With a backflip, Zuzong leaped onto the head of the Blue Silver Dragon. His feet, infused with soul power, adhered to the dragon's surface.
"This is my fourth soul skill—Blue Silver Dragon. It allows me to merge my 'mutated Blue Silver Grass' into a dragon. With my current soul power, I can maintain this form for half an hour. By the way, this is a growth-type skill, and for every new soul ring, the dragon's length will increase by ten metres, and soul power consumption will decrease by ten percent." Zuzong looked down at Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "Haha, kid, it looks like a powerful soul skill. Let me test its strength."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo beckoned to Zuzong, though he showed no intention of activating his own martial soul.
Zuzong nodded, clasped his hands together, and under his control, the dragon's body began to writhe. In an instant, its speed soared, rushing toward Dugu Bo.
Just before colliding with Dugu Bo, Zuzong jumped down from the dragon's head.
The Blue Silver Dragon opened its massive mouth, blasting toward Dugu Bo. With a loud bang, the ground trembled, and cracks spread like a spider web from the point where Dugu Bo stood. Dust and debris filled the air, making it hard to see what was happening.
When the dust settled, Dugu Bo was seen holding the dragon's hooked nose tightly, preventing it from advancing even an inch.
Dugu Bo laughed again. "Strong in both power and speed, but a ten-thousand-year soul skill should have more to it, right?"
Clearly intrigued, Dugu Bo wanted to test Zuzong's current strength.
Zuzong smirked and formed a new hand seal. "Of course, it doesn't end here. Watch out!"
As he spoke, the pale green light around Zuzong grew brighter. Under his control, the dragon's tail began to writhe and quickly lashed toward Dugu Bo's body.
Dugu Bo released his grip and easily dodged the tail, leaping into the air.
Zuzong had been waiting for this. The dragon's tail was just a feint; the main attack came from its body.
Before Dugu Bo could stabilize in mid-air, the dragon's head lunged toward him again. He dodged once more, but to his surprise, the dragon swiftly turned its head and used its massive body to coil tightly around him.
Feeling the immense pressure tightening around his body, Dugu Bo's expression remained unchanged, though he showed a hint of approval. "Not bad, it seems your Blue Silver Dragon has incredible binding strength!"
Suddenly, Dugu Bo's brow furrowed. He didn't mind the pressure, as his Title Douluo physique could withstand it. But he realised that the Blue Silver Dragon was growing larger, and his soul power was being continuously absorbed by the dragon.
Without hesitation, a piercing roar escaped his mouth, and a vivid green light burst from his body. A large green snake's shadow appeared behind Dugu Bo.
At the same time, nine soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—rose from beneath his feet and coiled around his body.
With the release of Dugu Bo's martial soul, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, his soul power surged, and the Blue Silver Dragon couldn't withstand the pressure, shattering into pieces.
With the dragon destroyed, Zuzong, as its master, was also affected. He suffered internal injuries and coughed up blood.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Zuzong glared at Dugu Bo. "Old Poison, weren't we just testing my fourth soul skill? Why go so hard?"
"Haha, I didn't mean to. I just got a bit carried away. But your soul skill is indeed powerful. If you reach the Soul King level, it might rival the true forms of some ordinary Soul Sages' martial souls." Dugu Bo awkwardly smiled as he retracted his martial soul. Then, he gave Zuzong a thumbs-up. "Your dragon not only has impressive strength and speed but also a powerful binding ability. Can it also incorporate the high-temperature fire poison you used last time?"
Zuzong nodded in confirmation.
Dugu Bo took a deep breath, clearly impressed. He knew firsthand how powerful the Blue Silver Dragon was. If Zuzong added fire poison, it would be even more dangerous.
Zuzong then took out a Dragon Grass Leaf, crushed it, and swallowed it to heal his wounds and recover his soul power.
The Dragon Grass Leaf had restorative properties and was something Zuzong had found near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Moments later, Zuzong opened his eyes, nearly fully recovered.
"I'm planning to head back now. Here's a four-month supply of the medicinal ingredients you need to completely solve your toxin backlash problem." Zuzong tossed a package to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo was taken aback, looking surprised. "You're giving me all the medicine at once? Aren't you afraid I might come after you once I'm healed?"
"I trust that the renowned Poison Douluo wouldn't bother with someone as insignificant as me. Besides, who knows if the toxin will reappear in four months?" Zuzong smiled.
Dugu Bo laughed. "Haha, interesting! I've roamed the world for so long, and you're the most intriguing young man I've ever met. But—"
He paused, cracking his knuckles. "I've been doing some thinking. My granddaughter is only seven years older than you. That's not too much of a gap. When you're eighteen, she'll only be twenty-five. Quite a good match. Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
Zuzong rolled his eyes. "Besides the fact that she's Yu Tianheng's girlfriend, do you think your granddaughter is the kind of person who would be unfaithful?"
Zuzong clearly remembered that Dugu Yan was one of the few female characters in the original story who never showed interest in Tang San, as she had always loved Yu Tianheng.
"Uh." Dugu Bo was momentarily speechless, letting out a small sigh. "Fine, fine! I won't meddle in the affairs of young people. If you think of anything else, feel free to come to me."
With that, Dugu Bo leaped into the air and disappeared from Zuzong's sight in a few flickers.
Watching him leave, Zuzong didn't linger either. He infused soul power into his feet, and eight spider legs sprang from his back. With one leap, he covered several hundred metres, a movement technique he had developed during his two months of boredom, which turned out to be perfect for travelling.
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At the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, in the bamboo forest behind the academy...
A white figure dashed swiftly through the forest. It was a young girl with an innocent, rosy face, exceptionally long and taut legs, a slender waist, and a scorpion braid hanging down to her hips—Xiao Wu.
Behind her was another graceful figure in black, not as fast as Xiao Wu but still swift, wielding two black kunai that sparked every time they clashed with Xiao Wu. It was Ye Lingling, who had mastered physical techniques.
Since Zuzong had been taken by Dugu Bo, Xiao Wu had been training relentlessly, immersing herself in it to forget her longing for him. Even Ye Lingling, her close friend, had joined her.
Suddenly, Ye Lingling stopped, having spotted someone.
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