Evolution: The Jade Phosphorous Flood Dragon Emperor! Dugu Bo Reaches Level 93-and Pledges His Loyalty?
"Bzz—"
A clear hum of Soul Power rang out.
Dugu Yan's eyes flew open. Dazzling jade-green light burst from her right arm, which seemed sheathed in crystalline serpent-scale armor. A chilling pressure of deadly poison radiated from it.
Yet her breathing was steady and her Blood Qi surged freely. Not a trace of the sluggishness caused by poison remained!
"Grandpa!
"My... my Soul Power hasn't just reached level 40. The stabbing pain and icy chill inside me are completely gone!"
If she had already obtained her fourth soul ring, Dugu Yan's Soul Power would likely have risen even further.
Dugu Yan sprang up. Feeling Soul Power flow smoothly through her body, she threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms in delight.
"Good!
"Good!
"This is wonderful!"
Tears streamed down Dugu Bo's aged face. He patted his granddaughter's back again and again, his hands trembling with emotion.
The weight that had pressed on his heart for years shattered at last.
Dugu Bo released Dugu Yan and hurried her over to Yin Changqing. Without hesitation, they both bowed deeply.
"Young Master Changqing, my granddaughter and I will never forget what you've done for us!"
Dugu Yan's cheeks reddened slightly as she said solemnly:
"Thank you for saving my life, Young Master!
"Whatever you ask of me from now on, I'll do it without question!"
"There's no need to thank me, Sister Yan. Now that you've recovered, just focus on training at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Yin Changqing gestured for her to rise, then turned to Dugu Bo:
"Mr. Dugu, your granddaughter's hidden danger is gone. Now it's your turn."
Dugu Bo straightened sharply, fervor flashing in his eyes:
"Young Master, what should I do?"
Yin Changqing motioned for Dugu Bo to take out the Jade Dragon Fruit he had given him earlier.
Then Yin Changqing held two fingers together like a sword and touched Dugu Bo between the brows with a faint strand of mental intent.
"Bzz!"
A vast, profound incantation flooded Dugu Bo's mind.
A thunderclap seemed to go off in his head. Methods for channeling power through the Meridians, condensing dragon energy into a core, and refining blood essence appeared with startling clarity.
"This... this is the Dragon Core Condensation Method?!"
Dugu Bo cried out, his face filled with shock:
"Reverse and refine all the serpent venom in my body and the source power of my Martial Soul, then condense them into a permanent Dragon Core?! That would let me control my poison at will—and even use the Dragon Core's power to break through the limits of my Titled Douluo rank?!"
"Exactly."
Yin Changqing stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly:
"You formed a Snake Bead long ago, but it's little more than a crude mass of poison sacs. It could easily turn against your body.
"A Dragon Core, on the other hand, holds the core essence of the True Dragon Clan."
He could not pass on the Soul Core method, but the Dragon Core Condensation Method the system had just awarded him was perfect for improving Dugu Bo's Poison Core.
Yin Yu was surprised too. Where had his son gotten this Dragon Core method?
His son had quite a few secrets!
But Yin Yu had no wish to pry. The more secrets Yin Changqing had, the better.
He was his father, after all.
No matter how many secrets Yin Changqing had, Yin Yu would benefit from them in the end!
He already had a Soul Core. If he gained a Dragon Core as well, could he defeat opponents at level 96 or even 97 while still at level 95?!
"Take the Jade Dragon Fruit in a moment. Let its dragon energy cleanse your body, then follow the method to draw all your poison back into your Dantian and compress and refine it anew. The aura of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well will suppress it, so you needn't fear a backlash."
Dugu Bo took a deep breath, reining in his elation and awe. He cupped his fists firmly toward Yin Changqing:
"The method you've bestowed on me is a gift beyond measure, Young Master! I'll begin at once!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Bo flashed onto the stone platform at the very center where the hot and cold springs met.
He sat cross-legged and swallowed the Jade Dragon Fruit, from which the aura of a Dragon Roar emanated.
Boom!
In an instant, a terrifying cloud of jade-green poison erupted from Dugu Bo's body!
The enormous phantom of a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, over thirty zhang long and green as emerald, appeared behind him and shrieked at the sky.
Yet as the Jade Dragon Fruit's medicinal power took effect, the raging serpent venom did not spread outward.
Guided by the Dragon Core Condensation Method, it rushed inward, contracting and compressing toward Dugu Bo's Dantian!
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's massive body began to tremble violently.
Under the torrent of dragon energy, two tiny bumps slowly rose from the serpent's head. Faint phantoms of dragon claws flickered beneath its belly.
A majestic golden gleam, the mark of Dragonkind, gradually appeared in its once-icy eyes!
Poison transformed into Dragon Aura. The serpent shed its old form and became a flood dragon!
The fluctuations of Soul Power around Dugu Bo climbed visibly higher.
The bottleneck that had held him at level 91 for years tore apart like thin paper!
Level 92!
Level 93!
A violent shockwave swept outward, but under the pressure of Yin Yu's level 95 Super Douluo power, it did not travel a step beyond the valley.
Dugu Yan stared, dumbfounded, and covered her mouth:
"Grandpa's... his Martial Soul is really evolving? And his Soul Power broke through two levels in a row?!"
"This is simply the result of decades of accumulated strength."
Yin Changqing remained composed as he said:
"Mr. Dugu has spent decades building his formidable poison arts. Once the backlash is resolved and that power set on the proper path, it's enough to place him among the continent's strongest."
A moment later, the turbulent aura within Dugu Bo settled completely.
Every wisp of jade-green poison mist withdrew into his body. Deep in his Dantian, a smooth Dragon Core marked with dark-gold dragon patterns slowly turned, radiating pure and immense draconic poison power.
Dugu Bo's eyes snapped open, and two piercing beams of jade-gold light shot several feet from them!
His once-dry skin grew firm again, and his green hair gained a deep luster. He looked twenty years younger, his entire body radiating the fearsome might of a flood dragon!
"Level 93!
"I've actually reached level 93!"
Dugu Bo leaped down from the platform. Feeling a fullness and ease unlike anything he had ever known, he threw back his head and laughed:
"Jade Phosphorous Flood Dragon Emperor! My Martial Soul has broken the fate that bound its serpentine line for centuries and transformed completely into the Jade Phosphorous Flood Dragon Emperor!"
He strode up to Yin Changqing, his expression utterly solemn. Dropping to one knee, he performed the most formal rite of allegiance:
"Your subordinate Dugu Bo pays his respects, Young Master! From this day forward, the Dugu Clan will serve the Holy Dragon Sect for generations. May heaven and earth strike us down if we break this oath!"
Yin Changqing helped Dugu Bo to his feet with a smile:
"Please rise, Elder Dugu. From today onward, you are the Holy Dragon Sect's Guest Grand Elder, equal in standing to a Sect Enshrined Elder."
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Dugu Bo rose, fervor and loyalty already etched into his bones.
Watching from the side, Yin Yu broke into a delighted grin:
"Ha! Congratulations, Brother Dugu! When we fight side by side, the Holy Dragon Sect will leave a bold mark on the stage of Douluo Continent!"
"You're too kind, Brother Yin. I'll be counting on your guidance!"
Dugu Bo cupped his fists modestly, his respect sincere.
After securing the allegiance of Dugu Bo and his granddaughter and making arrangements for them, Yin Changqing turned toward the springs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Changqing, are you going to take the medicine and temper your body now?"
Yin Yu's smile faded as he asked with concern.