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--- Chapter 54 ---
"And done~! I've extracted all the poison in your body, Sister Yanyan." Han Yuan said while lifting his hand off Dugu Yan's fair shoulder. "You should not be in pain anymore for a few months."
Dugu Yan smiled warmly, "Thank you, Xiao Yuan."
"I don't know how to repay you..."
Han Yuan chuckled, "Then, quit the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and join my Dao Academy instead."
Hearing Han Yuan's relaxed yet clear statement, Dugu Bo and Dugu Xin couldn't help but exchange glances. They know how beneficial it was for Dugu Yan to be close to Han Yuan, and being Dao Academy's student shortened that gap.
In fact, Dugu Bo initially planned to move his granddaughter out of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy before knowing Han Yuan. This decision was mainly because those pesky nobles and sects wanted to poach him through Dugu Yan.
Dugu Bo wasn't dumb. He knew the grandson of Old Dragon didn't come to the imperial academy for no reason. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan planned to tie him down by letting Yu Tianheng get closer, if not marry Dugu Yan.
Unfortunately for them, such a scenario would never happen. Dugu Bu is very grateful to meet Han Yuan before he could make a stupid move that might cost his granddaughter her future.
Dugu Bo's best option was the Skywater (Tianshui) Academy, which only accepted female students with ice and water-type martial souls.
But now? Dao Academy exists, baby!
Although Dugu Bo still has to repay the favor of Prince Xue Xing for saving him years ago, he has done enough to give that guy some face. Above all else, what Han Yuan did to his Dugu Family is much greater than Prince Xue Xing's.
"Dao Academy, huh? That sounds exciting." Dugu Yan giggled, thinking how unique the academy was despite only accepting "commoner" spirit masters so far.
"I bet you'll like it, Sister Yanyan." Han Yuan gave her a certified thumbs up.
He glanced at Ye Lingling and added, "Sister Lingling, if possible, you can also join the Dao Academy with Sister Yanyan."
"This..." Ye Lingling wanted to accept Han Yuan's offer, but her mother was still in this room.
After all, Ye Xuelan is Ye Clan's matriarch and has to consider their clan's future, Ye Lingling.
Ye Xuelan stared at Han Yuan calmly, "Boy, that power earlier..."
"No, let's not talk about it."
"I can let Lingling join Dao Academy, but..."
"But?" Han Yuan raised his eyebrow, appearing calm and confident in his assets.
"But you must marry Lingling!" Ye Xuelan smiled brightly.
"PFFT!" Dugu Bo choked on his saliva.
This vixen is stealing chicken before my goddamn eyes!
What kind of condition is this? You only want to engage your daughter with a good son-in-law!
The others are also speechless by Yu Xuelan's requirements.
Han Yuan's mouth twitched crazily, "Senior, you must be joking. Although Sister Lingling is your daughter, you can't set her marriage around like that!"
"What if I'm a bad person?"
Ye Xuelan giggled in amusement, "What kind of "bad" person would go into Old Man Poison Douluo's territory and help his dying son? This eccentric elder is very terrifying."
'Oy, I'm still here!' Dugu Bo snorted unhappily.
'Xuelan, I'm giving you a face because Renxin is my friend, and you're his daughter, and your daughter is Yanyan's friend, but that doesn't mean you can rub my face with ash like this!'
"Also, I'm underage." Han Yuan suddenly raised another point.
"Well, you're indeed younger than-!" Ye Xuelan acknowledged that.
"I'm seven." Han Yuan stated.
Ye Xuelan nodded, "Seven? That's perfect-! Wait, how old are you?"
Han Yuan shrugged helplessly, "I'm seven. I just celebrated my birthday not too long ago. You can also ask my older sister and Senior Erlong if you think I'm lying."
"Yes, Xiao Yuan is seven," Han Yue walked to Han Yuan, covering him from Ye Xuelan's puzzled gaze. "And he's off-limit!"
"What..." Ye Xuelan, Ye Lingling, Dugu Xin, and Dugu Yan dumbly stared at Han Yuan's handsome face.
Cough!
Dugu Bo cleared his throat, "I can also confirm that Young Master is only seven. He's the greatest genius I've ever seen, perhaps the strongest in this era and history."
"Not even the Clear Sky Douluo and the current pope of Spirit Hall could stand on the same height as Young Master."
Han Yuan felt warm when Han Yue stepped forward for him. He reached for her shoulder and rubbed it gently, "Calm down, Sister. Senior Xuelan means no harm."
"But..." Han Yue looked offended. Anyone who dares to have an idea about her brother is her enemy.
"Let me handle this, okay? Afterward, I will give you a gift." Han Yuan consoled Han Yue, promising her a gift because they would visit Dugu Bo's medicinal garden.
Ye Xuelan heard this and sighed inwardly. It seemed she had to evaluate this young boy even further.
Han Yuan stared at Ye Xuelan innocently and said, "Senior Xuelan, if my guess is correct, you probably saw hope in my ability, right?"
"A hope to break the curse of Nine Heart Begonia."
"Although not many people know about this, there can only be two Nine Heart Begona in one generation. The previous leader of the Ye Family, Ye Renxin, is known for being a benevolent healer, but he disappeared."
"He disappeared so suddenly that it feels absurd."
"Coincidentally, Sister Lingling awakened her martial soul at the time."
"Grandpa..." Ye Lingling couldn't help but cover her face and cry, feeling sad because she knew her grandfather "sacrificed" himself for her.
Meanwhile, Ye Xuelan grimaced and chuckled weakly because this boy even knew about this. She was about to say something, but Han Yuan's subsequent words shocked her and her daughter.
"What if I can really break the Nine Heart Begonia's curse?" Han Yuan's voice echoed in the room, breaking Ye Xuelan's defense. "Not only that, but I can also give the Nine Heart Begonia a chance to evolve."
"What do you think, Senior Xuelan? Are you interested in my offer?"
Ye Xuelan estimated the pros and cons of Han Yuan's words. Honestly, she doesn't believe in Han Yuan. However, when this boy used his ability to extract Dugu Xin and Dugu Yan's poison, she felt an overwhelming aura pressuring her martial soul.
This overwhelming aura made Ye Xuelan want to kneel and worship Han Yuan like he was a celestial being.
Han Yuan didn't know Ye Xuelan's thoughts and only assumed Sky Poison Pearl had some effect on Nine Heart Begonia.
After all, this martial soul like Jade Phosphorus Snake is flawed.
Nine Heart Begonia is known to be the "strongest" healing martial soul. It has abandoned all traits other than healing, so any spirit rings absorbed by this martial soul will always produce the same healing spirit skill as their first.
In fact, some fans theorized that Nine Heart Begonia is 'inherently' connected to Divine Beings in Douluo Dalu, Gods.
As for what deity, Han Yuan doesn't know.
It can be the God of Healing, the God of Plant, or even one of the five God Kings, the Goddess of Life!
Ye Xuelan glanced at her only daughter and slowly lowered her body to kneel, "Ye Xuelan, the Matriarch of Ye Clan, greet the Young Master."
"My Ye Family would like to surrender to the Young Master."
Han Yuan smiled, "Get up, Senior Xuelan. From now on, we are family, and I'll do my best to break your family's curse."
"Understood." Ye Xuelan slowly gets up, giving Han Yuan a determined look.
"Mother..." Ye Lingling gave her mother a worried look.
Ye Xuelan smiled beautifully, "Our Ye Family has declined so much. So, joining the Young Master's Faction will help us tremendously."
"At least it's better than joining the empires and Spirit Hall.
"We still have enough freedom."
With that, the Dao Academy gained yet another powerful ally. Then, they held a small party in the mansion.