The Martial Soul Skeleton, in Douluo Continent's Bone-Changing Susanoo

Chapter 101 Dark Attribute

Staring at the key in his hand, Xia Liang stood there stunned. In fact, Dugu Yan had already given him a key to the Dugu Mansion last time.

This grandfather and granddaughter share a common problem: once they trust someone, they will trust them completely without any reservations.

Receiving the key from Dugu Bo meant that he had completely gained Dugu Bo's trust.

Tian Dou City, Dugu Mansion.

Just as she was about to leave to return to the academy, Dugu Yan suddenly saw Dugu Bo and Xia Liang walking in together from the entrance of the mansion.

Dugu Bo looked at Dugu Yan and suddenly realized. Today was his day off, and he should have been at home helping his granddaughter practice poisons, but he had been distracted by absorbing the medicinal power of the earth dragon and golden melon.

"Yanyan, you're back?" Dugu Bo asked somewhat guiltily.

Without saying a word, Dugu Yan pounced on Dugu Bo.

Just as Dugu Bo was about to open his arms and pull his granddaughter into the room as usual, his granddaughter unexpectedly rushed straight at Xia Liang, who was standing to the side.

All of this happened so suddenly.

Xia Liang almost instinctively reached out and pulled Dugu Yan into his arms before realizing what was happening. "Yan Yan, what are you doing?"

Inside the Dugu Mansion.

In the lobby, in front of the dining table.

After figuring out the whole story, Xia Liang realized that Dugu Yan had embraced him out of nostalgia because they hadn't seen each other for so long, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Dugu Yan said irritably, "You didn't even tell me you were going out to train. If my grandfather hadn't known where you were, I would have suspected you had done something wrong and run away."

"Why should I tell you when I'm going out to gain experience?" Xia Liang asked with a smile.

"Because," Dugu Yan hesitated, then explained after a moment of silence, "because none of us came forward to clarify the gossip in the academy, so they assumed we'd already tacitly agreed on that kind of relationship. If that's the case, shouldn't you have informed me beforehand where you're going?"

"When did we tacitly acknowledge our relationship?" Xia Liang asked Dugu Yan. "Didn't you reject me that night? You were the one who didn't want to force things between us."

When the topic of that night came up, Dugu Yan glared resentfully at Dugu Bo sitting next to her. At the time, she never imagined that her grandfather would be even more anxious than she was.

Now I don't know how to end this mess.

Dugu Bo sighed, "If you ask me, you two should stop testing each other. Can't you see what the other is thinking? Do you have to wait for one of you to confess? Yan Yan, I told you a few months ago that if you don't take the initiative when this kid comes back, you'll regret it if someone else snatches him away."

With that, Dugu Bo glared at Xia Liang and demanded, "And another thing, kid, how long are you going to keep my granddaughter hanging?"

"Now, you two should give me an explanation in front of me. Are you friends, lovers, or enemies? Make things clear to avoid future trouble!"

Upon hearing Wan's words, Xia Liang and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance and both remained silent in tacit agreement.

After a moment, Xia Liang smiled at Dugu Bo and said, "Senior, look at how Yan Yan and I are arguing. Don't we look like a couple having a fight?"

Dugu Bo, understanding the unspoken message, chimed in, "Yes, it does. Yanyan, what do you think?"

Dugu Yan looked at Xia Liang, smiled and nodded, "I think so too."

Seeing that both of them had expressed their opinions, Dugu Bo patted Xia Liang on the shoulder as if his cunning plan had succeeded, a satisfied smile on his face. "Kid, that's right. Confirm your relationship with Yan Yan as soon as possible, so I can recognize a grandson-in-law sooner. You've been calling me 'senior' all this time, shouldn't you change your tune now? Come on, call me 'Grandpa' and let me hear it."

Xia Liang then belatedly realized what was happening. "Senior, you didn't force me and Yan Yan to make a commitment just for this purpose, did you?"

"Otherwise what?" Dugu Bo said matter-of-factly, "When I put mental pressure on you before and you withstood it, I wanted to take you as my disciple. But then I discovered that your relationship with Yanyan was unusual, and seeing your talent and potential, I changed my mind. Rather than being your master, I'd rather be your grandfather. What master is more intimate than grandfather?"

After hearing this story, Xia Liang sighed inwardly. He had spent so much time with Dugu Bo, and although he addressed him as a senior, he considered Dugu Bo a brother in his heart.

Calling a brother "grandpa" now feels a bit awkward. That's why he's been keeping Dugu Yan hanging without making a statement.

The next day, in the morning.

After leaving the Dugu residence, Xia Liang headed towards the Tiandou Royal Academy outside Tiandou City. He needed to go to the academy to ask for leave for Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan has already taken the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng and Evergreen Oil Hemp Vine, and is currently absorbing the medicinal power of these two immortal herbs under the care of Dugu Bo.

When Dugu Yan fully fuses the power of the two immortal herbs, she will not gain new attributes like Dugu Bo, but the primal poison of her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul will be qualitatively enhanced.

The Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng contains the bloodline of a five-clawed dragon, modeled after the Eastern dragon, and is naturally endowed with the ability to soar through the heavens.

If the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul successfully awakens the Dragon Bloodline, then Dugu Yan should be able to obtain the soaring power of the Eastern Dragon in the future, and the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poisonous mist she spews will transform into the breath of a poisonous dragon.

In the original work, there is a type of dragon called the Evil-Slaying Dragon. It is not subject to the control of the Dragon God, is born and raised by nature, and is formed by the condensation of the righteous energy of heaven and earth.

There is no Poison Dragon King among the Nine Dragon Kings.

Xia Liang's evolution path for Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul was based on the Evil-Slaying Dragon, and developed towards the direction of the Poison Dragon King, becoming a naturally born and raised, unrestrained by the Dragon God, an alien poisonous dragon serpent.

Back at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, Xia Liang walked into the Education Committee. He was about to explain to the three committee members that Dugu Yan had been kept at home by Dugu Bo for a period of time, but he found that the three committee members had already been summoned to the Dean's office by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

Upon arriving at the Dean's Building, Xia Liang presented the gold medal given to him by Xue Qinghe, thus gaining entry.

He sat on the sofa in the lobby on the first floor, waiting for the meeting between the three education committee members and Xue Qinghe to end.

It wasn't until noon, when the school bell rang, that the three education committee members, Prince Xuexing, and Xue Qinghe came down from the second floor, chatting and laughing.

When Xue Qinghe reached the lobby on the first floor, he suddenly felt a strong resonance within his body. He subconsciously looked towards the sofa and found that the person sitting there was Xia Liang, who had gone out for training a few months ago.

Xia Liang smiled politely at Xue Qinghe, then got up and walked to the three education committee members to explain Dugu Yan's situation.

Upon learning that Dugu Yan had requested leave, the three education committee members did not object. After exchanging a few words with Xue Qinghe, they left with Prince Xue Xing.

Only Xia Liang and Xue Qinghe remained in the hall.

"Brother Xia, when did you return? You didn't even tell me beforehand." Xue Qinghe looked at Xia Liang and asked tentatively, "You seem to have grown quite a bit during this training trip? There seems to be something different about you."

"Your Highness has a keen eye. My Skeleton Martial Soul, like Elder Ghost of the Spirit Hall, was originally a dark-type Martial Soul. Previously, absorbing the five-thousand-year-old Bone Dragon Soul Ring beyond my level brought considerable enhancement of the dark element to my Skeleton Martial Soul."

At this point, Xia Liang concealed something, saying, "A month ago, when I passed through the Star Dou Great Forest, under the pressure of the dark soul beasts, my skeleton martial soul finally awakened its dark attribute by chance. The strangeness you sensed on me must be the aura of darkness, right?"

After hearing this explanation, Xue Qinghe suddenly understood. "No wonder. Brother Xia, then I must congratulate you. The awakening of the dark attribute in your dark-type martial soul means that the potential of your martial soul will be enhanced. You were originally a genius who grew up by absorbing spirit rings beyond your level, and now with the help of the dark attribute, your future is bound to be limitless. However, I must remind you that the dark attribute is a double-edged sword, so you must be careful in your cultivation."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness." Xia Liang cupped his hands in greeting.

Xue Qinghe smiled and shook his head. "Have you forgotten what I told you so quickly? Let's not mention the title 'Crown Prince.' Brother Xia, just call me Brother Xue. We don't need those formalities between us. Let's talk in my office sometime. How about it?"

"Okay," Xia Liang replied. He then followed Xue Qinghe to the dean's office.

(End of this chapter)