Dugu Bo

"Netherworld Hundred Claws." Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up at the sight, and her speed surged instantly.

Her attack was about to hit Dugu Yan.

But Li Xun suddenly appeared between them.

Startled, Zhu Zhuqing quickly dispersed her skill to avoid accidentally hurting Li Xun.

Li Xun had no choice but to intervene.

For the past year, he had been waiting for Dugu Yan to show symptoms of poisoning.

But perhaps because she was still too young and her Soul Power Level was low, Dugu Yan had appeared perfectly healthy all along.

Now that the symptoms had finally emerged during battle, if Zhu Zhuqing's skill had struck and injured her, who knew how badly things would escalate with Dugu Bo's temperament.

Li Xun spread his arms and caught Zhu Zhuqing, who was rushing toward him at high speed, in a full embrace.

Given Zhu Zhuqing's speed, the force of the impact was easy to imagine.

To bleed off the force, Li Xun held Zhu Zhuqing and spun around several times before coming to a steady stop.

"Zhuqing, Sister Yan's condition isn't right. Stop for now."

After saying that, Li Xun set Zhu Zhuqing down and headed toward Dugu Yan.

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed. She answered softly, then hurried after him in quick, small steps.

Being held in Li Xun's arms and spun around in front of so many people had left her mind in a daze.

"What happened, Brother?" Ning Rongrong ran over from afar, her face filled with panic.

Because of her Martial Soul, Ning Rongrong had been relatively idle, and she had been able to see everything happening in the arena.

When she saw Li Xun suddenly appear and pull Zhu Zhuqing into his arms—

Her mind buzzed.

Only when she saw Li Xun walk toward Dugu Yan did she come back to her senses.

She hurried over to ask what had happened.

The others present also noticed the situation and quickly stopped fighting.

Li Xun took Dugu Yan's pulse. "Sister Yan has been poisoned, and it isn't an ordinary toxin."

"Poisoned?"

"Sister Yan is an expert at using poison. How could she be poisoned?"

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong asked in shock.

"Precisely because she is an expert with poison, she has suffered its backlash." Li Xun pondered for a moment. "We should notify Senior Dugu first and see whether he has a solution."

Upon hearing that, the Shi Mo brothers hurriedly ran outside.

Perhaps because this was the first outbreak, the poison had erupted with particular ferocity. Dugu Yan was already unconscious.

No matter how they called to her, she did not respond. The group could only carefully carry Dugu Yan back to her dormitory.

Not long after,

Dugu Bo rushed over with an anxious expression.

When he saw Dugu Yan lying unconscious, even with the strength of a Titled Douluo, his steps nearly faltered.

"Yan Yan, you have to hold on."

Dugu Bo's brows were tightly furrowed, his face full of grief as he gently held Dugu Yan's hand.

His son had already died from the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison.

If his granddaughter followed in his footsteps, he truly did not know what courage he would have left to keep living.

Did heaven truly insist on making him suffer the pain of losing his loved ones?

Li Xun watched quietly from the side.

Dugu Bo's heart was unsettled right now. Disturbing him rashly might lead to an argument.

He needed to speak with Dugu Bo after he had calmed down.

Perhaps because it was the first outbreak, Dugu Yan recovered very slowly.

"You should all go back and rest first. I'll stay here and watch over her. I'll call you once Sister Yan wakes up."

After seeing everyone off, Li Xun returned to the room and found Dugu Bo walking out of the bedroom.

"Senior Dugu, have Sister Yan's symptoms eased?" Li Xun asked solemnly.

He and Dugu Bo had discussed the Medicine Dao more than once, so there was no need for him to be overly cautious with his words.

This was also the persona he had consistently shown Dugu Bo.

"A little."

Dugu Bo sighed. "Kid, you've noticed it too, haven't you?"

Over the past few years, he and Dugu Yan had spent plenty of time around each other, often discussing matters related to poison.

Dugu Bo did not know Li Xun's exact level.

But sometimes, the ideas and knowledge Li Xun displayed were enough to make even him take notice.

It was just that Li Xun was far too young for Dugu Bo to treat him as someone on the same level.

"Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison. If I couldn't recognize even that, then all these years of studying the Medicine Dao would have been wasted."

Li Xun walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured two cups. He pushed one of them forward.

Dugu Bo sat down, picked up the tea, and drained it in one gulp. "The Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul is incredibly domineering. It harms not only enemies, but its wielder as well."

"Only after reaching the rank of Titled Douluo can one suppress the poison's outbreaks. Otherwise, death may come at any time."

Li Xun filled his cup again. "Only a Titled Douluo can suppress it? Doesn't that mean Sister Yan is in danger of dying at any moment?"

Dugu Bo fell silent for a long while before lifting his cup and taking a sip. "Yan Yan's father died from the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison. And though I am a Titled Douluo, I too have suffered greatly from this serpent poison."

He had lost his father in childhood, his wife in middle age, and his son in old age. Now eighty years old, he had endured torment for decades and had long since taken his own life and death lightly.

The only thing he could not let go of was the bond of blood and family.

"Would you allow this junior to take your pulse?"

Li Xun frowned and pondered for a moment. "Even if it is only a desperate struggle."

"Heh, good kid. Then let's see how you plan to make me struggle."

Li Xun's words amused Dugu Bo despite himself.

He and Yan Yan had not reached the brink of life and death yet. Was this kid cursing the two of them?

Dugu Bo extended his arm before Li Xun. "Take a good look. If you can't find anything, I'll whip you even in front of Ning Fengzhi."

"Please don't blame me, Senior. I misspoke." Li Xun grinned.

Li Xun slowly placed his fingers on Dugu Bo's wrist, the expression on his face shifting from time to time.

At times he looked pained, at times he frowned, and at times he sighed.

Dugu Bo's eyelids began twitching wildly as he watched. "Kid, you may be examining me, but can't you manage your expressions?"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think I was about to die."

Li Xun ignored him. "Senior Dugu, if this junior told you that I could cure both your poison and Sister Yan's, would you believe me?"

Dugu Bo froze, half doubtful and half convinced. "Kid, are you joking with me?"

"I've studied the Poison Dao for decades without finding a solution. Are you saying that after studying for a few years, you can surpass me?"

Li Xun chuckled. "Senior, it is precisely because you have studied the Poison Dao for decades that you have been unable to find a solution."

"A physician cannot treat himself!"

"Besides, I have heard of divine physicians, but never of divine poison physicians."

That was true.

If he relied only on what he had learned these past few years, he would not have been able to resolve the serpent poison afflicting Dugu Bo and his granddaughter.

But before studying the Medicine Dao, he had read a book.

That book had directly provided the solution. What could Li Xun do? He could only silently bear with it.

"That does make some sense. Go on, then."

Dugu Bo nodded, seeming to approve of Li Xun's words. His tone also softened considerably.

"There are two methods."

"The first is to find a Soul Bone, preferably one from the same type as the Martial Soul, or a Soul Bone from a poison-attributed Spirit Beast."

"Force the poison into the Soul Bone."

Li Xun slowly raised one finger. "Of course, this method is only suitable for Sister Yan. Senior Dugu, your poisoning runs too deep, and the toxins within your body are too mixed. This method can only treat the symptoms."

"Of course, if you can find a legendary External Soul Bone, then pretend I said nothing."