dissolved and ulcerated, and the newly formed flesh and blood that had just covered her body collapsed again. The coiled Jade Phosphorous Serpent phantom began to blur and disintegrate under the erosion of the deep purple patterns, emitting a silent wail!
The Martial Soul Origin is being shaken!
Dugu Bo closed his eyes in despair, tears streaming down his face.
It's over... Yan Yan can't hold on any longer!
He almost wanted to rush over without hesitation, even if it meant suffering the backlash, just to pull his granddaughter out of that hellish pain!
At this critical moment, Lin Xia's eyes suddenly narrowed!
We can't wait any longer!
With a low shout, Lin Xia's right hand formed a knife-like shape with his fingers, and a faint light, a mixture of ice blue and Red, instantly condensed at his fingertips. With a resolute air, he slashed across his left arm like lightning!
Laugh!