Near the center of the Sunset Forest
In a tranquil and secluded clearing surrounded by towering ancient trees, Ye Lingling sat cross-legged in the middle of the open space, dressed in a white dress. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her face was deathly pale.
Her right palm kept cracking open, and her body trembled slightly from the pain.
Beside her, Ye Renxin's eyes were filled with worry.
He immediately activated his Nine-Heart Begonia martial spirit. In an instant, a gentle pink glow emanated from the vibrant petals of the begonia, enveloping Ye Lingling in a warm healing light.
"Lingling, don't worry. Grandpa is here."
Ye Renxin spoke softly, his gaze never leaving his granddaughter.
Dai Chengfeng and Dugu Yan, standing nearby, also exchanged worried glances.
However, there was nothing they could do to help. They could only wait silently.
Time passed quietly, each second feeling unbearably long.
The process of Ye Lingling fusing with the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear's external soul bone was far more difficult compared to Dai Chengfeng's experience.
Her physical body couldn't withstand the overwhelming power of the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear. New bloody cracks appeared on her palm almost every second, and her face was etched with pain.
Fortunately, Ye Renxin was there.
Under the healing and stabilizing effects of his Nine-Heart Begonia, her soul power didn't spiral completely out of control.
About half an hour later—
Through Ye Renxin's relentless efforts and Ye Lingling's perseverance, the ferocious power of the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear seemed to gradually be adapted to and absorbed by Ye Lingling.
Her body slowly calmed down, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and the pain in her expression began to fade.
Seeing this, Ye Renxin finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
"It's done. Finally, it's done!"
Dai Chengfeng nodded, reassured, while Dugu Yan clapped her hands together in joy.
After another quarter of an hour,
Ye Lingling, who had been sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, slowly opened her eyes, which sparkled with unrestrained excitement.
She stood up and looked toward Dai Chengfeng in the distance, her voice trembling with excitement as she gazed at her right hand. "Chengfeng, I've successfully fused with it!"
Ye Lingling clenched her fist slightly, and instantly, five sharp dark golden blades extended from her knuckles.
"Look at my Dark Golden Terror Claws…"
"They're just like yours—five razor-sharp claws that can also be launched outward in critical moments!"
Hearing this, Dai Chengfeng nodded, looking at Ye Lingling's claws, which were identical to his except for the absence of the armguard.
'The skill attached is also Dark Golden Terror Claw, but compared to my Dark Golden Terror Armguard, it lacks the percentage-based strength amplification.'
'It seems my external soul bone really is special.'
'Perhaps it's a gift from the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear to the one who defeated it alone?'
A fleeting thought crossed Dai Chengfeng's mind, though he wasn't sure of the truth.
But he didn't dwell on it further. After all, knowing it was powerful was enough.
Thus, a faint smile appeared on Dai Chengfeng's lips as he gave Ye Lingling an approving look. "Mm, not bad."
"In the future, Lingling, you'll have your own ultimate trump card!"
"Mm, mm…"
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's praise, Ye Lingling nodded vigorously.
Dugu Yan, seeing how excited Ye Lingling was, had initially wanted to rush over and celebrate with her best friend.
But noticing that Ye Lingling only seemed to have eyes for Dai Chengfeng, she pouted slightly.
Meanwhile, Ye Renxin watched his granddaughter sharing her excitement exclusively with Dai Chengfeng, his eyes filled with murderous intent, as if he wanted to stab Dai Chengfeng.
"Hmph!"
Unable to contain himself, he let out a cold snort. "Alright, let's go. Let's head to Dugu Bo's medicinal garden."
With that, he walked off morosely toward the southeast.
At this moment, Ye Lingling finally realized her lapse in behavior, and a blush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks.
She quickly lowered her head and ran to Ye Renxin's side, clinging to his arm and cooing, "Grandpa, don't be mad."
"I was just so happy…"
"I wouldn't have succeeded in fusing with the external soul bone without your help. I love you the most, Grandpa!"
Seeing his granddaughter acting so sweetly, Ye Renxin's earlier jealousy melted away somewhat.
"You…"
Ye Lingling seized the opportunity, gently shaking Ye Renxin's arm again. "Grandpa~"
"Don't be mad anymore~"
In the end.
Faced with Ye Lingling's cuteness, Ye Renxin could only glare fiercely at Dai Chengfeng before turning to his granddaughter with a helpless smile, lightly patting her head.
"Alright, alright. How can Grandpa stay mad at you?"
His eyes brimmed with affection for his granddaughter.
"Grandpa's the best!"
Ye Lingling laughed happily, while Dai Chengfeng helplessly ran a hand through his golden hair, his eyes wide with innocence.
"Uncle, let's catch up."
"Mm."
Zhu Fan nodded and followed Dai Chengfeng as they continued toward Dugu Bo's medicinal garden.
Perhaps due to the joy brought by the external soul bone, Ye Lingling was unusually lively along the way, chatting excitedly with Dai Chengfeng about her newly acquired abilities.
Dugu Yan let out a soft humph.
Ye Lingling then realized she had neglected her best friend and quickly embraced Dugu Yan, whispering apologetically.
"Yan'er, I'm sorry. I was just so happy…"
Dugu Yan lightly tapped Ye Lingling's arm. "Hmph, favoring boys over friends, only having eyes for Dai Chengfeng…"
"No, it's not… it's just that Chengfeng also has the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear external soul bone. I was asking him for advice…"
"Do you really think I believe that?"
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. "But considering how hard you worked to fuse with the external soul bone, I'll be magnanimous and forgive you this time."
"Now tell me, what does using the Dark Golden Terror Claw feel like?"
---
A day had passed since the defeat of the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear.
After resting for the night, the group resumed their journey.
As they pressed onward, the scenery in the Sunset Forest continued to change.
The towering trees that should have dominated the landscape grew fewer, replaced instead by rare and unusual flowers and plants uncommon in the outside world.
Seeing this strange sight, Dai Chengfeng knew they were close to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
In the afternoon
Finally, Dugu Yan stopped in her tracks and pointed excitedly into the distance. "There! That's Grandfather's medicinal garden ahead!"
"We're finally here?"
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng curiously observed the surroundings. He noticed that while there were still trees, they seemed different from the lush green giants found in ordinary forests.
Even the air carried a peculiar mix of icy cold and scorching heat.
At the same time, he could clearly sense the heightened activity of water and fire elements.
Straight ahead, a layer of emerald-green poison obscured his vision. At the edge of the poisonous fog lay the bleached bones of soul beasts.
"The Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well!"
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng's eyes burned with anticipation and excitement.
Dugu Yan stepped forward and shouted into the poisonous fog, "Grandpa, come out and greet me!"
"Yan'er, why aren't you in class at Tiandou City?!"
Author's Note: It's explicitly stated here that Dugu Bo truly doesn't know he's poisoned. The original chapters of Douluo Dalu make it clear that Dugu Bo merely feels something is wrong with his body. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for him to be unable to treat even the mild symptoms of Dugu Yan's poisoning—he's no weakling.
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