Antidote Method

Xu Mingxi took off his black robe, walked out of the private room, and headed toward Dugu Xin, who was waiting outside.

Ever since coming out, Dugu Xin had kept his attention on the private room. When he saw Xu Mingxi reveal his face and walk toward him, he was momentarily stunned.

He had seen this face before. Although four years had passed since the Soul Master Competition, he still had some impression of Xu Mingxi's face.

After all, Xu Mingxi was the only one young enough to participate in the next Soul Master Competition.

Everyone had assumed that he would continue studying at Canghui Academy, lead a team in the next Soul Master Competition, and display his talents. No one had expected Xu Mingxi to apply for graduation directly, with no news of him for four years.

"Senior Dugu Xin, would you do me the honor?"

Xu Mingxi stepped aside and raised a hand, pointing toward another private room.

This private room had naturally been reserved in advance as well. It was one thing for seven people to discuss matters together, but they could hardly sleep in the same room. Since Dugu Xin had something to ask of them, he naturally did not refuse and followed Xu Mingxi inside.

"Senior Dugu, please have a seat. Judging by your expression just now, you recognized me, didn't you?"

"Of course. I would not dare forget the youngest contestant in the Soul Master Competition."

"You flatter me, Senior. We agree to your terms. Once the matter is done, the Two-Thousand-Year Soul Bone will be presented to you."

Dugu Xin felt somewhat disappointed. What he wanted more was medicine capable of detoxification, though a soul bone was not bad either. At the very least, Qing'er's future path would be easier.

But Xu Mingxi's next words sent his heart into his throat.

"If I am not mistaken, the poison afflicting you, Senior, should be the deadly toxin produced by the Jade Phosphorous Serpent itself."

Dugu Xin shot to his feet. The last traces of color vanished from his already stiff, pallid face. This was the Dugu Family's greatest secret.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Allow me to introduce myself again. Xu Mingxi of the Star Crown Sect. Senior Dugu, there is no need to be nervous. The only reason I know of this is that one of my sect's ancestors once knew a Jade Phosphorous Serpent soul master."

Dugu Xin forcibly suppressed his fear and sat back down, though his hands still could not stop trembling.

He was only a Level 56 Soul King now. He had only reached Moon Lake by chance with several friends.

That time, they had become lost while tracking a Twenty-Thousand-Year Man-Faced Demon Spider.

Although they had reacted in time and turned back, their group had consisted of more than a dozen people. The weakest among them had been Soul Kings, and there had even been two Soul Saints. Yet in the end, only three survived.

Though Dugu Xin had been fortunate enough to live, he had also overexerted himself. The poison had seeped deep into his bones, turning more than half his hair green overnight.

"Since that is the case, I ask that Young Master Xu keep this secret."

"Of course. However, my ancestor's notes also recorded something else. It seemed to concern delaying the onset of the poison. Does Senior wish to know?"

Dugu Xin's heart pounded wildly. This poison had plagued the Dugu Family for far too long.

If not for this poison, his father would have become a Titled Douluo long ago.

He forced himself to remain calm, but even his words trembled. "Is that so? Then what does Young Master Xu wish to obtain from me?"

"Senior misunderstands. I merely wish to make friends with you, and with Senior Dugu Bo behind you."

"If it truly works, then you will be the eternal friend of my Dugu Family."

After saying so much, this was the sentence Xu Mingxi had been waiting for. He took a slip of paper from his robes and handed it to Dugu Xin.

"This method may also require certain medicinal treatments. My ancestor's notes did not record those. That will have to depend on Senior Dugu Bo."

Dugu Xin took the slip of paper and looked at it. His expression changed at once. Soul bones.

However, for a Soul Douluo Family, lower-year soul bones were still obtainable.

At worst, they could simply slaughter their way through the Soul Beast Forest. The Dugu Family excelled at killing, especially mass killing.

At last, there was a solution. As for the supplementary medicine, he believed his father, who had studied Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom for his entire life, would find a way.

"Good. If this method is effective, my Dugu Family will remember Young Master Xu's kindness."

Dugu Xin hurriedly bade Xu Mingxi farewell and had a trusted friend in the town urgently deliver the news to Dugu Bo.

Once one entered the Star Dou Great Forest, no one could guarantee that they would emerge unscathed.

Dugu Xin also feared that he might accidentally die inside, so he hurried to send the news to his father first.

After this, Dugu Xin trusted Xu Mingxi and the others somewhat more. At the very least, he no longer had to fear them attacking him from the shadows.

After resting for a day, Dugu Xin led the group into the Star Dou Great Forest, heading toward Moon Lake.

Meanwhile, far away in Heaven Dou City, Dugu Bo opened the letter his son had sent by urgent horseback courier.

The moment he read the beginning, his expression changed drastically. He quickly scanned through the rest.

Before long, after finishing the letter, Dugu Bo slumped into his chair.

"There's hope. There's hope. Xin'er can be saved."

Dugu Bo hurried to his medicinal garden and began testing which herbs could assist in resolving the poison.

But in the medicinal garden he kept in Heaven Dou City, while the medicines were plentiful and varied, they were all ordinary herbs.

"No, no, no. This one won't do either."

After carefully picking through them, Dugu Bo found none to his liking. He began considering entering a Soul Beast Forest to search for precious herbs.

Xu Mingxi had no idea that because of him, Dugu Bo had entered the Sunset Forest ahead of schedule. Their group of eight, clad in black robes, was speeding through the Star Dou Great Forest.

The First Elder and two assault-type elders took positions at the front and rear. The Second Elder and two control-type Soul Douluo elders formed a triangular formation, while Xu Mingxi, the Fourth Elder, and Dugu Xin were protected in the middle.

While pointing out the way, Dugu Xin secretly glanced at Xu Mingxi. Only then did he remember Xu Mingxi's introduction back then—he was from the Star Crown Sect.

Just from what Dugu Xin could see, the person at the very front was a Titled Douluo, while the one at his side was a Soul Douluo.

And the others were clearly no weaker. With strength like this, they were nearly on par with the Upper Three Sects. How could Dugu Xin not be terrified?

Moreover, he already knew that this trip was to help Xu Mingxi obtain his Fifth Soul Ring.

What kind of force could dispatch such a lineup to help a disciple obtain his Fifth Soul Ring? And what kind of genius disciple was worthy of such a lineup?

Dugu Xin recalled Xu Mingxi's face from back then, then thought of the Xu Mingxi he had seen two days ago. He dared to say with certainty that Xu Mingxi had definitely not been eighteen back then. He was probably about eighteen now.

For a moment, Dugu Xin did not know whether he should be happy that he had found a solution to the poison, or happy that his family had latched onto such a massive backer.

"Senior Dugu, we should be almost there, right?"

"Uh, yes, yes. We've already entered the inner region. Moon Lake is another three or four days' journey away."

Xu Mingxi's words brought Dugu Xin back to his senses. He no longer dared to look around and focused on serving as their guide.