Seeing this, Gu Rong immediately snapped,
"Old Poison, since Little Feng went in, he naturally has confidence. Stop being such a jinx."
Ning Rongrong clutched Gu Rong's sleeve with both hands and glared at Dugu Bo.
"Exactly! Senior Dugu Bo, stop talking nonsense! Brother Feng is amazing. Nothing will happen to him!"
Dugu Bo had been choked speechless by a junior, and with a Level 95 Bone Douluo standing beside him, he could only clear his throat.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop, okay? It's extremely dangerous beneath that spring. I was only giving a kind reminder."
Just as he finished speaking, Dugu Yan, who had been meditating on the other side, completed her absorption of the Nine-Grade Dragon Ganoderma. Her entire body now radiated a healthy flush.
Dugu Yan abruptly opened her eyes and lightly leaped down from the rock. After sensing her Soul Power, she was utterly stunned.
"Grandpa!"
Unable to contain her excitement, Dugu Yan jumped straight in front of Dugu Bo.
"My Soul Power! It rose by three levels! I'm Level 39 now!"
Dugu Bo froze for a moment before hurriedly grabbing his granddaughter's wrist to examine her.
A moment later, the Titled Douluo who feared neither heaven nor earth grinned from ear to ear, his eyes even turning slightly red.
"Good! Excellent! Not only has your Soul Power improved, but even the decades-old accumulated toxins in my body were suppressed by that purple ganoderma just now. Even my Soul Power has loosened somewhat!"
Holding his granddaughter's wrist, Dugu Bo repeatedly sensed the Martial Soul fluctuations within her and praised her without pause.
"Yanyan, quickly release your Martial Soul completely and let me take a look!"
Dugu Yan did as instructed and activated her Soul Power.
The dark green Jade Phosphorous Serpent raised its head and hissed. A lofty pressure had appeared within its originally narrow snake eyes.
"This... this is a bloodline transformation!"
Dugu Bo rubbed his hands excitedly and paced in circles.
"The Nine-Grade Dragon Ganoderma truly lives up to its reputation! Yanyan, if this continues, when you break through to Soul King and absorb your fifth Soul Ring, your Martial Soul can directly evolve into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor!"
For generations, their family had suffered from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, dying young from its curse. Yet now, in his granddaughter's generation, they had finally seen hope of evolving into an emperor!
Dugu Yan withdrew her Martial Soul and turned to look at the deep pool still emitting white vapor and red light, falling quiet.
She recalled how casually Gu Feng had handed her the ganoderma earlier, and an indescribable emotion stirred in her heart.
This youth, who was even several years younger than her, had not only seen through her hidden ailment but had also casually bestowed upon her an immense fortune.
Following his granddaughter's gaze toward the spring, Dugu Bo's arrogance completely faded as he sighed.
"I haven't admired many people in my life. Today, I suppose I owe that kid my life."
Gu Rong, standing behind them, watched everything unfold as a monstrous wave surged in his heart.
Two seemingly inconspicuous, bizarre ganodermas could suppress a Titled Douluo's old injuries and allow a genius Soul Elder to leap three levels at once, even evolving her Martial Soul?
Just what ancient tome had that boy learned these methods from?
However, Gu Rong could not be bothered to ask.
Everyone carried secrets. As long as the boy wholeheartedly protected Ning Rongrong and stood with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, prying into everything would only drive him away.
Ning Rongrong had no interest in any Serpent Emperor.
Hugging the Aromatic Silk Beauty, she squatted beside the deep pool and kept muttering under her breath.
"Why isn't he out yet... It's almost been an hour..."
"Brother Feng, if you dare soak yourself rotten, I'll smash all your storage rings..."
Time slowly passed.
The red-and-white spring water, which had been churning endlessly, suddenly settled in an eerie manner.
Then, a massive vortex suddenly caved into the entire surface of the water!
A stream of azure-green air shot up from the depths of the spring, sweeping red-and-white mist into the sky.
The instant the water exploded, a tall, straight figure burst out from the bottom of the pool and landed steadily on a bluestone by the shore.
A faint blue-and-red glow flowed around Gu Feng's body. His skin was crystalline like jade, and all the impurities accumulated in his body had been completely cleansed away.
The surging Soul Power within him roared through his meridians, directly smashing through the barrier that had long refused to budge.
Level 40!
Gu Feng clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked sharply.
Water-Fire Body Tempering.
Ice-Fire Dual Immunity! Immunity to all poisons!
Although he had not awakened a domain, with his current physique, taking a Soul King's attack head-on would not be a problem at all.
He was only a little over twelve years old and had already reached Level 40. The road ahead was still long, and he had plenty of chances to gain a domain.
Gu Feng let out a long breath of stale air and was about to step forward when Ning Rongrong's shrill cry exploded beside his ear.
"Ah! Brother Feng! Put your clothes on!"
Immediately afterward, Ning Rongrong tightly covered her face with both hands, though the gaps between her fingers were wider than anyone else's.
I'm just checking whether Brother Feng is hurt.
Ning Rongrong told herself that.
Dugu Yan also suddenly came to her senses. Her cheeks instantly reddened to the roots of her neck, and she hurriedly turned her back to the bluestone, spitting out,
"Pervert!"
Gu Rong's eyelid twitched wildly as he quickly turned around and repeatedly cleared his throat.
Dugu Bo wore an even stranger expression as he clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the weeds on the cliff, muttering,
"Young people really are full of vigor. That spring is highly corrosive. I should have reminded you earlier."
Looking down, Gu Feng found that his coarse training clothes had long been burned away without a trace by the freezing and scorching spring water.
Fortunately, before gathering herbs, he had taken off the storage ring on his finger and placed it in a crack between the rocks on shore. Otherwise, even the ring would have been ruined.
Somewhat embarrassed, he rubbed his nose and stomped his foot. A green wind blade swept up the storage ring resting by the shore and delivered it into his hand.
With a slight movement of Soul Power at his fingertips, a brand-new brocade robe appeared. Gu Feng swiftly put it on and tightened the belt.
"Alright, you can turn around now."
Only then did Ning Rongrong lower her hands and dash over, her eyes scanning Gu Feng from head to toe.
She raised her hand to compare his height against her chest, pursing her lips in surprise.
"Brother Feng, why do you seem half a head taller again? And why is your skin even fairer than mine..."
Gu Feng raised a hand and flicked her forehead.
"My physique improved. Growing taller is normal."
Ning Rongrong rubbed her forehead, but naturally pressed close to him, hooked her arm through his, and asked in a lowered voice,
"So how much stronger are you now?"
"Level 40."
Gu Feng answered casually, his expression calm.
"Level 40!"
Dugu Yan, who had been facing away from them, abruptly spun around, her voice rising sharply.
"You jumped four levels at once? How old are you?"
Dugu Bo also sucked in a cold breath.
A twelve-year-old Level 40 Soul Ancestor?
Looking across the entire history of the Douluo Continent, such talent was simply unheard of. What kind of monster was this kid?
Gu Feng did not explain further. He walked before Dugu Bo and cupped his hands.
"Senior Dugu, my realm has only just stabilized, and I need to return to the sect to consolidate it. If I need to cultivate in the future, I may need to borrow your treasured place again. But rest assured, aside from Rongrong, I will never bring an outsider here."
Dugu Bo flicked his long robe with easy confidence.
"My word is as good as spilled water! This valley, along with these immortal herbs, is yours to visit whenever you wish. Consider it payment for treating me!"
"Then thank you, Senior."
Gu Feng nodded and glanced at Dugu Yan.
"The snake venom in Dugu Yan's body is not urgent. As long as you can obtain a suitable Soul Bone within two years and seal it using the guidance method I taught you, her life will not be in danger."
Dugu Yan's expression was complicated. She lightly bit her lower lip and answered in a low voice,
"I understand. Thank you."
"Bone Grandpa, let's go."
Gu Feng did not delay further and turned back to Gu Rong's side.
Gu Rong raised his hand and tore open a pitch-black spatial rift. Gray light swept up Gu Feng and Ning Rongrong, and they vanished from the valley in an instant.
Watching the place where the three had departed, Dugu Bo's smile faded as he turned to his granddaughter.
"Yanyan, what do you think of Gu Feng's character?"
Dugu Yan paused, then answered honestly.
"He's handsome, terrifyingly talented, and calm-minded. In short... he's very good."
Dugu Bo stroked his green beard and chuckled.
"Then do you think you two could get together? I find him quite pleasing."
Dugu Yan's entire face instantly turned red. She stomped her foot in embarrassment and anger.
"Grandpa! What nonsense are you talking about? Ning Rongrong is by his side! She's the treasured daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"So what if Ning Rongrong is there?"
Dugu Bo said indifferently,
"In this world, it's perfectly normal for top experts to have several wives and concubines! You're no less beautiful than that little girl, and your figure is better than hers. What's wrong with competing for him?"
Dugu Yan's chest heaved as she turned away in anger.
"Impossible! Gu Feng only has eyes for Ning Rongrong. He isn't even interested in giving me a second glance! Besides, Tianheng is the only one in my heart. Stop trying to arrange marriages for me!"
Dugu Bo sighed, his tone helpless.
"Yu Tianheng is a fine boy, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but compared with Gu Feng, he falls short by far.
Forget it, forget it. Children and grandchildren will have their own fortunes.
But let me make this clear: if Yu Tianheng ever dares treat you badly, even if I have to tear things apart with Yu Yuanzhen, I'll personally cripple him!"
Before you continue