Within Heaven Dou City, prosperity remained unchanged. The streets were bustling with traffic, the shouts of vendors rose and fell, and the elegant carriages of nobles made a crisp sound as they rolled along the cobblestones. Yet this hustle and bustle did nothing to dispel the loneliness in Dugu Yan's heart.
She walked alone on the crowded street, sunlight filtering through the gaps between the buildings and casting dappled shadows on her. Passersby would occasionally cast admiring or awed glances at her—after all, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was a well-known figure in Heaven Dou City. But at this moment, those glances only made her feel even more irritated.
Before she knew it, she had crossed most of the city and arrived at a quiet mansion in the east. The streets here were noticeably calmer, and even the air seemed fresher. Above the lintel, an ancient "Ye" character emblem clearly revealed the identity of the owner—the Ye family, heirs of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
Just as Dugu Yan stood before the door, hesitating whether to knock, the heavy wooden door creaked open from the inside. An energetic old man appeared behind the door. His hair and beard were completely white, but his eyes were gentle and bright, as if they could see through people's hearts.
"Uncle Fu!" Dugu Yan greeted the old man with a sincere smile.
Uncle Fu was clearly very familiar with her. A kind smile appeared on his aged face. "It's Miss Yanyan. I could feel your presence from afar. Please come in, she's in her room."
Dugu Yan walked effortlessly through the elegantly decorated front yard. Various exotic flowers and plants, including rare medicinal herbs, filled the yard with a refreshing fragrance. She headed straight for Ye Lingling's residence in the inner courtyard, the flagstone path cool beneath her spotless feet.
She had just reached the familiar door and hadn't even had a chance to knock when it creaked open from the inside.
Ye Lingling, dressed in a light blue long dress, stood behind the door. Her temperament was as aloof and elegant as a solitary orchid in a secluded valley. Her long, silvery-white hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, and her clear eyes looked at Dugu Yan with a hint of warmth that was barely perceptible. With her powerful spiritual energy, she had naturally sensed her friend's arrival long ago.
"Lingling!" Dugu Yan cheered and stepped forward to take Ye Lingling's arm, leaning against her affectionately. "It's still the most comfortable place here. It's quiet, and it smells nice with all the herbs."
Ye Lingling let her hug her, a slight smile playing on her lips in response to her enthusiasm.
The two entered the room. Its furnishings were simple yet elegant, much like its owner. Several ink paintings hung on the walls, and a soothing incense burner in the corner emitted a gentle, calming fragrance.
After chatting idly for a while, Dugu Yan couldn't help starting to complain. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, her red lips pouted, and she slumped into the soft chair in Ye Lingling's room.
"I'm so angry! Lingling, don't you think my grandpa went too far?!"
"Hmm?" Ye Lingling made a soft sound in her nose, signaling her to continue. She picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Dugu Yan, the rich aroma instantly filling the room.
"He went out for some reason before, and when he finally came back, he only spent a few days with me! That was fine, but a couple of days ago he suddenly rushed back in a hurry, covered in sweat, and told me that he had some insights and needed to go into seclusion immediately. And this time it might be much longer than before!"
Dugu Yan imitated Dugu Bo's anxious tone from that time, getting angrier as she spoke. "Then he rushed into his room, packed up a bunch of random things, and ran off like a gust of wind, without even saying a few more words."
Her face was full of unhappiness. Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the teacup. "I've been alone in such a big mansion all day, with no one to talk to. I'm almost going crazy from boredom, so I could only come to you to relieve it today."
As she spoke, she suddenly thought of Ye Lingling's grandfather, Ye Cien—the kind old man who had always seemed to be by Ye Lingling's side. Her heart ached a little, and she couldn't help but mutter, "Hmph! When Grandpa comes back this time, I'll make him pay! He'll have to compensate me. If he doesn't bring me a bunch of rare poisonous creatures, I'm ignoring him!"
Ye Lingling listened quietly to her friend's complaints, watching her pouty face. A complex emotion welled up inside her. She gently patted Dugu Yan's hand and whispered, "Yanyan, don't be angry. Senior Dugu… after all, he is a Title Douluo. He has his own things to do and his own insights to pursue. The fact that he came back specifically to tell you means he must be thinking of you."
Her words were meant to comfort, but a barely perceptible hint of envy—even a touch of bitterness—flickered deep in her eyes.
If… if the Ye family had an elder as powerful as Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, perhaps her parents wouldn't have perished in that tragedy so many years ago, and they wouldn't have been blocked by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan recently.
The fear and humiliation of being helpless and alone was something Dugu Yan might never truly understand. To Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan's troubles—despite having a Titled Douluo grandfather—were all dyed with the undertone of a pampered happiness.
Dugu Yan was perceptive. Although Ye Lingling concealed it well, she still caught her friend's momentary gloom. She immediately realized she might have said something wrong and stirred up painful memories.
She quickly sat up straight, took Ye Lingling's slightly cool hand, and said in a tone full of apology and concern, "I'm sorry, Lingling, I didn't mean it that way… I…"
Ye Lingling gently shook her head, interrupting her apology. "It's alright, Yanyan. I understand."
Seeing Ye Lingling's calm face, Dugu Yan's displeasure disappeared instantly, replaced by heartache for her friend. She shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off all her troubles, and a bright smile returned to her face. She pulled Ye Lingling up by the arm.
"Alright, alright, let's not think about those unhappy things anymore. Come on, let's go to Moon Pavilion. I heard they have a new musician there who plays really well. Let's listen to some music and relax!"
Looking at Dugu Yan, who had instantly regained her vitality, Ye Lingling's gloomy expression eased slightly. She nodded gently. "Alright."
…
Meanwhile, in the distant core forbidden area of the Body Sect, a transformation related to the fate of the entire sect was quietly taking place.
The forbidden area was located deep within a majestic mountain range, shrouded in layers of barriers, making it impossible for ordinary disciples to approach. At this moment, Sect Master Chu Shanhe sat cross-legged on a stone platform at the very center of the forbidden ground. His eyes were closed, his face as calm and still as an ancient rock.
If any outsider were present, they would certainly be shocked by the sight before them.
Chu Shanhe's clothes had long since been reduced to dust by the terrifying energy, revealing his perfectly sculpted physique. Beneath his bronze skin, countless writhing dragons seemed to be surging. The sound of his blood and qi flowing was like the roaring Yangtze River, even faintly drowning out the hissing of the surrounding energy flow.
Most mysterious of all was the scene behind him.
A perfectly clear, illustrated image of a human skeleton hovered there. This image was identical to his own skeletal structure, originally radiating a chilling silvery-white luster, like refined steel—indestructible. But now, under the tempering of the endless energy of this flesh furnace, the silvery-white skeleton was undergoing an astonishing transformation.
Strands of gold began to spread outwards from the spine like living vines. This gold was pure and dazzling, carrying an air of immortality, eternity, and freedom. With each inch of silver-white it eroded and transformed, the skeletal phantom in that area became more solid and substantial, emanating an increasingly terrifying aura.
A torrent of dark-golden energy, like a loyal guardian, surrounded Chu Shanhe and continuously slammed into his body. With each impact, a large number of golden light spots were peeled off and merged into his skin, muscles, and meridians, eventually flowing into the skeletal phantom behind him.
The transformation from silver to gold had been going on for quite some time. Now, most of the bones of the head, torso, and arms had turned into brilliant gold, leaving only the legs, where the dazzling gold was engaged in a final struggle with the stubborn silver around the knees.
The entire forbidden area was filled with suffocating pressure, and the air emitted subtle popping sounds as it was compressed by energy.
...