Chapter 83: Ancestor (Please Subscribe, Please Give Monthly Tickets!)

"Martial soul evolution?" Gu Xuan said in surprise.

Du Gu Yan smiled brightly, nodded, and continued: "Didn't expect it, huh? I didn't expect it either, and it's not just the martial soul that evolved; I feel my physical condition, spirit power, even every cell has greatly improved."

"Xiao Xuan, this Xiangsi Duanchang Hong truly lives up to being the emperor among celestial herbs."

Gu Xuan gave a slight smile and said: "That's also your opportunity. Tell me, what changes occurred after your martial soul evolved?"

Du Gu Yan smiled faintly, her expression blooming like a flower, and said: "Look!"

When the words fell, Du Gu Yan stepped back a few paces, standing five meters from Gu Xuan; two yellow and one purple Soul Rings rose on her body, a pair of fair jade-like legs transformed into a swaying snake tail, the original green shifting toward a bluish hue, somewhere between emerald and blue.

Gu Xuan didn't know how to describe it, but it was beautiful, making him unable to resist the urge to toy with it.

Besides the legs turning into a snake tail, a rhombus-shaped crystal still appeared on Du Gu Yan's forehead, its color matching the tail, and her pupils also changed to the tail's hue.

Elsewhere there were no major changes; if anything, her waist became more supple, her childlike appetite more abundant, and whenever this version of Du Gu Yan appeared, Gu Xuan couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

From perception, Du Gu Yan is indeed far stronger than before taking Xiangsi Duanchang Hong, yet the martial soul's change is minor; outwardly only the color has shifted.

Du Gu Yan seemed to know what Gu Xuan was thinking and slowly said: "It's not just a color change. After taking Xiangsi Duanchang Hong, my Emerald Scale Snake martial soul evolved, and now its name should be Ancestor."

"Ancestor?" Gu Xuan was stunned. What the heck is that name? The evolution direction doesn't seem right, does it?

Aren't snakes said to have dragon bloodlines? Once they evolve, the direction is basically toward dragons. What does Ancestor mean? The ancestor of all snakes?

Seeing Gu Xuan's confusion, Du Gu Yan gently raised her hand; as soul power surged, a wisp of poison mist colored in alternating emerald and blue appeared in her palm. Gu Xuan thought the hue resembled cyan, so he simply called it cyan.

This cyan poison mist differed from Du Gu Yan's earlier mist, because it also contained a rich life essence.

Now Gu Xuan was even more stunned. Isn't the Emerald Scale Snake a poisonous snake? What the heck does such a strong life essence mean? Evolution of the martial soul is one thing, but its attribute changed too?

At this point Gu Xuan also caught on; Du Gu Yan's gain was far greater than imagined—just the martial soul evolving into Ancestor proves it.

Looking at the cyan poison mist in her hand, Du Gu Yan explained: "Because of the martial soul's evolution, my three soul skills have also changed; this is a weakened version of my first soul skill."

Gu Xuan watched, waiting for Du Gu Yan's explanation.

"After the martial soul evolved, my first soul skill, Emerald Scale Red Poison, became the Source of Snake Spirit. This skill has a special function; for example, if you're injured now, I can use it to draw another's essence—or life force—to heal you."

"Or I can convert my own soul power or poison into an energy akin to primal force to heal you."

Hearing this, Gu Xuan let out a slight gasp; the soul skill sounded powerful, but a bit unethical—extracting another's essence?

But damn, is this Ancestor martial soul really that strong?

Gu Xuan, though surprised, still waited for Du Gu Yan to continue.

Du Gu Yan continued: "My second soul skill, Emerald Scale Blue Poison, has become Spirit Snake Breath."

"Actually, I'm puzzled myself, because my second soul skill has both water and poison attributes. Because of that, it's hard for strong winds or ordinary flames to disperse or burn it, and its toxicity is not weaker than my previous third soul skill."

"My third soul skill, Emerald Scale Purple Poison, turned into the Source of Poison. This skill lacks offensive ability, but it can instantly double my toxin, an amplification soul skill; the amplified snake venom's power surges enormously, though I haven't truly experienced it yet."

"But I'm certain that if I use my second soul skill while in the third soul skill state, with my current strength and foundation, even without acquiring a fourth Soul Ring, I could become invincible as a Soul Ancestor."

"A Soul Master of Soul Ancestor level basically cannot withstand my poison."

"Moreover, most importantly, my martial soul absolutely suppresses any snake-type martial souls and does not fear the pressure of dragons."

Listening to Du Gu Yan's explanation, Gu Xuan felt it was unreal, because her soul skills had completely changed, and their power and effect far surpassed before.

The most critical thing is that her evolution path is actually unlike what Gu Xuan guessed! What the heck is that evolution? It should be called a reversion to the ancestor.

"After all, the strongest of the snake race are not inferior to dragons; although most snakes evolve toward dragons, there are truly top-tier beings within the snake race."

"For example, the legendary Teng Snake, the Si Snake among the Five Elements, and many other strong snakes."

Du Gu Yan's current Ancestor martial soul is clearly likely a manifestation of reversion, or rather an evolution toward the highest tier of the snake race based on her own condition.

Du Gu Yan's martial soul remains a snake, but it is now a different snake altogether.

The former Emerald Scale Snake martial soul, though powerful, had toxicity that could backfire on the user—like hurting the enemy a thousand, self-damaging eight hundred.

Now that Du Gu Yan's martial soul has evolved into Ancestor, its toxicity is even more fierce and domineering, yet she herself is no longer troubled by snake venom.

She can even convert snake venom into rich life energy for healing? This is absolutely the emperor among snakes, isn't it?

Whether it's Du Gu Yan or Gu Xuan, both are immensely excited now; Du Gu Yan's martial soul evolution means her strength and foundation have risen, allowing her to truly become Gu Xuan's support rather than some behind‑the‑scenes woman.

After explaining her martial soul's changes, Du Gu Yan stared at Gu Xuan, slightly lost in thought; she could have this opportunity solely because of Gu Xuan, whether it's the celestial herbs he selected for her or him as a person.

Without Gu Xuan, not only would her poison be unremovable, troubling her for a lifetime, but this chance for martial soul evolution and power increase would have nothing to do with her.

"Xiao Xuan..." Du Gu Yan withdrew her martial soul, stepped before Gu Xuan, eyes full of affection.

ps: Typos will be corrected later.

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(End of Chapter)