Ring Fusion, External Mixed Poison

"I'd previously encountered some clients with poison-type martial souls while working with the Mercenary Group. I heard them mention a technique called mixed poison."

As he said this, Xia Liang smiled with a hint of mockery. "What a pity. You may be Poison Douluo's granddaughter, but your talent for using poison is terrible. With this little skill of yours, you can only poison Soul Masters whose martial souls are weaker than yours. The moment you encounter a powerful martial soul or an opponent who understands poison, your only outcome will be defeat."

After hearing this, Dugu Yan unconsciously clenched her fists.

"If you understand, then go back." Xia Liang's voice sounded again. "Rather than fighting another spirit battle with me now, you should go back and practice mixed poison first."

"You think I don't want to?"

The frustration in Dugu Yan's heart made her blood rush to her head. She stared at Xia Liang unwillingly. "You think my mixed poison is trash because I have no talent for using poison?"

"For Soul Masters with poison-type martial souls, the poison of their martial souls is provided by Soul Ring Skills. Activating Soul Ring Skills requires the Soul Power within their bodies. If one wants to fuse the poisons produced by multiple Soul Ring Skills into true mixed poison, it must be done within the body."

At that point, Dugu Yan's voice abruptly stopped. If she continued, she would be revealing the secret of Jade Phosphorous Serpent Soul Masters.

Yet if she did not say it, she would continue to be misunderstood and looked down upon. That sense of grievance was simply too unbearable.

After pondering for a moment, Dugu Yan said with some reservation, "The poison of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul is too powerful. If mixed poison is fused inside the body, it will injure the Soul Master in return. My grandfather simply refuses to teach me, much less let me practice it. So my mixed poison is trash not because I lack talent for using poison!"

Hearing this explanation, Xia Liang smiled in understanding. Although Dugu Yan had deliberately avoided the topic of Serpent Poison Backlash, he could still say in front of Dugu Bo later that Dugu Yan had let it slip.

"What are you laughing at?" Dugu Yan felt humiliated.

"Nothing. Mixed poison does not necessarily have to be fused inside the body."

Xia Liang offered a reminder. "The energy of two or more Soul Rings can be fused together. You've heard of the technique called Ring Fusion, right? If you learn Ring Fusion, fusing Soul Ring poison outside the body will actually be very simple."

"First fuse the poisons of the First Soul Ring and Second Soul Ring. Once you succeed, add the poison of the Third Soul Ring. Continue in that manner. When the poisons of all nine Soul Rings become one, not only will they no longer harm your body from within, they will create the terrifying effect of poison piled upon poison. Wouldn't that be External Mixed Poison?"

After saying that, Xia Liang gave the move a name in his heart: Super Toxin Fusion, Buddha's Wrath Poison Lotus—throw it at anyone, and they die.

Unfortunately, he had no poison abilities and could not create such a move himself, so he could only offer the idea to Dugu Yan.

If Dugu Yan passed this method of External Mixed Poison on to Dugu Bo, and it caught Dugu Bo's interest, it would be extremely advantageous for Xia Liang's future contact with him.

The moment she heard the words "Ring Fusion," the resentment in Dugu Yan's heart had already turned into astonishment.

By the time she heard the full process for creating External Mixed Poison, all her negative emotions had been replaced by shock.

This was clearly an idea for a Self-Created Soul Skill, wasn't it? On the continent, Self-Created Soul Skills were exceedingly rare. Besides Soul Ring Skills, Soul Bone Skills, and domain skills, they were the fourth kind of power unique to Soul Masters.

If she learned this so-called Ring Fusion and External Mixed Poison, her strength would increase enormously!

"Why are you telling me this?" Dugu Yan looked at Xia Liang in confusion.

"Are you happy?" Xia Liang teased.

Dugu Yan froze. Her gaze instinctively shifted away, and for a moment, she did not know what to say.

"If you lose, you can recognize your shortcomings and work to improve them. Don't you now know how to improve your strength?"

Xia Liang looked at Dugu Yan. "So don't think losing to me twice earlier was a humiliation. No one in this world never loses."

"Then you've lost too?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.

"No." Xia Liang smiled. "I was just comforting you."

"You—"

Dugu Yan stopped herself mid-sentence. After a moment of silence, a trace of resolve finally appeared in her eyes. "I don't want to lose to you for the rest of my life. Once I learn the Ring Fusion and External Mixed Poison you mentioned, I want another spirit battle with you. Name whatever wager you want. I can prepare it in advance."

"Forget it. There's nothing left on you that I want."

As he spoke, Xia Liang looked Dugu Yan over from head to toe. After pondering for a moment, he joked, "Unless you use yourself as the wager. If you lose, you'll acknowledge me as your boss. Whatever I say, you do, without a single complaint. Of course, if you don't dare to bet, then pretend I said nothing. And don't come bothering me again."

Dugu Yan gave a dark smile. "I already know your defensive weakness. Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison is powerful to begin with. Once I master an even stronger External Mixed Poison, do you really think I'll still lose to you?"

"Who knows?" Xia Liang raised an eyebrow. "If you lose a second time, there'll be a third time."

Dugu Yan could not stand this provocation any longer. "Fine. I'll wager myself. If I lose, I'll acknowledge you as my boss. Whatever you tell me to do, I won't utter a single complaint!"

"Really?" Xia Liang took a step forward, his expression turning playful.

"Really." Dugu Yan answered and took a step forward as well.

It was not her first time encountering someone pretending to be a lecher. The best way to deal with such people was to strike back by being even more shameless.

"Whatever I tell you to do, you truly won't complain at all?" Xia Liang asked, looking into Dugu Yan's eyes.

"Of course. Even if you tell me to lie on a bed, strip naked, and stick my ass up, I won't resist." Dugu Yan's eyes were seductive, and she deliberately spoke with a sultry tone.

After asking that question, Xia Liang had thought Dugu Yan would shyly turn away or change the subject. He had not expected this woman to answer so boldly and directly, leaving him in an awkward position instead.

If he showed weakness or backed down now, he would definitely become a laughingstock later.

So Xia Liang chose to take another step forward.

Dugu Yan refused to be outdone and stepped closer as well. The two stared at each other, their faces drawing nearer and nearer, yet neither of them blushed.

At this point, their faces were practically pressed together. If a passing student accidentally bumped into either one of them, they would definitely kiss.

"You two..." An abrupt voice rang out.

Dugu Yan and Xia Liang both turned toward the voice and discovered that it was Qin Ming.

"Teacher Qin?"

The instant she came to her senses, Dugu Yan hurriedly stepped back and put distance between herself and Xia Liang. Her bold, direct demeanor from moments ago immediately became much more restrained.

Qin Ming looked at Dugu Yan, who seemed guilty as a thief, then at Xia Liang, whose lips carried a smile. He seemed to understand something and said apologetically, "Looks like I came at the wrong time. Have you two developed feelings for each other? Being this intimate in public isn't good."

"Teacher, what nonsense are you talking about!" Dugu Yan immediately denied it. "It's not what you think. I was just joking around with him."

Qin Ming walked over and patted Dugu Yan on the shoulder. "You don't need to explain. I was young once too. The academy doesn't oppose its students dating. Yan, you're seventeen already. It really is time you gave this some thought."

Dugu Yan frowned. "Teacher, you didn't come here just to make fun of me, did you?"

"Of course not." As he spoke, Qin Ming looked toward Xia Liang and asked, "Master Xia, have you considered the answer I gave you three days ago?"

Xia Liang nodded. "I've thought it through. It's not convenient to talk here, Teacher Qin. Why don't we go to a private room on the second floor of the cafeteria?"

Academy Cafeteria.

Second-Floor Private Room.

After sending Dugu Yan away, Xia Liang and Qin Ming entered a private room on the second floor.

Neither of them ordered food. They merely sat at the table and discussed whether Xia Liang would join Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After hearing Xia Liang's explanation, Qin Ming fell into thought. He had never imagined that a student could join an academy in such a manner.

Registered student—this was Xia Liang's answer to Qin Ming.

A registered student was someone who temporarily left the academy to engage in other activities, such as traveling for training or working, while retaining their student status.

He would work at the academy as a chef and enjoy all the Cultivation Resources the academy provided during that time. After graduation, he would also be known as a graduate of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

If he had the chance to become a Titled Douluo in the future, then he would be a genius cultivated by Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

If he became a heinous criminal, the academy could also claim that he was not one of its students.

This was undoubtedly beneficial for the academy.

What made Qin Ming hesitate was that he had invited Master Xia to join the academy because he valued his cultivation talent and Martial Soul abilities.

With Master Xia joining them in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament three years from now, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team would gain another trump card.

With the Skeleton Martial Soul's Rib Defense and Arm Attack, Ye Lingling, the healing-system Soul Master, could be kept safe with absolute certainty.

Moreover, Master Xia came from a Mercenary Group and possessed exceptional combat instincts honed through dealing with all kinds of Soul Beasts.

If he could become a Soul Ancestor three years from now and defeat a Soul King across ranks, then the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team's chances of winning the Elite Tournament would greatly increase.

Unfortunately, Master Xia had refused to participate in the Elite Tournament from the very beginning. He said that he feared his overly outstanding talent and strength would draw the wariness or recruitment attempts of other forces.

"Teacher Qin, if the academy agrees to let me remain a registered student, I can join the academy. If not, then I can only refuse."

Xia Liang got straight to the point. "As for my Third Soul Ring, I did come from a Mercenary Group, so I have some connections. I can go obtain it with them. There's no need to trouble the academy."

After pondering for a moment, Qin Ming yielded. "All right. I agree to let you join the academy as a registered student. Afterward, I'll report the situation to the Three Education Commissioners. They are all Seniors who cherish talent. I think that even if you don't take part in the Elite Tournament, they will still help you obtain a Soul Ring. So long as your future achievements do not disappoint the academy's investment of resources in you."

Hearing this, Xia Liang was overjoyed. He was glad that he could obtain a top-quality Third Soul Ring without having to risk his life alone.

What pleased him even more was that all the Cultivation Resources of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were now open to him.

He could even enter the Library, which contained the entire knowledge base of the Heaven Dou Empire, to read its books.

It was said that the Library of Heaven Dou Royal Academy had books related to the technique of Ring Fusion.

If he could learn to fuse the power of Soul Rings, then perhaps he could one day develop a life-risking skill similar to the Clear Sky Hammer's Ring Detonation. That would benefit his future development.