On the other side, at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
After a day of rest, Dugu Yan, whose complexion had returned to normal, returned to the academy in the afternoon.
She first went to the valley to see Zhu Zhuqing and tell her that Yang Yunhai was currently refining medicine and everything was fine.
Then she headed straight back to her dormitory.
"Yan, how is it? What was Senior Dugu's reply?" Yu Tianheng hurried forward to ask when he saw her.
"Grandfather has already found a suitable ten-thousand-year soul bone for me," Dugu Yan replied softly. "As for the engagement, he hasn't agreed yet. He said it still depends on your future performance. When I asked why, he didn't explain,he only told me to focus on training for now and not to overthink it."
Yu Tianheng's face immediately went pale.
"Sorry, Tianheng, my grandfather is the only family I have in this world. I can't ignore his words," Dugu Yan added.
For some reason, she felt oddly satisfied saying this.
"It's fine," Yu Tianheng said quickly. "For Senior Dugu to respond this way, I must have done something wrong."
Offering a soul bone as a betrothal gift and bringing it up at this sensitive time really was inappropriate, he thought to himself.
Honestly, even he felt a bit uncomfortable hearing it,it sounded like a transaction. But he couldn't go against the decision of his clan elders.
"Tianheng, I believe you can definitely earn my grandfather's approval," Dugu Yan encouraged.
After all, feelings built over such a long time couldn't just be discarded. In her heart, she still held onto a final sliver of hope, expecting that Yu Tianheng might change.
"Mm, I'll do my best," Yu Tianheng said with a serious nod.
Dugu Yan gave a small nod. "It's getting late, Tianheng. I'm going back to my room to cultivate my soul power."
"There's still over a year until the Soul Master Tournament. My current soul power is level 38,if I work hard, I should be able to reach the Soul Sect realm before the competition begins."
"With each bit of improvement, our chances of winning the championship will grow."
If she could be cured, she would help Xiaohai win the tournament's championship prize,that was their promise.
And according to her grandfather, Xiaohai was already refining an antidote for her and her grandfather. Such a life-saving grace,how could she not repay him wholeheartedly?
"Mm, I'll have to work hard too," Yu Tianheng said, nodding firmly.
The two then returned to their own rooms.
Inside the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo, who was sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes, his expression slightly excited.
"Xiaohai, your medicine really is miraculous," he said, turning toward Yang Yunhai with a bright look in his eyes.
After personally absorbing the soul bone, the medicinal effect was extraordinary.
"In at most one month, all the toxins in my body will be completely removed," he said with a cheerful smile.
Not long ago, he had obtained a twenty-thousand-year poison-attributed left arm bone. As for how,he wasn't the type to like owing favors, so he chose to hunt soul beasts himself. His first target was the poison-attributed, cave-dwelling social soul beasts in the Sunset Forest.
Poison scorpions, venomous snakes, poison bees,things like that.
One blast of Jade Phosphor Serpent venom into the nest, then just wait for the whole group to die.
The deaths were a bit cruel under the heavy poison, but he didn't care much about that now.
Besides, hunting these cave-dwelling types was the most efficient method, and it minimized harm to other soul beasts in the forest.
Luck was on his side,on the sixth hunt, he got the drop from a Purple-Bellied Poison Scorpion leader.
"As long as it works," Yang Yunhai smiled faintly.
Although he didn't fully understand pharmacology, the medicine he chose already had detoxifying properties.
It even improved complexion.
With the addition of his diluted blood, its detox effect was even better than the one Tang San made in the original story. He had tested it on the poisonous grass juice around them: just a few drops, and the deadly toxin turned into clear water and residue,visible to the naked eye.
In the original, Tang San's medicine took Dugu Bo half a year to nearly purge all toxins.
Honestly, Yang Yunhai suspected Tang San had done it on purpose,to extend his stay at the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well, refine poisons from its herbs, and enjoy both the spring water and Dugu Bo's inner core for cultivation.
The original text even stated that Tang San took three months just to study all the herbs in the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well, trying to refine almost every poison he knew. After half a year, thanks to the medicinal energy transforming his body and Dugu Bo's inner core, Tang San's soul power skyrocketed by three levels,and he was reluctant to part with the inner core when he had to return it.
It was enough to make one suspicious.
"Enough said, Xiaohai,if you ever need Grandpa's help in the future, just say the word," Dugu Bo said heartily.
There actually was something… How about helping me reconcile with Teacher Chrysanthemum? Yang Yunhai thought to himself.
But he knew that would take time, so he just smiled and said, "Grandpa Dugu, I do have a request,I hope you can help me and Zhuqing obtain soul rings in the future."
"No problem!" Dugu Bo nodded.
"In that case, this matter is done. Grandpa Dugu, I should return to the academy," Yang Yunhai said.
"Alright, I'll send you back first, then return to Sunset Forest to get Yan'er a soul bone," Dugu Bo replied.
"Grandpa Dugu, you obtained your soul bone through hunting soul beasts?" Yang Yunhai asked.
"Yes. I don't like owing favors, so I prefer to do it myself," Dugu Bo said with a nod. "I hunted only social, cave-dwelling, poison-attributed soul beasts, so it wouldn't harm other forest creatures. It's still a bit of overkilling, but I can't worry about that now."
Yang Yunhai nodded slightly, then said, "In that case, it's better if I don't return to the academy just yet."
Dugu Bo froze for a moment, then immediately understood.
He still needed to get the soul bone,that meant he only had one, and he had just absorbed it. Which meant his granddaughter's soul bone hadn't been obtained yet, even though she had already told Yu Tianheng that her grandfather had found one for her. If Yang Yunhai returned now, it would expose the lie. After all, the soul bone had to be in place before taking Yang Yunhai's antidote to transfer the toxins.
If Yang Yunhai had returned, Yu Tianheng could easily ask,
"Yan'er, have you absorbed your soul bone? Did it improve your abilities? What's the soul bone skill? Have you taken the detox medicine? How do you feel now?"
Since they hadn't broken up yet, these questions wouldn't be considered inappropriate.
If Yang Yunhai hadn't returned, it could be explained as the grandfather wanting to wait until the antidote was ready before bringing both it and the soul bone out. But with Yang Yunhai back and no sign of the soul bone or the antidote being used,it would seem suspicious.
Undoubtedly, Dugu Bo had told his granddaughter to say that on purpose.
And this wasn't just a slap in Yu Tianheng's face,it was a slap to the entire Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
If Yu Tianheng found out and foolishly complained to his elders when he went home for New Year…
Then the grudge would be set in stone.
With Yu Tianheng's intelligence, the chance of it going that far was low,but not impossible.
I didn't even spell it out, yet Xiaohai thought this far ahead, Dugu Bo thought in surprise, feeling a warmth in his heart.
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