Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter before him.
"He humiliated you, yet not only do you not want to kill him, you even want to marry him?"
"What kind of logic is that?"
Dugu Yan spoke with complete conviction:
"Long Tian hit me in front of so many people."
"He ruined my reputation, so of course he has to take responsibility."
The corner of Dugu Bo's mouth twitched several times.
"You only got hit once. How did that ruin your reputation?"
"Don't tell me you fell for his looks?"
Heat rose to Dugu Yan's cheeks, and she turned her gaze aside.
"You can't blame me for that."
"Long Tian really is too handsome."
"I've never seen such a good-looking man."
Dugu Bo was momentarily speechless.
His granddaughter had been proud since childhood. There were more noble young men pursuing her in Heaven Dou City than could be counted.
Dugu Yan had never given any of them a second glance.
Yet today, after being bullied by someone, she wanted to drag that very person back and make him her husband.
"Just because he's handsome, he can do whatever he wants?"
Dugu Yan pursed her red lips.
"Anyway, I don't care."
"Long Tian bullied me, so he has to take responsibility."
"Grandpa, hurry and bring him back."
"Remember, you're not allowed to hurt him or ruin his face."
Seeing his granddaughter like this, Dugu Bo raised a hand and pressed it to his forehead.
"I, Dugu Bo, enjoyed a lifetime of prestige. How did I end up raising such a lovestruck granddaughter?"
Dugu Yan immediately urged him on.
"Grandpa!"
"Stop asking questions and hurry to Skywater Academy."
Dugu Bo had wanted to refuse.
But when he saw the anticipation in his granddaughter's eyes, he finally yielded.
Ever since she was little, whenever Dugu Yan asked for something, he had rarely refused her.
"Fine."
"Who told you that you are this old man's only granddaughter?"
"I'll personally make a trip to Skywater Academy and bring that Long Tian back."
Joy immediately appeared on Dugu Yan's face.
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
Dugu Bo raised his hand and released his Soul Power.
Nine Soul Rings rose behind him one after another.
The phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor coiled into view, and dense poisonous mist blanketed the valley.
The next moment.
The gray-robed figure shot into the sky and headed straight for Skywater Academy.
Skywater Academy.
After winning the exchange match, they returned to Ice and Snow City in the academy carriage.
The carriage stopped before the academy gates.
Shui Yue'er was the first to jump down.
"We're finally back!"
"I'm going to tell everyone about today's battle right away."
"Emperor Team lost to Skywater Academy. That news will definitely make everyone happy."
Xue Wu stepped down from the carriage.
"Do you want to tell everyone, or do you want everyone to know that the captain defeated Yu Tianheng in one move?"
Shui Yue'er thought about it seriously.
"Both."
Yu Hairou and the others could not help laughing.
Long Tian was the last to step down from the carriage.
Shui Bing'er followed closely beside him, her pale blue dress fluttering gently in the cold wind.
"We traveled continuously today and took part in a battle."
"Everyone, go back and rest first."
"Starting tomorrow, we'll continue our team coordination training."
Shui Yue'er nodded.
"Don't worry, Sister."
"With the captain's support, the Soul Master Tournament championship will definitely belong to Tianshui."
Long Tian looked at everyone.
"Emperor Team is not the strongest opponent in the tournament."
"The Spirit Hall Team is far stronger than Emperor Team."
"Today's victory only proves that we have the qualifications to contend for the championship."
Xue Wu's smile faded.
"The captain is right."
"We can't relax over the next three months."
After exchanging a few words, everyone returned to their respective residences.
Shui Bing'er came before Long Tian.
"This was your first time using the Myriad Thunder Soul-Fusing Seal, yet your control over the soul skill was already extremely proficient."
Long Tian gently shook his head.
"The timing of the Thunder Seal's detonation can still be more precise."
"When dealing with Yu Tianheng today, I suppressed most of its power."
"If I had detonated it at full power, he would already be dead."
Shui Bing'er nodded.
"Are you planning to keep cultivating?"
"I'll practice a little longer."
Long Tian looked toward the secluded courtyard.
"The third soul skill still has many variations. I need to master it completely as soon as possible."
Shui Bing'er did not stop him.
"Then rest early."
"I'll come find you tomorrow."
"Alright."
The two parted at the courtyard gate.
Long Tian entered the cultivation room alone.
The large door slowly closed, shutting out the cold wind outside.
Inside the cultivation room, the Cold Jade Bed emitted a faint mist.
Long Tian did not begin cultivating immediately. Instead, he recalled today's battle.
After the Myriad Thunder Soul-Fusing Seal entered Yu Tianheng's body, it successfully sealed the lightning source of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Afterward, every attack from Shui Bing'er and the others was recorded and stored by the Thunder Seal.
The more attacks it received, the stronger its final detonation would become.
"If I use the Thunder Seal on an ally, it can strengthen lightning-element power and take a fatal attack for them."
"If I use it on an enemy, it can suppress their attributes and accumulate attacks."
"The same soul skill possesses two completely opposite effects."
Long Tian raised his right hand.
His third black Soul Ring slowly rose.
Nine-colored lightning gathered in his palm, quickly condensing into a complex Dragon Seal.
Fine patterns covered the surface of the Thunder Seal.
Every pattern contained the True Dragon Law and the lightning source of the Thunderclap Demon Wolf.
Long Tian controlled his Soul Power, attempting to further conceal the Thunder Seal's power.
Only by making it shapeless and traceless could it achieve better results in battle.
The nine-colored radiance gradually dimmed.
The Thunder Seal in his palm slowly shrank as well.
Just then.
The Rainbow Dragon's Heart suddenly gave a heavy beat.
Long Tian's entire body immediately tensed.
The temperature in the cultivation room did not change at all.
Yet within the shadow at the corner of the wall, an extremely dangerous presence had appeared.
Someone had infiltrated the cultivation room.
And the intruder was exceptionally powerful.
Long Tian swiftly turned around.
"Who's there?!"
The cultivation room was silent.
There was no response from the corner.
Long Tian did not lower his guard.
Nine-Colored Divine Light erupted from within him.
A massive phantom of the Rainbow Dragon appeared directly above the cultivation room.
Yellow, yellow, black.
Three Soul Rings rose in succession.
The black third Soul Ring slowly spun, and the Myriad Thunder Soul-Fusing Seal condensed once more in his palm.
Long Tian stared at the shadow.
"Since you're here, why hide like a coward?"
After a long while.
A soft chuckle came from the corner.
"Not bad."
"A mere Soul Elder actually discovered this old man."
The shadows slowly dispersed.
A green-haired old man stepped out.
His gray robe hung to his feet. His face was gaunt, and his emerald eyes sized up Long Tian.
The aura of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor had already sealed off the entire cultivation room.
Long Tian did not retreat.
"Who are you?"
The old man clasped his hands behind his back.
"You'll know who this old man is soon enough."
"Now, come with this old man."
"If you cooperate obediently, you'll suffer a little less."
Long Tian's gaze narrowed.
This person had bypassed every guard of Skywater Academy and entered the secluded courtyard without making a sound.
Such cultivation was not something a Soul Douluo could achieve.
"What if I refuse to go?"
The green-haired old man snorted coldly.
"That is not for you to decide."
"This old man is Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo."
"You bullied this old man's granddaughter in the Soul Arena and humiliated her in public."
"That alone makes you deserving of ten thousand deaths."
At the mention of that name, warning bells immediately rang in Long Tian's heart.
Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.
A level ninety-one control-type Titled Douluo, whose Martial Soul was the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. His poisonous arts were unmatched across the continent.
With Long Tian's current strength, even possessing Rainbow True Dragon Blood, he could not confront a Titled Douluo head-on.
Besides, this place had already been sealed off by poisonous mist.
Once he left Skywater Academy with Dugu Bo, he would completely lose the initiative.
He absolutely could not go with him.
Long Tian composed himself and looked at the green-haired old man before him.
"Dugu Bo."
"Whenever it rains or the weather turns damp, do your ribs go numb?"
"Every day at midnight and noon, does your body suffer piercing pain like needles?"
Dugu Bo's pupils suddenly contracted.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison he had been about to release also froze in midair.
"How did you know?"
This was Dugu Bo's greatest secret.
Whenever it rained or the weather turned damp, his ribs would go numb.
Every day at midnight and noon, piercing pain like needles would course through his body.
Even after searching through countless medical texts and trying innumerable methods, he had been unable to relieve these symptoms.
Yet Long Tian had merely taken one look and stated every detail correctly.
"Because you are not using poison."
"You are using your own body to nurture poison."
Long Tian withdrew the Myriad Thunder Soul-Fusing Seal as his Nine-Colored Double Pupils slowly swept across Dugu Bo's body.
"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison is too potent. Your body cannot fully withstand it."
"The greater your Soul Power, the more toxins accumulate within your body."
"By now, your internal organs, bones, and meridians have all been eroded by the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison."
Dugu Bo's expression changed repeatedly.
"Go on."
Long Tian looked at the old man's hands.
"Your nails and hair have already turned completely green."
"Your sunken eye sockets and withered skin are also signs of poison invading your blood and vital energy."
"In recent years, the duration of that needle-like pain has continued to increase."
"If you do not deal with it in time, you will be poisoned to death by your own Martial Soul within twenty years at most."
The cultivation room fell silent once more.
Dugu Bo stared at the white-robed figure before him.
Everything Long Tian had said perfectly matched his own condition.
Even the increasing duration of the pain had not been off by the slightest bit.
"You were indeed correct about my condition."
Dugu Bo stepped forward, and the pressure of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor descended once more.
"But what does this have to do with Yanyan?"
Long Tian remained calm.
The pressure of a Titled Douluo enveloped his entire body, yet his white robes did not so much as flutter.
"The poison of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul can be inherited through bloodlines."
"Dugu Yan's poison is far milder than yours at present."
"However, the higher her cultivation becomes, the faster the toxins will accumulate."
"There should already be faint green lines at the roots of her nails."
"Whenever she uses her third soul skill extensively, she experiences twisting pain in her lower abdomen."
"Late at night, the meridians in her right leg also become stiff."
Dugu Bo's hands, clasped behind his back, suddenly tightened.
Dugu Yan had indeed mentioned those symptoms to him.
But at the time, Dugu Bo had not taken them seriously.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent was poisonous by nature.
It was not unusual for a Soul Master to experience slight discomfort after using poison-type soul skills.
But now, it seemed that those were not reactions caused by Soul Power depletion at all.
"How long does Yanyan have left to live?"
Dugu Bo's face became exceptionally grim.
Long Tian did not conceal the truth.
"At the current rate of toxin accumulation, ten years at most."
"If she breaks through to Soul Sage within those ten years, the time will become even shorter."
"Nonsense!"
Dugu Bo violently swept his sleeve.
Emerald poisonous mist slammed into the wall, immediately corroding huge pits into the hard stone bricks.
"Yanyan has always been in excellent health."
"She is my only granddaughter. How could she have only ten years left to live?"
Long Tian remained where he was.
"You do not have to believe me."
"After returning, examine her Baihui acupoint, Shanzhong acupoint, and the meridians in her right leg."
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison has already entered her bone marrow."
"As long as you investigate with Soul Power, you will have your answer."
Dugu Bo did not respond at once.
His emerald-green eyes remained fixed on Long Tian.
"Since you can see the problem, do you have a solution?"
"I do."
That simple word made Dugu Bo's breathing hitch.
"You can cure the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison?"
Long Tian nodded lightly.
"Though the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison is powerful, it is not incurable."
"As long as the toxins are separated from the body and an object capable of bearing the deadly poison is found, cultivation and life can both be preserved."
"Dugu Yan has not been poisoned deeply yet, so treating her will be even simpler."
Dugu Bo took half a step forward.
"Why should I believe you?"
"I never asked you to believe me."
Long Tian met Dugu Bo's gaze.
"Today, you barged into my cultivation room and intended to take me away by force."
"The detoxification matter is something you need my help with."
"Whether you believe me is also your choice."
Dugu Bo's expression darkened.
The phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor slowly coiled behind him.
"Aren't you afraid that I will capture you and force you to hand over the detoxification method?"
"You can try."
Long Tian raised his right hand.
A fiery red feather appeared in his palm.
Titled Douluo-level Soul Power slowly circulated across the feather's surface.
"As long as this Lingyuan Feather shatters, my teacher will immediately arrive."
"Besides, the detoxification process requires me to personally control elemental power."
"Even if you take the method, you still cannot save Dugu Yan."
Dugu Bo stared at that fiery red feather, and a trace of wariness appeared in his eyes.
Spirit Kite Douluo was also a Titled Douluo.
If the two fought at Skywater Academy, they would inevitably alert even more powerful figures.
More importantly, Dugu Yan's life might truly be in Long Tian's hands.
"I will believe you for now."
Dugu Bo withdrew his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul.
The emerald poisonous mist filling the cultivation room was also completely drawn back into his body.
"I will examine Yanyan's body."
"If everything you said proves true, I will come find you again."
Long Tian put away the Lingyuan Feather.
"Once you have thought it through, you may come to Skywater Academy at any time."
"But next time, remember to enter through the front gate."
Dugu Bo's mouth twitched.
A dignified Titled Douluo had actually been lectured by a mere Soul Elder.
Yet at this moment, Dugu Bo could not directly turn hostile.
"Long Tian."
"If you dare deceive me, then even if Spirit Kite Douluo protects you, I will not let this go."
"If you can truly save Yanyan, the Dugu Family will owe you a favor."
The gray-robed figure merged into the emerald poisonous mist.
The next moment, Dugu Bo had vanished from the cultivation room.
As Long Tian sensed the rapidly retreating aura, the Nine-Colored Divine Light around him gradually receded.
Yet the fiery red feather lit up on its own at that moment.
Scorching flames rose from the feather.
A spatial rift then appeared in the center of the cultivation room.
Ling Yuan stepped out from the firelight.
Her form-fitting red dress swayed gently with her Soul Power, making her mature, voluptuous figure especially striking.
Beneath the high-slit hem, a pair of fair, straight legs stretched long and slender.
Her fiery red high heels stepped across the ground, leaving behind fine sparks.
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