The pale golden halo around Dugu Yan, seated cross-legged on the bluestone, grew increasingly distinct.
Simultaneously, a faint, low draconic roar emanated from within her body.
The dense, gentle medicinal power of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, imbued with draconic authority, was undergoing a wondrous fusion and catalysis with the purified source of her Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit.
Ye Qingxian and Dugu Bo stood to her left and right, fully focused on protecting her.
Sensing the stable yet vigorous flow of medicinal power within Dugu Yan, Ye Qingxian’s assessment of the plan proposed by her daughter—or more precisely, Senior Ling Ye—rose yet again.
The medicinal properties of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon were perfectly suited to Dugu Yan’s current condition.
Dugu Bo’s strange green eyes remained fixed on his granddaughter, unblinking, a mixture of tension and anticipation within them.
He could sense that his granddaughter’s Spirit Power was undergoing a fundamental leap; this was not merely an increase in Spirit Power, but a sublimation of her Spirit’s very rank.
Several hours later, the vast essence of pure earth attribute and the faint draconic aura converged upon Dugu Yan.
The pale golden halo surrounding her suddenly contracted inward, then burst forth with a resonant boom.
“Ang—!”
A clearer, more authoritative and weighty draconic roar involuntarily escaped from Dugu Yan’s lips.
She abruptly opened her eyes; her emerald eyes remained bright, but deep within her pupils appeared a faint shadow of a deep golden vertical slit—both solemn and mysterious.
In the void behind her, her Spirit manifested of its own accord—
It was no longer a Jade Phosphor Snake radiating merely a cold, dangerous aura.
It was now a dragon-like creature with a slender, vibrant form, its body covered in scales interwoven with deep gold and deep green.
Short horns had sprouted upon its head, and the faint shadow of claws could be seen beneath its abdomen; its entire being emanated a presence as heavy as a mountain.
The Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit had successfully evolved.
It had become a top-tier earth-attribute sub-dragon Spirit—the Jade Phosphor Earth Dragon.
Simultaneously, the Spirit Power fluctuation within Dugu Yan steadily rose, breaking through barriers, finally stopping stably at the threshold of Rank 40.
With just one suitable Spirit Ring, she could immediately advance to Spirit Ancestor.
“Success!” Dugu Yan cried out joyfully, feeling the new power surging within her and the sense of strength and control emanating from her Spirit.
She attempted to mobilize her Spirit Power; the pure earth dragon power was remarkably easy to control.
After carefully probing her Spirit Power, he raised his head to the sky and laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Excellent! Truly an excellent sub-dragon Spirit. A solid foundation and limitless potential. Completely non-toxic, never again having to worry about backlash. Wonderful! Yan’er, your future will surely far surpass your grandfather’s.”
At this moment, the joy and gratitude in his heart were beyond words.
The nightmare that had plagued his family for years had been dispelled today by this little girl from the Ye family, and she had also granted his granddaughter a far broader world.
“Ye Lingling” (Ling Ye) also walked over.
Her gaze swept over Dugu Yan’s evolved Spirit as she nodded slightly and spoke:
“The Jade Phosphor Snake has evolved into an earth-attribute sub-dragon; its foundation is stable and its attribute powerful.”
She paused, looking at the excited Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.
“I believe you understand this better than I do. Absorbing Spirit Rings from Spirit Beasts possessing draconic bloodlines to further purify and stimulate the dragon lineage is the optimal path to promote its evolution into a higher-order true dragon.”
These words illuminated the brightest path for Dugu Yan’s future.
Hearing this, Dugu Bo nodded solemnly.
The gaze he directed at “Ye Lingling” was filled with complex, indescribable meaning.
He took a deep breath and formally cupped his fists towards “Ye Lingling.” “Young lady, for this kindness… I truly do not know how to thank you. In the future, should there be anything within Dugu Bo’s power that could be of use, please do not hesitate to ask. The Dugu family owes you a debt of gratitude.”
Dugu Yan also lunged forward, tightly embracing “Ye Lingling” and burying her head in the crook of her neck.
Her voice was choked with emotion yet brimming with genuine joy.
“Lingling, thank you! Thank you so, so much.”
Pressed tightly by the girl’s soft, warm body, the tip of his nose filled with a faint earthy scent and a hint of exotic fragrance…
Under Ling Ye’s control, Ye Lingling’s body stiffened noticeably.
Even having experienced life’s vicissitudes, facing such direct and passionate emotional expression—especially while using Lingling’s body—a rare flicker of awkwardness and discomfort surfaced deep within Ling Ye’s soul.
“Ahem…” He coughed lightly, quickly, yet unobtrusively, relinquishing control of the body back to Ye Lingling. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
This kind of intimate contact between girls… better left to Lingling herself to handle.
Ye Lingling regained control of her body and immediately felt Dugu Yan’s tight embrace and her excitement.
She was momentarily stunned, but then a warm smile blossomed in her eyes as she gently returned her friend’s hug.
She lightly patted her back, her voice returning to its usual cool yet gentle tone.
“Alright, Yan’er. We are best sisters; why say such things? I’m just happy to see you well, and even better than before.”
Only then did Dugu Yan release her, wiping the corner of her eye and showing a tearful smile as she nodded firmly.
After comforting her friend, Ye Lingling turned to Dugu Bo, who was still in a state of excitement and emotion.
“Grandpa Dugu, Yan’er’s problem is resolved. Next is the toxin within your own body.”
Hearing this, Dugu Bo’s expression turned serious, but his eyes held no further doubt—only trust and anticipation.
Ye Lingling continued: “The Jade Phosphor Snake venom within you has accumulated for decades and is almost completely fused with your Spirit and flesh. It is millions of times more complex than Yan’er’s case. Resolving it will require more thorough preparation and greater power.”
Dugu Bo nodded in understanding; this was expected.
Ye Lingling shifted topics, speaking according to Ling Ye’s instructions: “Therefore, I need to use some of the herbs here to guide myself in advancing a step. Only then will I possess sufficient capability and confidence to free you from the toxin’s interference.”
Hearing this, Dugu Bo did not hesitate in the slightest.
He waved his large hand and laughed heartily: “Miss Lingling, what are you saying?”
“You helped Yan’er resolve her greatest worry and granted her a tremendous opportunity. Never mind using a few herbs—even if you said you wished to remain here cultivating at the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire permanently, I would not utter a single word of objection.”
“Use any of the herbs here as you please. They grow here anyway. Although I recognize some of them, I don’t fully understand how to maximize their efficacy. If you can put them to good use, it is their fortune, and my honor.”
“Even if… even if the toxin within me ultimately proves incurable, consider these herbs my, Dugu Bo’s, advance expression of gratitude.”
Since Dugu Bo had expressed himself thus, Ling Ye within the mental world naturally would not let Ye Lingling stand on further ceremony.
Time flew by.
Ye Lingling would soon need to obtain her fourth Spirit Ring.
With Ling Ye present, the spiritual shock from a 10,000-year Spirit Ring posed no issue, but her physical strength would determine the upper limit of the Spirit Ring’s age.
The golden body tempering within the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire was a crucial step in enhancing her physique.