On the other side, at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
After a day of rest, Dugu Yan returned in the afternoon, her complexion already back to normal.
She first went to the valley to meet Zhu Zhuqing and told her that Yang Yunhai was safe, still refining medicine.
Then she went straight back to the dormitory.
"Yan Yan, how is it? What did Senior Dugu say?" The moment he saw Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng hurried forward to ask.
"Grandpa has already found me a suitable 10,000-year soul bone." Dugu Yan replied softly, "As for the marriage, Grandpa didn't agree. He said it still depends on your future performance. When I asked why, he didn't explain, only told me to focus on cultivation and not to overthink."
Yu Tianheng's face instantly paled.
"Sorry, Tianheng. Grandpa is the only family I have in this world. I can't ignore his words." Dugu Yan added.
Strangely, replying like this gave her a sense of relief.
"It's fine," Yu Tianheng said quickly, "Senior Dugu replied like that because I must have done something wrong."
'A 10,000-year soul bone as betrothal… at this moment, saying it like that really was inappropriate.' He sighed inwardly.
To be honest, even he felt uncomfortable when he heard it, as if it was nothing but a transaction. But he couldn't go against his clan elders' decision.
"Don't worry, Tianheng. I believe you will earn Grandpa's approval." Dugu Yan encouraged softly.
After so long together, feelings couldn't just be put down. Deep down, she still clung to one last hope, expecting Yu Tianheng to change.
"Mm, I'll work hard." Yu Tianheng nodded solemnly.
Dugu Yan also nodded slightly. "It's getting late, Tianheng. I'll return to my room to cultivate."
"Now there's still more than a year before the Soul Master Academy Tournament. My soul power is rank 38. As long as I train diligently, I should reach Soul Ancestor before the tournament begins."
"The stronger I become, the higher our chances of winning the championship."
If she could be cured, she intended to help Xiao Hai win the championship as they had agreed.
And according to her grandfather, Xiao Hai was already refining antidotes for her and Grandpa. With such a life-saving grace, how could she not give her all to repay him?
"Mm, I'll have to work hard too." Yu Tianheng nodded heavily.
So the two parted and returned to their rooms.
Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo opened his eyes slowly, his expression carrying excitement.
"Xiao Hai, this medicine of yours is truly miraculous." He turned to Yang Yunhai, his eyes shining.
After absorbing the soul bone and experiencing it personally, the effect was simply extraordinary.
"At most a month, and the poison in my body will be completely expelled." He stood up, smiling broadly.
Previously, he had obtained a 20,000-year poison-attributed left arm bone. As for how—he wasn't one to like owing favors, so he chose to hunt soul beasts himself. His first targets were 10,000-year group-type poison-attributed burrow dwellers in the Sunset Forest.
Poison scorpions, poison snakes, poison bees.
One blast of Jade Phosphorus Serpent's poison fog into a nest, then just wait for the whole den to die.
The death was cruel, but he couldn't care about that.
And hunting these burrow-type soul beasts was the most efficient and least harmful way to the rest of the forest.
Luck was with him—on the sixth attempt, he got one, from a Purple-Bellied Scorpion leader.
"As long as it works." Yang Yunhai smiled faintly.
He wasn't a true expert in pharmacology yet, but the medicine he chose naturally carried detoxifying effects—plus beautifying ones.
So after adding his diluted blood, the detoxifying effect was even stronger than the original Tang San's concoction. He had already tested it with local poisonous herb juices.
A few drops turned lethal toxins into harmless water and residue—visible to the naked eye.
Whereas Tang San's original formula took Dugu Bo half a year to almost finish purging his poison.
'Honestly, I suspect Tang San did that on purpose. His aim must have been to extend his stay at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, to refine poisons with the herbs here, while also enjoying the well's dual-polar energy and even using Dugu Bo's inner core for cultivation.'
The original story clearly mentioned that Tang San spent three months just identifying all the herbs here, testing nearly every poison he knew. After half a year, his body had been transformed by medicinal energy and Dugu Bo's inner core, his soul power skyrocketing by 3 ranks. When the inner core was taken back, he was reluctant to part with it.
That really did look suspicious.
"Say no more, Xiao Hai. From now on, whatever you need, just tell Grandpa. I'll help however I can." Dugu Bo laughed boldly.
'Actually, there is one thing… could you reconcile with Teacher Chrysanthemum for me?' Yang Yunhai thought.
But he knew that was a matter for long-term planning. So he smiled instead and said, "Grandpa Dugu, there really is something—I'd like you to help me and Zhu Zhuqing acquire soul rings in the future."
"No problem!" Dugu Bo nodded slightly.
"In that case, now that this matter is settled… Grandpa Dugu, I should head back to the academy." Yang Yunhai said.
"Alright. I'll take you back first, then return to Sunset Forest to find Yan Yan a soul bone." Dugu Bo nodded.
"Grandpa Dugu, you obtained your soul bone by hunting soul beasts?" Yang Yunhai asked.
"Mm. I don't like owing people, so I did it myself." Dugu Bo nodded. "I hunted group-type burrow-dwelling poison beasts, so it didn't harm other forest beasts. Though it was still slaughter, I had no choice at the time."
Yang Yunhai nodded slightly, then added, "In that case, it might be better if I don't return to the academy for now."
Dugu Bo froze, then quickly understood.
He had only obtained one soul bone so far, and had already absorbed it himself. That meant his granddaughter's soul bone hadn't been acquired yet. But he had already let her tell Yu Tianheng it was done. If Xiao Hai returned now, the lie would be exposed. After all, there had to be a soul bone first, then the antidote could be used to transfer the poison.
So if Xiao Hai returned, questions would follow: Yan, did you absorb the soul bone? Did your strength improve? What's your new soul bone ability? Did you take the antidote? How do you feel now?
Since they hadn't broken up yet, Yu Tianheng was allowed to ask these, and it wouldn't be out of line.
But if Xiao Hai hadn't returned, it could be explained as: Grandpa was waiting for the antidote to be fully refined, then bringing the soul bone together. With Xiao Hai back but no soul bone absorbed, no antidote taken—too suspicious.
Clearly, Dugu Bo had deliberately told his granddaughter to say that.
And this wasn't just slapping Yu Tianheng's face—it was slapping the entire Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's face.
If Yu Tianheng discovered it and then foolishly told his elders during the New Year…
That grudge would be set in stone.
With Yu Tianheng's intelligence, the chances of it going that far were low—but not impossible.
'And I didn't even explain much, yet Xiao Hai already thought this far ahead.' Dugu Bo was secretly impressed, and at the same time warmed in his heart.
(End of Chapter)
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