Martial Soul Evolution
"Why don't we first see if there's anything that can make a martial soul evolve?" Lu Yang suggested from the side.
Detoxification was certainly effective, but it would also dissipate all their poison cultivation.
Dugu Yan only had three rings at present, so losing her cultivation would not affect her too severely, but it would still drastically weaken her. At that point, a three-ring Soul Elder like her might have to sit at the same table as Yu Xiaogang, that fifty-year-old Soul Grandmaster.
That was why Lu Yang thought the best approach was to evolve her martial soul and eliminate its flaws completely. Besides, martial soul evolution would also make Dugu Yan stronger.
"You're right. Let's see if there's anything Yanzi can use." After considering it for a moment, Dugu Bo nodded. He, too, thought martial soul evolution was the better approach.
It was just that he had never considered that possibility before. Not because he was unaware of the benefits of martial soul evolution, but because his own martial soul had evolved from a Jade Phosphorus Snake into a Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, nurtured by his poison cultivation. Not only had that failed to resolve the problem of his martial soul's poison, it had left him in such agony that he wished he were dead.
If these herbs could make Yanzi's martial soul evolve, perhaps they could resolve the problem. Even if they could not, there was still Lu Yang's method of using a soul bone to delay the effects. They could always look for another way to remove the poison afterward.
What Dugu Bo did not know was that Lu Yang still had another solution tucked away in his mind: condensing his poison cultivation into a soul core. However, forming a soul core required condensing soul power. With Lu Yang's current cultivation, such a hypothesis would carry no weight whatsoever.
He was a commoner Soul Master with no backing. Where could he possibly have encountered knowledge belonging to the realm of high-level Soul Masters? If he blurted it out, Dugu Bo would not merely disbelieve him-he would become suspicious. And then this old poisoner would no longer be so easy to talk to.
That was why Lu Yang did not bring up the soul core method yet. There would still be time to mention it when the right opportunity arose. For now, he wanted to get his hands on the immortal herbs first.
After checking the illustrated guide's entries one by one, Lu Yang ultimately decided that the earth dragon golden melon was the most suitable choice. Although the guide's records were incomplete, he remembered that one of its inherent properties was promoting bloodline purification in snake, python, and sub-dragon species soul beasts.
Dugu Yan's martial soul was the Jade Phosphorus Snake, so purifying its bloodline with an earth dragon golden melon offered the best chance of making it evolve. Moreover, the earth dragon golden melon was an earth-attribute immortal herb that could strengthen the foundation and replenish vitality. It could also repair some of the damage caused by her own toxins, allowing her to go further in the future.
Once they settled on the earth dragon golden melon, Dugu Bo personally began searching along the lakeshore. Before long, he found it. As he carefully dug it out of the soil, he discovered that its roots bore two fruits, one large and one small.
Well, would you look at that-one plant, two yolks. Perfect. One each for grandfather and granddaughter, with neither left waiting, Lu Yang marveled inwardly.
Dugu Bo excitedly handed the larger earth dragon golden melon to Dugu Yan. "Yanzi, hurry. Eat it according to the guide's instructions."
Dugu Yan looked at the large fruit in her hands, then at the smaller one in Dugu Bo's, and a flicker of emotion crossed her eyes. She had lost her parents as a child and grown up at her grandfather's side, yet she had never felt the absence of family.
Now, even though her grandfather was also suffering from deadly poison, he had still saved the better one for her. Dugu Yan nearly burst into tears.
The next instant, Dugu Yan stuffed her fruit back into Dugu Bo's hands, snatched the smaller one, and immediately bit into it.
"Yanzi, what are you..." Dugu Bo was beside himself with anxiety at her actions.
But seeing that she had already swallowed the fruit and sat cross-legged to begin refining it, he could only shut his mouth.
As the earth dragon golden melon's energy flowed into her body, Dugu Yan immediately felt a warm current travel through her meridians, circulating throughout her body before finally merging into her dantian.
Then her martial soul manifested without being summoned. The sight immediately put Dugu Bo on edge.
Standing beside her, he watched Dugu Yan refine the earth dragon golden melon and paced back and forth without stopping. Yet no matter how anxious he became, he did not dare make too much noise, afraid of disturbing her.
As time passed, Lu Yang noticed changes in the phantom of the Jade Phosphorus Snake martial soul behind Dugu Yan.
"Senior Sister, look! Sister Yanzi's martial soul!"
At Lu Yang's words, Dugu Bo and the others immediately turned toward Dugu Yan. The scales on the martial soul phantom behind her had begun to change.
Originally, every scale on the Jade Phosphorus Snake martial soul had been jade green, with only slight variations in shade and no other colors. Now, however, the scales along its belly were gradually shifting from pale green to earthy yellow.
Moreover, the Jade Phosphorus Snake's inverted triangular head slowly swelled, gradually developing some fierce-looking horny growths, while a small bump emerged on top.
These changes reassured everyone considerably. Dugu Bo, in particular, lost much of the tension in his expression and kept murmuring, "Wonderful. This is truly wonderful."
Roughly four hours passed before Dugu Yan awoke from her meditation. Her appearance had changed noticeably by then: she had grown somewhat taller and more slender. Clearly, her martial soul's evolution had also affected her body.
Dugu Yan immediately entered the state of martial soul possession. Jade-green scales covered her neck and other exposed skin, lending her an unusual allure.
"Yanzi, how do you feel?" Dugu Bo hurried forward and asked anxiously.
"Very good." Only after carefully examining herself did Dugu Yan answer. "Grandpa, I feel wonderful. That indescribable discomfort I used to have is gone, too. My body feels so light now!"
Although her words eased much of Dugu Bo's concern, he still had Ye Qingling examine her again. Only after confirming that no accumulated toxins remained in her body did he finally relax completely.
Judging by his expression, Lu Yang suspected that Dugu Bo might have wept with joy if the rest of them had not been present.
"Oh, right, Grandpa, hurry and take your earth dragon golden melon too. If my martial soul could evolve, yours should be able to as well, shouldn't it?" Dugu Yan urged.
Hearing his granddaughter's concern, Dugu Bo immediately beamed with joy. He promptly ate the earth dragon golden melon, then sat cross-legged and began refining it.
Just then, Ye Lingling sighed from the side. "Martial soul evolution is truly incredible. If my Nine Heart Begonia could evolve, I wonder whether it could..."
Ye Lingling did not finish, but everyone present knew exactly what she meant.
"What's the problem? There are still so many miraculous herbs here. Just pick one and try taking it yourself. I'll decide on Grandpa's behalf-you can choose one!" Dugu Yan patted her proudly puffed-out chest and generously promised Ye Lingling that she could pick an immortal herb.