Dugu Bo's cold voice cut through the air:
"Boy! Don't blame me for not warning you. Right now, your focus should be on cultivation. With your talent, even as a Food-Type Soul Master, you'll one day have a place in this world. What you should be doing now is not indulging in romance, but fighting for your future."
"I'm not against you two being together. In fact, I very much approve. But how long has it been? Two months? And you've already reached this stage?"
"What then? Half a year later, are you going to make Yan Yan bear your child? That would not only delay your own path but ruin her future as well."
The more he spoke, the more agitated he became. He didn't even care that Dugu Yan was standing right beside him. In truth, everything he was saying was meant for both of them. But unable to scold his granddaughter directly, he could only phrase it as if addressing Oscar.
"You're both still young. You have plenty of time for love. But right now, I hope you can remain rational and suppress unnecessary distractions. Falling in love is fine, but cultivation must always come first. After all… the future belongs to you."
Finishing his speech, Dugu Bo placed both hands on Oscar's shoulders and sighed.
"Little Ao, do you understand what Grandpa means?"
Hearing this, Oscar was reminded of the words Teacher Gai Yue had spoken before leaving. The meaning was the same. At the time, Oscar had indeed taken it to heart.
But these last two months had been nothing but time alone with Dugu Yan. Just now, in a moment of impulse, he had lost control.
Still, Oscar knew both Dugu Bo and Gai Yue were right. He should not let himself drown in beauty and temptation. His focus must remain on cultivation.
After all, Dugu Bo had struck a key point: Oscar was, at his core, still an auxiliary-type soul master. Even if he could achieve fame across the continent, if he wanted to reach his true goals, he would need to work harder than anyone else.
After a long silence, Oscar nodded seriously.
"I understand, Grandpa. I'll reflect on today's matter. I'll be more careful from now on."
Dugu Yan, head lowered, whispered:
"Mm."
Dugu Bo glanced at the two of them, their reactions nearly identical, and sighed helplessly.
"I don't care how you interact with each other, but until you reach at least the Soul Sage realm, you are absolutely forbidden from having children. Do you understand?"
At those words, both Oscar's and Yan's expressions changed slightly.
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan tugged at his arm, glaring at him.
Oscar, however, responded with a firm nod:
"I understand. I can guarantee that."
Dugu Bo rubbed his granddaughter's head and said gently:
"This is for your own good. I was young once, too. When the moment comes and emotions run high, reason can vanish. With Grandpa keeping an eye on you, at least you'll remember to hold back."
Then he turned his sharp gaze back to Oscar:
"And don't think calling me 'Grandpa' will protect you. If you ever lose control with Yan Yan and… ahem!—I'll break your legs!"
The old man deliberately put on a fierce act, not to truly threaten Oscar, but to make Yan remember. Love was fine, affection was fine, but there had to be limits.
Since he couldn't bear to scold her directly, he used Oscar as the target, hoping to drive the lesson home.
Oscar gave an awkward laugh.
"Grandpa, aren't I your grandson too?"
Dugu Bo turned away, pinching Yan's pouty little lips.
"Good girl."
He ignored Oscar's resentful look. After all, this was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo—a man of his word, never one for idle threats.
"Hmph. I'm hungry. Go cook something." Dugu Bo grunted at Oscar, his tone showing clear dissatisfaction at the earlier scene. With that, he grabbed Yan and flew back toward the stone hut.
Oscar could only smile wryly. Lifting his left hand, he summoned a jade sword of condensed azure soul power and stepped onto it, chasing after them.
"How about sweet-and-sour pork ribs and taro braised pork, Grandpa?" Oscar called after him.
Dugu Bo snorted.
"If it doesn't taste good, you won't be allowed to see Yan Yan for three days!"
"..." Oscar froze for a second before realizing what the old man was doing. So this was how he planned to control him—by threatening to keep Yan away?
Well, not seeing her was simply impossible. But Oscar had absolute faith in his cooking skills, so there was nothing to fear.
After this incident, Oscar and Dugu Yan's relationship met no more obstacles. Their bond deepened quickly, and by the fourth month, they had officially become a couple.
Dugu Bo was exasperated, but as long as they didn't cross the line, he let them be.
Another two months passed. With Oscar's help, Yan's poison was completely purged. She could now even step into the range of the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
Of course, though she could enter the area, she still didn't dare touch the spring itself—the energy was far too terrifying. Only Oscar, who had consumed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, could touch, even swim in, the waters to cultivate.
By this time, more than half a year had passed since Oscar and Yan had first met in the Sunset Forest.
Dugu Bo, after five grueling months, had also refined all the toxins in his body into his soul bone. Through this process, his Emerald Serpent Emperor Poison merged with the venom of the Medusa Skull Bone, creating an even stronger poison that raised his strength yet again.
With the poison fully refined, Dugu Bo too felt reborn.
It was during this process that Oscar noticed something remarkable: Dugu Bo's venom had condensed into a poison pill within his body.
This gave Oscar a bold idea—one that did not belong to this era.
The Soul Core.
Soul Cores would not be developed until ten thousand years later in the Douluo Continent's evolution. But their principle were similar.
A soul master with a Soul Core possessed a terrifying trump card: rapid recovery of soul power, vastly increased reserves, and a massive boost in combat ability.
Put simply: a rank ninety-one Titled Douluo with a Soul Core could erupt with the power of a rank ninety-five Super Douluo.
That was the terror of the Soul Core. Even at the Super Douluo realm, one could use it to fight on equal footing with those a whole rank higher.
For those with extraordinary talent, the power could be even greater.
And the principle of a Soul Core was nearly identical to Dugu Bo's poison pill—compressing and condensing energy until it became a core.
Of course, both processes carried enormous risks. For a Soul Master, failure meant the Soul Core could explode, shattering and killing the cultivator instantly.
Just like how failure in Dugu Bo's poison pill refinement meant death by his own venom.
When Oscar shared his thoughts, Dugu Bo was surprised. Though it sounded far-fetched, it was not without possibility.
But for now, his body—already ravaged by decades of poison—was far too fragile to withstand such violent forces. He could only experiment on a small scale. Attempting to truly condense a Soul Core would have to wait until his body was completely purified.
Oscar wasn't in a hurry. After all, the Soul Core was far too advanced for this era. Still, if anyone could succeed, Dugu Bo was the most likely candidate besides prodigious Titled Douluo, since his poison pill gave him a form of experience others lacked.
And if he succeeded? Then Teacher Gai Yue could also attempt it.
With his newfound potential after consuming the Black Jade Divine Bamboo Pill, if Gai Yue condensed a Soul Core, surpassing Chen Xin (Sword Douluo) would only be a matter of time.
Perhaps even reaching the level of a Rank 99 Peerless Douluo was not impossible.
Of course, all of this depended on whether the Soul Core could truly be created in this age.