Douluo Dalu: I have a Soul Beast Clone

Eight years old? Dugo Bo's brows furrowed tightly. He couldn't believe the results of the bone age test he had just conducted. So, he reached out and touched various parts of Li Chang'an's body, including the back of his head, spine, thighs, and ankles. The results were the same.

The boy before him, who looked so strong and mature that one could easily mistake him for being twenty, was merely an eight-year-old child who had only awakened his soul two years ago?

Dugu Bo was absolutely stunned. He stared at the child, his face full of disbelief. Could this be a dream? How could such an absurd thing happen in reality?

Eight years old! A Soul Master at the rank of Soul Elder at the age of eight!

This was insane! If it weren't for the fact that he was sure Li Chang'an was human, Dugu Bo might have suspected that this child was a transformed soul beast who was undergoing reincarnation!

Such a rapid growth in soul power—was that even possible for a human?

Eight years old! An eight-year-old Soul Master!

Dugu Bo nearly felt like he was losing his mind. In comparison, his own age made him feel as though he had lived far too long.

More importantly, this child had already reached the rank of Soul Master at the age of eight, so if he put in some effort, it might not be entirely impossible for him to become a Title Douluo before the age of thirty.

Eight years old! Eight years old!

Such a rare and incredible genius—where else could one find someone like this?

Thinking of this, Dugu Bo's face, which was wrinkled and full of age, broke into a warm, affectionate smile, like a blooming chrysanthemum. His gaze toward Li Chang'an softened, now resembling the look he would give his own grandson.

"Good! Good lad!"

He patted Li Chang'an gently on the shoulder and spoke in a kind tone, "Since you've proven your talent, then I'll approve of your relationship with Yanzi. If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, feel free to consult me. I'll guide you to avoid unnecessary detours, and help you become a Title Douluo as quickly as possible."

"Thank you, senior."

Li Chang'an hurriedly expressed his thanks. He was surprised by how easily Dugu Bo agreed to their relationship after learning about his talent. He had initially planned to use the ability of his martial soul to absorb toxins as leverage to sway Dugu Bo's opinion, but now that wasn't necessary.

"Hm? What did you just call me?" Dugu Bo squinted his eyes, looking at Li Chang'an with a hint of curiosity.

"...Grandfather."

Li Chang'an reacted quickly, immediately changing his address.

"Hmm."

Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction, pleased by Li Chang'an's quick wit.

Meanwhile, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, was utterly confused.

Her mind hadn't quite caught up yet. After all, just moments ago, her grandfather had been adamantly opposed to their relationship. But now, after the bone examination, his attitude had changed completely. He even made Li Chang'an call him "grandfather."

Could she really not be dreaming?

At this moment, Li Chang'an walked over to her side, took her hand, and happily said, "Yanzi, it's great! Grandfather has already agreed to us being together."

"But... why did grandfather suddenly..." Dugu Yan asked, still puzzled. Although she was happy, she couldn't understand why her grandfather had such a drastic change of heart. She even wondered if this was just a tactic to stall her, a way of calming her down for the time being. Perhaps he never truly intended for them to be together?

"Uh... this involves a small secret of mine. I'll tell you about it later. For now, just promise me you won't ask any questions. Okay?" Li Chang'an quickly responded, hoping to avoid revealing that he was only eight years old. If that fact came to light, it might make him seem unreliable.

After all, although people in the Douluo world generally mature early and marry in their early teens, eight years old was still considered too young. And there was a seven-year age difference between him and Dugu Yan. He was worried that she might think him too immature and not truly in love with her, which could lead her to abandon the relationship.

After all the effort he'd put into convincing Dugu Yan and securing a powerful ally, not to mention that the precious elixir he sought was within reach, he couldn't afford to lose everything over such a trivial reason.

"Mm, I won't ask," Dugu Yan replied, seeing that he was uncomfortable. She nodded but couldn't help but wonder what the secret was.

Infront of them stood a peculiar lake.

What made it strange was the color of the water, which wasn't transparent but was instead a mix of milky white and crimson.

Even more astonishing was that despite the two colors existing within the same body of water, they remained perfectly separated—each color occupying its own side, not mixing.

"This... What a bizarre sight! The wonders of nature truly are beyond words!" Li Chang'an gazed at the lake, marveling at its unusual, clear division of colors.

"It's magnificent, right? When I first saw it as a child, I was also shocked," Dugu Yan said, her face carrying a smile. She spoke with a touch of pride. "And this place is magical—plants that grow here develop incredibly fast. Grandpa has planted many medicinal herbs in this area."

The reason they were there was because Dugu Yab had taken the initiative to bring Li Chang'an. This place, which was essentially her "home," was a place she wanted to show her boyfriend for the first time.

Li Chang'an hadn't expected to be brought to this unique location so quickly. He was planning to find a way to suggest they explore, but Dugu Yab had already anticipated it.

"Plants grow faster here?"

Li Chang'an, hearing her words, furrowed his brows, muttering to himself, "...This sounds so familiar... Like I've read about it somewhere before."

"What's wrong, Chang'an Gege?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.

"I think I saw something similar in an ancient book. Let me recall..." Li Chang'an gestured for Dugu Yan not to disturb his thoughts and began to think deeply, putting on a focused expression.

"..." Dugu Yan complied and stayed silent, patiently waiting by his side.

After a few minutes, Li Chang'an finally relaxed his furrowed brows, then looked around with a mix of disbelief and astonishment in his eyes.

"Chang'an Gege, did you remember something?" Du Guniang asked, her curiosity piqued.

"The Gathering Treasure Basin!"

"This place... It's the legendary Gathering Treasure Basin!"

Li Chang'an exclaimed in astonishment.

"The Gathering Treasure Basin? What's that, Chang'an Gege?" Du Guniang asked, confused by his excitement.

"It's something I read about in a book that cataloged rare medicinal herbs," Li Chang'an explained, his emotions beginning to settle. He eagerly continued, "It not only documented many rare and precious plants but also recorded the locations of the three great Gathering Treasure Basins."

"The so-called 'Gathering Treasure' refers not to gold or precious items but to a special environment for growing medicinal herbs. In these three locations, ordinary plants can't survive because they can't adapt to the unique climate, but these Gathering Treasure Basins are the birthplace of rare plants."

"They accelerate the growth of these rare plants, making them mature much faster. For example, if a herb like Lingzhi grows in any of the three Gathering Treasure Basins for ten years, it will have the same effect as one that's been growing for a hundred years."

The three Gathering Treasure Basins have unique and irreplaceable conditions. According to the book, they are places where the essence of heaven and earth converges."

Looking at the lake before him, Li Chang'an finally realized the significance of the place. He was visibly excited.

"This place, the Ice Fire Yin-Yang Well, is one of the Gathering Treasure Basins!"

"Indeed, the name fits perfectly," Dugu Yan nodded in agreement, casting a glance at the extraordinary lake. She didn't yet understand the significance of this place and thus remained calm.

(End of Chapter)