Lin Hao: You Old Poison Freak, I Treated You Like a Brother, and You Want to Be My Grandfather-in-Law?!

(Dugu Yan · Concept Art 1)

"Brother Dugu, we've come to trouble you!"

At the entrance to Dugu Manor.

After meeting Dugu Bo, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo cupped their fists and greeted him courteously.

Beside them, Lin Hao also smiled and cupped his fists.

"Senior Dugu, long time no see!"

"Not at all! You're no trouble!"

Dugu Bo waved a hand. After nodding to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, he turned to Lin Hao and gently stroked his snow-white beard, a faint smile appearing on his sinister face.

"You little monster, it certainly has been a while!"

"You really are interested in my Medicine Garden, aren't you?"

Lin Hao spread his hands and shrugged.

"What can I do? You told me your Medicine Garden held countless exotic flowers and herbs, all rare medicinal treasures seldom found in the outside world."

"Among them, there's even a medicinal herb identical to my and my teacher's martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."

"How could I possibly not be curious?"

"What?!"

Beside him, Chrysanthemum Douluo was utterly stunned, his eyes instantly filling with fervor and excitement.

"Hao, what did you say?"

"Brother Dugu's Medicine Garden actually has a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, just like our martial souls?"

"Yes!"

Lin Hao answered with a smile.

"I didn't mention it before because this was also a surprise I was preparing for you, Teacher!"

While Dugu Bo, Lin Hao, and Chrysanthemum Douluo chatted, Dugu Yan stared at Lin Hao in disbelief.

Her grandfather had clearly said that the benefactor of their Jade Phosphorous Serpent Family who would be visiting shortly was a little boy.

He was much younger than her, only seven years old or so.

Yet the youth before her was so tall, and his strikingly handsome features looked especially mature.

He looked nothing like a seven-year-old child. Seventeen would have been more believable!

Once they finished exchanging pleasantries, Dugu Bo extended a hand toward Dugu Yan and introduced her.

"Oh, right! I haven't introduced her yet. This is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan!"

Then Dugu Bo introduced Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Lin Hao to Dugu Yan.

"This is Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo, Elder Ju, and Ghost Douluo, Ghost Elder, along with the savior of our Jade Phosphorous Serpent Family, Lin Hao!"

"You can just call them Uncle Ju, Uncle Ghost, and Little Brother Hao!"

"Uncle Ju! Uncle Ghost! And Little Brother Lin Hao, welcome to Dugu Manor!"

Dugu Yan greeted them respectfully and politely, a welcoming smile on her stunning face, which combined spirited elegance with radiant beauty.

Afterward, the group entered Dugu Manor.

Inside, Dugu Bo instructed the servants to prepare a sumptuous feast to welcome Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Lin Hao.

In the main hall.

While they waited for the dishes to arrive, Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes blazed with excitement, and he eagerly asked Dugu Bo what exotic flowers and herbs grew in his Medicine Garden.

After Dugu Bo casually named a few, Chrysanthemum Douluo was so excited he nearly fainted.

"Immortal Grade! They're all Immortal Grade!"

"Not only is there a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, but there's even a Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Aromatic Silk Beauty, and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower..."

"Brother Dugu, would you be willing to trade these immortal herbs?"

"I'm willing to give anything in exchange for them!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo asked, brimming with fervor and excitement.

Dugu Bo gently stroked his long beard, then gave a hearty laugh.

"Brother Ju, you must be joking!"

"I don't know how to use these herbs anyway. When the time comes, each of you can pick a few to take with you!"

As he spoke, however, Dugu Bo turned to Lin Hao and chuckled.

"But Brother Ju, if you feel bad and want to offer something in return, that's fine too!"

"As it happens, my Yan is still unmarried, and I think very highly of your Hao."

"Why don't we arrange an engagement and become family?"

Beside him, Lin Hao's expression darkened as he looked at Dugu Bo.

You old poison freak!

I treated you as a friend despite our age gap.

And now you want to be my grandfather-in-law?!

"Grandpa!"

Dugu Yan immediately flushed crimson, embarrassed and annoyed.

Although this Little Brother Lin Hao's looks were exactly to her liking.

But she had heard that this young Lin Hao followed the food system path.

Good looks weren't her only requirement for the man she loved. He had to be stronger than her, too!

"Brother Dugu, this isn't something we can decide. We still have to hear what the children think!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo was somewhat tempted, but remembering Lin Hao's age, he could only smile helplessly and shake his head.

"By the way, Brother Ju, what effects do these immortal herbs have that make you so excited?"

"Back then, I accidentally touched one or two of these exotic plants, but their cold and scorching heat were terrifyingly powerful. They even gave me frostbite and burns."

"After that, I never dared touch any of these immortal herbs I couldn't identify!"

"Do you recognize all of them?"

Dugu Bo asked curiously.

Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a soft, feminine smile and answered confidently.

"Brother Dugu, you may have a slight edge over me in medicine and poison studies."

"But when it comes to flowers and herbs, there isn't a single one in this world I don't recognize!"

"Take my and Hao's martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, for example. It's an immortal herb, too."

"Consuming it not only enhances a soul master's physical constitution and improves their aptitude, but can also grant an indestructible diamond body!"

"However, I can't guarantee that consuming the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum will grant that indestructible diamond body. It will definitely enhance physical constitution and defense tremendously, though!"

Besides that, Chrysanthemum Douluo also briefly explained the effects of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Aromatic Silk Beauty, and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.

They learned that once the Lovesick Heartbreak Red recognized a master, its medicinal power could bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bare bones!

Meanwhile, the Aromatic Silk Beauty and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower could ward off all poisons and purify the fire attribute, respectively, and could induce evolution in flower-type and fire-attribute martial souls!

Dugu Bo was beside himself with excitement and could not help asking urgently.

"Brother Ju, are there immortal herbs in this world that can make our Jade Phosphorous Serpent Family's Jade Phosphorous Serpent martial soul evolve?"

"Of course there are, though not many. We'll have to take a look when we get there!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo said.

Those words made Dugu Bo want to skip the meal and head straight to his Medicine Garden.

But remembering that Lin Hao and the other two had traveled a long way, he restrained himself.

After they finished lunch.

Only then did Dugu Bo rise and lead Lin Hao, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Dugu Yan toward Sunset Forest.

After they arrived at Sunset Forest.

With three Titled Douluos accompanying them, practically no soul beast along the way was foolish enough to cause trouble.

Soon, the group reached the area where Dugu Bo had laid his poison formation.

After taking Dugu Bo's antidote.

They made their way to the foot of a mountain.

Thick white mist continually rose from the mountain's summit and swirled around its peak, making it look especially unusual.

Then Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan, while Chrysanthemum Douluo took Lin Hao, and they rose into the air alongside Ghost Douluo, soon landing beside a valley halfway up the mountain.

This valley was the source of the rising white mist.

From a distance, faint glimmers of icy blue and scarlet could be seen flickering within the mist.

"Come on, follow me!"

Led by Dugu Bo, the group headed straight toward the center of the valley.

After they walked some distance, the view suddenly opened up.

An extraordinary pool appeared before them.

The pool was roughly ten meters across, and its waters were simultaneously icy blue and fiery red, curling around each other like an Ice-Fire Taiji Diagram. One side emitted biting cold, while the other billowed with scorching heat.

Around the pool, all manner of exotic flowers and herbs grew in profusion, vying to outshine one another!