Meeting Dugu Bo

When Shen Tianchen opened the door, Yu Tianheng was standing outside.

The arrogance on Yu Tianheng's face was nowhere to be seen now. All that remained was respect for the strong.

"What did you come to see me for? Don't tell me you want another fight?" Shen Tianchen asked.

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood. I don't want to get beaten up again. You should know that the Spirit Master World has always respected strength. Since you defeated me, you'll be the captain of Heaven Dou First Team from now on," Yu Tianheng said, hurriedly waving his hands.

"Captain? Fine, I understand. Go back for now. I'll consider it."

Yu Tianheng nodded at that, then left.

"Though this guy has pride in his bones, he's straightforward in his dealings. He's someone worth befriending—at least he's far better than certain hypocritical Little Monsters." Shen Tianchen then returned to his room.

The moment he stepped inside, he caught a faint fishy stench in the air.

Holding his breath and focusing, he noticed that the airflow in the room was somewhat disturbed. Someone was clearly lying in wait.

"Who's there?!"

As he spoke, he slowly backed out of the room.

Suddenly, a large hand landed on his shoulder. "Not bad vigilance. No wonder you're a student praised by all three academy education committee members. You do have some skill."

Shen Tianchen spun around sharply and saw a gaunt old man dressed in dark green standing before him.

Even with my current strength, I didn't notice him at all. This man's strength must be terrifying. Combined with the fishy stench that appeared when he arrived and his appearance, I could guess who he is with my toes.

"You must be Poison Douluo, Your Excellency Dugu Bo."

"You have some discernment. Aren't you going to invite this old man inside for a seat?"

Shen Tianchen shrugged, led him into the living room, and casually poured him a cup of tea.

The fishy odor coming from Dugu Bo was rather unpleasant, and Shen Tianchen unconsciously wrinkled his nose.

Dugu Bo's expression did not change as he said leisurely, "What, do you dislike that this old man came to see you without bathing?"

Shen Tianchen was speechless. Don't you know how long it's been since you bathed or how strong you smell?

The stench was even worse than the herbicide used in the fields in his previous life. Especially at such close range, it was unbearably pungent.

"You've been poisoned, and it's deeply rooted," Shen Tianchen said.

Dugu Bo was somewhat surprised inwardly, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Young man, this old man admits that you have some ability, but I know my own body very well. It isn't as serious as you think."

"And don't think that just because this old man is speaking politely to you, you can make jokes as you please. Hmph!"

Shen Tianchen did not continue arguing. "I was once fortunate enough to see the corpse of someone who had been poisoned. The smell on you isn't quite as strong as his, but it's not far off."

"And if I'm not mistaken, quite a bit of black poisonous vapor is mixed into your blood. Though this poison isn't especially potent, it constantly corrodes your veins. You've merely been suppressing it with Titled Douluo-level Soul Power."

"As for the symptoms of the poisoning, I believe your granddaughter has already told you about them. You don't want anything to happen to your granddaughter either, do you, Your Excellency Poison Douluo?"

How could Dugu Bo not know whether he had been poisoned?

But what could he do?

For generations, their family had researched methods of detoxification, yet they still could not cure the Martial Soul Poison in their own bodies. The Dugu Family had declined until only he and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, remained to depend on one another.

Could this kid truly have a way to detoxify poison, as Yan Yan said? Or can he merely tell that I've been poisoned?

No matter what, he had to test him.

If the poison could be cured, that would naturally be best. If not, he did not have much longer to live anyway.

"Oh? Then tell me, how can this old man's poison be cured?"

Shen Tianchen immediately put on the air of an old traditional physician. "Would Senior permit me to take your pulse?"

As if. Could a college student from his previous life who loved reading webnovels know medicine? He was merely putting on an act to make Dugu Bo believe in his abilities.

Dugu Bo said nothing more. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing skin that was withered yellow tinged with green.

Shen Tianchen stepped forward, constantly recalling how old traditional physicians took people's pulses, and placed his hand on the other man's wrist.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo frowned slightly. He took Shen Tianchen's hand and placed it over the correct pulse point. "Brat, do you even know how to take a pulse? If you dare deceive this old man, I'll make sure you remember this unforgettable day. Hmph!"

Shen Tianchen glanced at him. "What are you rushing for? How old am I? Besides, I don't take people's pulses every day. What's wrong with making an occasional mistake? That's perfectly normal. Relax."

Dugu Bo was half-convinced and half-doubtful. Things had come this far, and for the sake of curing the poison, he could only temporarily suppress his impatience.

Shen Tianchen's expression kept shifting. Several times, he looked as though he wanted to speak, only to stop himself, every bit the old traditional physician.

This made Dugu Bo anxious. Gradually losing patience, he could not help asking, "Kid Shen, have you figured anything out or not?"

Shen Tianchen ignored the increasingly impatient Dugu Bo and continued pretending to examine his pulse.

After a while longer, Dugu Bo could no longer endure it. He withdrew his arm and was about to demand an explanation from Shen Tianchen.

Shen Tianchen pondered for a moment, then said, "This poison is not your fault. It originated from within."

Dugu Bo was startled. Before he could question him, Shen Tianchen continued, "You should understand that a Martial Soul is the foundation of a spirit master. Yet your granddaughter cannot control her own poison. This is very likely not her own problem, but a problem with her Martial Soul."

"Your strength far surpasses your granddaughter's, and you have studied poisons for many years, so naturally you can control your own toxins. After examining your pulse just now, I finally understood the reason."

"Though humans and Martial Souls coexist, that does not mean every Martial Soul helps its spirit master. The Jade Scale Serpent Martial Soul may be an exception. It possesses deadly poison itself, and as the spirit master's rank rises, it gradually releases poisonous vapor that erodes the spirit master's body."

"Senior, it's not that I want to criticize you, but if you don't receive treatment soon, then with the strength of a Titled Douluo, living another ten or twenty years won't be much of a problem. But your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, won't be so fortunate..."

Before he could finish, Dugu Bo interrupted, "Kid, you'd better not spread alarmist nonsense."

The poison of their own Martial Souls eroding them from within was the Dugu Family's secret.

If someone with ill intent learned of it, the family might suffer a catastrophic disaster.

He had seen that Shen Tianchen was young, yet extraordinary in both strength and temperament, which was why he had taken the initiative to speak with him. But if matters concerning the Martial Soul leaked out through him, then sorry—he could only send Shen Tianchen to paradise.

Seeing Dugu Bo like this, Shen Tianchen felt immensely proud.

Fortunately, he had not chosen comfort at the age when he should have been studying in his previous life. At least, it was proving quite useful for bluffing people.

Shen Tianchen smiled faintly and continued, "Senior should understand the difference between Weapon Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls."

"A Beast Martial Soul is connected to the spirit master themself, merging with the Martial Soul in battle. This is especially evident after the Seventh Spirit Ability, proving whether what I said above is true or false."

"For spirit masters with Beast Martial Souls, if their Martial Soul were to shatter one day, that person's life would also soon come to an end."

"But Weapon Martial Souls are different. After obtaining the Seventh Spirit Ability, the spirit master themself becomes the soul of the Weapon Martial Soul, and they generally fight with it separated from their body. Even if the Martial Soul shatters one day, the spirit master's life will not be endangered."

Shen Tianchen possessed an omniscient perspective. Back when Gangzi accompanied Tang San to obtain a spirit ring, Luo Sanpao had been bitten by a Datura Snake. Because it was a mutated Beast Martial Soul, the poison naturally affected Gangzi as well.

Combined with the knowledge Shen Tianchen had learned in the study in the eastern district of Spirit City, this further confirmed the point.