"That's right. I've taken all the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow beneath your sect's gates. Consider me owing the Earth Dragon Gate a favor."
With the Earth Dragon Gate's cooperation, Lin Feng easily emptied out all the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow beneath the Earth Dragon Gate and stored it in his Soul Tool.
Watching the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow beneath their sect being dug away, the Earth Dragon Gate members did not dare say anything aloud, though they were already cursing inwardly. However, when Lin Feng said he owed the Earth Dragon Gate a favor, everyone's eyes suddenly lit up.
A being capable of instantly killing a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon at the Titled Douluo level—sometimes, a favor from an expert of that caliber was no less valuable than a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Thinking that way, everyone felt much better. The Earth Dragon Gate's master, Nan Shuishui, even stepped forward.
"Senior, I have a daughter. Would you be willing to take her as your disciple?"
Lin Feng glanced at Nan Shuishui, then at Nan Qiūqiū beside her. "All right. However, I'm not particularly good at teaching people myself, so I won't mislead her. Let her continue cultivating in the Earth Dragon Gate. How long do you think it will take for her to reach level forty? Give me a rough estimate. When the time comes, I will give her a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring that she can absorb. I may not know how to teach disciples, but giving my disciple two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings would not be difficult."
Nan Shuishui was overjoyed upon hearing this. Two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings meant she would not merely become an ordinary Titled Douluo, but at least a level ninety-seven Titled Douluo. Reaching level ninety-eight was not impossible either.
"Qiūqiū, quickly greet your teacher."
"Disciple Nan Qiūqiū greets Teacher."
Once Nan Qiūqiū completed the apprenticeship ceremony, the matter of the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow was settled. Afterward, Lin Feng made a trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Based on his memories, he first took Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, then used the medicinal and poison sections recorded within to sort through and collect the various heavenly treasures in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, preparing to refine Universe Creation Pills in the future.
After finishing all this, Lin Feng first returned home and had his family prepare the Soul Forging metals needed for Three-Character Battle Armor before returning to the time and space of Douluo Era 1.
Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in Douluo Era 1, Dugu Bo had long been waiting with Dugu Yan. The agreed half-year deadline had not yet arrived, but he could not wait even a moment longer when it came to curing his granddaughter's poison.
Every day, he stood guard outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, counting how much time remained until the promised half-year mark.
The moment Lin Feng returned to the timeline of Douluo Era 1, he discovered Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. However, he had only recently obtained the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record at this point, and his understanding of its medicinal and poison sections remained limited. He still needed time to slowly analyze the specific medicinal principles.
Thus, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan waited outside while Lin Feng gradually learned about the various medicines and poisons within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Time passed swiftly, and the agreed date drew nearer.
When the promised half-year period arrived, Lin Feng had gained a considerable understanding of poisons and medicines. This was the result of the rapid memorization and learning granted by the peak Spirit Domain Realm spiritual power he possessed even in his normal state.
Very soon, as agreed, Lin Feng used the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as payment and resolved the poison in Dugu Yan's body, ensuring that she no longer had to worry about dying from a backlash of her own snake venom in the future.
"Thank you for your assistance, Senior."
After sensing that the snake venom in Dugu Yan's body had indeed been resolved and that she no longer needed to fear its backlash, Dugu Bo cupped his fists toward Lin Feng in salute.
Only then did he clearly see Lin Feng's appearance. Yet whether it was the aura Lin Feng displayed or the intense sense of danger he gave off, Dugu Bo would never have considered Lin Feng a young man.
In this era of Douluo Era 1, anyone who could make a Titled Douluo feel threatened could not possibly be someone in their twenties or thirties. This was common knowledge to everyone.
"No matter. This was what we agreed on before." Lin Feng waved his hand, then looked toward Dugu Bo. After hesitating slightly, he recalled Dugu Bo's state of daring to fight anyone, practically the Hai Bodong of Douluo Era 1, and spoke again. "Dugu Bo, how about acknowledging me as your master? If you do, I can help you remove the poison in your body."
In the original story, Dugu Bo, as the Douluo version of Hai Bodong, had been extraordinarily bold in his investment in Tang San. Several times, he risked his life to help Tang San, confronting people he could not defeat.
In the end, he even helped Tang San massacre a city, bearing the infamy of that slaughter. It could be said that he had tremendous courage when it came to investing.
However, he had been Tang San's angel investor, not Lin Feng's. Lin Feng had practically seized this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from Dugu Bo by force after becoming powerful enough. On one hand, he offered compensation because he feared Dugu Bo might fight desperately and make things troublesome; on the other, Lin Feng was somewhat influenced by the moral framework of his previous life.
Yet whether it was to stabilize Dugu Bo and prevent him from fighting to the death, or because Lin Feng's still-restrained moral framework demanded it, resolving the problem within Dugu Yan's body was enough.
To Lin Feng, Dugu Bo was not an angel investor, but an ordinary object of trade.
For a transaction like this, a roughly mutual agreement was enough. There was no favor or obligation between them, only a simple transaction.
Now that the transaction was complete, the two sides could simply have nothing more to do with one another for the rest of their lives. However, considering Dugu Bo's courage in the original story, Lin Feng had the thought of recruiting him.
At level ninety-two, he had dared fight anyone. What if he were equipped with a full set of soul bones and raised to level ninety-five?
Compared to those who needed to rely on the power of nine dragons to gamble on a breakthrough, Lin Feng thought highly of Dugu Bo.
However, Dugu Bo shook his head at Lin Feng's regard. "My apologies. I've been accustomed to freedom all my life, and I truly am not used to serving under someone else. As for this poison of mine, it is nothing. It is a trivial matter, and I have long grown used to it."
"Have you really grown used to it? Besides, the benefits I can offer you are not limited to curing your poison. There is also—"
Lin Feng was about to explain the benefits he could offer Dugu Bo, but before he could finish, Dugu Bo raised a hand to interrupt him.
"Thank you for thinking highly of me, Senior, but after all these years, I truly cannot serve as anyone's subordinate. If there is nothing else, please allow me to take my leave."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo turned and left with Dugu Yan without looking back. He moved so quickly that it was as though he feared Lin Feng might suddenly change his mind.
"Venerable Lord, this Dugu Bo truly does not appreciate your favor. Should my wife and I..."
Watching Dugu Bo leave, Dragon Duke came to Lin Feng's side and made a throat-slitting gesture.
"No need. If he wants to leave, let him go. I only brought it up on a whim. If we don't have that fate, then so be it." As Lin Feng spoke, he looked at Dragon Duke and sensed his cultivation. "Not bad. Level eighty-six already."
Dragon Duke smiled upon hearing this. "It is all thanks to the pills and five soul bones bestowed by the Venerable Lord. Otherwise, this subordinate likely would never have reached level eighty-six in this lifetime."
"Perfect. Since Dugu Bo isn't coming, I'll take this time to help you break through to Titled Douluo as well."
"Thank you, Venerable Lord!"
Before you continue