Dugu Yan's expression changed in an instant.
As the sole descendant of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent family, she knew better than anyone the bloody curse passed down through the generations of her bloodline.
While the Martial Soul's deadly poison granted them formidable destructive power, it also ate away at its host's body every moment of every day.
Not even her grandfather, a Titled Douluo, was spared.
Yet the little brother she had only just met had casually offered her a wisp of gentle warmth, and it had actually shaken the stubborn poison that had plagued her for decades?!
As stunned as Dugu Yan was, the shock Ye Lingling felt beside her was no less profound!
The instant Xiao Xuan's life presence entered her body, Ye Lingling felt an indescribably intense resonance surge through the depths of her spiritual consciousness!
Without even being summoned, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul within her unfurled its pink-and-white petals in the Qi sea of her dantian, sending out waves of near-frantic cheers and excitement!
It was nothing like the comfort brought by an ordinary infusion of Soul Power, but worship and resonance from the very depths of life's origin!
It was as though... an ordinary begonia struggling to grow in the mud of the mortal world had suddenly raised its head after long years to behold a god king who held sway over life!
The Nine Heart Begonia lineage had but a single heir in each generation, and its healing power stood above all others on the continent. On the path of healing, they carried an unrivaled pride in their very bones.
Yet now, before Xiao Xuan's Blue Jade Bamboo, her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul naturally displayed undisguised submission and awe!
This undoubtedly meant that the healing ability of Xiao Xuan's Blue Jade Bamboo-or rather, its level of life-had to be far beyond her family's Nine Heart Begonia!
Just then, Dugu Yan suddenly seized Xiao Xuan's hand in excitement.
"Xiao Xuan, little brother, what... what exactly was that ball of green light you just sent into my body? What did you do?!"
Seeing Dugu Yan react so intensely and lose her composure, Xiao Xuan said:
"It was nothing special. I just saw that you two were curious, sisters, so I wanted you to experience the Blue Jade Bamboo's healing effects."
At this, Xiao Xuan frowned in some confusion, then said self-deprecatingly:
"But compared with Sister Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, showing off my Blue Jade Bamboo's healing ability is like wielding an axe before a master carpenter..."
"No!"
Before Xiao Xuan could finish, Dugu Yan's voice rose sharply. She spoke word by word, with absolute conviction:
"Xiao Xuan, little brother! I can swear to the heavens that, as far as I'm concerned... your Blue Jade Bamboo's healing effect is definitely superior to the Nine Heart Begonia's!"
Xiao Xuan froze at her words.
After all, the Nine Heart Begonia was recognized across the Douluo Continent as the foremost healing-type Martial Soul.
Although his Blue Jade Bamboo's life attribute could heal as well, its effects should still have fallen somewhat short of the Nine Heart Begonia's.
That was what Xiao Xuan had thought before, but judging by Dugu Yan's reaction now, perhaps he had underestimated it...
Just then, Ye Lingling suppressed the excitement in her heart and asked softly:
"Yanyan, could it be that the healing energy just now... had a special reaction to the serpent poison in your body?"
Dugu Yan looked at Ye Lingling and nodded excitedly.
"Yes! That's right!"
Hearing this, Ye Lingling looked at Xiao Xuan in disbelief.
As her close friend who spent every day with her, Ye Lingling knew a little about the Dugu Family's Martial Soul.
Several years ago, Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, had personally visited the Nine Heart Begonia Family and begged Ye Lingling's mother, Ye Nishang, to treat him.
Yet even the Nine Heart Begonia, whose healing ability surpassed all others under heaven, had been unable to eradicate the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison that had seeped into his bones.
This also indirectly confirmed Ye Lingling's suspicion: the life energy contained in Xiao Xuan's Blue Jade Bamboo was definitely on a higher level than that of her family's Nine Heart Begonia!
Once she had confirmed it, genuine joy and excitement appeared on Ye Lingling's face.
"That's wonderful... Yanyan! There's finally a way to completely cure the serpent poison in your body!"
Hearing the two women's conversation, Xiao Xuan finally realized that he had underestimated the true value of the life attribute.
Still, this was good too. If he cured Dugu Yan first and then went to see Dugu Bo, his chances of persuading him would surely increase greatly!
With that thought, Xiao Xuan offered, "In that case, let me treat you from now on, Sister Yanyan!"
"That's wonderful! Xiao Xuan, little brother, you're truly my great benefactor!"
"Cough, cough-! Sister Yanyan! I can't breathe!"
In her excitement, however, Dugu Yan completely overlooked the difference in their sizes.
She was tall and slender to begin with, and her battle robes were closely tailored, making the curves of her chest even more astonishing.
Pressed tightly into her embrace without a thought for anything else, Xiao Xuan felt a rich, subtle fragrance and warm softness rush against his face. His whole face was buried almost completely, and even the air in his nostrils was squeezed out!
"Cough, cough... mmph! Sister Yanyan! I... I can hardly breathe!"
Dugu Yan gave a soft huff and chided him playfully. "You little rascal! You're getting the better end of the deal, and you're still complaining?"
Watching the pair's conversation veer further and further off course, Ye Lingling, who stood beside them, couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead. A helpless smile touched her cool features.
She hurried forward, took Dugu Yan by the arm, and gently interrupted:
"All right, Yanyan, stop fooling around."
"There are too many people watching here, and it really isn't convenient. Why don't we go back to your dormitory first and discuss this in detail?"
"Lingling has a point. Important business comes first!"
Dugu Yan patted her forehead, then turned and took Xiao Xuan by the wrist. "Come on, little brother, come back to my courtyard with me!"
Before long, the three arrived at a secluded residence nestled in the mountains.
A detached, two-story stone house stood there, its courtyard surrounded by pale purple flowering vines of an unknown variety. A breeze blew, leaving the air crisp and refreshing.
As the vice-captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team and the apple of a Titled Douluo's eye, Dugu Yan naturally enjoyed treatment at the academy far beyond that of ordinary people.
She lived alone in this detached residence year-round; ordinarily, apart from Ye Lingling occasionally staying over to chat...
Even Yu Tianheng, the captain of the Imperial Fighting Team, had never been allowed to set foot in the courtyard, much less bring a male student there as a guest.
Today, Xiao Xuan became the first male to set foot in the little courtyard.
After entering the residence, Xiao Xuan took a quick look around before getting down to business.
The casual look faded from Xiao Xuan's face as he asked seriously:
"Sister Yanyan, how much of the accumulated serpent poison did that wisp of life energy neutralize back at the training ground?"
At his question, Dugu Yan closed her beautiful eyes and sensed the state of her body.
After a few breaths, she opened her eyes, her expression turning subdued, and sighed somewhat helplessly:
"To be honest, it did have an effect, but it only dispersed an extremely tiny trace at the edges of my meridians."
Xiao Xuan nodded.
"Don't worry, Sister Yanyan. Let me take a closer look."
Xiao Xuan placed his right hand on Dugu Yan's pulse, sending life energy along it into her body.