I'm Willing to Give It a Try!

Hearing Zi Ji's regretful words, Ling Xuqing, who had just landed, nearly stumbled and fell.

He turned around helplessly and looked at Zi Ji, whose face was etched with deep sorrow. With a wry smile, he said:

"Zi Ji, the way you put it, you make breaking through to Level 40 sound as easy as going to the market to buy groceries."

As soon as he said that, the tense atmosphere immediately lightened.

Xiao Wu was the first to jump in. With her hands clasped behind her back, she teased with a grin:

"Oh, Sister Zi Ji, don't be in such a hurry!"

"Xuqing is only two levels away from Level 40."

"At his current rate of cultivation, it'll take him at least half a year and at most a month. He'll definitely break through the Level 40 bottleneck!"

"That's right," Ah Yin chimed in softly, covering her mouth as she chuckled. "Xuqing's talent and opportunities are both rare in this world. Reaching Level 40 is only a matter of course."

Gu Yuena gave a slight nod, a hint of amusement flickering in her purple eyes. "Zi Ji, Xiao Wu and Ah Yin are right."

"You're a member of the Dragon Clan. Once you offer yourself in sacrifice, the benefits my brother receives will be immeasurable."

"But that's precisely why we need to choose the most perfect moment for him."

"When he reaches the bottleneck before breaking through to Soul Ancestor at Level 40, your sacrifice will yield the greatest benefit."

Listening to the peerless beauties comfort her one after another, Zi Ji could only sigh helplessly and wave her hand.

"Fine, fine. Since you all say so, I'll wait patiently a little longer."

"But, young master, you'll have to work harder. I'm looking forward to that day!"

Ling Xuqing took a deep breath, steadied his breathing, and nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry. I won't let you down."

Just then, Dugu Bo, who had been standing behind them with a look of utter shock, finally came to his senses.

He took a deep breath, tamped down the storm raging in his heart, and led Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling forward.

"Young master!" Dugu Bo was more respectful than ever. He bowed slightly, his voice brimming with reverence and gratitude. "To witness such a miracle with my own eyes today is a blessing I could scarcely hope for in three lifetimes."

"These two are my granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, the daughter of an old friend of mine."

"They're both exceptionally gifted children. I brought them here today partly to broaden their horizons and partly... to formally introduce them to you."

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling stood obediently behind Dugu Bo, but their beautiful eyes couldn't help darting back and forth over Ling Xuqing and the others.

Though they were young, as Soul Masters they were exceptionally sensitive to auras.

From the moment they entered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they had keenly sensed that the stunning women before them radiated an aura that was extraordinarily pure, ancient, and powerful.

It wasn't Soul Power cultivated by human Soul Masters, but a pressure that came from deep within their bloodlines—a pressure belonging to the highest-level Soul Beasts!

They had already realized that these breathtaking women had all transformed from terrifyingly powerful Soul Beasts!

And this six-year-old young master, Ling Xuqing, possessed a terrifying Soul Power Level of 38, yet he had so many powerful Soul Beasts willingly following him—even offering themselves in sacrifice. What kind of defiance of heaven was he?

Seeing the curious yet awestruck looks in his granddaughter's and Ye Lingling's eyes, Dugu Bo nodded to himself.

He turned to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling and said solemnly, "Yan-yan, Lingling, you should know how badly I suffered from the backlash of the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison. Fortunately, I met the young master. He taught me the method of 'Soul Core Condensation.' I've already tried it, and the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison that plagued me for so many years really has been suppressed. My Soul Power Level has even broken through to Level 93!"

"Not only that, the young master said that this method can not only resolve my poison, but also fix the flaws in Yan-yan's Martial Soul and the toxins in her Martial Soul."

"So I brought you here today, Yan-yan, to ask the young master to cure your poison."

Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling both sucked in a sharp breath.

"What? Grandpa Dugu, you really...?!"

Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Ling Xuqing in disbelief.

As the owner of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, she knew all too well how terrifying the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison was.

It was a poison even a Titled Douluo could do nothing about!

And this six-year-old boy had actually found a way to cure it?

Dugu Yan shuddered from head to toe.

She understood the flaws in her Martial Soul better than anyone.

The Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison was eating away at her from within. Every time she cultivated, she was accompanied by stabbing pain. She had even despaired of ever living past thirty, let alone breaking through to become a Titled Douluo.

And now, this boy before her had become her only lifeline?

Ling Xuqing paid no mind to the two girls' shock. His gaze settled calmly on Dugu Yan.

In his perception, her physical condition was clear as day.

The Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison had already penetrated deep into her bones, constantly eroding her meridians and internal organs.

For now, Soul Power was barely suppressing it, but as her Soul Power Level increased, the backlash would only grow fiercer.

"The Soul Core Condensation method can indeed resolve the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison," Ling Xuqing said slowly. His voice wasn't loud, but every word reached everyone's ears clearly. "But Dugu Yan is only twelve, and her Soul Power Level is just 26."

"With her current cultivation and physical strength, it's still too early for her to condense a Soul Core."

"If she tries to force it, she won't be cured. She'll explode and die instead."

"This..." Dugu Bo's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked, "Then... then what should Yan-yan do?"

"Does that mean she has to wait until she's a Titled Douluo before she can condense a Soul Core?"

"She... she can't wait that long!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's hearts sank as well.

That's right—a Titled Douluo?

How far beyond reach was that realm?

Given Dugu Yan's current physical condition, it was questionable whether she'd even live to reach Level 40, let alone become a Titled Douluo.

Looking at their despairing expressions, Ling Xuqing's lips curved into a confident smile.

"Don't worry," Ling Xuqing said with a faint smile, utterly unruffled. "I have a better way."

With that, he turned to Gu Yuena beside him.

Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling exchanged puzzled looks.

Why was he suddenly looking at this purple-eyed girl?

Was the key to fixing Yan-yan's Martial Soul flaw in her?

Ling Xuqing looked at Gu Yuena and asked softly:

"Na'er, didn't you ask Zi Ji to buy up and collect large quantities of Whale Rubber?"

"How much do we have in stock now?"

Gu Yuena paused slightly, then a look of understanding flashed in her beautiful eyes. She replied softly:

"Brother, could it be that you want to..."

"That's right." Ling Xuqing nodded, then turned his gaze back to Dugu Bo and the others and explained, "Dugu Yan is still too young. Her strength, speed, physique, physical body, mental power, and other basic attributes are all too weak."

"If she directly absorbs high-age Spirit Bones or Soul Rings, she won't be able to withstand them. She'll surely die."

"So I plan to use Whale Rubber to push her physical body to its limits first, while supplementing it with the Golden Dragon King's source power inside me to reconstruct her meridians and temper her bones and muscles."

"That way, her basic attributes will undergo a qualitative leap, enough for her to absorb Spirit Bones and Soul Rings over ten thousand years old!"

Ling Xuqing's voice echoed through the cavern. Each word struck Dugu Bo and the others like a heavy hammer, pounding into their hearts.

"Her potential will not only improve tremendously. As her Soul Power Level rises in the future, and she absorbs more Spirit Bones and Soul Rings, she'll be able to draw the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison from her body into her Soul Rings and Spirit Bones, little by little."

"Using Soul Rings and Spirit Bones as containers for the poison will completely solve the problem of her Martial Soul's poison turning back on her!"

"Boom—!"

As soon as Ling Xuqing finished speaking, a bolt of thunder seemed to explode in the minds of Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling. All three were utterly stunned, left in a state of extreme shock.

"Spirit Bones and Soul Rings over... over ten thousand years old?"

Dugu Bo's voice trembled. He stared wide-eyed, as if he'd just heard the most absurd and insane thing in the world.

In the Soul Master World of Douluo Continent, there was an ironclad rule: the First Soul Ring could be no more than five hundred years old, the Second Soul Ring no more than eight hundred, and the Third Soul Ring no more than twelve hundred.

It wasn't until the Fifth or even Sixth Soul Ring that one could barely attempt to absorb one over ten thousand years old!

And now, this six-year-old boy wanted Dugu Yan to try absorbing a Soul Ring over ten thousand years old for her Third Soul Ring?

And a Spirit Bone, too?

How was that possible?

It defied common sense. It was suicide!

Ye Lingling's small face had gone deathly pale. She didn't know much about the deeper theories, but she knew how terrifying a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring was.

If she tried to absorb one for her Third Soul Ring, she'd burst apart in an instant!

"Young master... this... this is too dangerous!"

Dugu Bo swallowed, his voice hoarse.

Ling Xuqing paid no heed to their shock. Instead, he turned to Gu Yuena.

"Na'er, tell Zi Ji to go to the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest and ask Di Tian for Whale Rubber."

Gu Yuena nodded slightly, then immediately instructed Zi Ji beside her, "Zi Ji, make a trip to the core area and find Di Tian. Bring back as much high-quality, high-age Whale Rubber as you can."

"Yes, my lady." Zi Ji replied without hesitation. Then, with a flash, she sped off toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After arranging for the Whale Rubber, Ling Xuqing looked again in the direction Zi Ji had gone, as if remembering something. He called after her, "Oh, and Zi Ji, if you happen to run into a Man Faced Demon Spider with over two thousand years of cultivation on the way, bring her back while you're at it."

"A... a Man Faced Demon Spider?!" Dugu Bo stared wide-eyed, baffled. "Young master, why are you capturing a Man Faced Demon Spider?"

"That thing is extremely poisonous. It's useless except as a Soul Ring for poison-type Soul Masters!"

"Could it be... could it be that you want Yan-yan to absorb the Man Faced Demon Spider's Soul Ring?"

Dugu Yan was just as bewildered. She couldn't understand why they would catch a spider when her Martial Soul was the Jade Phosphorus Snake.

Seeing their confused expressions, Ling Xuqing explained calmly, "You've misunderstood. I mean for Dugu Yan to discard both her current First and Second Soul Rings and absorb new ones."

"D-Discard them?!"

This time, even Ye Lingling, who had been trying to keep calm, couldn't help crying out in shock.

"Try for a thousand-year Soul Ring as her First Soul Ring?!"

Dugu Bo's voice cracked. He felt that he'd suffered more shocks today than in all the previous decades combined.

Discard her original Soul Rings and absorb new ones?

It was unheard of in the Soul Master World!

And try for a thousand-year Soul Ring as her First Soul Ring?

It was like challenging the limits of the human body!

Ling Xuqing looked at their utterly stunned expressions, his tone still steady.

"Don't worry. With the Golden Dragon King's source power and the physical training from Whale Rubber, I can raise Dugu Yan's basic attributes and talent to an entirely new level."

"Her body will be able to withstand it."

"Besides," Ling Xuqing paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "I can use Bi Ji's power now, too."

"With her Third Soul Skill, World-Purifying Emerald Light, I can cleanse all toxins and negative effects, and stabilize Dugu Yan's mind and soul."

"With me here, she won't be harmed by the backlash from absorbing a Soul Ring."

At that, Ling Xuqing looked at Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan and said earnestly:

"Of course, the decision is yours."

"If you think this plan is too dangerous, I can choose a gentler method instead."

"It just won't be nearly as effective, and the poison in her body can only be suppressed, not eliminated."

Dead silence fell over the valley.

Dugu Bo's mind was locked in a fierce internal battle.

A gentler method?

It would only let Yan-yan live a few more years. In the end, she would still meet her death.

Ling Xuqing's outrageous plan, though a near-certain path to death, would cure Yan-yan's poison if it succeeded—and leave her future boundless!

"Young master..." Dugu Bo gritted his teeth, then turned to Dugu Yan and urged her in a hoarse voice:

"Yan-yan, this is too dangerous."

"Discarding your Soul Rings and trying to absorb a thousand-year First Soul Ring... it's a near-certain path to death!"

"Grandpa can't let you take this risk..."

"Grandpa." Dugu Yan suddenly cut him off.

She looked at Ling Xuqing. In her eyes, once filled with deathly despair, a flame now burned—one stronger than ever before.

She had hesitated. She had thought it over.

She understood the condition of her body better than anyone. The daily agony of being eroded by poison made her wish she were dead.

She knew she wouldn't live past thirty. Breaking through to become a Titled Douluo was an even more impossible dream.

But now, an opportunity lay before her.

An opportunity that was insane, but full of hope.

She looked into Ling Xuqing's calm, deep eyes and felt an inexplicable sense of trust and security.

"Grandpa, I know."

Dugu Yan took a deep breath. Her voice was soft, yet filled with unshakable resolve. "But I trust him, and I believe in myself. I know I can do it!"