"Lingling?!"
Xiao Wu was somewhat surprised to see Ye Lingling here.
But Ye Lingling was even more surprised.
She almost blurted out Ji Yang's and Xiao Wu's names on instinct.
Fortunately, Ye Lingling caught herself in time, forcibly swallowed the words, and composed her expression before Dugu Yan beside her noticed anything amiss.
At their last meeting, Ji Yang had mentioned that he might leave the Star Dou Great Forest for the Heaven Dou Empire within the next few months, but she had not expected him to set out so soon.
Even less had she expected to run into Ji Yang and his companions right here at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
It seemed she had been too slow and had held up Ji Yang's plans a little.
At least, that was how Ye Lingling saw it, and she could not help feeling somewhat guilty.
"Who are you?"
While Ye Lingling reproached herself, Dugu Bo looked at Ji Yang's group with a dark expression and asked in a low voice.
A moment ago, he had been furious merely because someone had forced their way into his territory.
Now, however, all he felt was deep wariness and fear.
Since Da Ming and Er Ming had not concealed their Soul Power auras, he could clearly sense their terrifying strength.
These were at least two Super Douluo-level powerhouses, far beyond what he, the "weakest Douluo," could handle.
Worse still, he was currently suffering a flare-up of his poison. The excessive toxins accumulated in his body had erupted, leaving him in an extremely weakened state.
Never mind a Super Douluo-even a Soul Douluo or a Soul Saint might be able to gravely injure or even kill him.
As for Ji Yang and Xiao Wu, the two Soul Kings, he had overlooked them.
In his current condition, he could not even discern that Xiao Wu was a Soul Beast.
Instead, he cast a slightly surprised glance at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion beside Ji Yang.
After all, she was visibly a Soul Beast, and one he did not recognize at that. Some curiosity was inevitable.
"You don't need to know who we are, but we're taking this place, including every medicinal herb in this Medicine Garden."
Ji Yang chuckled and pointed at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the medicinal herbs around it.
"And you too, of course, Dugu Bo! As for your granddaughter Dugu Yan, consider her part of the package!"
Ji Yang then pointed at Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan behind him.
At Ji Yang's words, Dugu Bo's expression shifted repeatedly.
Even Dugu Yan's expression turned ugly.
Were they here for her and her grandfather?
Had Da Ming's and Er Ming's powerful auras not weighed on them like mountains, making it clear that these intruders were beyond her grandfather's ability to fight, Dugu Yan would have been tempted to unleash a torrent of curses.
As for Ji Yang's group "ignoring" Ye Lingling, neither of them minded much. They even felt a little relieved.
At least Ye Lingling had not been dragged into this because of them.
"Please stop joking. If you want this Medicine Garden, you can have it, but making my granddaughter and me submit to you is impossible!"
"If you try to force us, I'll make you pay a hefty price even if it costs me my life! Especially you..."
Dugu Bo spoke coldly.
He fixed a chilling stare on Ji Yang, as though he might strike at any moment.
"You might not actually be able to pull that off!"
Ji Yang wore an amused expression.
The next instant, his terrifying spiritual power pressed down on Dugu Bo. Already in poor condition, Dugu Bo turned deathly pale and nearly lost his footing and collapsed onto the ground.
"H-how is this possible?!"
Dugu Bo stared at Ji Yang in disbelief.
With spiritual power this strong, could Ji Yang be a powerful spiritual-type soul master-a Super Douluo of at least level 98?
Was that really possible?
As far as he could tell, Ji Yang ought to be just as young as he looked.
How could anyone become such a terrifying Super Douluo at that age?
As for a Limit Douluo, an even higher rank, he did not dare entertain the thought.
Unless Ji Yang was a reincarnated Deity.
"All right, I'll stop teasing you! But I meant what I said. We're taking this Medicine Garden and all its medicinal herbs, and the two of you must join our faction!"
"Of course, joining us comes with benefits. For instance, I can help resolve the Martial Soul poison inherent in your Dugu Family's Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul."
"Besides that, you'll receive other benefits you could never have imagined, such as Soul Bones, Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, and more!"
Ji Yang put away his amused smile, replacing it with a serious expression.
If he kept frightening Dugu Bo like this, the man might truly grow desperate!
"Is that true?"
With Dugu Yan supporting him, Dugu Bo steadied himself, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
His attention was focused on the poison in his family's Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul.
Ji Yang actually knew their secret?
But more than that, he cared about whether Ji Yang could truly remove their poison and free their family from any future worries over the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul.
If Ji Yang could really do that, what would be wrong with bringing his granddaughter Dugu Yan into Ji Yang's faction?
His fate was no longer in his own hands. There was nothing he could do about that!
Besides, Ji Yang's faction had two Super Douluo, and joining came with other rewards, including Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones. They would not be getting such a bad deal.
He no longer held any great hopes for himself, but he wanted his granddaughter Dugu Yan to have a better future.
"We can test it right here. I have at least four methods, and you can choose whichever you like!"
Ji Yang held up four fingers.
He was not boasting about that.
He genuinely had four ways to deal with the poison.
Some treated the symptoms, while others cured the root cause.
"Good. As long as it really works, Yanyan and I will join your faction!"
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up, and he made his decision on the spot.
His decisiveness left Dugu Yan beside him rather dumbfounded.
Wait, Grandpa, are you serious?
To be honest, this was also the first time Dugu Yan had learned that her family's Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul was poisonous.
Had someone else told her this before, she would never have believed it.
But judging by her grandfather's reaction, it was clearly true.
In that case, her parents, whose cause of death had been "unknown," might also have brought about their own deaths through the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul's toxins. Her grandfather had simply never dared tell her the truth.
At that thought, sorrow welled up in Dugu Yan's heart.
If that was the case, it was no wonder her grandfather had committed so decisively upon hearing that Ji Yang had a solution.
Her grandfather was not merely thinking of himself. More importantly, he was thinking of her, his granddaughter, hoping to spare her this future calamity.
With that thought in mind, Dugu Yan realized she no longer felt quite so resistant toward Ji Yang and his companions. Her earlier anger and humiliation had faded as well.
So Yanyan and Grandpa Dugu are unfortunate people just like Grandpa and me...
Ye Lingling thought from the sidelines.
At first, she had merely been surprised that Ji Yang intended to take Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan into his faction here and now.
After learning about their problem, she could not help sympathizing with them.
As it turned out, they were "kindred spirits."
Even if the problem with the Dugu Family's Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul was not as severe as that of the Ye Family's Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, their plight was still pitiable enough.
Fortunately, Ji Yang had ways to resolve all of this and help Dugu Yan and her grandfather escape their predicament.
That let her breathe a sigh of relief.
Although she had approached Dugu Yan for another reason, under Ji Yang's instructions, after spending these days together, she had truly come to regard Dugu Yan as a close friend.
Naturally, she had also come to see Dugu Bo as something of a grandfather.
Nothing could make her happier than seeing a dear friend and someone like family escape danger.
Before you continue