When the first rays of sunlight pierced through the layers of mist and fell upon this mysterious land, the entire world seemed to awaken from its slumber. The rolling mountains appeared and disappeared in the morning light like sleeping giants, exuding a majestic and mysterious aura. Looking down from the high buildings, one could see blooming ice flowers, their crystalline dewdrops sparkling like gems under the sun. The flowers swayed, releasing bursts of strange fragrance.
To the west of the academy, a clear stream gurgled, its waters shimmering with silver ripples under the sun like a joyful silver serpent. It was now seven in the morning. Xiao Wu was currently lying fast asleep beside Fu Ye, who had left his unique marks all along that winding "pathway."
"Nngh... mmm..."
At this moment, Fu Ye was still battling the "Evil Dragon." Armed with his divine artifact, he was locked in a fierce struggle with the dragon's deep abyss. According to the latest battle reports, the Evil Dragon showed no signs of surrendering.
"Evil Dragon, you still won't yield? Don't seek your own destruction," Fu Ye warned, leaning back tactically as he looked at the battered Red Dragon before him.
"So what if you're a Dragon Rider? The Dragon Clan will never be slaves!"
Meanwhile, inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
A ragged, ugly youth with a jade-green mark on his brow was currently trembling as he watered the plants in the wasteland. Behind him stood a stunning girl with golden hair and green eyes, holding a long whip and staring at him with pure impatience.
Swish!CRACK! "AOWWWWW!!!!!"
With one lash, the clothes on the ugly youth's back were torn further. The wounds that had slowly begun to scab over were instantly ripped open again.
"Move faster! You dared to trespass into my grandfather's medicinal garden and even tried to act disrespectfully toward me—not killing you was already an act of supreme mercy!"
The girl's voice was crisp, but the youth, who had been knocked to the ground by the whip, only moved slower.
Swish! CRACK! "AOW!!! ARGH!!!" Swish! CRACK! "AHHHH!!!!" "Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me! I'll speed up! I... ARGH!!!"
That's right—the one being whipped was the "tough guy" who had arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well two years ago intending to plunder the immortal herbs, enslave Dugu Bo, and forcibly take Dugu Yan.
It was none other than the reincarnation of the God-King, Tang Chuan!
However, things hadn't exactly gone the way he planned. Not only did he fail to find a single immortal herb in this vast place, but he was also caught red-handed by the grandfather-granddaughter duo. Just as he proudly tried to reveal Dugu Bo's ailment and suggest that Dugu Yan be betrothed to him as payment for the cure, Dugu Bo had instead forcibly injected a drop of life-source poison into his brow and turned him into a lowly "medicine slave."
The antidote to suppress the poison was kept by Dugu Yan, who gave him one pill a day to ensure he wouldn't die.
"Truly an ugly toad, actually having designs on me. Work faster! Or I'll have Grandpa tear off your limbs!"
Hearing Dugu Yan's words, Tang Chuan just wanted to find a wall to bash his head against. Everything had changed! Dugu Bo's condition was nothing like his previous life. Aside from some insignificant trace amounts of poison, there was absolutely nothing wrong with him! Moreover, judging by his state, it seemed he had already found a way to rid himself of the toxic intrusion.
Tang Chuan wanted to curse the heavens. First, that mysterious youth appeared and took away both his wives from his past and present lives. Then, Dugu Bo was miraculously cured. Furthermore, he could sense the aura of immortal herbs on both Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo! They had actually consumed them!
In his past life, to make Dugu Bo work for him willingly, Tang Chuan had deliberately destroyed all the herbs that could have cured him, using the slowest and most common methods to keep him barely alive. He knew that the simpler the cure, the less Dugu Bo would respect him, so he set a trap. After half a year, he successfully faked a friendship and later schemed to have Dugu Bo slaughter most of the Spirit Hall's masters to relieve the pressure on himself. To him, that was the best outcome: the infamy fell on Dugu Bo, while he remained the illustrious Sea God.
In his past life, under his design, Dugu Bo died on the eve of the great war. Almost all the top-tier combat power on the continent perished in that God-War, laying a deep foundation for the future development of his Tang Sect.
Swish! CRACK! "AOW!!! ARGH!!!" "Faster! Do you want the antidote or not?"
Dugu Yan's whip struck Tang Chuan's ugly face directly, making his already hideous features even more gruesome. But Dugu Yan didn't notice that Tang Chuan's expression had turned venomous.
"Kid, are you tired of living? How dare you look at my precious granddaughter with those eyes?"
Dugu Yan hadn't seen it, but Dugu Bo—who had just returned from catching a few hundred-year spirit beasts for a snack—saw it perfectly.
"Senior, I..." SLAP!
Dugu Bo, a Rank 94 Title Douluo, gave a casual wave of his hand, and Tang Chuan was sent flying. Dugu Bo now looked radiant; his originally jade-green hair had turned almost entirely healthy black, and his aura was like that of a young man in his early twenties.
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan dropped the whip and ran over.
"Aye, Yan'an!" ╮(￣▽￣")╭ Dugu Bo never lacked affection for his granddaughter. Since his son and son-in-law died early, she was more important to him than his own life.
"Grandpa, he ruined my flower bed, and now he's always slacking off..." Dugu Yan looked at him aggrievedly. How could Dugu Bo tolerate anyone bullying his little granddaughter?
"Kid, I remember when you first arrived, you stole and ate two of my newly planted spirit herbs. It seems you've reached Rank 30 now, haven't you?" A flicker of wicked amusement appeared in Dugu Bo's eyes.
A twelve-year-old Spirit Elder was indeed a genius, but the boy had designs on his home and his granddaughter. That was unforgivable.
"Senior, you..." Hearing this, Tang Chuan thought Dugu Bo had finally changed his mind and wanted to recruit a genius like him.
"I see you've been doing odd jobs here for over a year. Since I'm in a good mood today, I've decided to gift you a 'top-tier' spirit ring. Are you willing to accept?"
Dugu Bo spoke with great solemnity. Seeing her grandfather's dignified act, Dugu Yan covered her mouth to hide her giggles. She knew that when her grandpa was grumpy, he was usually being kind—but when he started acting "proper," it meant someone was about to get royally screwed!
"Yes! I am willing!" Tang Chuan was excited. A "top-tier" ring! How could a ring called that by a Super Douluo be bad? This meant Dugu Bo was finally accepting him. Once he became Dugu Bo's grandson-in-law, then...
Before he could fantasize further, Dugu Bo tossed a tiny, long-haired piglet in front of him.
"A spirit ring from a Long-Haired Pig not even a year old. Truly a 'top-tier' rarity. Don't be in a hurry to refuse... because the consequence of refusing is death."