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Hearing Shi Quan say that, Dugu Yan could only suppress the curiosity in her heart and deal with the important matters first.
An hour later.
On the mountaintop.
After Dugu Yan had just expelled the poison and eliminated the water and fire power from her body, she immediately looked at Shi Quan curiously, waiting for his explanation.
"It's like this…" Shi Quan roughly recounted the whole story.
Dugu Yan listened, both surprised and envious.
Dugu Yan asked in disbelief, "So, Shi Quan, not only has your spirit power broken through Rank thirty, but your third spirit ring also absorbed a nine-thousand-year Thorn Queen?"
"That's right."
"…" Dugu Yan was so shocked that she couldn't speak, and she didn't recover for a long time.
"Monster… simply too much of a monster," Dugu Yan murmured softly.
Dugu Bo also said at the appropriate time, "Yan Yan, regarding Shi Quan's third spirit ring, you can just say it's four or five thousand years to outsiders. Don't expose the fact that his third spirit ring is nine thousand years."
"Grandpa, don't worry, I won't say anything," Dugu Yan looked at Shi Quan and shook her head, "If this gets out, I don't know how many people will be envious, jealous, and hateful."
"Actually, not many people know me. When I return to the Academy, I will explain my situation to the Three Great Committee Members and ask them to help me hide it as much as possible, plus with the changes in my appearance, ordinary people won't see anything unusual."
"That's the only way for now. The longer we can hide it, the better," Dugu Yan nodded, "Oh, right, Shi Quan, Ning Rongrong hasn't seen you return, and she's been asking me about your situation a lot during this time. Do you want to go back, or should I help you send a message to her?"
"Going back is out of the question. I haven't finished determining the medicinal properties in the pharmacy, and Sister Yanzi, the poison in your body hasn't been completely resolved yet. If I'm going back, I have to finish these things first. As for sending a message…" Shi Quan thought for a moment and said, "Tell her to Cultivate well, there's nothing else."
"No problem," Dugu Yan nodded in agreement.
After chatting for a while longer, Dugu Bo left with Dugu Yan.
Shi Quan returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The automated Pill Furnace still had two uses left.
Medicinal Pills are the same as Immortal Herbs; taking too many is not only unbeneficial but harmful.
The efficacy of the Tenfold Perfect Great Restoration Pill was already astonishing, and his body still contained many medicinal effects that hadn't been completely digested, so he temporarily didn't plan to take any more Medicinal Pills.
Shi Quan had already decided how to use the remaining two Alchemy opportunities of the automated Pill Furnace.
Half a month later.
Within half a month, while Dugu Bo was away, Shi Quan had already condensed the third spirit ring of the Soul Martial Spirit, a silver light, which once again transformed into a silver spirit ring. Under Xiao Meng's disguise, it appeared as a purple spirit ring. The time for the spirit ring evolution was about as Xiao Meng expected, around two hours.
All of Dugu Yan's toxins had also been forced into her Spirit Bone.
Because of Shi Quan's increased spirit power, the speed of expelling the poison was much faster than before.
As the toxins completely merged into the Spirit Bone, Dugu Yan's hair also changed from its original purple to black mixed with strands of purple, appearing exceptionally demonic.
"Grandpa Dugu, from my perception, the herbs here should be divided into two grades: one is Immortal Herb, and the other is Spirit Medicine. The bamboo I consumed belongs to the Immortal Herb Rank. I deduce that Immortal Herbs, when consumed, can not only increase strength without side effects but also have a series of special effects like improving talent and evolving one's Martial Spirit. There are only benefits and no drawbacks.
There are also some here suitable for Sister Yanzi and you, Grandpa Dugu, but I cannot be sure how exactly they should be consumed. You can research them; if you can find a way to consume them, it will be of great benefit to both you and Sister Yanzi. Perhaps it can even help you solve your Martial Spirit problem."
Saying this, Shi Quan took out the organized manual of the medicinal properties of the herbs in the pharmacy from his snow jade bracelet and handed it to Dugu Bo.
Besides the Immortal Herbs mentioned in the original work, Shi Quan also distinguished other Immortal Herbs based on the strength of their perceived medicinal properties. However, these Immortal Herbs were not mentioned in the original work, and Shi Quan was completely ignorant about herbs, so he couldn't help even if he wanted to.
"Shi Quan, you're thoughtful." Looking at the specially marked content in the manual, Dugu Bo's heart warmed, "You've worked hard during this time, Shi Quan. In the future, if you have anything, just come directly to Grandpa. Don't think about whether it's troublesome or not; as long as Grandpa can help, he will definitely help you."
"I understand, Grandpa Dugu," Shi Quan smiled and nodded.
During this period of interaction, Shi Quan had gained a more comprehensive understanding of Dugu Bo. At first, Dugu Bo might have simply wanted to use Shi Quan to help his granddaughter Dugu Yan detoxify, and Shi Quan was also just after the Immortal Herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. But as they spent more time together, Shi Quan could feel that Dugu Bo truly treated him like his own grandson now.
As the saying goes, true heart for true heart.
Now, Shi Quan also truly regarded Dugu Bo as his Grandpa; otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically marked the Immortal Herbs for him and Dugu Yan.
"Grandpa, I'm still here," Dugu Yan looked at Dugu Bo with a hint of resentment and said, "The way you two are, so deeply affectionate, one would think you two are grandfather and grandson. Don't forget that I'm your granddaughter."
"Haha, our Yan Yan is jealous of Grandpa?" Dugu Bo laughed heartily, pulled Dugu Yan into his arms, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Grandpa still dotes on you the most. As for this boy Shi Quan, Grandpa doesn't care about him."
"Grandpa Dugu, your face-changing speed is too fast," Shi Quan chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright, alright," Dugu Bo waved his big hand, and the three of them soared into the air, "Let's talk when we get back. Today, the three of us, grandfather and grandchildren, will have a good meal. It's also a celebration for Yan Yan."
"Grandpa, then I want braised bear paw, and also…"
"Okay, okay, no problem."
The group of three did not return directly to Heaven Dou Royal Academy but went back to a separate residence in Heaven Dou City.
Having stayed at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for nearly two months, although Shi Quan had Internal Energy to expel surface impurities, he still enjoyed the feeling of bathing. First, he had a comfortable bath at Dugu Bo's place.
Shi Quan then went shopping with Dugu Yan in Heaven Dou City for over an hour, purchasing many items. Most of them were Shi Quan's clothes, as his old clothes no longer fit due to changes in his physique. He took the opportunity to buy more while in Heaven Dou City. Besides clothes, there were also many other items; Shi Quan bought anything he thought he might need later.
He had plenty of money and was willful.
After all, Ning Fengzhi had given him a lot of money to keep Ning Rongrong by his side.
This money was just sitting there, so it was better to use it directly.
This shopping trip also allowed Shi Quan to fully experience the feeling of spending money like water—in a word, satisfying.
As dinner time approached, Dugu Yan finally brought Shi Quan back to the residence. As soon as they entered the courtyard, a delicious aroma of food wafted from inside.
Shi Quan had originally thought someone else would cook, but it turned out that Dugu Bo was personally cooking.
"Shi Quan, Grandpa's cooking skills, besides me, no one else has tasted them. You're lucky today. Grandpa's cooking is not bad at all," Dugu Yan sniffed the aroma, pulled Shi Quan, and quickly walked towards the house.
"Grandpa, we're back! It smells so good, Shi Quan and I are so hungry…"
"Haha, it'll be ready soon, you two sit down first."
If it were before, Shi Quan wouldn't even dare to imagine a Titled Douluo personally cooking for him; just the thought of that scene would make one uneasy. But now, he felt as if everything was natural. The identity of a Titled Douluo was only for outsiders; for him, Dugu Bo was just his Grandpa Dugu now.
In a short while, Dugu Bo brought out platter after platter of delicious food to the table.
Setting aside everything else, Dugu Bo certainly had some skill in cooking. Each dish was perfect in color, aroma, and taste, making one's mouth water even before eating.
The dinner ended amidst the joyful laughter of the three.
In the evening, Shi Quan and Dugu Yan still had to return to the dormitory.
Shi Quan had been away for so long that it was time for him to go back.
Bidding farewell to Dugu Bo, under the moonlight, the two set off back to the Academy.
"Shi Quan, if you go back to the dormitory looking like this now, Tianheng and the others will be incredibly surprised, especially Ning Rongrong. She clearly treats you differently from everyone else."
"Ning Rongrong?" Shi Quan turned to Dugu Yan in confusion, "Sister Yanzi, why do you say that?"
"While you were away, she talked about you every day. Tianheng and the others all say Ning Rongrong likes you, but I feel it's more about caring. It's hard to say if it's love yet, after all, she's still young."
"No way, she should just be unwilling to admit defeat, right?" Shi Quan frowned and said.
"That's hard to say. Shi Quan, how do you feel about her?"
"How can I feel anything? I wish I could stay far away. If Uncle Ning hadn't forced her on me, I wouldn't want to bother with her at all. She's always so unserious, like an undeveloped child."
"As if you're not a child yourself. After all, you're only less than eleven years old. What normal person at that age is as mature as you? When I was her age, I was pretty much the same," Dugu Yan chuckled, "According to what you're saying, it seems you don't have any feelings for her?"
Shi Quan chuckled, "Although I'm still a child, I'm not interested in children. If I were interested, it would be in mature, older ones like Sister Yanzi and Ling Ling."
"Older, mature ones?" Dugu Yan subconsciously looked down at her chest, then raised her hand to tap Shi Quan's head, her face flushed as she playfully scolded, "Your head is filled with who knows what all day long. 'Mature, older ones'? I think you're asking for a beating."
"Sister Yanzi, I said I like mature people who are older than me. Is there a problem with that?" Shi Quan rubbed his head, wincing in pain.
"Whose fault is it that you don't speak clearly, you brat?" Dugu Yan nudged Shi Quan and said with a faint smile, "But Shi Quan, if you like your Sister Ling Ling, I can help you."
Shi Quan quickly waved his hand, "That won't trouble Sister Yanzi. If I like someone, I'll pursue them myself. I won't be like the captain, being so ambiguous."
"If Tianheng heard that, he would definitely want to have a good spar with you."
"As long as Sister Yanzi, you don't worry about him getting beaten up, then I don't care either."
"You brat, if my poison didn't have no effect on you, I'd make you lie down for a few days."
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