Dugu Bo: The Thrill of Hand-to-Hand Combat Is So Intense

"Senior Dugu, you reminded me of someone."

Dugu Bo had been feasting heartily, with piles of bones beside him. Hearing this, he temporarily stopped what he was doing and asked curiously:

"I reminded you of someone?"

"Who is this person? Is she an unparalleled powerhouse, or someone as unconventional as me?"

A hint of pride appeared on Dugu Bo's face.

He prided himself on having always been eccentric and never followed the crowd. On top of that, he was a powerhouse at the Titled Douluo level.

The person Lin Xiao was talking about had to be an "expert beyond the mortal world" like him.

"No. She's an Old Woman who looks very kind."

Dugu Bo's face stiffened, and he glared over with an unfriendly look.

"You brat, are you asking for a beating?"

How was that any different from mocking him, Dugu Bo, for looking like a woman?

Lin Xiao said quietly:

"Because she, just like you, doubted my cooking skills."

"In the end, both of you ended up saying, 'It's delicious.'"

Dugu Bo gave an embarrassed smile.

He glanced at the bones scattered all over the ground and coughed lightly.

"This Old Man simply dislikes wasting food."

"Actually, the taste..."

After hesitating for a long while, Dugu Bo ultimately couldn't bring himself to say "average" against his conscience.

"The taste is indeed quite good."

Ye Qingxian praised him, then fell into thought.

"So the combination of herbs and spices can actually be this perfectly harmonious? I really don't know what goes on in your head. An ordinary Soul Master wouldn't have time to study these things."

Lin Xiao smiled without replying.

Speaking of which, he really enjoyed making delicious food.

Whenever he saw someone marveling at or savoring his cooking, he felt a sense of pride. It wasn't pride in himself, but the joy of seeing Huaxia's food culture receive recognition.

"Food is the first necessity of the people."

"Eating well, even simply, is the purest form of happiness."

"Senior Dugu, Aunt Ye, do you know? I grew up eating at neighbors' homes. Although those neighbors I spent time with weren't Soul Masters, they were satisfied living their own lives."

"In my view, whether someone is happy doesn't depend on what they gain, but on whether they know contentment."

Contentment brought constant happiness!

However, Dugu Bo burst out laughing.

"But when a Soul Master wants to advance, it lies precisely in never being satisfied!"

Ye Qingxian also said:

"The Phoenix's repeated Nirvanas are, when all is said and done, also the result of never being satisfied, aren't they? You're forever unwilling to accept the status quo and forever striving forward, yet you're telling us about the principles of contentment!"

Lin Xiao raised his thumb.

"As expected of two seniors. What you said makes perfect sense!"

Those who were content knew how to cherish what they had, while those who were discontent knew how to strive forward. The key was to grasp the proper balance between the two!

The following Early Morning.

The three set out again.

The Spirit Beast Ye Qingxian needed was called a "Snow Hoof Unicorn Horse." It had to be around Fifty Thousand Years old. After searching for some time, they finally found one in the Core Area of the Sunset Forest at noon.

The Snow Hoof Unicorn Horse was a relatively rare Healing System Spirit Beast. Its entire body was as white as snow, even its hooves pure white in texture, like white jade.

Although it was a Healing System Spirit Beast, one that could grow to Fifty Thousand Years naturally had its own means of attack. Its unicorn could emit blazing White Light capable of piercing and melting iron and steel. Its body was strong, its explosive power formidable, and it excelled at charging enemies with its unicorn.

Ye Qingxian said in delight:

"This Spirit Beast is nearly Sixty Thousand Years old? If this were any other time, I would definitely have to give up. But after taking Immortal Grass, my constitution has already been strengthened. Besides, it isn't a particularly violent Spirit Beast, so I should be able to absorb it."

"Poison Douluo Senior, let's go with this one."

Dugu Bo nodded slightly and was just about to release his poison.

But he suddenly stopped.

Lin Xiao and Ye Qingxian stared in astonishment as Dugu Bo rolled up his sleeves.

Dugu Bo coughed twice and explained:

"This Old Man has always relied on poison to fight enemies. But if I encounter someone like Lin Xiao, who is immune to my poison, or someone with strong resistance to poison, I'll fall into a disadvantage."

Take Pufferfish Douluo from the Spirit Hall, for example. He also possessed deadly poison, but he had powerful close-combat abilities as well. If he fought Dugu Bo, he would undoubtedly have the upper hand.

And then there was Dugu Bo's old rival, Chrysanthemum Yue Guan. His resistance to poison was extremely powerful, allowing him to suppress Dugu Bo completely.

Of course, that had been the Dugu Bo of the past.

Now that Dugu Bo's Martial Soul had evolved and transformed into a dragon, not only was his poison vastly different from before, but even his physical strength had increased substantially.

This time, he intended to test his close-combat abilities.

Ye Qingxian's expression turned strange, but she could understand him.

Lin Xiao lowered his head and pondered.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul has taken poison all the way to the extreme. Whether it's Dugu Bo or Dugu Yan, all their Soul Skills involve releasing poison. This can certainly make their poison stronger, but it also makes them easy to counter.

When we get back, I should talk to Sister Yanyan properly. At the very least, she ought to have one or two close-combat Soul Skills she can rely on. That would greatly increase her safety.

This was the greatest weakness of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul.

In the original story, Tang San merely sprinkled Realgar Wine on Dugu Yan and then set it alight, and her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison was broken.

There were simply too many things wrong with that. He didn't even know where to begin.

Medical texts clearly recorded that:

Realgar had no detoxifying effects. It could only drive away snakes because snakes disliked its pungent smell. Some highly venomous snakes were unaffected by it altogether.

Yet Dugu Yan, a Soul Ancestor, was actually turned into a cripple by the so-called "Realgar Wine." It was difficult to explain, so for now, he could only treat it as a hidden weakness of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent.

But after it evolved into the Golden Horned Jade Dragon, it definitely would not be defeated by such a childish method again.

Dugu Bo's nine Soul Rings had already been set, so there was no way to make up for this weakness.

But taking poison to its extreme was not necessarily a dead end. It might even be a broad road to success. The fact that his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul could evolve into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor might have something to do with this!

"Hahaha! What a thrill!"

At this moment.

Dugu Bo was locked in fierce combat with the Snow Hoof Unicorn Horse. He deliberately refrained from using any poison, relying instead on his powerful physical strength. Riding on the Snow Hoof Unicorn Horse's back, he unleashed a flurry of Turtle Fist strikes.

The scene was too beautiful to look at.

Ye Qingxian struggled not to laugh.

"Poison Douluo Senior really is vigorous despite his age. But relying purely on physical strength without any technique is fine against a Spirit Beast. Against a powerful enemy of the same level, though, it would be rather inadequate."

"You should learn a Self-Created Soul Skill later. That should just about do it."

A Self-Created Soul Skill?

A flash of inspiration streaked through Lin Xiao's mind.

That's right. Since there was a Corpse Burst Technique, an Ice Burst Technique, and a Flame Burst Technique...

Why couldn't there be a Poison Burst Technique?

The principles were all the same, after all!

The moment this thought appeared, Lin Xiao's heart grew feverish. Looking at Dugu Bo wildly throwing Turtle Fist strikes, he was filled with exasperation at the man's failure to live up to his potential.

What a fool!

His poison was so powerful, so why didn't he know how to develop a few skills?

In the arena, the Snow Hoof Unicorn Horse was enraged after being pummeled by Dugu Bo. But it couldn't reach him. Blazing White Light flickered atop its unicorn and rapidly swelled into a gigantic sphere of light. It was actually preparing to use an explosive skill on the spot.

If one prospered, all prospered; if one suffered, all suffered!

Kill the two-legged beast on its back!