"I'm back."
When Ye Yu returned to the Dugu Residence, the moment the girls realized he had finally come home, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Huo Wu couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy and relief.
Ever since Ning Rongrong had returned and shared the dangers of the Slaughter City, even though they had faith in Ye Yu's strength—and believed that even the Slaughter City couldn't endanger his life—they still couldn't shake off their worry until he was safely back.
Now, seeing him again, the heavy burden in their hearts finally settled. They could breathe easy.
"Ah Yu, how have you been in the Slaughter City these past two years?"
Upon seeing him, Dugu Yan's delicate and strikingly beautiful face was filled with deep concern, her emerald green eyes shimmering with emotion.
"Rongrong said it's extremely dangerous in there… and that you can't even use spirit abilities?"
"We've all been so worried about you this past year…"
"I'm fine," Ye Yu said with a warm smile.
"With my strength, entering the Slaughter City was like returning to my own backyard."
"The only real downside in that place was the poor food… and no clean water."
"But I came fully prepared for all of that ahead of time. So, really, it wasn't an issue."
Afterward, Ning Rongrong and Huo Wu began bombarding him with questions.
Ning Rongrong was especially curious about what kind of place the Slaughter City actually was. After all, it was said to be a remnant of a god—what kind of mysteries did it hold?
Huo Wu, on the other hand, was fascinated by the idea of not being able to use spirit abilities. If abilities were sealed, wouldn't that make it the perfect place to train in close combat and physical fighting skills?
Ye Yu chuckled and answered each of their questions patiently.
When they learned that the Slaughter City was a chaotic blood-soaked hell where one either had to fight in a deathmatch every year or offer two cups of fresh blood every month just to survive—it instantly lost its appeal.
Huo Wu, who had been eager to test herself there, immediately had second thoughts.
"Oh right, Yan Yan!"
"Didn't I say I'd bring you back a surprise?"
Once the questions settled, Ye Yu looked at Dugu Yan with a knowing smile and pulled something out from his Jade Dragon Bracelet—the inner core of the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent.
"What's that?"
The moment the girls saw the item in Ye Yu's hand—a crystal the size of an infant's fist, glowing with brilliant golden-red light like a gemstone—they all became visibly intrigued.
"This is the inner core of a ancient spirit beast—the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent."
"Yan Yan, if you absorb and refine it, it should trigger an evolution in your Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul."
Ye Yu said with a gentle smile.
Hearing this, Dugu Yan's eyes turned red with emotion. She was touched—overjoyed.
"Ah Yu…"
She quickly realized he'd brought a gift only for her this time.
Her heart was full.
As expected... in Ah Yu's heart, I'm still the most important one.
Overcome with happiness and emotion, Dugu Yan threw herself into Ye Yu's arms, hugging him tightly and planting several kisses on his cheek.
Off to the side, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Huo Wu were all watching with envy.
Ning Rongrong especially felt like she'd just eaten ten baskets of lemons—sour to the bone.
Hmph!
Just because she met him first!
If I had met Ye Yu before her, I would've invested in him too!
Then I'd be the main girlfriend now! I'd be his future wife!
Ye Lingling, whose elegant and serene face was mostly hidden beneath her long navy-blue bangs, gave a faint, content smile.
She was sincerely happy for Ye Yu and Dugu Yan.
Even though she had been the first to meet Ye Yu, and despite knowing that if not for her own restraint—and Ye Yu choosing to confess to Dugu Yan—perhaps she would be the one in that position…
Reality was reality. Her best friend Dugu Yan was Ye Yu's official partner.
And since Dugu Yan had willingly allowed her to remain close to Ye Yu, Ye Lingling was grateful.
She sincerely wanted to support her righteous and generous sister, helping her maintain her place as the primary partner.
So she wasn't jealous—instead, she was comforted and glad.
Zhu Zhuqing, as always, remained quiet and calm.
For her, as long as she could stay by Ye Yu's side, the title didn't matter. She accepted her position wholeheartedly.
But Huo Wu couldn't help but feel envious.
After all, Ye Yu had promised her—if she pledged herself to him—not only would he bestow her the Immolation Flame Right Arm Bone, but he'd also help her Martial Soul evolve in the future.
Ever since joining the others, Huo Wu had learned that aside from Ye Lingling, all the other girls had received Martial Soul evolutions.
And even Ye Lingling's aptitude had been improved by Ye Yu through mysterious means…
"Ah Yu, how do I absorb this Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent core?"
After her flurry of affection, Dugu Yan blushed, releasing Ye Yu as she glanced at the radiant inner core in her hands.
"It's simple—just swallow it directly," Ye Yu replied with a smile.
Soon, on the grassy field where they'd gathered, Dugu Yan sat cross-legged and swallowed the inner core.
The moment it entered her body, it dissolved into a torrent of blazing heat, instantly flooding through her meridians and bathing her in brilliant golden-red light.
In a flash, her Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul emerged behind her.
The long, dark green serpent coiled in the air, razor-sharp claws gleaming, its fierce dragon-like head raised toward the heavens as it let out a mighty roar.
At the same time, five Spirit Rings—two yellow, two purple, one black—rose from beneath her feet and encircled her.
Under the power of the core, the Bilin Phosphor Serpent began to glow with radiant golden-red energy.
With every pulse of that light, its form grew larger and longer. Its dark green scales began to take on a crimson hue.
Bumps emerged on its back—five in total—gradually swelling.
Time passed…
Until finally—her Martial Soul had transformed completely!
The long serpent's form was even more massive, its scales fully crimson, its dragon head even more ferocious with elongated horns—and instead of one head, there were now five.
Her Bilin Phosphor Serpent had evolved into the Five-Headed Crimson Phosphor Serpent Dragon!
According to the changes of Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix in the original story—
Since Dugu Yan was currently only at the Spirit King rank, her Martial Soul had evolved to the Five-Headed Crimson Phosphor Serpent Dragon.
In the future, as her cultivation continued to rise, she would be able to evolve further—
To Six-Headed, Seven-Headed… all the way to the legendary Ten-Headed Crimson Phosphor Serpent Dragon!