On the fifth day after the Combat Skill Ranking appeared, the Poisonous Valley deep in Sunset Forest remained shrouded in such dense miasma that it seemed impossible to disperse. Dugu Bo sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Bed in the middle of the valley, the pale purple poison swirling around his fingertips far more restless than usual. In recent days, news had flooded his ears: "Mysterious Tier Combat Skills can kill Titled Douluo in one strike" and "Earth Tier Combat Skills can shatter mountains." Though he had lived in seclusion for years and paid no attention to the world, he couldn't help feeling tempted.
"Hmph. A bunch of young fools fighting tooth and nail over Battle Skills. I'd like to see just how miraculous this stuff really is." Dugu Bo snorted, but he couldn't hide the yearning in his eyes. He was widely regarded across the Douluo Continent as "the weakest Titled Douluo." His Soul Power had been stuck at Level 91 for five whole years, and the Bilin Purple Mist Poison inside him was a ticking time bomb that could turn on him at the slightest misstep. If he could obtain a Battle Skill, he could break through to a higher level, gain control over his poison, and shed the label of "weakest." Why wouldn't he?
But at the thought of the Points needed to exchange for a Battle Skill, Dugu Bo's brow furrowed. He had lived in seclusion for years, taking no part in the Genius Ranking and never entering the Simulation Arena to earn Points. To him, Points were rarer than a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. His gaze swept over the medicinal herbs scattered throughout the valley, and suddenly his eyes lit up. In a crevice deep in the valley grew two Youluo Grass plants. Their leaves gleamed ink-black, each edged with glistening drops of poison. A drop that landed on the ground could eat a small hole through solid rock. This grass was a catalyst for all manner of poison; ordinary Soul Masters wouldn't go near it. But the Otherworld Auction House even had Battle Skills from other worlds. Maybe they'd be interested in this poisonous plant?
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" Dugu Bo rose to his feet and turned into a purple blur, darting past the poisonous herbs. Moments later, he returned carrying the two Youluo Grass plants. He carefully wrapped the leaves in Soul Power, afraid their poison might leak out and harm him, then leaped into the air and flew toward the Otherworld Auction House. As he traveled, he couldn't help looking down at the Youluo Grass in his palm, his heart full of uncertainty. To him, it was just "poisonous grass." If the Auction House wouldn't take it, he wouldn't even have the chance to exchange for a Low Grade Battle Skill.
The Auction House's resource exchange counter was packed. Disciples from the various factions held Rare Ore and Soul Beast Inner Cores as they crowded around the counter, arguing noisily. "This Thousand Year Spirit Beast Inner Core of mine is worth at least 50,000 Points!" "That's nothing! This piece of Thunder Pattern Jade can help with cultivation. Even 100,000 Points would be a bargain!" The arguments rose and fell, until even the air felt hot.
Suddenly, a thick cloud of poison drifted in through the doorway, carrying a pungent, sickly-sweet odor. The crowd fell silent at once. The Soul Masters who had been arguing covered their mouths and noses, faces paling as they backed away. The poison was so potent that merely breathing it in made their meridians ache. Apart from Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, who else could wield such a deadly toxin?
Dugu Bo walked in at an unhurried pace. Miasma from Sunset Forest still clung to his ink-colored robes, and as the hem swept over the ground, it left faint purple streaks on the stone tiles. He held two Youluo Grass plants in his hand, their poisonous sap swaying beneath the Soul Power wrapped around them. His gaze swept across the crowd, its customary arrogance and reserve intact. "Who's in charge? I have something to exchange for Points."
The Silver Armored Guard felt the aura of a Titled Douluo coming from him and was just about to step forward to stop him when Lin Yue's voice came from the inner hall, gentle yet carrying clearly through the room. "Mo Chen, bring Your Excellency Dugu Bo in."
Mo Chen hurried out and gestured for Dugu Bo to follow, his tone respectful. "Your Excellency Dugu Bo, Master is waiting inside." Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. Lin Yue certainly had good sources; he even knew who Dugu Bo was. He followed Mo Chen into the inner hall. As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Yue seated at a tea table, turning a Light Blue Jade Pendant over in his hand. The aura flowing through it was entirely unlike the Soul Power of the Douluo Continent, and Dugu Bo instinctively grew wary.
"Your Excellency Lin Yue," Dugu Bo said, placing the Youluo Grass on the table, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty. "These two plants are Youluo Grass from Sunset Forest. Their poison can be extracted, and they can also be used as an ingredient in antidotes. How many Points do you think I can get for them?" He wasn't sure what to expect. To others, the grass was probably a "hot potato." Maybe he wouldn't even get 10,000 Points for it—at best, enough for a few ordinary Detoxification Pills.
Lin Yue picked up the Youluo Grass and gently ran his fingers over its leaves. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "Youluo Grass grows in thousand-year-old miasma and must absorb the essence of countless poisons to mature. It takes ten years to grow a single leaf and a hundred years to flower. It can be used to refine a Myriad Poison Pill, and it can also serve as a catalyst for cultivating the Battle Skill Abyssal Poison. Quite a rare find."
Dugu Bo's pupils contracted. He looked up sharply at Lin Yue. "You know this plant?" He had studied Youluo Grass for years and knew it could be used to make poison, but he had never heard that it could serve as a catalyst for a Battle Skill!
"Not only do I know it, I also know its value." Lin Yue set down the Youluo Grass and smiled. "These two plants have intact leaves and a poison purity of ninety percent. They're high-quality specimens. The Auction House is willing to buy them for 1,000,000 Points."
"1...1,000,000?!" Dugu Bo jumped to his feet, knocking his chair to the floor with a loud crash, but he didn't even notice. He'd thought he might get a few thousand Points at most, but they were offering 1,000,000! That was enough to exchange for an Earth Tier Combat Skill, and even buy rare medicinal herbs to improve his health. His excitement was so great that his voice trembled. His fingers clenched around his robe, turning his knuckles white.
Lin Yue watched his reaction, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile. "Your Excellency Dugu Bo, 1,000,000 Points are enough to exchange for plenty of resources. What would you like to spend them on? A Battle Skill or medicinal herbs?"
Dugu Bo drew a deep breath, forcing down his excitement as his gaze grew resolute. More than anything, he wanted to control the poison in his body and shed the label of "the weakest Titled Douluo." "I want to exchange them for a Battle Skill that can deal with the poison in my body and improve my strength." He paused, then added, "Ideally, it should be suited to someone who uses poison. I'm not used to other kinds of Battle Skills."
"A Battle Skill suited to someone who uses poison..." Lin Yue mused for a moment, then took a black scroll from his storage ring. Pale purple poison patterns were embroidered across it. A faint poison aura emanated from the scroll, yet it harmed no one. He placed it on the table. "This is the Yellow Tier High Grade Combat Skill Abyssal Poison. Though it's only Yellow Tier, it was designed specifically for Soul Masters who use poison. It can guide the poison in your body to transform into Poison Battle Qi, solving the problem of the poison turning against you while amplifying its power tenfold and boosting your speed. The more potent the Bilin Purple Mist Poison inside you, the better this Battle Skill will work. It's perfect for you."
Dugu Bo picked up the scroll and infused it with Soul Power. Instantly, rows of text and diagrams appeared across it, clearly laying out how to cultivate Abyssal Poison. First, he would use his own poison as a catalyst to condense Poison Battle Qi in his dantian, circulating it through three cycles each day to dispel the poison's violent nature. Second, he would use Poison Battle Qi to nourish the meridians damaged by the poison. Once they were repaired, he could break through his Soul Power bottleneck. Third, he would coat his Soul Skills with Poison Battle Qi. When released, they would create an "Abyssal Poison Domain," where enemies would be slowly corroded by the poison...
"This... This is practically made for me!" The more Dugu Bo read, the more excited he became. It felt as if the poison in his body was responding to the scroll's power, and the restless toxin grew docile. He looked up at Lin Yue, his voice urgent. "How many Points does this Battle Skill cost? Will I have enough left for some medicinal herbs to help me cultivate?"
"1,800,000 Points," Lin Yue replied. "With the remaining 200,000, you can get some Detoxifying Grass and Qi Condensing Flower. The former will help dispel the violent nature of your Poison Battle Qi, and the latter will speed up the circulation of your Soul Power, helping you break through your bottleneck."
"Enough! That's more than enough!" Dugu Bo agreed without hesitation, afraid Lin Yue might change his mind. He immediately had Mo Chen handle the deduction of the Points, then left the Auction House with the Abyssal Poison scroll and the herbs he had exchanged for, practically floating out the door. He had to return and begin cultivating at once, so he could break through his bottleneck and make those who had mocked him eat their words! As he stepped outside, he couldn't help glancing back at the Black Jade Main Building. For the first time, his eyes held a trace of awe. Lin Yue and his Auction House were hiding far too many secrets for him to understand. They were more mysterious and powerful than any faction on the Douluo Continent.
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