Chapter 32: Evolution: The Jade-Scaled Flood Dragon Emperor! Dugu Bo Reaches Level 93-Swears Loyalty?

Hum—

A clear hum of Soul Power rang out.

Dugu Yan's eyes flew open. Blinding jade-green light flared from her right arm, which seemed to be covered in crystalline serpent-scale armor. A terrifying poisonous pressure radiated from it.

Yet her breathing was steady, her vitality strong. Not a trace of the sluggishness caused by poisoning remained!

"Grandpa!

My... my Soul Power has reached level 40, and the stabbing pain and cold inside me are completely gone!"

If she had already obtained her fourth soul ring, Dugu Yan's Soul Power would likely have risen even higher.

Dugu Yan sprang to her feet. Feeling her Soul Power flow freely through her body, she threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms, overjoyed.

"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 excitement.

The weight that had burdened his heart for years finally shattered.

Dugu Bo released Dugu Yan and hurried her over to Yin Changqing. Without hesitation, grandfather and granddaughter 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, Yanyan will do it without complaint!"

"There's no need for thanks, Sister Yanyan. Now that you've recovered, just focus on cultivating at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Yin Changqing gestured for her to rise, then turned to Dugu Bo.

"Mr. Dugu, your granddaughter's hidden ailment is gone. Now it's your turn."

Dugu Bo straightened at once, fervor shining 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 he pressed two fingers together like a sword and sent a faint thread of spiritual intent directly into Dugu Bo's brow.

Hum!

A vast, profound set of instructions flooded Dugu Bo's mind.

Dugu Bo felt a roar explode in his head as countless methods for circulating power through the Meridians, condensing dragon energy into a core, and refining his blood essence appeared with perfect clarity.

"This... this is the Dragon Core Condensation Method?!"

Dugu Bo cried out, his face filled with shock.

"Reverse and purify all the serpent venom in my body and the essence of my Martial Soul, then condense them into a permanent Dragon Core?!"

Then I could release and withdraw my poison at will. With the Dragon Core's power, I might even break through the bottleneck holding back my rank as a Titled Douluo?!"

"Precisely."

Yin Changqing stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.

"Though you formed a Snake Bead in your body long ago, it's only a crude mass of poison sacs, one that could easily turn against you.

A Dragon Core, by contrast, holds the core essence of the True Dragon Clan."

He could not pass on the Soul Core, but the Dragon Core Condensation Method the system had just rewarded him with was a perfect improvement on Dugu Bo's Poison Core.

Yin Yu was surprised too. Where had this Dragon Core method come from?

His son had quite a few secrets!

But Yin Yu had no intention of prying. The more secrets Yin Changqing had, the better.

After all, he was the boy's father.

No matter how many secrets Yin Changqing had, Yin Yu would get to benefit from them in the end!

He already had a Soul Core. If he gained a Dragon Core as well, wouldn't he be able to fight level 96 or 97 opponents while only at level 95?!

"Take the Jade Dragon Fruit shortly. Use its dragon energy to cleanse your marrow, then follow this method to draw every trace of poison in your body back into your Dantian and compress and refine it anew.

The aura of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well will keep it in check, so you needn't worry about a backlash."

Dugu Bo drew a deep breath, suppressed his joy and awe, and gave Yin Changqing a firm fist salute.

"Young Master, your gift of this method is a debt beyond measure!

I'll begin at once!"

As soon as he spoke, 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, which carried the faint resonance of a Dragon Roar, without hesitation.

Boom!

A terrifying cloud of jade-green poison erupted from Dugu Bo's body!

Behind him, the enormous phantom of a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appeared. Over thirty zhang long and green as jade, it raised its head and let out a piercing hiss.

But as the Jade Dragon Fruit's medicinal power dissolved, the violent serpent venom did not spread outward.

Guided by the Dragon Core Condensation Method, it surged toward Dugu Bo's Dantian and compressed within it!

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's massive body began to tremble violently.

Under the wash of dense dragon energy, two tiny bumps slowly rose from the Serpent Emperor's head. Faint images of dragon claws flickered beneath its belly.

A glimmer of majestic gold, the mark of Dragonkind, gradually entered its once-cold serpent eyes!

The poison became Dragon Aura, and the serpent shed its form to become a flood dragon!

The fluctuations of Soul Power around Dugu Bo climbed at a visibly accelerating pace.

The bottleneck that had held him at level 91 for years gave way like a sheet of paper!

Level 92!

Level 93!

Violent waves of energy swept outward, but under the pressure of Yin Yu's level 95 Hyper Douluo power, they did not escape the valley.

Dugu Yan stared in disbelief and covered her mouth.

"Grandpa's... his Martial Soul really is evolving?

And his Soul Power rose two levels in a row?!"

"This is simply the result of years of accumulation."

Yin Changqing remained composed as he spoke.

"Mr. Dugu has amassed formidable poison cultivation over decades.

Now that the backlash has been resolved and his power set on the right path, its release is enough to place him among the continent's strongest."

A short while later, the violent aura within Dugu Bo finally settled.

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 immense, refined dragon-venom power.

Dugu Bo's eyes snapped open, and two sharp 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, and a fearsome flood dragon's might emanated from his entire body!

"Level 93!

I've actually reached level 93!"

Dugu Bo leaped down from the platform. Feeling a fullness and ease unlike anything he had known, he threw back his head and laughed.

"Jade Phosphorous Flood Dragon Emperor!

My Martial Soul has broken free of the fate that bound serpent martial souls for centuries and transformed completely into a Jade Phosphorous Flood Dragon Emperor!"

Dugu Bo strode up to Yin Changqing, his expression utterly solemn. He dropped to one knee and offered the most formal salute of allegiance.

"Your subordinate Dugu Bo greets you, Young Master!

From this day forward, the Dugu clan will serve the Holy Dragon Sect for generations. If we break this oath, may heaven and earth destroy us!"

Yin Changqing helped Dugu Bo to his feet with a smile.

"Please rise, Elder Dugu.

From today on, you are the Guest Grand Elder of the Holy Dragon Sect, with standing equal to a Sect Enshrined Elder."

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Dugu Bo rose. Fervor and loyalty were etched deep into his bones.

Watching nearby, Yin Yu broke into a delighted grin.

"Haha, Brother Dugu, congratulations!

We'll fight side by side from now on. The Holy Dragon Sect is going to leave its mark on the stage of the Douluo Continent!"

"You're too kind, Brother Yin. I'll be counting on your guidance!"

Dugu Bo returned the salute modestly, his respect entirely sincere.

Once he had secured the allegiance of Dugu Bo and his granddaughter and settled their arrangements, 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.