Dugu Yan was also a decisive person. She drew the dagger she had prepared earlier and stabbed viciously into the Bone-Eroding Viper Dragon's most vulnerable spot—seven inches from its head.
The massive body of the Bone-Eroding Viper Dragon twisted wildly, instantly turning the surrounding swamp upside down. Lin Yang and Dugu Yan retreated a bit and stood aside, watching coldly.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Bone-Eroding Viper Dragon's aura completely vanished. A purple soul ring slowly rose from the corpse and condensed in the air.
Dugu Yan sat cross-legged on the spot, circulating her soul power to draw the soul ring over and guide it into her body, beginning the refining and absorption process.
In the shadows, Dugu Bo wanted to intervene several times but ultimately held back. He believed that if Lin Yang dared to let Yan Yan do this, he must have some confidence. If he appeared now, he would only ruin things.
As time passed, the changes in Dugu Yan proceeded as Lin Yang had anticipated. After passing the initial painful phase, Dugu Yan's condition stabilized. The tightly furrowed brows on her face gradually relaxed, and her breathing became steady and long.
Most importantly, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon that had not been fully digested in her body began to take effect under the stimulation of the soul ring. A faint but oppressive dragon prestige emanated from her, stronger and heavier than before.
At the same time, her soul power fluctuations became increasingly stable and smooth. At this stage, there was basically no risk of refining failure.
In the shadows, Dugu Bo finally breathed a sigh of relief. He withdrew his gaze and turned it to Lin Yang. The more he looked, the more satisfied he became.
Sure enough, letting this kid take Yan Yan out for a soul hunt was absolutely the right choice.
At that moment, he noticed Lin Yang suddenly move—and directly summon his martial soul.
Dugu Bo's heart jumped. Before he could react, the ground beneath Lin Yang exploded violently. A black shadow burst out from underground. Eight ferocious spider legs tore through the air, pouncing straight at Dugu Yan, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground.
The speed was extremely fast and the timing extremely sudden. Even he, a Title Douluo, hadn't been able to react in time.
"Yan Yan—!"
Dugu Bo's eyes nearly split open as his body instinctively charged forward.
But Lin Yang was faster. As if he had anticipated it, he stepped in front of Dugu Yan first. Three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—flashed beneath his feet.
Clang—!
The Nichirin Blade was drawn from its sheath, its pitch-black blade emitting a cold, chilling light.
In the next instant, blade light erupted. This slash was unimaginably fast. Scorching flames wrapped endless blade auras, weaving into an airtight blade net that enveloped the soul beast.
Swish swish swish—!
The blade light subsided. The soul beast's figure suddenly froze in mid-air. The next second, its massive body collapsed like falling building blocks, shattering and scattering across the ground.
Looking at the ground covered in minced flesh and thick slurry, Lin Yang flicked his wrist to shake the blood off "Hizama," then sheathed the blade.
His movements were clean and crisp, as if he had casually swatted a mosquito. The beast hadn't disturbed Dugu Yan in the slightest.
At this moment, Dugu Bo, who had been about to charge forward, suddenly stiffened, as if hit by a body-binding spell, freezing in place.
One slash? No—in that instant, many slashes had been delivered, but they were so fast it looked like only one swing.
And moreover… Dugu Bo looked at the black soul ring floating above the minced flesh and suddenly felt that he had grown old.
If this kid grew up, he would surely become another figure on the level of Qian Daoliu.
Meanwhile, Lin Yang stared at the minced flesh before him, momentarily lost in thought.
A ten-thousand-year Crypt Demon Spider? The one he had just killed—could it be the same one that would become Tang San's fourth soul ring in the future?
In the Sunset Forest, ten-thousand-year soul beasts weren't that numerous. It was possible he had run into it.
But Lin Yang quickly stopped thinking about it. Ever since he came to this world, the so-called plot had already been completely messed up. Who cared about one soul beast?
Dugu Bo's figure quietly appeared beside the two. From now on, he would personally guard Dugu Yan. He didn't want to experience what had just happened a second time.
Lin Yang showed no surprise at Dugu Bo's appearance.
"Greetings, Senior," Lin Yang bowed slightly.
Dugu Bo looked at Lin Yang with a complicated expression, his tone full of emotion.
"Kid… thank you again for saving Yan Yan's life."
"You're too kind, Senior. Even without me, this Crypt Demon Spider was no match for you."
Dugu Bo shook his head. A Crypt Demon Spider that had just crossed ten thousand years was indeed something he wouldn't normally take seriously. But in that split second of life and death, if Lin Yang hadn't acted in time, even he could only have watched helplessly as his granddaughter perished.
"Lin Yang!"
Dugu Bo's jade-green eyes fixed on Lin Yang, his voice solemn.
"From today onward, your matters are my matters. As long as I'm still alive, no one else will be able to touch a single finger of yours."
Dugu Bo's meaning was very clear—he was willing to act as Lin Yang's protector until Lin Yang fully matured. No longer relying on mere promises and oaths like before. This was a deeper level of binding.
Lin Yang had saved Dugu Yan multiple times. To Dugu Bo, this was an extremely heavy favor. At the same time, Lin Yang's various performances had convinced him that Lin Yang's future achievements would far surpass his own—this was also an investment.
Connections born purely from favor or interest were often the least reliable. Only when favor and interest were bound together could things develop sustainably.
Lin Yang's expression shifted. He bowed slightly. "Thank you, Senior!"
"Haha," Dugu Bo laughed loudly and waved his large hand.
"Don't call me Senior anymore. Just call me Grandpa like Yan Yan does—it sounds closer."
"This…" Lin Yang hesitated for a moment.
"I'll just call you Old Poison instead."
Dugu Bo didn't mind the form of address and nodded. "That works too!"
Afterward, the two stood guard over Dugu Yan, chatting casually.
As time passed, the purple soul ring around Dugu Yan was fully refined. It stood alongside her first two rings, radiating dazzling light. At the same time, her soul power was clearly much stronger than before.
"Thirty-three levels."
The corners of Dugu Yan's mouth couldn't help but lift.
The residual medicinal effect of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon combined with the Bone-Eroding Viper Dragon's soul ring had directly brought her soul power level equal to Lin Yang's.
Did this count as getting a little closer to that guy?
Dugu Yan opened her eyes. A kind, concerned old face suddenly appeared right in front of her.
"Grandpa," Dugu Yan blurted out. "Why are you here?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized. No wonder Grandpa had been so at ease letting her go soul hunting with Lin Yang—he had been secretly following behind all along.
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan hugged Dugu Bo's arm, shaking it while acting spoiled. "You clearly said you'd let me handle this soul hunt freely. You don't keep your word."
"How did I not keep my word?" Dugu Bo glared. "When you were dealing with that Gale Leopard earlier, didn't I also not intervene?"
Dugu Yan narrowed her long, narrow eyes, a trace of suspicion flashing through them. "Grandpa, you didn't deliberately release that Gale Leopard, did you?"
Dugu Bo coughed dryly. A hint of awkwardness flashed across his face, but he quickly stiffened his neck and said righteously, "It was just a test of your strength. Now it seems… you barely passed."
"Hmph!" Dugu Yan let go of his arm and turned her face away, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
Only then did she notice a pool of minced flesh not far away, with a deep black soul ring slowly floating above it.
Dugu Yan instinctively covered her mouth and looked at Dugu Bo in disbelief. "Grandpa, did you release this one too?"
Dugu Bo was stunned: ???
No, I didn't. Don't talk nonsense!