Under Xiao Xuan's mental control, the life energy soon found the Jade Phosphor Serpent venom accumulated in Dugu Yan's body.
But the venom had penetrated deep into her bone marrow, and the life energy could only dispel the occasional trace that seeped out of it.
Xiao Xuan withdrew his right hand, frowning slightly.
Seeing this, Ye Lingling couldn't help asking softly, "How is it?"
Xiao Xuan thought for a moment before speaking.
"I can help Sister Yanyan remove the serpent venom from her body, but since it's already penetrated deep into her bone marrow, the only way to eliminate it completely is to inject life energy into the marrow through Soul Power."
"It's just that... Sister Yanyan's meridians and bones probably wouldn't be able to withstand it. We'll have to improve her physique in every respect and expand her meridians and bones before we can use this method."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan knitted her delicate brows.
Improve her physique?
Easier said than done!
According to the cultivation principles widely accepted on the Douluo Continent, a Soul Master's physique was largely determined by the innate type of their awakened Martial Soul. Those of the Power Attack System and Defense System had sturdy bodies, while those of the Control System and Auxiliary System were relatively frail.
To alter the foundations of one's physique after birth, aside from nourishing and tempering it with Soul Power over long years, there were few ways to improve it quickly.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, I understand all that..."
Dugu Yan bit her lower lip, her voice tinged with dejection and helplessness.
"But what method in this world could greatly strengthen a Soul Master's physique in a short time?"
Faced with the two women's bewildered, dispirited expressions, Xiao Xuan's lips curled slightly, and he calmly uttered four words.
"Deep Sea Whale Rubber."
"What?!"
The moment the words left Xiao Xuan's mouth, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling both widened their eyes. Their grave expressions instantly turned to shock and disbelief.
An indescribably strange blush spread across Ye Lingling's pretty, usually aloof face. She bit her rosy lower lip, wanting to speak but hesitating.
The forthright, fiery Dugu Yan was even struck speechless on the spot, her beautiful eyes wide as saucers.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan! You... you're not joking with us, are you?!"
"Whale Rubber... that's clearly... a drug used... used to spice things up in bed and boost virility! And you're actually saying it can improve one's physique?!"
By the end, even the bold Dugu Yan couldn't help blushing, her delicate little earlobes turning as red as ripe fruit.
In the present era, the vast majority of people knew only that Whale Rubber had intensely warming, drying properties that could stir the Qi and blood. As a result, it had been reduced to something used to spice things up in the bedroom.
Seeing the two women's bashful expressions, Xiao Xuan shook his head in amusement.
"Don't let those absurd worldly prejudices mislead you, sisters. Whale Rubber is meant to be used to improve a Soul Master's physique."
"If you don't believe me, Sister Yanyan, you can simply buy some Whale Rubber and try it first. Once you have, you'll know I'm telling the truth."
Seeing that Xiao Xuan didn't look the least bit teasing or playful, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling gradually lost their sense of embarrassment.
After collecting her thoughts, Dugu Yan asked, still half skeptical, "Can it really strengthen the body?"
Xiao Xuan nodded.
Dugu Yan took a deep breath and slapped her thigh, a flash of resolve appearing deep in her green eyes.
"Fine! I'll trust you this once! I'll have someone bring a piece over right now!"
"Oh, right. Remember to buy some that's at least a thousand years old. The effects are more noticeable."
Xiao Xuan called the reminder after Dugu Yan as she hurried out.
Half an hour later.
A piece of thousand-year Whale Rubber was placed before the three of them.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, how exactly do you use this stuff?"
Xiao Xuan took the heating tools out of his Soul Tool and deftly began heating the Whale Rubber.
Once the solid Whale Rubber had melted into a liquid, he held the medicine spoon out in front of Dugu Yan.
"Open your mouth."
Faced with such a crude way of taking it, Dugu Yan hesitated for a moment. Then she gritted her teeth, opened her mouth, and let Xiao Xuan pour the Whale Rubber in.
"Mm...!"
The instant the Whale Rubber entered her mouth, an overpowering fishy taste filled it. Dugu Yan nearly sprayed it out.
Fortunately, Xiao Xuan covered Dugu Yan's lips in time, preventing the Whale Rubber from spilling out.
"Sister Yanyan! Don't spit it out! Swallow it, quick!"
Dugu Yan's face turned bright red as she choked on the fishy taste, but she couldn't very well spit it out, so she finally swallowed it.
The Whale Rubber went down.
A vast, violent torrent of searing heat rushed wildly through Dugu Yan's body like a river bursting through a levee!
Rolling waves of heat surged along her major meridians, spreading rapidly through her limbs and bones. Dugu Yan felt as though every inch of bone and every meridian in her body had been set over a blazing fire, the scorching heat unbearable!
"So hot... I feel like I'm bursting!"
Large beads of hot sweat welled on Dugu Yan's forehead, moisture veiled her eyes, and an unusual flush spread across her once-clear, icy face.
Under the onslaught of the scorching energy, her mind grew faintly hazy. Her hands instinctively seized the collar of her battle robe, tugging as she tried to strip off the tight leather armor constraining her body for a moment's cool relief!
"Sister Yanyan! Snap out of it!"
Xiao Xuan's gaze sharpened slightly. He firmly gripped Dugu Yan's wrists with both hands, forcibly stopping her from tearing at her clothes.
"Focus your mind! Use your own Soul Power to guide the energy inside you! Don't let it run wild through your organs!"
The deep, forceful shout shook her sea of consciousness, and a glimmer of clarity appeared in the depths of Dugu Yan's muddled eyes.
Dugu Yan bit down on her lower lip, drawing a trace of blood. Forcibly suppressing the restless heat within her, she called upon her Soul Power and tried to guide the long dragon of Qi and blood surging through her body.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xuan turned to look at Ye Lingling, who stood nearby with worry written all over her face.
"Sister Lingling! Use your Nine Heart Begonia to support her!"
"All right!"
Ye Lingling reacted swiftly, pressing her hands together before her chest. An exquisite pink-and-white begonia silently blossomed in her palms.
As the pure vitality of the Nine Heart Begonia seeped in, a layer of gentle, soothing white light immediately enveloped the inner walls of Dugu Yan's meridians, smoothing the tears that the surging Qi and blood had been pulling open.
The swelling pain of her tearing meridians eased considerably!
With the powerful support of the Nine Heart Begonia, Dugu Yan completely regained control.
The bones and meridians throughout her body also began to transform!
During the transformation that cleansed her meridians and marrow, the impurities that had accumulated in Dugu Yan's body over the years quietly seeped out through the tens of thousands of pores across her skin, forming a layer of sticky, dark brown grime.
A pungent, fishy stench gradually filled the living room.
An hour later.
Whew-!
Dugu Yan let out a long breath of turbid air and opened her eyes in delight.
But before she could share the good news with the other two, a foul stench rushed straight into her nose!
Dugu Yan looked down and saw that her arms, once as fair as jade, and the leather armor over her chest had somehow become coated in black, greasy filth. It gave off a sour stench that made one want to cover one's nose.
"Ah-!"
Young Mistress Dugu, who usually paid great attention to her appearance, cried out in alarm and leaped from the sofa as if she'd been shocked. Her hands hovered helplessly in the air, and her pretty face turned so red it looked ready to drip blood.
Seeing Dugu Yan's flustered, embarrassed state, Xiao Xuan teased her with a smile.
"Don't panic, Sister Yanyan. This is normal after cleansing your meridians and marrow. Go wash up and change into some clean clothes. Sister Lingling and I won't look down on you."
Beside them, Ye Lingling couldn't help covering her mouth and giggling.
Embarrassed and annoyed, Dugu Yan rushed into the bathroom attached to the inner bedroom without looking back.