Facing Yunxiao's inquiry, Dugu Bo slowly began to speak.
"Ah, Your Excellency Yunxiao."
"To tell the truth, this matter has some connection to you."
"Your Excellency Yunxiao, do you still remember Ye Lingling?"
"Hmm, Ye Lingling?"
"Old Poison, are you referring to Ye Lingling from the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family?"
Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Yunxiao had a vague suspicion in his mind.
But to obtain more complete information, Yunxiao patiently listened on.
"Yes, precisely. Ye Lingling of the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family."
"Two years ago, didn't you use the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to resolve the defect in Ye Lingling's Martial Soul?"
"Originally, that girl Lingling had hidden it very well."
"But as the saying goes, 'A thief may steal for a thousand days, but he cannot guard against theft for a thousand days.'"
"Under the probing of certain interested parties, the secret of Lingling's Martial Soul was eventually discovered..."
Dugu Bo then proceeded to recount the entire incident in detail.
Well, in short, to make a long story short.
First, the evolution of Ye Lingling's Martial Soul, the Nine Heart Begonia, was exposed.
Then, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School became aware of it.
And what did it mean for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to know about this?
It meant that Ning Fengzhi, that troublemaker, also learned of this news.
Both were auxiliary-type Soul Masters, both had Martial Soul defects.
How did Ye Lingling of your Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family manage to evolve her Martial Soul?
Since Ye Lingling could do it, then after the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School obtained this secret...
Could their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit also evolve?
Clearly, Ning Fengzhi began to harbor ulterior motives.
The Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family had no Titled Douluo?
Then, the next steps were quite straightforward.
As a qualified businessman, Ning Fengzhi initially chose to "try fair means before resorting to force."
He first visited the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family with gifts, seeking the secret to Martial Soul evolution.
Of course, Bone Douluo Gu Rong accompanied him.
Faced with Ning Fengzhi's ugly demeanor, the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family felt both anger and helplessness.
Because the one who had evolved Ye Lingling's Martial Soul...
Was none other than Yunxiao, the Elf Douluo.
Without betraying Yunxiao and Dugu Bo...
The Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family simply couldn't provide the Martial Soul evolution method Ning Fengzhi sought.
Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to have Gu Rong resort to force, Dugu Bo happened to encounter them.
Speaking of the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family, they shared a deep friendship with Dugu Bo.
The previous family head of the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family, Ye Renxin...
Had a life-and-death bond with Dugu Bo, the Old Poison.
The current head of the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family, upon seeing Dugu Bo, would respectfully address him as "Uncle Dugu."
Then, faced with Ning Fengzhi's aggressive stance...
Dugu Bo, who had just broken through to the 95th rank, naturally chose to fight Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong.
But unfortunately, against the spatial-attribute Bone Dragon Spirit...
And with Ning Fengzhi providing support from the side, Dugu Bo was still no match for the two and was injured.
Of course, regarding Dugu Bo's sudden surge in strength...
And his six Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones...
Both Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi, as well as the entire Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family, were utterly shocked.
In the end, Gu Rong grew concerned for Ning Fengzhi's safety.
Reluctantly, they chose to cease hostilities.
After all, if Dugu Bo were truly pushed to desperation, Gu Rong feared Ning Fengzhi might not make it out alive.
Of course, retreating was one thing—
But the secret of evolving Martial Souls was something neither of them intended to abandon.
Immediately after, they resorted to leveraging the prestige of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
They employed both threats and incentives against the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family and Ye Lingling.
After all, in his quest to find the Fairy Kirin Tulip—
And to resolve the flaw of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit—
Ning Fengzhi had practically turned the entire Douluo Continent upside down during this time.
Now, upon learning that the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family clearly held a shortcut—
Ning Fengzhi was naturally unwilling to let it go.
It could be said that in his obsession to fix the flaw of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit—
Ning Fengzhi had nearly lost his mind during this period.
Having already torn all pretense of civility with the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family—
And having offended Dugu Bo—
Ning Fengzhi was determined to obtain the method to evolve Martial Souls at all costs.
As they withdrew, Ning Fengzhi issued a final ultimatum.
If the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family revealed the secret—
Not only would he personally apologize, but he would also compensate them with a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.
Otherwise, the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family and Ye Lingling would need to tread carefully within Heaven Dou City.
Two hours later, Dugu Bo finally recounted the events of the past few days.
Then, with a huff, he glared indignantly.
"Hmph! If it weren't for Ning Fengzhi supporting Gu Rong from the sidelines—"
"The outcome of my fight with Gu Rong would still be uncertain!"
Both were Titled Douluo at the 95th rank!
Both possessed a full set of Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones!
Even more remarkably, both had dragon-type Martial Souls!
By all logic, Dugu Bo believed he wouldn't lose to Gu Rong.
Of course, that only meant he wouldn't lose—
In truth, Dugu Bo knew his own limits.
Facing Gu Rong, who wielded the spatial-attribute Bone Dragon Spirit—
Dugu Bo was well aware he lacked the absolute strength to defeat him.
Let alone with Ning Fengzhi amplifying Gu Rong's abilities from the side.
Hearing Dugu Bo's stubborn pride, Yunxiao shook his head slightly.
"Old Poison, you'd do well not to be careless."
"Gu Rong is merely a minor nuisance to you."
"After all, the only difference between you two lies in your Martial Soul attributes."
"But Old Poison, don't forget—"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School also has Chen Xin, a 96th-rank Peak Douluo."
As the saying goes, each rank among Titled Douluo is a world apart—
Especially at the Peak Douluo level, where the gap becomes even more exaggerated.
Had Dugu Bo been a 96th-rank Peak Douluo—
Even Ning Fengzhi would have had to weigh the consequences carefully.
Provoking a Peak Douluo to the point of no return—
When retaliation came, even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wouldn't be able to withstand it.
At Yunxiao's reminder, Dugu Bo voiced his true thoughts.
"Hmph! Sword Douluo, Chen Xin?"
"I must admit, if it weren't for my wariness of Chen Xin—"
"Back then, in the Nine Hearted Begonia Ye Family, I should have just killed that bastard Ning Fengzhi first."
He understood the principle of targeting the support first in team fights.
If he hadn't feared pushing things beyond the point of no return, he would have long since eliminated that troublemaker Ning Fengzhi.
Did Ning Fengzhi really think he could just stand by the sidelines slowly buffing Gu Rong?
Hmph, did they really think Dugu Bo was just for show?
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