"You can't win against me." Hearing that same calm voice, something inside Yu Tianheng snapped.
He knew no matter what he did, he would never be able to touch Dugu Yan.
The moment he realized close combat couldn't quickly subdue her, he understood.
He had lost. Utterly defeated.
"I surrender."
After speaking these words, the weight in his heart wasn't as unbearable as he had imagined. Instead, it felt like a burden had been lifted.
Perhaps it was because he had known the outcome from the start. There was never any possibility between him and Dugu Yan.
In the future, he would likely become the leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, while Dugu Yan would almost certainly become a Title Douluo.
No matter how he looked at it, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never hand over Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that would be like delivering meat to another predator.
A pale green antidote pill for Jade Phosphor Snake venom was placed in a small bottle and set on the ground before Yu Tianheng.
Without another word, Dugu Yan turned and walked out of the training grounds. She exchanged a few words with Ning Fengzhi before taking her leave.
Ning Rongrong followed her.
Ning Fengzhi would handle the rest what happened next had nothing to do with them.
"As expected of Sister Yan Yan, you were amazing!" Ning Rongrong praised. "You knocked Yu Tianheng down so hard he couldn't even get back up."
"His combat experience is too lacking. Physically, I'm no weaker than any power-type Soul Ancestor now. If I couldn't win, it would just make me look useless."
To condense her Misfortune Poison Body, Dugu Yan had memorized all the vital points. She had used her soul power to inject toxins into Yu Tianheng's pressure points, disrupting his energy flow.
"Sister Yan Yan, are you okay?" Ning Rongrong could tell Dugu Yan was still somewhat affected by Yu Tianheng.
"Rongrong, I'm not a child. I know what's important." Dugu Yan said. "There was never any possibility between Yu Tianheng and me. We spent a long time together, so it's just... a little sentimental."
Ning Rongrong thought for a moment before declaring seriously, "Then, how about I fill the void in Sister Yan Yan's heart?"
Dugu Yan: "..."
Rongrong, you really have a problem.
"Just kidding." Ning Rongrong quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Sister Yan Yan, are you really determined to condense the Misfortune Poison Body?"
"Yes. After all this preparation, backing out now would be meaningless." Dugu Yan's expression turned serious. "Oh, I haven't told you yet Grandfather broke through to level 93 last night."
"Eh?" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in surprise. Seeing Dugu Yan's smirk, she asked uncertainly, "Did you do something to Elder Dugu?"
"I slipped a small piece of 100,000-year whale glue into his mouth. After some cultivation, he broke through."
"Grandfather wanted to wait until his foundation was completely stable before telling Sect Leader Ning."
"There's not much 100,000-year whale glue left. Was that really okay?" Ning Rongrong asked after a pause.
"The effects on me are negligible now. At level 93, Grandfather's lifespan will increase."
"That way, even if something happens to me, he'll still be strong enough to continue the Dugu bloodline."
Ning Rongrong: "..."
Even more outrageous than me. At most, I hope my father succeeds you're pushing Elder Dugu to stay vigorous into old age. If he knew your thoughts, he'd probably jump three times in horror.
"Sister Yan Yan, isn't planning for the worst a bit too much?" Ning Rongrong felt a chill down her spine. Dugu Yan was being far too pessimistic.
"Rongrong, don't you always think the same way? Plan three steps ahead I'm just preparing in advance." Dugu Yan said.
"Actually, the success rate isn't as low as you think..." Ning Rongrong sighed.
As they talked, they soon arrived at the Alchemy Pavilion, where they found Dugu Bo, who had just finished cultivating.
A level 93 Title Douluo no one would dare call Dugu Bo the "Shame of Title Douluos" anymore.
"Rongrong, Yan Yan, what brings you here?" Dugu Bo was pleased to see them. Though forced by his granddaughter, he had indeed broken through his bottleneck.
"Congratulations on reaching level 93, Elder Dugu!" Ning Rongrong said with a smile.
After exchanging greetings, Dugu Bo got straight to the point, voicing his concerns.
"There's only a tiny bit of 100,000-year whale glue left, Rongrong..." He hesitated.
"Don't worry. Sister Yan Yan's physique has nearly reached its limit at the Soul Ancestor stage. A little more or less whale glue won't make much difference."
"Is that so? That's a relief." Dugu Bo exhaled.
"Sister Yan Yan just easily defeated Yu Tianheng." Seizing the moment, Ning Rongrong changed the subject, recounting their encounter with Yu Yuanzhen and the others.
"Hmph, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!" Dugu Bo wasn't surprised that Dugu Yan had beaten Yu Tianheng. Even as a level 42 power-type soul master, Yu Tianheng's physique likely couldn't compare to hers.
"Rongrong, Yu Yuanzhen has already come. Are we just waiting for Spirit Hall now?" Setting aside Dugu Yan's matters, Dugu Bo asked.
"Yes. With Yu Yuanzhen here, Spirit Hall will probably send someone too. The question is who." Ning Rongrong pondered. "It might even be Pope Bibi Dong herself."
"Father and I discussed delaying the pill transactions by a month or two. That would give us more room to maneuver."
"But the finer details depend on how Spirit Hall reacts."
"I just hope you don't mess this up. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can't afford the consequences of failure." Dugu Bo remained uneasy.
Scheming against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall with possible plans involving the Clear Sky Clan's Title Douluo Tang Hao even a level 93 Dugu Bo felt a chill thinking about these factions.
"Don't worry, nothing will go wrong." Ning Rongrong reassured him. "Father and I have gone over the plan many times. The chance of failure is minuscule, and even if it happens, we can withdraw safely."
"I hope so." Dugu Bo sighed.
While Ning Rongrong and Dugu Bo were talking...
Outside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's gates.
"Sect Leader Ning, I'll leave the matter of the Breakthrough to Elder Pill in your hands."
"Clan Leader Yu, rest assured. If Elder Dugu can refine another pill, I will contact you immediately."
Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly as he bid farewell to Yu Yuanzhen. Both old foxes wore expressions of reluctant parting, as if they wished they had met sooner.
Only after Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianheng had completely disappeared from sight did Ning Fengzhi drop his smile.
"The storm has begun. Now we'll see how much Yu Xiaogang means to Bibi Dong."
As he spoke, the Sword Douluo erected a soundproof barrier.
"Spirit Hall must have heard about the Heaven Dou Auction House's sale. I wonder who they'll send." The Bone Douluo chuckled. "What do you think, coward?"
The Sword Douluo's face darkened instantly. "Old bone, are you looking for a beating?"
"How would I know about Spirit Hall's plans? Yu Xiaogang might just be a nobody in Pope Bibi Dong's eyes."