Dugu Bo couldn't help but feel a little sour, clicking his tongue.
"Xiao Hai, even if those eyes aren't an external soul bone, they're practically the same. That kind of luck, really, no one else could match."
X-ray vision, lightning release, spiritual attack effects—truly not bad. But every time he fired lightning, the spiritual power consumption was massive. Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly, but on the surface he just smiled.
"Just luck. I really didn't expect thunder to attack me during the soul ring absorption. If I hadn't been diligent in cultivation, if my willpower hadn't been strong, I might not be alive now."
Dugu Bo recalled the terrifying scene before, shivering with lingering fear, and nodded. "It really was dangerous."
"But the result turned out well—thrill without disaster." He smiled. "So, Xiao Hai, how much has your soul power risen? And what soul skill did you get?"
Yang Yunhai closed his eyes to sense, then opened them with a smile. "Rank 45."
"???" Dugu Bo froze, jaw slack. In disbelief, he muttered, "That much?"
"After all, it was a 20,000-year soul ring, full of energy. Then being struck by lightning also gave me a huge boost." Yang Yunhai smiled. "Of course, the most important thing was my physical strength being strong enough to endure it all."
He turned his gaze on Dugu Bo. "Grandfather Dugu, this great increase was only possible because of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot I ate in your medicine garden back then. They greatly strengthened my body and laid the foundation. Without that, no matter how hard I cultivated, I could never have borne so much energy at once."
Dugu Bo raised a brow, glanced at him, then looked to the sky with a sigh. "In the end, it's all fate."
'A 20,000-year fourth soul ring… this grandson-in-law is definitely set.'
Yang Yunhai immediately shifted the topic. "My new soul skill is called Thunder Prison. It's an area-of-effect skill, condensed lightning bursting outward with explosive force. It's a lot like the Thunder Hell Prison Vine's own skill, centered on myself and spreading in all directions."
'Explosion effect, hmm. I'll need to develop it carefully later.'
"This skill is no small thing—its energy is tightly compressed, and once it detonates, its power is terrifying." Dugu Bo's eyes shone.
"Mm." Yang Yunhai nodded, summoning his Blue Silver Grass.
It now gleamed dark green with faint purple, golden lines even clearer. Touching it, its strength was obviously improved.
"Not much change in appearance," Dugu Bo judged carefully.
Yang Yunhai nodded, thoughtful. He raised his head, focused his spiritual power into his eyes, and golden light spread out. Soul power surged, drawing upon his lightning affinity.
Rumble!
Thunder serpents gathered overhead in response.
"This feeling…" He could clearly sense a pull between himself and the lightning above, connected by the tiny white motes in the air.
He'd felt this before.
"These are lightning elements in the air…" Realization dawned. He looked to an open patch of ground ahead.
Concentrating, the lightning elements surged together.
Boom!
An arm-thick bolt fell from the sky, striking where he'd focused.
"???" Dugu Bo gaped. "Xiao Hai, you can draw lightning to strike?!"
"It seems my lightning-drawing ability has evolved." Yang Yunhai withdrew his spiritual power and martial soul, nodding.
'It really does feel like I've fused part of the Thunder Hell Prison Vine's bloodline… maybe even a trace of Thunder God's. I can now perceive lightning elements, even commune with them. That sense of affinity is far beyond simple spiritual strength.'
"But the preparation time is a little long," he admitted.
'I wonder if I could combine this with my third soul skill's Parasite spores to lock onto a target…'
"Even so, it's incredible." Dugu Bo grew excited. "Once your cultivation rises again and your spiritual power gets stronger, you'll be able to shorten the preparation time. The only pity is that this ability seems usable only during thunderstorms."
After all, no lightning in the sky, nothing to summon.
Yang Yunhai chuckled. "Still better than not advancing at all."
"That's true." Dugu Bo nodded, then glanced at the dark clouds above and smiled. "This trip was a complete success. But this cursed place with lightning falling every few minutes—we'd better leave quickly."
"Come, time to go back."
"Mm." Yang Yunhai agreed.
They departed.
Flying out of the storm's core, they found the boat they'd left still afloat, though pushed far off course.
Landing aboard, they steered it back.
A day later, they reached port, then returned by carriage straight to their inn in Stormwind City.
"Xiao Hai, how did it go?" At the dinner table, Dugu Yan asked first.
Zhu Zhuqing, more reserved, quietly looked to her boyfriend.
"Pretty lucky," Yang Yunhai smiled and nodded.
"Not just lucky—Xiao Hai's harvest this time was enormous." Dugu Bo sighed with emotion.
To witness such a genius rise before his eyes… he couldn't help but feel the river's waves push the waves before, each generation surpassing the last.
But more than anything, he felt happy.
After all, this was his chosen grandson-in-law.
Smiling, he added, "Yan Yan, Zhuqing, guess what Xiao Hai's soul power is now?"
"Rank 43?" Dugu Yan blurted. Even if it was a 10,000-year soul ring, she felt that would be about right.
Dugu Bo shook his head. "Rank 45."
"Rank 45?!" Dugu Yan's jaw dropped, lips parting in disbelief.
Yang Yunhai smiled, nodding slightly.
"How did it rise so much?" Her expression shifted to curiosity.
Yang Yunhai and Dugu Bo recounted the story together.
'As expected of Xiao Hai, truly amazing.' Dugu Yan thought, her heart sighing, before smiling. "Congratulations, Xiao Hai."
Yang Yunhai turned to Dugu Bo and said warmly, "It's all thanks to Grandfather Dugu."
"No need to be polite." Dugu Bo nodded, then added, "It's late. Tomorrow morning we'll set out back to Heaven Dou City. You two should first come to my residence, then return to the academy after. In my current condition, it's best I stay hidden as long as possible."
He turned to Yang Yunhai. "Xiao Hai, you must also keep your fourth soul ring hidden. Best not to reveal it before the Soul Master Tournament, or you'll bring unnecessary trouble."
"Understood." Yang Yunhai nodded firmly. "I'll find a way to conceal it."
'By now, Qin Ming should have already left Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Some things…' must be done soon.
"Good." Dugu Bo nodded and rose to his feet.
The group dispersed to their rooms to rest.
(End of Chapter)
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