As the dust settled, a tall figure emerged. It was Dugu Bo.
At this moment, the body that had once been somewhat stooped now stood upright like an unsheathed sword. The dull traces of long-term poison erosion on his face had greatly faded, and his skin glowed with a healthy sheen. His turquoise eyes were bright, and the authority in his gaze was clear to see. The dim, sunken gloom of the past was gone.
He stood quietly, eyes half-closed, carefully feeling the solemn soul power in his body, now vastly superior to before.
The barrier of Rank 91 had not only been broken easily. Under the surge sparked by soul core condensation, the foundation he had built up over decades became uncontrollable, like a flood bursting through a broken dam, pushing his cultivation straight past Rank 92 and firmly into Rank 93!
Two consecutive leaps!
From the very peak of Rank 91, he had gone directly to Rank 93!
"Ah… heh, heh…"
Finally, an uncontrollable smile bloomed at the corners of his mouth. At first that smile was a bit dazed, almost unreal, but it quickly spread, as if every wrinkle on his face was opening up in joy.
"Ha… ha… hahaha—!"
In the end, he could no longer suppress the ecstasy and excitement in his heart. He threw his head back and roared with laughter toward the sky!
His laughter rumbled like thunder, echoing again and again through the valley, making the surrounding cliff walls tremble as if they, too, were shaking.
Contained within that laughter were emotions too complex to put into words—
the suffocating feeling of being trapped at Rank 91 for decades, the open ridicule and veiled mockery of being called "the weakest Title Douluo," the years of pain and dread from his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's backlash that threatened to sever his lineage…
And now, all of that haze had been blown away completely, scattering before this magnificent power.
From today onward, Dugu Bo would no longer be the "weakest" bearer of a Title, whispered about behind his back. He had officially stepped into the mid-tier of Title Douluos, with enough capital to make any power take him seriously. The fangs of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor would be more lethal and terrifying than ever before.
Chen Yi and the Grand Elder waited quietly at the side, not interrupting.
They understood that Dugu Bo needed to vent at this very moment. That earth-shaking laughter was his declaration that his shackles had been broken and his life reclaimed.
A long time later, the wild laughter gradually subsided, but the excited flush on Dugu Bo's face and the essence flickering deep in his eyes did not fade in the slightest.
He let out a long, turbid breath, as if expelling all the gloom of his past. Then he slowly turned around and looked at the two people waiting for him.
His figure moved only slightly, yet a faint emerald afterimage rippled in the air. In the next moment, Dugu Bo appeared ghost-like opposite Chen Yi and the Grand Elder. His speed was far greater than before his retreat, displaying his refined control over power.
His gaze first landed on Chen Yi. He nodded with sincere gratitude, then naturally turned toward the Grand Elder beside him.
But the instant his eyes met the Grand Elder's, the smile on Dugu Bo's face froze, a look of undisguised shock flashing deep within his pupils.
Th-this…
Who is this?
The person before him had facial features vaguely similar to the Grand Elder's, but gave off a completely different feeling. The traces of age seemed far lighter, his whole being appeared much younger. The grey-black hair was now mostly silver-white, but with a clear, almost jade-like sheen instead of decay. The skin was taut, and his eyes were as deep as a boundless starry sky.
The changes were tremendous, yet that unique temperament and unfathomable depth still made Dugu Bo instantly certain—this was unquestionably the same Grand Elder.
Dugu Bo's heart quaked violently, and he quickly realized: over this one month, the Grand Elder hadn't just "risen a little." His cultivation had likely soared to a realm he could barely imagine.
He suppressed the fear in his heart with difficulty, forcing himself to look straight into the Grand Elder's calm eyes again.
Just a single glance.
Dugu Bo felt as though an invisible giant hand had gripped his heart tightly. His pupils shrank abruptly to pinpoints.
Before he had gone into seclusion, he had already faced the Grand Elder once. At that time, he'd felt the other party was deep and unfathomable, like an abyss or an ocean—similar to the feeling given by the elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan who stood at the peak of the soul master world.
Based on that experience, he'd guessed that the Grand Elder was probably at the peak of Rank 96.
But now, he himself was a strong expert of Rank 93. His soul power was solid, and his perception far keener than before. Facing the Grand Elder again, that feeling had changed drastically. It wasn't that he couldn't comprehend it at all; rather, the other party's entire breathing was perfectly restrained, so calm he seemed just like an ordinary person.
Peak Rank 96?
No…
Stronger than that!
I'm already at Rank 93. Even if I face someone at the peak of Rank 96, there should at least be some sense of pressure from their aura. It's impossible to sense nothing at all…
Rank 97?!
Or even… higher?!
A tempest raged in Dugu Bo's heart. His back was instantly soaked in cold sweat. The slight self-satisfaction and pride he'd gained from advancing two ranks in a row were completely shattered at this moment, vanishing without a trace.
Once more, he clearly understood: between himself and those peerless beings who stood at the very top of the continent, there was still an uncrossable chasm. The Grand Elder of the Body Sect before him—his true strength was far beyond what he could even guess.
The Grand Elder saw, in a single glance, the shock, speculation, and growing respect in Dugu Bo's eyes, but he did not address it. The faint curve at the corner of his lips was his only response, his gaze as calm as still water.
Chen Yi clearly saw Dugu Bo's reaction and knew that the one who had truly stunned him after his breakthrough was the Grand Elder's unfathomable might.
Staying composed, Chen Yi quickly took a step forward and bowed deeply several times. His tone was earnest, full of heartfelt congratulations.
"Congratulations, Elder Dugu, on your great success in cultivation. To break through two ranks in a row—may the seas and skies henceforth be boundless for you, and your sword always stand at the pinnacle."
Hearing Chen Yi's voice, Dugu Bo snapped out of his shock at the Grand Elder.
Seeing Chen Yi salute him, he almost reflexively sidestepped, utterly not daring to accept such respect. He immediately lowered his hands and returned the bow with a deep salute of his own, his voice thick with sincere gratitude and faint fear.
"Young Sect Master must absolutely not. Without the Young Sect Master, this old man could never have broken through my bottleneck. The poison that plagued me for years would have continued to erode my body, and sooner or later it would have dragged this old man to a point of no return—and even brought calamity upon my Yanyan's child…"
"It is this old man, it is the entire Dugu family, who owe the Young Sect Master and your sect a great debt of kindness. I will never forget it!"
Dugu Bo spoke from the heart, without even half a false word. To him, the soul core method was not only the key to breaking through in cultivation—it was also a hope of fundamentally resolving the defect of his martial spirit and preserving the continuation of his bloodline.
The three quickly exchanged formalities, and the topic naturally turned to Dugu Bo's perception of this breakthrough, the details of soul core condensation, and the mysteries of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The atmosphere was harmonious, but Chen Yi keenly sensed that, while Dugu Bo was excited, a faint trace of worry occasionally flashed between his brows. His gaze flickered, as if he had something to say yet hesitated repeatedly. Unconsciously, his eyes drifted more than once toward the direction of Heaven Dou City.
Chen Yi pondered for a moment, then understood the core of it.
Dugu Bo's hidden danger had been eliminated, and his cultivation had leapt forward. At this moment, what he cared about most in his heart could only be his beloved granddaughter, Dugu Yan—who was also being eroded by the poison of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial spirit.
Dugu Yan's cultivation was only at the Great Soul Master level. She was still far from the realm of Soul Saints, where she might be able to condense her own soul core and fundamentally resolve the poison. In the meantime, the continuous erosion of the toxins remained a very real threat.
Thinking this, Chen Yi didn't wait for Dugu Bo to struggle to speak. He stepped forward with a reassuring smile and spoke gently yet firmly.
"Elder Dugu, you are worried about your granddaughter, aren't you?"
Dugu Bo saw Chen Yi expose his thoughts so directly. A brief flash of embarrassment crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by intense expectation. He nodded quickly, his voice trembling slightly.
"Yes, yes, the Young Sect Master truly has eyes like a torch. This old man… this old man truly cannot set his heart at ease about my Yanyan. She is still so young, her cultivation shallow, far from condensing a soul core. The poison of this martial spirit is like maggots gnawing bone, eroding her day and night. This old man is truly very…"
"Don't worry, Elder."
Chen Yi gently cut him off, his tone calm, carrying unquestionable confidence.
"Since I have already promised you, of course I will not go back on my word. Our sect will tailor a set of medicinal regimens based on Miss Yanyan's physique and martial spirit characteristics—to detoxify, strengthen her foundation, and refine her essence. With the help of several immortal herbs, it won't be long before Miss Dugu will no longer be affected by her martial spirit's poison, and in the future, she will assuredly become one of the leaders of the young generation."
His words were like a warm spring breeze and gentle rain, instantly soothing the anxiety and unease in Dugu Bo's heart. The stone that had been gripping his chest finally fell back to the ground. He let out a long, complete sigh of relief. A sincere and unrestrained smile bloomed on his face as he once again bowed deeply to Chen Yi and the Grand Elder. His voice was slightly choked.
"With the Young Sect Master's words, this old man can truly be at ease. For this great kindness, this old man is deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart. The favor of the sect and the Young Sect Master—this old man will never forget it in this life!"
With the greatest weight in his heart finally lifted, his thoughts of his granddaughter surged like a tide, flooding his chest until he could no longer hold them back.
Dugu Bo straightened, then spoke anxiously to the Grand Elder and Chen Yi.
"Grand Elder, Little Chen, I have been in seclusion for a month, and I have missed my Yanyan terribly. I have no idea how she has been this month. Allow me to go on ahead and return to Heaven Dou City first."
"Then we'll trouble you, Elder."
The Grand Elder nodded casually.
"Elder Dugu, travel safely. Be careful on the road, and please convey my regards to Miss Yanyan."
Chen Yi replied with a smile.
Dugu Bo said nothing more. His whole body flared with emerald light, and majestic soul power rippled out. His figure blurred, transforming into a bright green stream, leaving an afterimage in the air. In an instant, he shot out of the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, racing in the direction of Heaven Dou City, eager to see his granddaughter and share this great joy.
Watching Dugu Bo's figure vanish into the sky, Chen Yi's lips curled slightly with satisfaction. He muttered under his breath:
"The soul core method, in exchange for at least a Rank 93 future cultivation, vastly elevated potential, and a loyal Title Douluo's assistance… No matter how you look at it, this deal was a complete win for us."
From today onward, this "nuclear weapon" of the Douluo Continent had finally been fully brought into their camp.
PS: Read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode