Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Yue Guan's allegiance, and another Martial Soul evolution!

The next day.

Dugu Bo was in an excellent mood as he strolled through Heaven Dou Royal Academy, ready to find his granddaughter Dugu Yan and give her the antidote.

There was finally a solution to the stubborn poison that had tormented their family for decades. How could Dugu Bo not be in a good mood?

He had just reached Dugu Yan's side when he saw who stood before her. Green light flashed in his eyes, along with a trace of anger.

"Oh?"

Gangzi was there with the Shrek Six Monsters, saying something to Dugu Yan.

At the sight, Dugu Bo snorted coldly. "Grandmaster, haven't I shown you enough consideration already?"

"What are you doing?"

Hearing him, Gangzi immediately turned around. When he saw Dugu Bo, he recalled being poisoned into unconsciousness, and his expression grew somewhat awkward.

"Senior Dugu, your granddaughter is a control-type Soul Master, a perfect fit for our academy's team. I've come to invite Dugu Yan to join our Shrek Team and become one of the Shrek Seven Monsters."

Dai Mubai nodded. "That's right. Joining the Shrek Seven Monsters is a dream for plenty of people."

Dugu Bo's gaze turned cold. "Hasn't my granddaughter already joined the Heaven Dou Royal Team?"

"A dream for plenty of people? What Shrek Seven Monsters? I've never even heard of you!"

At those words, Gangzi and the others froze.

Only then did they realize that the Shrek Seven Monsters had yet to make a name for themselves. Right now, they were nothing.

In Dugu Bo's eyes, these fellows were merely young people with fairly good talent, nothing more.

As a Titled Douluo, what sort of genius hadn't he seen?

Only Tang San was somewhat special, enough to catch his discerning eye.

Thanks to Tang San, Dugu Bo was in a good mood. He waved a hand. "Forget it. My granddaughter is free to go wherever she wants. I can't be bothered to interfere. I have something to discuss with her now, so leave."

Gangzi did not dare say anything more. He knew Dugu Bo's temper well, and prepared to leave with the Six Monsters.

He had just spun such a convincing tale that he had all but talked Dugu Yan lame. A few more attempts, and he would be close to succeeding.

Before leaving, Gangzi could not hold back. "Well, Senior Dugu, I really can cure your poison. Believe me..."

Before he could finish, Dugu Bo cut him off.

"No need. My poison has already been cured. Don't bring this up again!"

The moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of Gangzi and the others changed.

They all knew perfectly well what this meant.

"Tang San made his move?"

Gangzi was dumbfounded, utterly unable to believe it. He muttered to himself, "How is that possible... Without our help, how did he do it..."

Dai Mubai scratched his head, equally bewildered.

"By all rights, he shouldn't even have been able to meet Dugu Bo."

"This is bad. Does that mean the Immortal Herbs are gone too?"

Ma Hongjun's expression changed. Damn it, losing the Immortal Herbs was a huge problem. Without them, never mind becoming the Phoenix God-he probably couldn't even become a Wild Chicken God.

Seeing their composure waver, Gangzi immediately barked in a low voice, "Steady yourselves, all of you. So we're missing the Immortal Herbs. It's no big deal."

"You're all going to become gods someday. Can't you weather this little storm?"

"They're merely Immortal Herbs. Without the united support of the Shrek Seven Monsters, Tang San won't accomplish anything either!"

Xiao Wu blinked, her braid swaying in the wind. "Grandmaster, how about..."

Before she could finish, Gangzi swept his hand. "Say no more! Xiao Wu, stop putting in a good word for Tang San. Look, he took every last Immortal Herb. Does he even care about us companions anymore?"

"Why do you keep thinking about someone so selfish?"

"Don't forget, he only became a God King in the end because you sacrificed yourself twice! Without us, he would have died long ago!"

"We don't need Immortal Herbs or Tang San. We can still succeed."

After he finished speaking, no one said anything more. Xiao Wu sighed and fiddled with her braid.

It never occurred to them that without the original God King Tang, this little group probably would never even smell an Immortal Herb in their entire lives, much less eat one. Those had been gifts from God King Tang in the first place.

After they left, Gangzi went somewhere deserted. Old tears streamed down his face as he slammed his fist into a nearby tree and dropped to his knees.

"Nooooooooo!" (BGM: Snowflakes drifted~ The north wind sighed~)

Without question, Gangzi suffered the most from losing the Immortal Herbs.

Everyone else had decent Martial Souls to begin with, each with their own potential. Gangzi alone truly could not break past rank thirty without the Nine-Grade Immortal Ganoderma!

Inside a carriage outside Heaven Dou City.

Yue Guan raised an eyebrow at a heart-rending howl.

"Oh? Does Heaven Dou Royal Academy have a Soul Master with a Trumpet Martial Soul? What a loud voice. I can feel that agony even from this far away. Truly terrifying."

Tang San also looked over curiously. Why did that voice sound so familiar? It sounded a little like Gangzi.

He did not dwell on it. Taking out a box, he handed it to Yue Guan.

Smiling, Yue Guan accepted the box.

"What's this? Xiao San, I must have a word with you. As the Pope's esteemed disciple, you shouldn't put yourself in danger without good reason. That Old Poison Dugu Bo has an eccentric temper. He isn't easy to get along with."

Tang San knew Yue Guan was concerned for his safety, and nodded.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder Yue Guan. This is a gift for you."

"A gift?"

Yue Guan chuckled. As a Titled Douluo, what fine treasures hadn't he seen? Still, he appreciated Tang San's kind intentions.

"I'm not really lacking anything, but your kindness, I..."

Halfway through his sentence, Yue Guan opened the box. When he saw what lay inside, his breathing stopped, and even his eyes turned red.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum?!

Indeed, it was none other than Yue Guan's Martial Soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!

With trembling hands, Yue Guan lifted the Immortal Herb from the box, treating it like a peerless treasure. Tears even slid from the corners of his eyes.

"This is... the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum?! Where did you find an Immortal Herb like this?"

Yue Guan loved flowers so deeply that he would even defy Spirit Hall's orders for them. He had even declared upon first meeting Xiao Wu that he would protect her forever, showing just how much he loved flowers.

Now, suddenly seeing his own Martial Soul, the immortal-grade medicinal herb Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, appear before him, Yue Guan was beside himself with excitement.

Tang San had expected this reaction and smiled calmly.

"This is precisely why I went to see Dugu Bo. Elder Yue Guan, hurry and take it."

At his words, Yue Guan's hands trembled faintly. He carefully put away the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and said, "Xiao San, you have no idea how important this is to me. Thank you."

"Whether or not you're the Pope's disciple, whether or not you belong to Spirit Hall, from this day forth, I swear in the name of Immortal Herbs that I will be your Guardian Daoist."

Coming from someone who loved flowers as dearly as life itself, Yue Guan's words carried tremendous weight.

With that, Yue Guan consumed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, sat cross-legged, and began sensing its surging medicinal potency.

Two hours later.

Bang!

A clear sound rang out. A phantom Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum appeared behind Yue Guan, more solid than before. Golden patterns emerged on its petals, dazzlingly brilliant.

His Martial Soul had successfully advanced!

At the same time, Yue Guan broke through his Soul Power bottleneck and reached rank ninety-six.

"Rank ninety-six... I've finally broken through!"

Yue Guan murmured to himself, his face filled with wild joy.

Then he withdrew his Martial Soul and spoke again with the utmost solemnity. "Xiao San, thank you."

Tang San said little, but inwardly rejoiced.

A Titled Douluo had thanked him, a Soul Grandmaster, twice. That showed just how sincere Yue Guan was.

Giving him this Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had been exactly the right choice.

Had he given it to Dai Mubai, he would have had to wait a long time to see its effects. Giving it to Yue Guan had directly secured him a rank ninety-six Titled Douluo fighter!

From now on, even Bibi Dong probably wouldn't hold as important a place in Yue Guan's heart as Tang San did.

Worth it!