Settling an Old Grudge
"She didn't complain or blame others, but instead tried to find her own path—" Yan Zu sighed inwardly. Ye Lingling's performance exceeded his expectations. Her qualities of maintaining kindness, upholding her responsibilities, and quietly striving to improve herself in adversity were especially valuable.
"Perhaps—it's time to move on to the next step." Yan Zu made up his mind. However, he planned to observe for a while longer to ensure that this was not just Ye Lingling's temporary behavior.
As for how to solve the problem of the Nine Heart Begonia, the Universe Creation Pill should be able to do so. It can solve the inheritance problem of the Nine Heart Begonia through the Martial Soul Evolution, but we still need to wait for the right opportunity.
On the other hand, Yan Zu hadn't forgotten about Dugu Yan and Oscar. In his opinion, Oscar was indeed a good match.
In the original novel, he was devoted to Ning Rongrong and never wavered in his feelings despite all the hardships he endured; his character was trustworthy.
As Food System Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power, his talent is beyond doubt, and his future achievements will certainly be remarkable.
Moreover, Food System Soul Master and Control-Type Battle Spirit Master are indeed an excellent combination. One provides powerful crowd control and attack, while the other provides endless sustain and support, complementing each other perfectly.
In order to create more opportunities for the two to interact, and also to further enhance Dugu Yan's strength, since she was the older sister he acknowledged, Yan Zu sought out Oscar.
"Brother Ao, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."
"Boss Yan, why are you being so polite with me? Just say what you need to say!" Oscar patted his chest, completely convinced of Yan Zu's abilities.
"I want you to learn the Nine Yin Manual and the Six Meridian Divine Sword and pass them on to Sister Yanyan," said Yan Zu.
Oscar froze, then his face lit up with ecstatic joy, but quickly turned apprehensive. "This— A-Zu, is this appropriate? Those techniques aren't yours—"
"Techniques are static, but people are dynamic," Yan Zu interrupted him. "Sister Yanyan is one of us. Her improvement in strength benefits our entire team. Besides, you are the most suitable person to teach her."
Oscar wasn't stupid; he immediately understood Yan Zu's intention. His face flushed red, a mixture of excitement and nervousness in his eyes. "I—I'll teach? But—can I do it? Sister Yanyan —won't she think I—"
"Don't worry, the Yi Jin Duan Gu and Healing Chapter Muscle Changing and Bone Forging Chapter the Nine Yin Manual are best for improving physical constitution and strengthening the foundation, and they have a very good conditioning effect on the physical burden brought by Sister Yanyan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. The energy circulation method of the Six Meridian Divine Sword can make her control over Soul Power more exquisite, and may allow her to further improve her control over her own toxins when using Soul Skill."
Yan Zu analyzed, "Just talk about it under the guise of discussing cultivation and making progress together. Remember, the focus is on helping her solve problems and improve her strength, not anything else."
Oscar took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his excited emotions, and nodded heavily. "I understand! Thank you, A-Zu! I will definitely teach you well!"
"Remember, you must be patient and meticulous. Sister Yanyan has a strong personality. If she doesn't understand something or doesn't practice smoothly, encourage her more and lecture her less." Yan Zu gave a few more instructions and then told Oscar key points and precautions for teaching in detail.
The next day, Oscar mustered his courage and found Dugu Yan, who was in meditation.
"Sister Yanyan, there's something I want to discuss with you." Oscar said nervously.
Dugu Yan opened her eyes, looked at the uneasy Oscar in front of her, and thought to herself, "What is it? Speak."
"Yes—yes, that's how it is." Oscar took a deep breath. "A-Zu taught me two very powerful cultivation methods before. One is called the Nine Yin Manual, which can nourish the meridians and improve the quality and recovery speed of Soul Power; the other is called the Six Meridian Divine Sword, which is a top-level method for controlling and using Soul Power, and can greatly enhance the power and control precision of Soul Skill."
A-Zu said, "These two skills might be very helpful for your cultivation, especially your precise control over Soul Power and your ability to sustain combat. So—so I thought—if you're willing, I can teach you what I've learned."
Dugu Yan was stunned. She hadn't expected Oscar to contact her for this. The temptation to improve her strength was immense for her, especially this method that sounded extremely profound and could make up for her weaknesses.
What made her heart tremble even more was that this was clearly something Yan Zu and Oscar had done intentionally, to help her.
Looking at Oscar's expectant yet nervous eyes, filled with fear of rejection, Dugu Yan found her heart beating faster for no reason. She was silent for a moment before softly saying, "This—this is a token of our appreciation from you and A-Zu. How could I be ungrateful?"
However—these two unique skills must be incredibly precious, I—"
"Not precious at all! It's worth it as long as it helps Sister Yanyan!" Oscar quickly waved his hand, a sincere smile on his face. "So— Sister Yanyan, you agree? When do we start? How about we begin with the basic incantations and qi circulation routes of the Nine Yin Manual? We have to take it slowly, we can't rush it—"
Seeing Oscar instantly become radiant and focused on planning, Dugu Yan's last bit of hesitation vanished, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up slightly. "Okay, I'll do as you say."
From that day on, Oscar and Dugu Yan could often be seen sitting side by side in the grove next to the training ground or in Dugu Yan's meditation room.
Initially, the two maintained a polite distance. Oscar sat Dugu Yan, explaining the general principles and basic mental techniques of the Nine Yin Manual word by word, his voice gentle and clear.
Dugu Yan listened attentively, asking questions whenever she encountered something she didn't understand. Oscar always answered patiently, sometimes even using his own cultivation experience as an example.
"Sister Yanyan, look here. The way of Heaven is to take from those who have more and give to those who have less." Our cultivation Soul Master is actually the same principle. When Soul Power circulates in the meridians, we cannot be greedy for more and faster. We must pay attention to balance and harmony, allowing Soul Power to flow naturally and nourish the whole body. When Oscar explained, his eyes were focused, and he lost his usual playfulness, appearing exceptionally reliable.
Dugu Yan listened, she occasionally glanced at Oscar, watching him ponder intently and try to organize his thoughts. She realized that this seemingly unreliable guy actually had such a calm and meticulous side.
When they begin to actually guide their Soul Power, the two will inevitably need to be in closer contact.
"Sister Yanyan, relax, focus your mind on your dantian, and feel the origin of your Soul Power —yes, that's it—then, imagine your Soul Power flowing slowly upwards along the Ren meridian like a babbling brook—" Oscar's voice rang in her ears, gentle and with a soothing power. Sometimes, to correct the slight deviations in Dugu Yan's Soul Power circulation, he would carefully extend his index finger and lightly touch the acupoints near Dugu Yan's wrist or back to guide her perception.
"Here, at the Qihai acupoint, Soul Power needs to condense slightly before being released slowly—yes, can you feel it?" His fingertips, through the clothing, transmitted a faint fluctuation of Soul Power and a warm touch.
Dugu Yan was initially a little uncomfortable, her body slightly stiff. But Oscar's movements remained proper, his eyes clear, and he was fully focused on the transmission of power, without overstepping any boundaries.
Gradually, she relaxed and began to fully experience the wonders of her Soul Power flowing along the new path. She could feel that under the operation of this miraculous technique, her Soul Power had indeed become more solid and gentle, and her meridians were also experiencing a warm and comfortable sensation.
As their cultivation of the Nine Yin Manual progressed smoothly, they began to explore the Qi control techniques of the Six Meridian Divine Sword. This skill places greater emphasis on the combination of mental focus and the external projection of Soul Power, and often requires mutual sparring and verification during practice.
"Sister Yanyan, look, the key to the Shaoshang Sword lies in the instantaneous burst and concentration of Soul Power, like this----" Oscar pointed his fingers like a sword, and a wisp of condensed Soul Power emanated from his fingertips, drawing a clear trajectory in the air and making a slight sound of air being torn apart.
Dugu Yan also tried to condense the poisonous Soul Power of the Jade Phosphorous Jade Dragon and imitate its power-generating techniques. At first, she could not control it well, and the Soul Power either scattered or erupted too violently.
"Don't rush, Sister Yanyan. Controlling Soul Power is like controlling water; you need to have a balance. Your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison is inherently highly corrosive and active, which is actually very suitable for this kind of condensed and piercing attack. The key is to find that balance point—" Oscar patiently demonstrated and explained, sometimes even gently holding Dugu Yan's wrist to help her feel the subtle changes in the condensation, compression, and release of Soul Power at her fingertips.
The touch of hands and wrists, the light touch of fingertips, the close exchange and resonance of Soul Power and spirit—in this day-to-day transmission of skills, practice, and communication, an intimacy and tacit understanding that transcends words quietly grows between the two.
Dugu Yan found herself becoming more and more accustomed to Oscar's presence. She grew accustomed to the slight furrowing of his brow as he earnestly explained things, to the bright gleam in his eyes when he demonstrated something successfully, to the warmth emanating from his fingertips as he carefully corrected her, and even to the faint, unique scent emanating from him, a blend of various Sausage aromas.
Oscar, on the other hand, was captivated by seeing a different side of Dugu Yan. He saw the slight gleam in her eyes when she grasped the difficult points, the fleeting, touching smile on her lips when she succeeded in her practice, and the unintentional tenderness that showed when she was occasionally tired—every contact, every exchange of glances, deepened and strengthened his feelings for her.
As the two spent more and more time together, their conversations gradually expanded from simple cultivation to their understanding of Martial Soul, their thoughts on the future, and even some trivial matters of daily life.
Dugu Yan no longer always wore a cold expression or deliberately kept her distance. Occasionally, she would smile at Oscar's "clumsy" concern, or offer advice based on her experience as Control System Soul Master when Oscar encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation.
On the training field, others could also clearly sense the change in the aura between the two. Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu often huddled together whispering, revealing "auntie smiles."
Even when Liu Erlong sometimes saw them discussing cultivation together, a hint of understanding and satisfaction would flash in her eyes. Dugu Bo was even more pleased to see this happen; every time he saw his granddaughter with Oscar, the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out.
Yan Zu witnessed all of this with a sense of satisfaction. Passing on skills and knowledge was not just about improving strength, but also about building a bridge between hearts. It seemed that he had made the right move. As for Ye Lingling, the observation period was over, and it was time to start considering how to help her break free from the shackles of the Nine Heart Begonia.
However, that requires more careful preparation and timing.
For now, let Oscar and Sister Yanyan's relationship take root and blossom naturally through their daily practice together.
Before the morning training even began, Liu Erlong arrived at Yan Zu's residence. She was dressed in a fiery red outfit, exuding a composed aura, yet her brows held a hint of barely suppressed rage.
"A-Zu," Liu Erlong said bluntly, "Teacher is preparing to visit the Strength Clan today to settle old scores."
Upon hearing this, Yan Zu put down the medicinal herbs he was sorting and his expression became serious. "What does Master intend to do?"
"That old bastard Tai Tan caused trouble at my Blue Tyrant Academy back then, severely injuring me and almost harming you and Xiao Wu. I won't rest until I avenge this." Liu Erlong's eyes flashed coldly. "Now that I've broken through to the Soul Douluo level, it's time to settle this score."
Yan Zu pondered for a moment, "Teacher, the Strength Clan is ultimately subordinate to the Clear Sky Sect, and Tai Tan is Soul Douluo- level powerhouse. You alone—"
"I know what I'm doing," Liu Erlong interrupted. "Tai Tan may be a veteran Soul Douluo, but my Liu Erlong Scarlet Flame Dragon King is no ordinary title. Besides," she paused, "I don't intend to wipe out his entire family; I only want him to pay the price he deserves and atone for what happened that day."
Yan Zu nodded. He knew his teacher's character; once he made a decision, he would never change it. But he also couldn't let his teacher take the risk alone.
"Master, since that's the case, I request to accompany you. Furthermore—" A hint of consideration flashed in Yan Zu's eyes, "Could we ask Grandpa Dugu to come along? With him there, everything will be foolproof, and it will also Strength Clan, preventing unnecessary trouble."
After a moment's thought, Liu Erlong understood Yan Zu's intention. Dugu Bo's strength was now unfathomable, and his fearsome reputation was widespread. With him backing her up, it would indeed save a lot of trouble. She nodded and said, "Very well, then please, Senior Dugu, make the trip."
That afternoon, Liu Erlong, Yan Zu, and Dugu Bo quietly left Blue Tyrant Academy and headed towards the mansion of the Strength Clan in Heaven Dou City.
The Strength Clan's residence was located in the Heaven Dou City, covering a vast area. Its architectural style was rugged and imposing, reflecting the Strength Clan's reverence for strength. Two burly guards stood before the gate. Seeing the three approaching, one of them stepped forward and shouted gruffly, "Who goes there? This is the Strength Clan's territory. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted!"
Liu Erlong snorted coldly, not answering, and released his Soul Power slightly, a scorching and majestic dragon aura spreading out.
The guard's expression changed, and he took several steps back. The other guard also clenched his fists warily.
"Go and inform Tai Tan that Liu Erlong from the Blue Tyrant Academy has come to seek guidance." Liu Erlong's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.