An Agreement

"Using water to control poison..." Dugu Bo murmured those four words, his eyes gradually growing brighter.

"Yes, yes. Water can contain poison. While the Water Element eases the poison's effects on me, it will not weaken my poison techniques. It may even take them to the next level.

"Any other element might trigger the poison within me and kill me, but the Water Element will not. Water can contain all things. Good, good, good—your suggestion is truly excellent."

Dugu Bo was overjoyed. He had thought this was all there would be to his life, yet he had unexpectedly found new hope here.

Not only that, his granddaughter now had a way to survive the poison in her bloodline. The gloom that had built up in his heart for so many years instantly dispersed.

"Thank you, Chen Feng... Grandmaster. You truly are an academic genius," Dugu Bo said earnestly.

Chen Feng shook his head and said, "Senior, just call me Chen Feng. I am not really any kind of genius—I merely stand on the shoulders of giants.

"Also, you are celebrating a little too early. Immortal Herbs are not so easy to obtain, much less Water-Attribute ones. We might even have to search at sea. And even if we find one, you cannot use it carelessly. If something like that is not consumed through the proper method, it may do more harm than good."

No water-element immortal herb had appeared in the original work, so Chen Feng could offer no information on the matter.

"That is true." Dugu Bo nodded. Remembering the assorted herbs in his own medicinal garden, he gradually calmed down.

Though he could not identify precisely what those medicinal herbs were, judging from their appearance and the strange phenomena around them, there did not seem to be any herbs related to the Water Element.

The closest was likely the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass Chen Feng had mentioned. It was an Ice-Attribute immortal herb, but Dugu Bo could not use it—especially not by itself.

After thinking for a while, he nodded and said, "I fear... I will have to travel across the continent. As for the sea, I will not consider it for now. Although Water-Attribute immortal herbs are more likely to appear there, that is the domain of Sea Spirit Masters. I doubt I would gain any advantage by going."

"It is good that you have a plan. You may not necessarily fail to find Water-Attribute immortal herbs on the continent." Chen Feng nodded, then added, "Actually, I think you need not set your sights so high from the start. If you cannot find Immortal Herbs for the time being, you can use slightly inferior ones. Water-Attribute herbs at the thousand-year or ten-thousand-year level should still be within your reach."

"Would herbs at the thousand-year or ten-thousand-year level be useful?" Dugu Bo asked doubtfully.

Chen Feng smiled. "Senior, you must understand: soil piled up becomes a mountain, and water gathered becomes a deep pool. Nothing happens overnight. First, use lower-grade Water-Attribute herbs to refine medicine. On one hand, they can at least somewhat ease the poison's effects on you. On the other, you can learn about the medicinal properties of Water-Attribute herbs in the process.

"I do not know much about medicine compounding, but I do know that different herbs have different properties and require different methods of handling. The experience you gain from processing those lower-grade herbs may prove helpful once you obtain a Water-Attribute immortal herb."

Dugu Bo nodded. "You are right. This plan is very sound. Even if I cannot find a Water-Attribute immortal herb right away, the inferior herbs can still be of some use. If they work, Yan Yan can use them as well.

"Yan Yan will soon obtain her second soul ring. I intend to have her choose a Soul Beast with Water and Poison Attributes for it. As for me, I will travel the continent. But if I do that, I fear you will have some difficulty finding me."

"That is no problem." Chen Feng smiled. "Senior, travel as you please. We do not yet know whether the plan I proposed will work. Naturally, we should discuss compensation only after the problems facing you and your granddaughter have been resolved."

If Dugu Bo were to focus solely on drawing blood now, then after a few years, he could repair the Dui Gua of the Tai Chi Bagua Sword.

But that was clearly unrealistic. Dugu Bo was not a blood slave raised by Chen Feng. He could not possibly use his blood to nourish Chen Feng's martial soul for nothing.

So Chen Feng would rather let Dugu Bo make another effort and see whether he could raise the Nine-Colored Divine Deer Spirit to the next level. This would build trust on one hand and improve the quality of Dugu Bo's blood on the other.

Naturally, it would be best if he could find Immortal Herbs. If not, there were still herbs of somewhat lesser quality. And if that truly failed, there was still the fallback option of storing poison in a soul bone.

Either way, Dugu Bo would not lose out.

However, Chen Feng did not intend to spend these years waiting idly. He said, "Senior, I have an unreasonable request."

"Go on." Dugu Bo did not sound surprised.

"While traveling, if you consume Water-Attribute herbs, I would like you to draw some blood every few days and store it. Treat it with medicinal solution to prevent it from clotting, then mail the blood to me. I want to study the effects of the herbs on your body," Chen Feng said.

Dugu Bo studied Chen Feng and said calmly, "That is a rather clumsy excuse, but I agree. On the condition that Water-Attribute herbs can truly improve my condition, do you need much blood?"

He knew Chen Feng was most likely concealing something. He probably wanted his blood for more than research, but Dugu Bo did not care.

As long as Chen Feng's plan could truly solve the problems of both him and Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo would even help Chen Feng kill someone if asked. What did a little blood matter?

"The more, the better," Chen Feng said stiffly.

"Fine. Should I mail it to this academy? Whom should I list as the recipient? It probably would not be convenient for you to collect it yourself. After all, a Title Douluo mailing things to a child would look strange no matter how one saw it, and it could easily arouse suspicion," Dugu Bo said.

"Then... send it to Grandmaster." Chen Feng considered it for a moment before answering.

Grandmaster had two Storage Soul Tools on him, making him suitable as an intermediary.

"Very well. Then let us set a deadline." Dugu Bo pondered for a moment. "At the latest, when my granddaughter obtains her fourth soul ring. By then, the effects of your plan should be quite obvious. During that time, I will search for Water-Attribute herbs and draw blood to send to you.

"With my granddaughter's talent, she should reach level 40 in about seven or eight years. If your plan works, I will return then to fulfill the agreement of three promises. What do you think?"

"Good. Then it is settled." Chen Feng rose, walked to the table, and extended his hand to Dugu Bo. "May your journey be smooth, Senior."

"Thanks for the good wishes. It is settled." Dugu Bo extended his hand and shook Chen Feng's.

After Grandmaster gave Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night to Tang San in the original work, he still had another Storage Soul Tool. That was simply absurd. Had it not been established that the methods for making soul tools had already been lost?

I plan to revise that setting: a small number of people will have inherited the craft of making soul tools, making Storage Soul Tools something precious but still purchasable at a high price.

Also, I am taking suggestions for the name of a Water-Attribute immortal herb.