Anti-Poison Pills

"Master Xia, are you all right?" Dugu Yan asked.

"I'm fine." With that reply, Xia Liang headed straight for the cafeteria.

The sooner, the better. After lunch, he wanted to return to the hotel as quickly as possible and make preparations for entering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

However, to prevent Dugu Bo from going out and suddenly returning for some herbs, he definitely could not act today. Otherwise, if Dugu Bo caught him red-handed near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he would be finished.

After saying a few words to Yu Tianheng and the others, Dugu Yan ran up alone and followed beside Xia Liang. With a hint of apology, she said, "Master Xia, I'm sorry. Last time, you told me about Ring Fusion and External Mixed Poison, giving me a way to improve my strength. I should have thanked you, but not only did I fail to do that, my grandfather treated you like that just now."

"Actually, my grandfather only pressured you because he wanted to test the defensive limits of your Martial Soul. He meant nothing else by it."

Xia Liang glanced at Dugu Yan and deliberately said in a gloomy tone, "Who knows whether your grandfather will come looking for trouble again? I can defend against your poison, but how am I supposed to defend against his? If he really wants to kill me, I'll definitely be poisoned to death. Sigh."

"You're being far too pessimistic, aren't you?" Dugu Yan frowned. "If my grandfather had really wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead!"

Xia Liang smiled with a trace of sarcasm. "Everyone knows your grandfather's temperament is unpredictable. Maybe he didn't kill me today because he was in a good mood. But if he has a bad day someday, he might want to poison someone to death to vent his frustration. Wouldn't I become his target then?"

"Now that you put it that way, it really does sound like my grandfather's style. In that case, I'll give you something to protect yourself with."

As she spoke, Dugu Yan took out a Medicine Bottle from her Ring Soul Tool and handed it over.

Taking the Medicine Bottle, Xia Liang examined it for a while. It was a thumb-sized blue-green porcelain bottle, with granular objects shaking around inside. They were probably pills of some kind.

"The Poison Pills inside this bottle were refined by my grandfather using Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison as a Medicinal Ingredient. They're Poison Pills, but they aren't toxic at all. More precisely, they're Anti-Poison Pills that can strengthen the body's resistance to poison. If you take one before refining any poison, you won't need to worry about being infected by toxins. You can open it and have a look."

Following Dugu Yan's instructions, Xia Liang opened the cap of the Medicine Bottle. In an instant, the distinctive fishy odor of Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison rushed into his face.

Strangely enough, despite inhaling that odor, he showed no signs of poisoning.

After shaking the bottle, Xia Liang found several dark green pill beads the size of natto beans inside. These should have been the Anti-Poison Pills Dugu Yan had mentioned.

"Can this thing resist your grandfather's serpent poison?" Xia Liang asked tentatively.

"What are you thinking?" Dugu Yan said. "My grandfather is a Titled Douluo. Other than a Titled Douluo, no one can resist his poison. The Anti-Poison Pills I gave you can at most resist the Martial Soul poison of a seven-ring Soul Saint for a short time. However, since the pills use my grandfather's Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison as a Medicinal Ingredient, taking them does grant a certain degree of resistance to Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison from the same lineage."

"Although they can't make you completely immune to my grandfather's serpent poison, they can keep you safe for three seconds. Listen carefully: the Anti-Poison Pills in this Medicine Bottle aren't for you to use against my grandfather's serpent poison. They're a token of friendship. Osler and Ling Ling have them too."

"If my grandfather really comes looking for trouble with you, take out the Anti-Poison Pills. Once he knows you're a friend I recognize, he won't kill you. But let me remind you of something: if you cross my grandfather's bottom line, there's only one road left for you—death."

After listening to Dugu Yan, Xia Liang asked curiously, "Why did your grandfather give you these Anti-Poison Pills? Were they really just meant as tokens?"

"How could that be?" Dugu Yan said. "I already told you, these Anti-Poison Pills prevent you from being infected by toxins when refining poison. Once my body has resistance to poison, I can safely prepare all kinds of antidotes and poisons."

Although Dugu Yan's answer sounded reasonable, Xia Liang still felt something was off.

Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison was the superior form of Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison.

Judging from Dugu Yan's description, the Anti-Poison Pills used Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison as a Medicinal Ingredient, then suppressed its toxicity with other medicinal herbs, allowing them to resist the harm Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison caused to the body to a certain extent.

If that was the case, these Anti-Poison Pills were very likely Dugu Bo's temporary measure for easing the backlash of Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison on Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan had concealed the Anti-Poison Pills' true purpose for herself because she clearly did not want to reveal that secret to outsiders.

Looking at the six dark green pills inside the Medicine Bottle, Xia Liang thought for a moment before saying, "These Anti-Poison Pills seem rather important to you. How about you take a few back? I only need three for protection."

"No need." Dugu Yan answered with certainty. "Every time my grandfather goes on a long trip, he leaves plenty of them for me at home. You don't need to worry about me."

"Aren't you afraid he might forget to leave some for you in a moment of carelessness?" Xia Liang reminded her.

"I'm my grandfather's only family. How could he possibly neglect anything concerning me? If even he doesn't care about me, then who would? You?"

After saying that, Dugu Yan blinked at Xia Liang, her expression carrying a clear hint of flirtation.

Xia Liang avoided Dugu Yan's affectionate gaze. Right now, all he could think about was the Immortal Herb opportunity so close at hand. He was in no mood for jokes.

"These Anti-Poison Pills are repayment for giving me the ideas for Ring Fusion and External Mixed Poison. Master Xia, we're even now. As we agreed before, once I master External Mixed Poison, we'll have another Soul Fight. When that time comes, I really want to see you kneel and beg me to detoxify you."

By the time she finished the last word, Dugu Yan had already run back to Yu Tianheng and the others.

After sealing the Medicine Bottle and storing it in the Silver Bracelet, Xia Liang continued toward the cafeteria. He felt that if Dugu Yan mastered Ring Fusion and External Mixed Poison, her strength would definitely undergo a qualitative leap.

Unfortunately, by the time they fought another Soul Fight, he should already have gained Ice-Fire Immunity and a body Immune to All Poisons.

That night.

Wodefake Grand Hotel.

Inside the room.

Xia Liang sat before the tea table.

On the tea table lay the Silver Bracelet, the Three-colored Ring, and the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch.

Among these three Storage Soul Tools, the Silver Bracelet could only store ten items, making it the lowest-grade Soul Tool.

The finely crafted Three-colored Ring was a top-grade Soul Tool Xia Liang had picked up in the Extreme North Land. He still did not know which Soul Master it had belonged to. If he rashly wore it on his hand, he might be recognized by that Soul Master's family.

Therefore, Xia Liang usually showed others the Silver Bracelet. He always kept space for five items empty inside it, so any extra items he received could be stored directly inside, then transferred to the Three-colored Ring when he returned to the hotel.

He had truly gained quite a lot today.

Not only had he become acquainted with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, but he had also received the Gold Card containing thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins from Qin Ming.

His greatest gain should have been the six Anti-Poison Pills Dugu Yan had given him.