"Ling, can the Hell Spirit Cat really evolve a second time?"
Not long after the carriage left Spirit City, Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly to look at Yu Tianling.
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was still a little worried, Yu Tianling gently patted her soft, smooth hand and said, "Don't worry. According to Spirit Hall's records and the research of Spirit Pill Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Poison Douluo, taking an immortal herb while absorbing a Soul Ring gives a ninety percent chance of achieving a second Martial Soul Evolution."
"Mm."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly and said nothing more, simply resting her head on Yu Tianling's shoulder. Yu Tianling put his arm around the girl, accustomed to it, and let his mind wander a little.
Speaking of Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo had hurried to Spirit City with his granddaughter Dugu Yan back then. After arriving and meeting Bibi Dong, Dugu Bo followed Yu Tianling's prior instructions and became a teacher at Spirit Hall Academy, while Dugu Yan enrolled there as a student.
But the affairs of the world were hard to predict. What Yu Tianling had never imagined was that Dugu Yan and Xie Yue would take a liking to each other. Thinking about it left him unsure whether to laugh or cry.
After Yu Tianling returned from Heaven Dou City, Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Xie Yue came to see him together, with Xie Yue constantly urging Yu Tianling to hurry and detoxify the two of them.
Yu Tianling did not drag his feet either. He promptly helped Dugu Bo transfer his toxins in the courtyard. With the assistance of the pills provided by Spirit Pill Douluo, everything went smoothly, and Dugu Bo no longer had to suffer the torment of the toxins in his body.
But when Dugu Yan's turn came, Yu Tianling hesitated.
His original plan had been to follow Tang San's approach and treat them gradually over a longer period, which would also keep Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan tied to Spirit Hall. But now that Xie Yue and Dugu Yan were clearly in love, neither sentiment nor reason would allow him to use that method anymore.
After pondering it for a long time, Yu Tianling finally decided to take a better approach: induce another evolution of Dugu Yan's Martial Soul.
Dugu Yan's current Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul had evolved from the Jade Phosphorus Snake. It absorbed toxins to continuously evolve its own poison, and its actual function was like that of cancer cells: as long as you could keep holding on, it could keep pushing you to evolve. Most premature deaths were simply due to being unable to withstand the invasion of the toxins. But what if he induced a Martial Soul Evolution ahead of time? Dugu Yan's tolerance for toxins would surely increase accordingly, and then the residual Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor toxins would be no problem at all.
After he explained the plan to the three of them, they unanimously agreed to use it.
So, for the happiness of his future brother-in-law, Yu Tianling readily took out the aromatic silk beauty. This immortal herb could absorb the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon-a truly top-grade immortal herb. Of course, this was not the one Ning Rongrong had absorbed in the original story, but one Yu Tianling had found in a corner behind the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring. It was slightly younger, but its effects were not much different. By Yu Tianling's calculations, it should have been entirely sufficient for Dugu Yan to evolve.
"You mustn't swallow this flower. Gently draw in its stamens' essence, slowly taking it into your body, then cultivate your Soul Power to spread its medicinal effects throughout your limbs and bones."
Yu Tianling handed the aromatic silk beauty to Dugu Yan. After his brief instructions, Dugu Yan began her Martial Soul Evolution under Xie Yue's slightly nervous gaze.
"Ugh, aaah!!!"
Time gradually ticked by. At first, Dugu Yan showed no particular reaction, her expression calm. Only after two hours had passed did she suddenly begin howling in pain. Green poisonous mist spread around her, and the ground suffered varying degrees of corrosion.
Hearing his beloved's cries of pain, Xie Yue's expression shifted slightly. He was just about to step forward when Dugu Bo firmly held him back.
This poisonous mist was no joke. Of those present, probably only Dugu Bo, who possessed Jade Phosphorus Snake venom, and Yu Tianling, who was immune to all poisons, could touch it. Anyone else without sufficient strength would probably dissolve into pus on the spot.
"Tianling, what's happening to Yanyan?!"
Watching Dugu Yan suffer in agony, Xie Yue anxiously questioned Yu Tianling.
Before Yu Tianling could answer, another change occurred in Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan, who had just been enduring terrible pain, suddenly grew calm. Golden light rose from her body, and then, accompanied by a hiss, her Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul appeared above her head.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor struggled incessantly. A rich tulip fragrance suddenly burst from Dugu Yan's body, and the poisonous mist and the golden light around her drew toward each other.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor abruptly stretched its body rigid, its eyes widening as the golden light completely wrapped around it.
Under the astonished gazes of Yu Tianling and the other two, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's body began to split open little by little. First, four feet grew beneath its body, then a single horn emerged atop its head. The creature circled endlessly above Dugu Yan, looking exactly like the flood dragons recorded in the myths of Yu Tianling's previous life.
"It worked!"
Dugu Bo and Xie Yue exchanged a glance, itching to jump up and high-five each other. But afraid of disturbing Dugu Yan, they could only exchange meaningful looks from the sidelines, which looked exceedingly strange.
"Uh, all we need to do now is wait for Dugu Yan to wake up on her own. Now that the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor has evolved, perhaps it should be renamed the Jade Phosphor Flood Dragon. If another opportunity comes along in the future, it might fully evolve into a Jade Phosphor Dragon Emperor."
A little put off by the two men before him, Yu Tianling saw that Dugu Yan had successfully evolved, offered that analysis, and swiftly left the courtyard.
During dinner that evening, Hu Liena sent word that not only had Dugu Yan's toxin problem been resolved after her Martial Soul Evolution, but she had also broken through to Level 40. Overjoyed, Dugu Bo could hardly wait to take his granddaughter, along with Xie Yue, who wanted to accompany them, to obtain a Soul Ring.
After returning, Dugu Bo held a nominal post at the Pope's Palace while also devoting himself wholeheartedly to teaching at Spirit Hall Academy. Dugu Yan, meanwhile, spent every day being lovey-dovey with Xie Yue alongside her studies, making Yan roll his eyes repeatedly.
"Heh."
At the thought, Yu Tianling could not help laughing aloud.
"What is it?"
Hearing the sudden laughter beside her ear, Zhu Zhuqing looked up in puzzlement.
"Ah, I just remembered how, back at the academy, whenever Dugu Yan and Xie Yue were being lovey-dovey every day, Yan always looked utterly speechless. Just thinking about it makes me laugh."
Hearing Yu Tianling's words, Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth and laughed as she said, "Hehe, Brother Yan always used to do everything with Brother Yue. Now Brother Yue suddenly has Sister Yan and brings her along no matter what he does. How could Brother Yan not lose it?"
"Looks like I'll have to help Yan find a suitable girl someday. Otherwise, that guy's resentment is going to burst through the roof."
Yu Tianling nodded, as though he could already see Yan's miserable future, and decided to help him find a girl someday.
"Mm. We really should. Just imagining Brother Yan spending time with another girl feels so funny, haha."
As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing could not help laughing aloud.