As the attack ended, Du Gu Yan watched Ye Xi, who had stabilized herself after taking only half a step back, and couldn't help but freeze in place, unable to recover for a long time.
Du Gu Yan had naturally seen people receive a Spirit Ability with their bare hands before.
But that was usually done by high-Rank Spirit Masters when they were completely crushing low-Rank Spirit Masters in terms of strength.
Therefore, Du Gu Yan had considered many possibilities, for example: Ye Xi releasing her Spirit, or simply dodging, but she never imagined that Ye Xi would choose to receive it with her bare hands.
What surprised Du Gu Yan even more was that Ye Xi had actually managed to catch it with her bare hands, and the only price paid was taking half a step back.
"I don't think we need to continue this spar, right?"
"If you intend to use poison, I will have to release my Spirit."
Ye Xi shook her slightly numb arm, her gaze calm as she looked at Du Gu Yan.
There were actually two reasons why she could receive Du Gu Yan's Spirit Ability with her bare hands: first, her physique was powerful, and second, she had an external Spirit Bone on her arm.
If it weren't for the external Spirit Bone: Bloodthirsty Bone Blade, although Ye Xi could still have received it, it definitely wouldn't have been as easy as it was now.
"No need."
"Du Gu Yan, come back."
Dugu Bo beckoned to Du Gu Yan, signaling for her to return, then turned his gaze toward Ye Xi.
"Ye Xi, with the strength you have displayed so far, there really aren't many in the entire younger generation who can steadily defeat you."
Dugu Bo's voice carried a hint of emotion.
"Senior, you overpraise me."
Ye Xi smiled and walked toward Tian Yue.
Du Gu Yan silently returned to Dugu Bo's side, looking at the ground without saying a word, appearing deeply shaken.
Seeing Du Gu Yan's expression, Dugu Bo didn't say anything, only reaching out to gently stroke Du Gu Yan's hair.
"Ye Xi, when is the next time for the detox?"
Dugu Bo looked at Ye Xi and asked softly.
"For the next detox, let's make it in three days."
"Senior, you also know that my spirit power has reached the Rank 30 Bottleneck, and I need to head to the Spirit Beast Forest to attach a spirit ring."
"In three days, I will go to your residence, Senior, to perform the detox."
Ye Xi thought for a moment before giving an accurate time.
"No need for such trouble, I will come myself when the time comes."
"I will take Du Gu Yan back now."
Dugu Bo waved his hand dismissively and led Du Gu Yan toward the outside of the residence.
"Let me see you out, Senior."
As soon as Ye Xi finished speaking, she followed Dugu Bo to the entrance of the residence.
Standing at the entrance of the residence, Ye Xi watched the figures of Dugu Bo and Du Gu Yan gradually recede before reaching out to close the gate.
On the other side. Walking on the bustling street, Dugu Bo looked at the silent Du Gu Yan beside him and couldn't help but ask, "Du Gu Yan, are you shaken by this?"
Dugu Bo's voice was very kind, and while speaking, he stroked Du Gu Yan's hair.
"Grandfather, I just didn't expect the gap to be so large."
"Our spirit power is about the same, but the gap in strength is just too big."
Du Gu Yan looked up at Dugu Bo, her voice tinged with a hint of desolation.
Although close-quarters combat was not something Du Gu Yan was good at, she knew very well that even if she used her signature Bi Lin Snake Poison, the possibility of winning was almost non-existent.
"It's very normal."
"Anyone with an Innate spirit power of Rank 7 or higher can be called a Genius, but among these Geniuses, how many can be called a Prodigy?"
"I haven't known Ye Xi for long, but there is one thing I can be almost certain of."
A smile appeared on Dugu Bo's face as he spoke unhurriedly.
"What?"
"Grandfather, what is the one thing you can be certain of?"
Du Gu Yan looked at Dugu Bo, her eyes full of confusion.
"As long as Ye Xi does not fall prematurely, she will be the person standing at the peak of the entire younger generation, and the achievements she will reach in the future are unimaginable."
Dugu Bo's voice was very calm, as if he were stating a fact.
Although he hadn't known Ye Xi for long, the talent and ability she had displayed were the best Dugu Bo had ever seen in his life.
Dugu Bo knew many Geniuses, but he couldn't think of anyone who could compete with Ye Xi at the moment.
Reaching Rank 30 spirit power at the age of nine and being able to catch a Spirit Ability cast by a Spirit Master of the same Rank with bare hands—achieving either one of these was a rarity on the continent.
As for achieving both, Dugu Bo had only ever seen Ye Xi.
Hearing this, Du Gu Yan didn't speak. After taking a deep breath, a look of contemplation appeared in her eyes.
"Du Gu Yan, you can seriously consider the matter I mentioned to you this morning."
"The things the Tian Dou Royal Academy can teach you, Grandfather can teach you just the same, but people like Ye Xi are rare."
"Following her now will definitely not be a loss for you in the future."
Dugu Bo reached out and patted Du Gu Yan's shoulder, his tone appearing very serious.
"Grandfather, I will seriously consider what you said."
"I'm heading back to the Tian Dou Royal Academy now."
Du Gu Yan looked at the Tian Dou Royal Academy ahead, greeted Dugu Bo, and then headed toward the Tian Dou Royal Academy.
"Go on."
Watching Du Gu Yan leave, Dugu Bo walked with his hands behind his back toward his own residence.
Upon returning to the Tian Dou Royal Academy, Du Gu Yan found a quiet place to sit down. Deep contemplation appeared in her eyes, and the image of Ye Xi catching the Spirit Ability with her bare hands kept appearing in her mind.
Time passed, she didn't know how long.
A somewhat cold voice sounded leisurely from behind Du Gu Yan.
"You're back?"
The cold, slightly ethereal voice interrupted Du Gu Yan's contemplation.
"Ye Lingling, why are you here?"
Du Gu Yan glanced at Ye Lingling behind her, appearing somewhat distracted.
"I happened to be passing by."
"By the way, I wanted to ask if you want to go to the Mimicry Cultivation Area to Cultivate."
Ye Lingling just stood silently not far away, not approaching Du Gu Yan.
"Not in the mood."
After Du Gu Yan replied, she looked quietly ahead.
"Something on your mind?"
Ye Lingling asked.
"Mm..."
Du Gu Yan gave a soft hum and recounted the whole story.
After finishing, Du Gu Yan looked at Ye Lingling and asked softly, "Ye Lingling, if it were you, how would you choose?"
Hearing this, Ye Lingling did not answer Du Gu Yan's question but stood quietly in place, as if lost in thought.
After a while, Ye Lingling stepped forward and walked in a certain direction.
"The Mimicry Cultivation Area is that way, you're going the wrong way."
Du Gu Yan wasn't surprised by Ye Lingling's reaction. Because Ye Lingling had a reclusive personality and didn't like to talk.
"I'm going home."
Ye Lingling replied, not stopping her pace at all.