Dropping Out!

"Level forty-three..."

Ye Lingling felt the surging power within her, vast as the sea, and trembled with excitement.

She had done it!

She had not only broken the Nine Heart Begonia's curse, but had also become one of the youngest Soul Ancestors in the history of Douluo Continent!

"Lingling, congratulations!"

Dugu Yan hurried forward and threw her arms around her best friend, her eyes brimming with joy for her.

Bi Ji smiled and nodded as well, then said gently:

"Your fourth Soul Skill is the Emerald Life Tide. It's an extremely powerful group healing skill."

"When you use it, you can raise a jade-green tide of life that covers a wide area, instantly healing the injuries of all allies within its reach and greatly restoring their Soul Power."

"With this Soul Skill, your role in a team will be irreplaceable."

"Mm, thank you, Sister Bi Ji!"

Ye Lingling nodded firmly, confidence shining in her beautiful eyes.

Ling Xuqing looked at the two girls, who had undergone a complete transformation, and smiled with satisfaction. "Since you've both finished absorbing your Soul Rings, let's strike while the iron's hot and test out your new Soul Skills."

"Let me see just how strong you've become."

"Yes, Young Master!" Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling replied in unison, their eyes alight with eager excitement.

The two went to an open area on the outskirts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and stood facing each other.

"Yanyan, you go first!" Ye Lingling said.

"Okay!" Dugu Yan took a deep breath, her gaze turning sharp in an instant.

She let out a soft cry, and eight pitch-black Spider Spears shot out from her back, gleaming with a chilling light.

"First Soul Skill: Spider Web Bind!"

Eight thick black strands of web shot out, instantly wrapping tightly around a boulder in front of her.

Then, with a flash, she appeared before the boulder, the short blade in her hand tracing a jade-green arc.

"Second Soul Skill: Jade Phosphorus Poison Explosion!"

A dense cloud of purple poison billowed from her mouth, coating her short blade as she drove it fiercely into the boulder.

"Boom—!"

With a thunderous crash, the boulder crumbled to dust under the poison's corrosive power.

"What incredible attack power!"

Dugu Bo couldn't help exclaiming.

Dugu Yan didn't pause. She continued channeling her Soul Power.

"Third Soul Skill: Nether Poison Domain!"

Centered on her, a dense cloud of purple poison spread instantly, covering an area dozens of meters across.

Within the poisonous fog, countless phantom snakes seemed to slither about, radiating a suffocatingly venomous aura.

"Good, now it's my turn!"

Ye Lingling smiled faintly. A flash of light appeared in her hand, and a jade-green begonia flower brimming with vitality bloomed in her palm.

"First Soul Skill: Heart-Cleansing Bodhi Light!"

A golden beam shot from her palm and landed precisely on Dugu Yan.

"Whoosh—"

Dugu Yan felt a cool, pure energy flow through her body along her meridians. The trace of exhaustion left by absorbing her Soul Ring vanished without a trace.

"Wow, that feels amazing!" Dugu Yan cried out in delight.

"Second Soul Skill: Cyan Jade Life Barrier!"

Ye Lingling channeled her Soul Power again, and a huge emerald-green dome of light instantly enveloped her and Dugu Yan.

Vitality filled the barrier, and both their Soul Power reserves recovered at a visible rate.

"Third Soul Skill: Jade Bone Longevity!"

Ye Lingling's voice rang out again as a gentle white light flowed into Dugu Yan's body.

"Hmm?" Dugu Yan froze for a moment. She could feel a warm force nourishing her bones and muscles. Even the slight internal injuries caused by the intense battle had healed in an instant.

"This Soul Skill... it can actually repair internal injuries?"

Dugu Bo's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Finally, my fourth Soul Skill: Emerald Life Tide!"

Ye Lingling clasped her hands together, then flung them wide open.

"Whoosh—"

A wave of jade-green light swept out of her body, becoming a brilliant rain of life that enveloped the entire cavern.

Bathed in the life tide, Dugu Yan felt every cell in her body rejoicing. Her Soul Power instantly returned to its peak!

"It's so powerful..." Dugu Yan murmured, feeling the surging power within her. "Lingling, your healing and purification abilities are even more terrifying than the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, the greatest support-type martial spirit on the continent!"

Bi Ji nodded with satisfaction as well.

"The Emerald Life Tide's range and effects have already reached the level of a top-tier support-type Soul Master."

"Given time, you'll surely become one of the continent's very best support-type Soul Masters."

After the test, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling ran back to Ling Xuqing in delight. Like two kittens hoping for praise, they gazed up at him eagerly.

"Young Master, how did we do?"

Dugu Yan blinked her big eyes and asked expectantly.

Ling Xuqing smiled faintly and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Very well. Even better than I expected."

"Your strength is already enough to make a name for yourselves on the continent."

At Ling Xuqing's praise, the two girls grinned from ear to ear.

"All right," Ling Xuqing said, his smile fading as he looked over the group. "I've decided that we'll stay here at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to cultivate for a while."

"The icy and fiery forces here will greatly benefit my Golden Dragon King origin. Besides, I need time to digest the power Bi Ji offered up to me."

Hearing Ling Xuqing's decision, Gu Yuena didn't hesitate for a moment. She immediately said:

"Wherever you are, Brother, Na'er will be there too. I'll stay and cultivate with you!"

"Good." Ling Xuqing nodded.

Just then, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged a glance. They saw the same resolve in each other's eyes.

They drew a deep breath, then turned to Dugu Bo.

"Grandpa," Dugu Yan said, her voice clear and firm. "Lingling and I have made up our minds. We're dropping out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

"What?!" Dugu Bo froze. His eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Dropping out? Yanyan, why... why do you want to drop out?"

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy is one of the finest academies on the continent!"

"Grandpa," Dugu Yan said seriously, "Heaven Dou Royal Academy may be good, but its teachers can't teach us anymore."

"Besides, we want to cultivate alongside the Young Master."

"Only by staying with the Young Master can we grow stronger faster!"

Ye Lingling nodded and added softly:

"That's right, Grandpa Dugu. We don't want to waste any more time."

"We want to become as powerful as the Young Master!"

Dugu Bo looked at the unwavering determination in his granddaughters' eyes and fell silent for a long while.

He knew the two girls had already made up their minds. Nothing he said could change them.

"Fine..." Dugu Bo sighed deeply, his eyes full of relief and emotion. "Since you've made your decision, Grandpa will support you."

"But remember, wherever you go, don't cause the Young Master any trouble!"

"Don't worry, Grandpa!" Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling replied in unison.

Ling Xuqing watched the scene, a warm smile curling his lips.

He knew that, from this day on, he had another powerful ally by his side.