Dugu Yan's voice was soft, carrying a deep sense of suppression:
"I'll only say a few words, and after that, junior brother, please don't ask any more questions. My grandfather and I are indeed poisoned. This poison comes from our martial souls. As we add spirit rings, the poison also corrodes our bodies. It's like a curse—there's no cure, and only death can bring release."
Seeing her so despairing, Chen Yuan carefully chose his words and then comforted her:
"Actually, there's no need to be so hopeless. I've done some research on martial souls. A martial soul is essentially another aspect of ourselves, a dual existence. Perhaps that's why the poison of the Jade Phosphorus Snake corrodes the body."
"The martial soul can carry the poison, but the body is eroded by it. If that's the case, then we need to find a way to make the body capable of carrying the poison. Senior sister, if you had a poison-type spirit bone, you could filter out the poison when absorbing spirit rings and store it in the spirit bone. That way, the poison in your body wouldn't worsen."
"Although spirit bones are rare treasures, for someone like Dugu Bo, it shouldn't be impossible to obtain one. A ten-thousand-year spirit bone should be enough to keep you safe for now. But as your strength increases and the poison becomes more potent, one spirit bone won't be enough. At that point, you'll need a second, a third…"
As Chen Yuan spoke, Dugu Yan's eyes grew brighter and brighter. The despair in her heart was replaced by a glimmer of hope. If she could live, she didn't want to die.
Looking at Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan said gratefully, "Junior brother Chen Yuan, you're truly my lucky star. Meeting you again has given me hope of breaking this curse. If this method works, you'll be my savior."
Chen Yuan chuckled softly and said, "It's just an immature idea. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen. Unfortunately, this method can only prevent the poison from further corroding your body. It can't eliminate the poison that's already inside you. If there's a chance in the future, I'd like to speak with Dugu Bo. Perhaps we can come up with a way to completely resolve the poison."
Chen Yuan had proposed the idea of using spirit bones to store the poison to gain Dugu Yan's complete trust. Once he met Dugu Bo, he planned to find a way to enter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring. Until he saw the immortal herbs, he wouldn't reveal his Eight Spider Lances.
Tang San had earned Dugu Bo's respect because his understanding of poison surpassed Dugu Bo's in some aspects. If Chen Yuan wanted Dugu Bo to willingly take him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring, he couldn't reveal all his cards at once. Otherwise, this hidden place would remain impossible to find.
Just as Chen Yuan had expected, Dugu Yan now trusted him completely. With a playful smile, she said in a coquettish tone, "No problem. After we return, I'll bring my grandfather to meet you. If we can come up with a way to completely resolve the poison, you'll be the savior of both me and my grandfather…"
Then, Dugu Yan leaned closer to Chen Yuan, her voice seductive, almost like she was teasing him:
"Junior brother Chen Yuan, you've been so good to me. I'm really touched. How about I offer myself to you?"
Chen Yuan neither agreed nor refused. Looking at Dugu Yan, who was now very close, he simply said ambiguously, "Senior sister, don't overthink it. Can't it just be that I don't want to see you wither away?"
Dugu Yan looked deeply into Chen Yuan's eyes, imprinting his handsome face in her heart. She wanted to test his intentions, to understand what he was really after. After all, there was no such thing as unconditional kindness. But Chen Yuan's response left her with a whirlwind of thoughts.
'You don't want me to die? Then I'll make sure to live well. Chen Yuan, what are you really thinking? I must see through your heart…'
Then, Dugu Yan put away her seductive demeanor, her face now adorned with a gentle, serene smile.
Because of her martial soul, Dugu Yan had few friends growing up. Who would dare get close to someone with the poisonous Jade Phosphorus Snake? Under Dugu Bo's doting, she had become bold and unruly. It was rare for someone to make her feel so calm and at peace.
Not long after, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing returned with a pile of packages, clearly having enjoyed their shopping spree. However, when they returned, they noticed something strange about the atmosphere between Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan, though they couldn't quite put their finger on what it was.
After resting at the hotel that night, the group set off again the next morning. With carriages to transport them, their journey was swift. In about ten days, they returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy, backed by the royal family and supported by the empire, was an advanced spirit master academy with a vast campus that encompassed an entire mountain range. It boasted numerous simulated training environments, abundant resources, and state-of-the-art facilities. If it weren't exclusive to nobles, it would undoubtedly become a cradle for geniuses.
Upon returning to the academy, Qin Ming first dismissed the Imperial Dou Team, giving them time to relax and rest. He then arranged accommodations for Chen Yuan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing before heading to meet the three academy deans.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy had only one dean: the current emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye. However, since Xue Ye couldn't be at the academy every day, its daily operations were managed by the three deans of the Academic Committee: Chief Dean Meng Shenji, an eight-ringed Spirit Douluo; Second Dean Bai Baoshan, also an eight-ringed Spirit Douluo; and Third Dean Zhi Lin, another eight-ringed Spirit Douluo.
When Qin Ming requested an audience, the three deans naturally agreed. As soon as Qin Ming met them, he explained the situation in detail.
After hearing the story, Meng Shenji was stunned. "What? A twelve-year-old Spirit Elder with a yellow, purple, purple spirit ring configuration, who easily defeated Yu Tianheng? Such talent exists on the continent? Chen Yuan of the Chen family… truly unbelievable."
Then, his eyes filled with enthusiasm. "Such a genius wants to join the Heaven Dou Royal Academy? How could we refuse? And there's also the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. We must accept them. As for the girl from the Star Luo Empire who came with them… well, even though she's from Star Luo, since she's with Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong, it's unlikely she's a spy sent by Star Luo. Let her enroll as well. As for the enrollment date, let's make it tomorrow. They can rest tonight."
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin both nodded with smiles. This was good news—the Heaven Dou Royal Academy had gained three more geniuses.
However, that very evening, a powerful aura suddenly swept through the academy. The source of this aura was a man dressed in a coarse hemp robe, with messy, dark green hair, a gaunt face, and deep-set eyes. It was none other than Dugu Bo.
Having heard that his granddaughter had returned to the academy, he had rushed over without delay.
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,252
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