Dugu Yan's entire body gave off a sickly, fragile impression.
Toxic mist continuously seeped from her skin, like fragrant sweat evaporating into the air. Even under the intense purification of the Glazed Sacred Sword, traces of it still lingered around her.
"It's gotten this bad?" Ning Rongrong murmured.
Constant self-blame while being unable to control her own power would only accelerate the Misfortune Poison Body's loss of control. Dugu Yan needed to adjust her mindset.
As expected, without her, the little demoness, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would surely fall apart sooner or later.
Such a large sect, yet not a single psychological counselor in sight?
Did they really think they could just coldly handle everything?
Ning Rongrong stepped forward, walking toward Dugu Yan.
"Rongrong, be careful." The one who spoke wasn't Dugu Bo—it was Ning Rongrong's second brother, Ning Tian. Dugu Bo was too preoccupied with worrying about Dugu Yan at the moment.
"Got it." Ning Rongrong glanced at Ning Tian before turning her attention back.
In just a few steps, she stood right in front of Dugu Yan.
"Don't worry about the Misfortune Poison Body losing control. It's me—Ning Rongrong. I'm back."
"Rong… Rongrong?" Dugu Yan's head snapped up as if she had grabbed onto a lifeline, but she immediately staggered back in fear. "N-No! Don't come near me! You'll die!"
"That's not going to happen."
Ning Rongrong reached out and grabbed Dugu Yan's arm. The moment she made contact, Ning Rongrong's right hand—from her palm to her wrist—turned green.
Suddenly, a Tai Chi-like pattern appeared beneath their feet, its black and white halves slowly rotating.
The Tai Chi formation centered on Ning Rongrong grew clearer, and the toxins staining her hand were gradually broken down and dispersed.
"Rongrong, you…" Dugu Yan opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
"Do you regret it?" Ning Rongrong asked, her expression deadly serious.
Silence. Only silence.
After a long pause, Dugu Yan nodded. "Yes… I regret it."
After condensing the Misfortune Poison Body, her strength had grown at an increasingly terrifying rate—so much so that she had begun to fear her own cultivation speed.
Especially after reaching Soul Emperor, the Misfortune Poison had started reacting to her emotional fluctuations.
This terrified her. Any emotional disturbance could turn the surrounding area into a wasteland of death.
For the past two years, she had lived in constant suppression, too afraid to even leave the small hill she secluded herself on.
If not for her grandfather's recent insistence that she train to gradually control her toxins, she wouldn't have even dared to spar with Shui Bing'er and the others.
The fact that they were too weak was one thing, but more importantly, any emotional fluctuation on her part could accidentally kill them.
Even with Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo putting aside their duties to supervise their battles, the risk remained too high.
She had hoped Ning Rongrong would return quickly, yet feared that even her return wouldn't bring a solution.
Dugu Yan could no longer easily control the toxins of her Misfortune Poison Body.
"Regret? Regret won't change anything," Ning Rongrong said sternly. "Who was the one who cried, made a scene, and threatened to hang herself just to condense the Misfortune Poison Body?"
"Rongrong, you—"
"Am I wrong?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head. "Didn't I tell you? Once you choose a path, you have to walk it—even if you have to cry the whole way."
"You want incredible talent, but you don't want to pay the price? That's impossible!"
"Even Qian Renxue—"
"Never mind, let's not talk about that ruthless woman." Ning Rongrong waved her hand dismissively. "Dugu Yan, what are you afraid of?"
"I… I don't know."
"Look me in the eyes. Don't avoid them. What are you really afraid of?"
When Dugu Yan tried to avert her gaze, Ning Rongrong stopped her, gripping her chin and forcing their eyes to meet.
"I'm afraid of hurting others. I can't control my own power," Dugu Yan said weakly.
"So, have you hurt me?" Ning Rongrong countered.
Seeing that Ning Rongrong's hand, still gripping her arm, remained completely unharmed, Dugu Yan fell silent.
"The Misfortune Poison Body is strong—strong enough to rival someone like Dugu Bo. But you? You're just a Soul Emperor. Nothing more."
"Even setting aside Title Douluo, you might not even be able to beat Qian Renxue right now. Do you really think you're that powerful?"
"Stop worrying about nonsense. Focus on mastering your own strength. If someone dies by accident, then so be it. If you really care, just revive them after you become a god."
"Simple as that. Why complicate things?"
"Rongrong…"
Seeing a faint glimmer return to Dugu Yan's eyes, Ning Rongrong let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Honestly, this girl had clearly been carrying psychological baggage for a long time—this wasn't a recent development.
Her parents had both died from the Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison. In her helplessness, had she developed an instinctive resistance to anything related to toxins?
She wanted immense power, yet feared losing control and harming others. But with such a mindset, how could she ever fully master the Misfortune Poison Body?
It was like a Soul Master's understanding of their martial soul. If you didn't comprehend your martial soul, how could you unleash its full potential?
Ning Rongrong patted Dugu Yan's shoulder.
"It's not a big problem. I'll help suppress this toxin outbreak. Don't be so hard on yourself."
"And it's also my useless father's fault for not getting you a therapist… Ugh."
"Don't worry, Sister Yan. I'm back now. I'll take care of everything."
Ning Rongrong pressed her palm against Dugu Yan's chest, and Dugu Yan didn't resist.
"Seal!"
The toxins slowly retracted back into Dugu Yan's body, and her emotional state visibly stabilized.
Then, while Dugu Yan was distracted, Ning Rongrong delivered a swift chop to the back of her neck.
Dugu Yan's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious.
"Whew—"
Ning Rongrong exhaled deeply as the Tai Chi formation beneath her feet faded. She carried Dugu Yan over to Dugu Bo.
"Senior Dugu, Sister Yan's condition is much worse than I expected."
Her words made Dugu Bo's heart sink. "Is there a solution?"
"Not sure yet…"
Ning Rongrong looked up at the sky. "Father, you've been watching long enough. Come down and do something useful."
This was the first time she had addressed him as "Father" instead of "Dad."
Ning Fengzhi descended slowly with Sword Douluo and Grandpa Bone in tow.
Before anyone could speak, Ning Rongrong continued, "You shouldn't have used sparring to help Dugu Yan gain control over the Misfortune Poison Body."
"Her fear of poison likely stems from her parents' deaths. She might not even realize it herself."
Dugu Bo fell silent. If her birth parents had died from poison, and her own martial soul and power were poison-based, Ning Rongrong's assessment made sense.
"Rongrong, focus on the solution first," Grandpa Bone urged, noticing Dugu Bo's anxiety.
Ning Rongrong sighed. "I need the Fire Clan's Seven-Colored Flame Stone. Get it as soon as possible."
She explained the situation regarding the Seven-Colored Flame Stone. Originally, she had planned to retrieve it herself, but time was no longer on their side.
"Besides that, we need to reduce or eliminate the sense of helplessness in Sister Yan's heart."
"How?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
"I remember Tang Yuehua in Heaven Dou City has a domain called 'Noble's Halo.' It might be able to help."
"So I want to go to Heaven Dou City with you to check. If that doesn't work, then we'll have to consider a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."
She shook her head. "But the Star Dou Great Forest is too dangerous. Unless absolutely necessary…"
"Heaven Dou first." The Clear Sky Sect was short on money, right? Then they'd just throw money at them—enough to buy Tang Yuehua's time, even if it meant keeping her Noble's Halo active 24/7.
Then, she turned to Ning Fengzhi, who had remained silent.
"Dad, you'll need to handle Heaven Dou's Xue Qinghe. I don't want her thinking we're getting too cozy with the Clear Sky Sect."
Slaughter City.
Tang Chen sat upon the Asura God's throne.
"Xiao San, you have more talent than your father. I have high hopes for you."
"You flatter me, Great-Grandfather. But… is it really alright for me to go to Heaven Dou City like this?"
"Aside from those who have seen your current appearance, no one will recognize you," Tang Chen said.
"Go, Xiao San. You've shed your past and emerged anew. The future belongs to the young."
"Yes, Great-Grandfather. I will never forget your kindness."
Tang San bowed deeply three times before turning to leave.