Confessing the Truth, Dugu Yan's Life-or-Death Choice!

Dugu Bo took a deep breath and sat down on a rock beside Dugu Yan. His expression then turned more serious than ever before.

"Yan Yan, listen to Grandpa. You must stay calm about what I'm about to tell you."

Seeing her grandfather's expression, Dugu Yan suddenly felt a sense of foreboding rise within her.

She immediately dropped her coquettish demeanor and obediently nodded.

Dugu Bo slowly began, his voice somewhat heavy.

"Our Dugu Clan has inherited the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul for generations. Though this Martial Soul is powerful, it carries a fatal flaw."

"It is the innate backlash poison that comes with the Martial Soul. As our soul power levels rise, the poison within our bodies grows increasingly severe."

"The itching in your body and the tightness in your chest that you've felt recently are signs that the poison has begun to backlash."

Dugu Yan's eyes widened as she stared at her grandfather in disbelief.

Dugu Bo's eyes reddened as he continued.

"Back then, your father—my son—suffered a breakthrough in soul power that caused the poison in his body to erupt completely."

"Grandpa watched helplessly as his entire body rotted away, as he was poisoned to death alive in unbearable agony, yet I could do nothing."

Hearing this, Dugu Yan felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She had always thought her father had died in battle. She never imagined he had been poisoned to death by his own Martial Soul.

"Grandpa, then I... Will I end up like Father too?"

Dugu Yan's voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes.

She was only seventeen. She did not want to die.

Dugu Bo immediately pulled his granddaughter into his arms and patted her back.

"No. Grandpa will never let anything happen to you. I didn't mean to hide this from you before."

"Grandpa simply didn't want you to spend your childhood living in fear and pain. I've been cultivating in seclusion here all this time because I wanted to find a way to cure the poison."

Dugu Bo released Dugu Yan and explained the two methods Ning Chen had mentioned to her in full detail.

"The first method is to find an External Spirit Bone and force the poison into it. It's very safe, but External Spirit Bones are too difficult to find. Grandpa fears there may not be enough time."

"The second method is to eat this Earth Dragon Golden Melon in Grandpa's hand. It can evolve your Martial Soul into a flood dragon and completely solve the poison problem."

"However, the absorption process will be incredibly painful, and there is even a risk that your body will explode and you'll die."

Dugu Bo placed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon before Dugu Yan and solemnly asked.

"Yan Yan, which of these two paths do you choose? No matter which one you choose, Grandpa will support you."

Dugu Yan looked at the golden melon before her and fell silent.

Her mind was in chaos. The truth behind her father's tragic death, the fear that her poison could erupt at any moment, and the threat of death that might come from absorbing the immortal herb all tangled together.

She slowly turned her head and looked at Ning Chen, who stood in the distance.

That young man was only two or three years younger than her.

Yet he was already a level forty-four Soul Ancestor. He possessed a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring and could come and go freely through her grandfather's poison formation.

He was so powerful, so confident, as though everything was under his control.

If I remain this weak forever, not only will I become Grandpa's burden, but... I probably won't even be qualified to stand beside that young man.

Dugu Yan bit her lip, and her gaze gradually became firm.

She did not want to die, nor did she want to be a useless person who could only hide beneath her grandfather's protection.

She then turned back to Dugu Bo and said, word by word.

"Grandpa, Yan Yan chooses the second method!"

Dugu Bo froze for a moment. He had not expected his granddaughter to choose the most dangerous path so decisively.

"Yan Yan, have you thought this through? That pain is not something an ordinary person can endure." Dugu Bo confirmed once more.

Dugu Yan nodded heavily and declared loudly.

"I've thought it through! Only this path will let Yan Yan go farther in the future! Only then can I live up to Grandpa's expectations! I, Dugu Yan, am absolutely not someone who fears death!"

As Dugu Bo looked into his granddaughter's resolute eyes, his own eyes became completely moist.

He abruptly rose to his feet and shouted his approval.

"Good! Good! As expected of my, Dugu Bo's, granddaughter! You've got spirit!" Dugu Bo said with pride written all over his face.

"Don't worry, Yan Yan. With Grandpa and Ning Chen here to protect you, you will definitely succeed!"

Holding the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan back to Ning Chen.

"Kid, Yan Yan has made her decision. She chooses the second method. Tell us what to do next. This old man will listen to you in everything." Dugu Bo spoke to Ning Chen, his tone full of trust.

Ning Chen looked at Dugu Yan and secretly approved.

This girl has quite the fierce temperament. She doesn't have that spoiled young lady attitude.

"Alright." Ning Chen nodded, his expression turning serious.

He then pointed to a flat patch of ground and said to Dugu Yan.

"Sit over there. Cross your legs, focus your mind, and bring yourself to your best condition."

Dugu Yan obediently walked over and sat down. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, calming her racing heartbeat.

Ning Chen took the Earth Dragon Golden Melon and walked before Dugu Yan.

"The skin of this Earth Dragon Golden Melon is extremely tough. You can't bite into it directly. Use your soul power to make a small opening, then drink the juice inside."

"Remember, not a single drop can be wasted."

Ning Chen handed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon to Dugu Yan and sternly instructed her.

"During the absorption process, no matter how much it hurts, you absolutely cannot pass out. You must remain conscious and guide the medicinal power through your entire body."

"Once you give up, even immortals won't be able to save you. Do you understand?"

Dugu Yan opened her eyes, looked at Ning Chen, and nodded heavily.

"I understand. I will never give up!"

Dugu Yan accepted the Earth Dragon Golden Melon with both hands. It felt heavy in her palms, and the dragon-scale-like patterns on its surface even carried a trace of warmth.

She then took a deep breath and mobilized the soul power within her body, gathering it at her fingertips.

Hiss!

Sharp soul power tore open a small gap at the top of the golden melon.

At once, an exceptionally rich fragrance carrying a heavy earth-element aura rushed toward her.

Just one breath of that fragrance made it feel as though every bone in one's body was heating up.

Dugu Yan did not hesitate. She immediately brought the opening to her lips and sucked hard.

Golden juice flowed down her throat and rushed straight into her abdomen.

Boom!

The instant the juice entered her body, Dugu Yan felt as though a volcano was about to erupt inside her stomach.

An incomparably vast, violent energy exploded within her body in an instant.

"Ah!"

Dugu Yan abruptly threw back her head and let out an incomparably shrill scream.

Her eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, while her originally fair skin rapidly turned crimson.

The veins on her forehead bulged one after another, like tiny snakes writhing beneath her skin.

This energy was far too tyrannical! It made no sense at all, charging directly into Dugu Yan's meridians, blood vessels, muscles, and even bone marrow, beginning an exceedingly violent transformation.

"Yan Yan!"

Seeing his granddaughter in such misery, Dugu Bo's features twisted with heartache. He instinctively moved to rush over and help her.

"Stop!"

Ning Chen reacted swiftly, grabbing Dugu Bo's arm and shouting sternly.

"If you go over now, you'll only kill her! This is an unavoidable part of bloodline transformation. Outsiders cannot interfere at all."

"If you disrupt it with soul power, the two forces will clash within her body, and she'll explode instantly!"