As the sun set in the west, Dugu Yan returned home with a light and cheerful heart after finishing her training. Everything that had happened on the training ground today left her feeling both surprised and puzzled—Marco's Azure Flame not only cured her sudden condition but also gave her an unprecedented sense of relief.
"Grandpa! I'm back!" Dugu Yan called out happily as soon as she entered the house.
Dugu Bo was sitting in the living room studying a herbal atlas. Hearing his granddaughter's voice, he looked up with a kind smile. "Yan Yan is back? How was training today?"
Dugu Yan rushed into her grandfather's arms like a happy little bird, excitedly saying, "Grandpa, something really strange happened today!"
Dugu Bo affectionately patted his granddaughter's head. "Oh? What strange thing? Tell Grandpa about it."
Dugu Yan lifted her head from her grandfather's embrace, her eyes sparkling. "Today, our captain taught us a new training method called 'Tree Climbing Training.' It was so interesting! You have to concentrate your Soul Power at the soles of your feet and then walk vertically up the tree trunk..."
She detailed the training process, even gesturing animatedly when she got to the exciting parts. As Dugu Bo listened, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes—this training method required an extremely high level of precision in Soul Power control, far beyond what an ordinary Soul Master could conceive.
"...Then, during the training, I suddenly felt dizzy and then I didn't know anything anymore." Dugu Yan's tone suddenly turned somber.
Dugu Bo immediately grew tense, grabbing his granddaughter's shoulders to examine her carefully. "What happened? Yan Yan, are you alright?"
Dugu Yan shook her head, a puzzled expression on her face. "After I woke up, I felt really strange... It was as if the heavy feeling inside my body had disappeared, and I felt much lighter overall."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo's expression changed drastically. He immediately placed his hand on Dugu Yan's forehead, channeling a stream of pure Soul Power into her body to carefully probe her condition.
This examination left Dugu Bo so shocked he was speechless. He discovered that the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison in Dugu Yan's body had been purified by more than half! The toxins that had accumulated in her Meridians over the years had become significantly diluted, and the Meridians that had been eroded by the poison had regained their vitality.
"This... how is this possible?" Dugu Bo muttered in disbelief. He knew better than anyone how stubborn the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison was. Over the years, he had tried every method imaginable but could never completely resolve the issue of the poison's backlash, only managing to suppress it with great difficulty.
He urgently asked, "Yan Yan, tell Grandpa in detail, what happened after you fell unconscious? Who treated you?"
Startled by her grandfather's reaction, Dugu Yan answered honestly, "It was our captain who treated me with his Azure Flame. When his flames enveloped me, they made a 'sizzling' sound, as if they were burning something..."
"Azure Flame?" A sharp light flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. "Are you talking about that Marco? Isn't his Martial Soul the Azure Flame Phoenix?"
Dugu Yan nodded. "Yes, the captain's Azure Flame is amazing! Not only did it cure me, but it also made my body feel so much lighter!"
Dugu Bo fell into deep thought, his heart surging with tumultuous waves. "That boy's Martial Soul flame can actually purify the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison! This... this is nothing short of a heaven-sent opportunity!"
A dangerous thought surfaced in his mind: "If I capture him to specifically cleanse Yan Yan's toxins... or even further, study the characteristics of his Martial Soul, perhaps I could find a way to completely resolve the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison..."
His gaze gradually turned perilous, and the aura of a Titled Douluo inadvertently leaked out, making the surrounding air grow heavy.
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan keenly sensed the change in her grandfather and interrupted his train of thought, "What are you thinking? It feels like you're considering something bad!"
Puffing out her cheeks, she said earnestly, "You can't bully Marco! He's our captain and always takes good care of us. If he hadn't saved me today, who knows what would have happened to me!"
Dugu Bo was pulled back to reality by his granddaughter's words. Seeing Dugu Yan's serious expression, he withdrew his dangerous aura and resumed his kindly smile: "Grandpa was just thinking, I wouldn't actually bully your captain."
To change the subject, he asked: "Tell me more about that training method you mentioned earlier."
Seeing that her grandfather had abandoned his bad intentions, Dugu Yan cheered up again and detailed the Soul Power control method taught by Marco: "The captain calls this 'tree climbing training' and 'water stepping training.' He wants us to precisely attach Soul Power to the soles of our feet..."
As she spoke, she demonstrated the movements: "The captain said Soul Power output should be as natural as breathing - not too much, not too little..."
Listening to his granddaughter's explanation, Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with admiration. With his discerning eye as a Titled Douluo, he immediately recognized the benefits of this training method. Such precise Soul Power control would not only aid in actual combat but also greatly help in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks.
"Marvelous..." Dugu Bo couldn't help but stroke his beard in admiration, "This training method is highly beneficial for Soul Masters' foundational cultivation. Your captain is indeed remarkable."
Dugu Yan proudly raised her head: "Of course! Our captain is amazing! He's Marco the 'Phoenix'!"
Suddenly remembering something, she added: "Oh, grandpa, the captain's father is Li Zhaoyan! That incredibly powerful Li Zhaoyan!"
"Li Zhaoyan?" Dugu Bo's hand paused mid-stroke on his beard, his expression turning grave, "You mean the Li Zhaoyan who saved the Breaking Clan?"
Dugu Yan nodded: "Yes, that Uncle Li Zhaoyan. I heard he's incredibly powerful - he once severely injured a newly promoted Titled Douluo!"
Dugu Bo's expression became very serious. As a newly promoted Titled Douluo, he naturally knew of Li Zhaoyan's reputation. Though not a member of the Breaking Clan, this man had once come to their rescue in their time of crisis, and his strength was unfathomable.
He recalled the rumors he'd heard when he received his Titled Douluo rank: Though Li Zhaoyan was only at the Soul Douluo level, his combat ability was extremely terrifying, having once grievously wounded a newly promoted Titled Douluo.
Dugu Bo secretly felt fortunate he hadn't actually taken action. Had he moved against Marco and provoked that fierce deity Li Zhaoyan, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?" Dugu Yan noticed the change in her grandfather's expression and asked with concern.
Dugu Bo snapped back to reality and showed a gentle smile. "It's nothing, I just recalled some things." After a moment of contemplation, he said to Dugu Yan, "Yanyan, tomorrow please pass a message to your captain. Tell him your grandfather wishes to pay a visit to express his gratitude."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. "Really? Grandpa, you're going to see the captain?"
Dugu Bo nodded. "Yes, after all, he saved you. I should personally go to show my appreciation."
At that moment, a completely new idea suddenly emerged in Dugu Bo's mind: "Since I can't capture him by force, what if... what if Yanyan could be with Marco?"
This thought made Dugu Bo's eyes brighten. "That's right! If Yanyan could be with Marco, his Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit could continuously purify the toxins for her. Moreover, Li Zhaoyan wouldn't oppose it - instead, he'd become a powerful ally..."
He carefully examined his granddaughter, secretly calculating in his heart: "Yanyan is beautiful and talented, more than a match for that Marco. And judging by Yanyan's expression when she talks about Marco, she seems to have feelings for him too..."
Dugu Yan jumped up happily. "That's wonderful! I'll go tell the captain first thing tomorrow morning!"
Watching his granddaughter's cheerful retreating figure, a complex expression flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. He was both excited about possibly finding a solution to the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison, and worried about the difficulties involved.
"Yanyan," he called out to his granddaughter who was about to run off, "your captain... what kind of person is he?"
Dugu Yan turned around and said seriously, "The captain is a very good person! Although he can be strict sometimes, he always has our best interests at heart. He trains very hard and is very powerful, but he never bullies the weak. Everyone really likes him!"
After thinking for a moment, she added, "And the captain is very smart - he often comes up with some unusual training methods that are very effective. Like today's tree climbing training - although it was difficult, it was really useful!"
When talking about Marco, Dugu Yan's eyes were particularly bright, and a faint blush unconsciously spread across her face. Dugu Bo noticed all these details, further strengthening his resolve.
Dugu Bo nodded, his estimation of Marco rising even higher in his heart. A young man who was both talented and hardworking, and knew how to care for his teammates, was indeed worthy of respect.
"Alright, go rest now." Dugu Bo affectionately patted his granddaughter's head. "Remember to pass the message to your captain tomorrow."
"Got it, Grandpa!" Dugu Yan cheerfully ran back to her room.
After Dugu Yan left, Dugu Bo sat alone in the living room, lost in thought. The news he learned today was truly important - Marco's Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit could actually purify the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison! This might be the key to solving the toxin backlash problem that had plagued their family for many years.
"Perhaps... this is the best solution," Dugu Bo murmured to himself. "If Yanyan can be with Marco, not only can the toxin problem be solved, but we could also gain Li Zhaoyan as a powerful ally..."
The more he thought about it, the more feasible this idea seemed. "When I visit tomorrow, I need to carefully observe that Marco and see if he's worthy of our Yanyan."
Having made up his mind, Dugu Bo felt much more relaxed. He prepared to visit the Li residence tomorrow.
At the same time, Dugu Yan was also reflecting on the day's events in her room. Feeling an unprecedented sense of relief within her body, a wave of gratitude toward Marco welled up in her heart.
"The captain is truly a good person..." she murmured softly. "I must properly thank him tomorrow."
She decided to visit Marco first thing in the morning to convey her grandfather's intention to pay a visit.
Meanwhile, in his own room, Marco was immersed in cultivation, completely unaware of the significant ripples today's events had caused in Poison Douluo's heart.
The flames of the Azure Flame Phoenix circulated around him as Marco delved deep into his cultivation.