Martial Soul Regression

"There's so much we can do!"

Lu Xuan combined Huang Yaoshi's knowledge of medicine with his master Ye Renxin's careful guidance, and countless new ideas came to him for pairing the medicinal plants of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Many Immortal Herbs grew in complementary pairs, their properties enhancing each other. Even herbs that seemed entirely unrelated could contribute their strengths, their essences extracted and blended into one.

After just one day of working through the possibilities, Lu Xuan already had a rough direction in mind. He was certain that if he kept studying, he would one day refine a pill that would truly astonish the world.

While Lu Xuan stayed at Ye Renxin's side, absorbed in studying herb combinations and the secrets of medicine, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out from the entrance to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Haha! Brother Ye, young Lu, we're here!"

Dugu Bo strode into the spirit-rich hidden realm.

He had not come alone. Along with the three members of the Dugu family were Ye Qingxian, Zhao Yan, and Ye Lingling. All six entered the hidden realm and gathered at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was usually quiet and secluded. The sudden arrival of six people shattered its peace.

Ye Renxin stopped his lesson at once, his gentle gaze passing calmly over the newcomers.

At last, his eyes settled on Dugu Bo. "Brother Dugu, congratulations."

"Haha! Congratulations to you, too!" Dugu Bo laughed, his face bright with relief. The shadow that had weighed on his heart for years was gone.

He cupped his hands in return and looked at Ye Renxin with genuine warmth. "Brother Ye, my family's long-standing affliction has been cured. Now we'll see what fortune awaits the Ye Family!"

For years, Dugu Bo's cultivation had been stuck at level eighty-nine.

After he consumed the Golden Chi Dew Grass yesterday, a profound change had quietly begun within him.

His poison-ridden Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul had transformed at its very source, evolving into the Golden Phosphorus Serpent Martial Soul. The source of the martial soul poison that had tormented him was gone. Never again would he have to endure it eating away at his body.

The Immortal Herb's immense medicinal power had also broken through the barrier that had held him back for years, carrying him straight to level ninety, the realm of a Quasi-Titled Douluo.

All Dugu Bo needed now was a suitable Soul Ring to become a Titled Douluo!

Dugu Bo was not the only one who had undergone a tremendous transformation. His son, Dugu Xin, had too.

Years ago, Dugu Bo had been unwilling to let his son suffer as Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison gnawed at his body day and night. He had gone out of his way to find Dugu Xin five Soul Rings without poisonous attributes.

But Dugu Xin had only level-five Innate Soul Power, leaving him with a weak foundation. Even after decades of hard cultivation, he had advanced no further than Soul King.

The Earth Dragon Golden Gourd's medicinal power had cleansed him, however. His Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul had made a fundamental leap, transforming into a Jade-Scaled Black Python.

It was a purely nonvenomous assault-type beast Martial Soul, geared toward brute physical strength. Its scales were as hard as steel, and it excelled at ramming into foes and crushing them in its coils.

The Immortal Herb's power had torn out the martial soul poison within Dugu Xin by the roots. From now on, he would never again suffer its backlash.

As the adults gathered to talk, two small figures quietly approached Lu Xuan.

"Brother Lu Xuan," Ye Lingling called softly.

"Lu Xuan," Dugu Yan said.

Both girls had worried about him while they were in Heaven Dou. Now that they had seen him safe and at ease with their own eyes, the weight on their hearts finally lifted. They breathed quiet sighs of relief.

Lu Xuan turned to the two girls with a smile. "Lingling, Yanyan, you're here. Master and Senior Dugu are about to give you an extraordinary opportunity."

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance. Neither understood what sort of opportunity he meant, but they nodded obediently.

As juniors, all they needed to do was wait for their elders' arrangements. There was no need to ask questions or dwell on the matter.

Lu Xuan chatted with the two girls, but his attention remained on his master and Ye Qingxian.

The father and daughter were arguing in low voices, each insisting on taking the other's place. They could not agree on who should take the Fake Death Secret Medicine and who should touch the Spirit-Shattering Thornflower that could degrade a Martial Soul.

Ye Renxin felt that he was already old. He had reached the Soul Douluo realm in his lifetime, and that was more than enough for him.

Even if the poisonous herb eroded and degraded his Martial Soul, he would have few regrets.

But Ye Qingxian refused.

She argued that she had never sought overwhelming combat power. A regressed Martial Soul and a drop in strength would have little effect on her, so she should bear the cost.

Ye Renxin had considered waiting until Ye Lingling successfully awakened the Nine Heart Begonia, then using an Immortal Herb to refine his or Ye Qingxian's regressed Martial Soul and restore it.

But for all his lifetime of medical knowledge, he knew of no herb capable of doing so. That path was closed.

The others could only stand by and watch the father and daughter argue. Even Zhao Yan was caught in a bind, unsure which of them he should try to persuade.

"Dad, it's settled," Ye Qingxian said firmly. "There's nothing wrong with my remaining a Soul Emperor for the rest of my life. I can stay at Ye Family Medical Hall and treat patients. But you're different. You often travel to practice medicine. If your Martial Soul regresses, everyone will worry whenever you go out, and Zhao Yan will have to divide his attention to protect you."

Ye Renxin parted his lips, but for a moment, he had no answer.

He knew his daughter had said every word out of concern for him.

With the argument laid out so plainly, insisting otherwise would do little good. Whenever he offered one reason, Ye Qingxian countered with three or five of her own.

"Very well. Very well." Ye Renxin let out a long sigh. Helplessness filled his face, and he finally stopped arguing. "Once Lingling awakens her Martial Soul, I can only hope to do everything in my power to find a way to undo this."

"That's more like it." A relieved smile appeared on Ye Qingxian's face. She took the Spirit-Shattering Thornflower and, without a moment's hesitation, swallowed the poisonous herb with its faintly sweet, rank scent.

Ye Renxin stayed close beside her, his eyes fixed on his daughter as he watched for the slightest change.

Time passed slowly. After three full hours, the herb's power finally permeated the source of Ye Qingxian's Martial Soul and took full effect.

Ye Qingxian's Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul had once gleamed with luster and vitality. Now a murky gray haze spread across it. Its brilliant healing light faded layer by layer, until it had regressed into an unremarkable Broken-Calyx Begonia.

As her Martial Soul regressed, her Soul Power plummeted with it.

Ye Qingxian's cultivation fell from level sixty-three Soul Emperor all the way to level fifty-eight Soul King. The light of her sixth Soul Ring dimmed, and the ring lost all its power.