Inside the Soul Hunting Grounds.
The martial soul fusion technique of Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong dissipated almost simultaneously with Yu Tianxin's third soul skill.
"Huff…"
Yu Tianxin panted lightly, muttering, "A martial soul fusion technique truly is formidable…"
Tap, tap, tap…
At this moment, Dugu Yan walked forward. "Your third soul skill is exhausted, and your Soul Power is nearly depleted. Do you still think you can continue fighting me?"
Yu Tianxin glanced at her and said, "Indeed, in my current state, I can't drive you out of the Soul Hunting Grounds. But don't think you've won. From now on, I'll be watching you. Let's see if you can find any more opportunities to hunt soul beasts!"
"Despicable!"
Dugu Yan couldn't help but curse, but her lips soon curled into a smile. "Yu Tianxin… don't assume I was idle while they were protecting me. Tell me, can you still lift your arms?"
"What… What?"
Yu Tianxin froze, then quickly discovered he couldn't raise his arms at all. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "This is… Jade Phosphorus Serpent venom? When… when did this happen…"
Dugu Yan shrugged, clearly uninterested in explaining.
"When fighting a poison master, you should always be wary of their toxins…"
Seeing Yu Tianxin's bewildered expression, Qin Jian kindly reminded him, "From the very beginning of the battle, you were already being poisoned continuously…"
Dugu Yan snorted coldly, adding, "If it weren't for your third soul skill, you'd have collapsed after three more minutes!"
"You clueless fool!"
She concluded with disdain.
Yu Tianxin's face darkened as he stared at her. "I was careless, and you had Qin Jian and the others helping you. My loss is justified…"
"You'd better leave quickly and find a teacher to detoxify you. If you delay, no one will be able to save you…"
Perhaps because Yu Tianxin's admission of defeat was sincere, Dugu Yan reminded him earnestly.
Yu Tianxin nodded, then turned to Qin Jian. "Your martial soul fusion technique is truly powerful. I hope to have a proper battle with you one day, not like this."
Qin Jian shrugged. "We'll see if the chance arises."
As Yu Tianxin left, Dugu Yan suddenly sat down.
"That guy is really strong. It took so long for the Jade Phosphorus Serpent venom to take effect. Honestly, I was at my limit too…" she admitted, panting lightly.
Ning Rongrong exclaimed in realization, "So you were barely holding on too!"
Dugu Yan cast her a sidelong glance before turning to Qin Jian. "Thank you both for your help this time. I won't forget this favor."
But Qin Jian didn't respond to her gratitude. Instead, he stared at her face, lost in thought.
"Brother Jian!"
Seeing his unwavering gaze, Ning Rongrong grew annoyed. "Stop staring at her!"
Dugu Yan also looked at Qin Jian with a puzzled expression, unsure why he was looking at her like that.
Qin Jian finally came to his senses and gently moved Ning Rongrong aside. He addressed Dugu Yan, "Haven't you noticed?"
"Noticed what?" Dugu Yan was confused.
After a moment of hesitation, Qin Jian said, "Forgive my presumption, but I believe you may have been chronically poisoned."
"I've been poisoned?"
Dugu Yan looked utterly bewildered, shaking her head quickly. "Impossible! My martial soul itself is toxic. How could I be poisoned?"
Qin Jian shook his head. "The poison is from the Jade Phosphorus Serpent. It's likely a result of your prolonged use of the Jade Phosphorus Serpent martial soul."
"This…"
Dugu Yan's expression remained skeptical.
Qin Jian smiled faintly. "I understand if you can't believe it. I'm merely pointing it out. You can take it or leave it. But…"
"If my judgment is correct, this chronic poisoning will eventually affect your lifespan."
This additional remark caused Dugu Yan's face to change dramatically.
After a long moment, she finally recovered from her shock.
"I can't verify what you've said, but I'll inform my grandfather…"
Dugu Yan replied solemnly, "If this is true, I'll remember your kindness. Thank you!"
Hearing her say this, Qin Jian felt a sense of relief.
That's exactly what I wanted—you to go talk to Dugu Bo.
He waved casually. "I'm just offering a reminder. As for resolving the chronic Jade Phosphorus Serpent venom… I'm not capable of that, but I do have a friend who might be…"
His last sentence was spoken so softly that Dugu Yan could barely hear it.
It wasn't until Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong were several hundred meters away that Dugu Yan finally reacted. "Did he just say… he knows how to cure my poison?"
Half an hour later, Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong finally stepped into the special hunting zone.
During this time, Dugu Yan had also found a soul beast suitable for herself and began absorbing its soul ring.
The other students who participated in the hunt had completed their tasks and now stood before the light screen, curious to see what kind of soul beasts the special hunting zone held.
"Rongrong, your first soul skill boosts attack power. For your second soul skill, increasing speed or defense would be ideal. Let's search with that in mind…"
Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong's expressions grew serious.
"And the soul beast's age should ideally be between 800 and 900 years. Let's hope we find a suitable one…"
As they ventured deeper into the special zone, they encountered many soul beasts.
While their qualities were excellent, their attributes often didn't match or their ages fell short.
An hour passed, and even Dugu Yan had finished absorbing her soul ring and exited the hunting grounds.
Now, the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Academy watched Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong closely.
"Awooo!—"
Suddenly, a wolf's howl echoed through the area.
Qin Jian's eyes lit up. "That's the cry of a demon wolf. If it's a Gale Demon Wolf, it would be perfect!"
The two rushed toward the source of the howl.
Before long, on a mountain peak, a massive wolf surrounded by green gusts of wind appeared before them…
"It's actually a winged Gale Demon Wolf!"
Outside, Feng Xiaotian's eyelid twitched. This was clearly the soul beast most suited to him, though its age was slightly lower than ideal…
"A Gale Demon Wolf, with wings, and…"
Qin Jian's eyes sparkled. "900 years old! Perfect!"
"Rongrong, it's the one!"
As Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong charged toward the winged Gale Demon Wolf atop the mountain, the onlookers—Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and others—frowned deeply.
"A 900-year-old soul beast. Together, Jian'er and Rongrong can barely handle it. But this is a Gale Demon Wolf—it specializes in speed…"
Ning Fengzhi gripped his staff tightly. "Once it starts running, they won't be able to catch it. And with its wings, this Gale Demon Wolf… can fly!"
Even Sword Douluo clenched his fists. "Even in the Soul Hunting Grounds, this soul beast is top-tier. Jian'er… be careful…"
--------------------------------
If you want to support me and read advance chapters, please visit:
patreon.com / igotneonlight
I would greatly appreciate your support if you choose to join my patreon 🙏