Poison Douluo Trades Grass for Dou Skill (Part 1)

On the fifth day since the Combat Skill Ranking appeared, the Poisonous Valley deep within the Sunset Forest was still shrouded in an impenetrable miasma. On a Cold Jade Bed in the center of the valley, Dugu Bo sat cross-legged, the light purple poison gas swirling around his fingertips much more restless than usual. In the past few days, news like "Yellow Tier High Grade Combat Skill instantly kills Titled Douluo" and "Earth Tier Combat Skill shatters mountains" had flooded his ears. Even though he had lived in seclusion for years and stayed out of worldly affairs, he couldn't help but feel a prickle of curiosity.

"Hmph, a bunch of brats fighting tooth and nail over combat skills. I'd like to see just how divine this thing really is," Dugu Bo snorted coldly, but the longing in his eyes couldn't be hidden. He was known throughout the Douluo Continent as the "weakest Titled Douluo," his level 91 soul power stuck at a bottleneck for a full five years. The Bilin Purple Mist Poison within him was a ticking time bomb, capable of backfiring at the slightest mistake. If he could obtain a combat skill, he could not only break through his level but also control his poison, shedding the label of "weakest." Why wouldn't he?

But the thought of the points needed to exchange for combat skills made Dugu Bo frown. He had lived in seclusion for many years, neither participating in the Genius Ranking competition nor grinding points in simulated arenas. Points were rarer to him than a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. His gaze swept over the medicinal herbs covering the valley floor, and his eyes suddenly lit up. In a crevice at the deepest part of the valley grew two "Youluo Grass." The leaves shimmered with an inky luster, and each edge was adorned with crystalline poison droplets that could instantly corrode small holes in rocks when they dripped onto the ground. This grass was the ultimate poison, something ordinary Soul Masters avoided, but since the Otherworld Auction House had combat skills from other worlds, perhaps they would be interested in this poisonous plant?

"Might as well try anything!" Dugu Bo stood up, his figure transforming into a purple shadow that swept across the ground covered in poisonous herbs. In a moment, he returned holding two stalks of Youluo Grass. He carefully wrapped the leaves with his soul power, afraid of the poison leaking out and harming himself. Then, he leaped up and flew towards the Otherworld Auction House. While flying, he couldn't help but look down at the Youluo Grass in his palm, his heart filled with unease. To him, this grass was a "poisonous weed." If the auction house didn't accept it, he wouldn't even have the chance to exchange for the lowest-grade combat skill.

The resource exchange area of the auction house was currently crowded with people. Disciples from various major forces held Rare Ores and Soul Beast Inner Cores, arguing incessantly around the counter. "This Thousand Year Spirit Beast Inner Core of mine is worth at least 50,000 points!" "What's yours? This piece of Thunder Pattern Jade of mine can aid cultivation, 100,000 points is too little!" The arguments rose and fell, making the air feel hot.

Suddenly, a strong wave of poison gas drifted in through the door crack, carrying a pungent, sweet smell. The crowd instantly fell silent. The Soul Masters who had been arguing covered their mouths and noses, their faces paling as they retreated. This poison gas was incredibly potent; just smelling it made their meridians ache. Besides the Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, no one else possessed such potent poison!

Dugu Bo walked in slowly, his dark ink robe still stained with the miasma from the Sunset Forest. As the hem swept across the ground, it left faint purple marks on the stone slabs. In his hands, he held two stalks of Youluo Grass wrapped in soul power. The poison on the leaves swayed slightly under the soul power's containment. His gaze swept over the crowd, carrying his usual arrogance and aloofness. "Who is in charge? This old man has something to exchange for points."

The Silver Armored Guard felt his Titled Douluo aura and was about to step forward to stop him when Lin Yue's voice, gentle yet extremely penetrating, came from the inner hall. "Mo Chen, bring Lord Dugu Bo in."

Mo Chen quickly stepped out and gestured for Dugu Bo to enter, his tone respectful. "Lord Dugu Bo, the master is waiting for you inside." Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. This Lin Yue was indeed well-informed, knowing his identity. He followed Mo Chen into the inner hall. As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Yue sitting at a tea table, playing with a Light Blue Jade Pendant in his hand. The aura flowing from the pendant was entirely different from the soul power of the Douluo Continent, making him instinctively wary.

"Lord Lin Yue," Dugu Bo placed the Youluo Grass on the table, his tone tinged with a hint of probing. "These two stalks of grass are Youluo Grass from the Sunset Forest. They can refine potent poisons and also serve as a medicinal ingredient for detoxification agents. How many points do you think they are worth?" He was unsure, as this grass was a "hot potato" in the eyes of others. It might not even fetch 10,000 points, at most, he could only exchange for some ordinary Detoxification Pills.

Lin Yue picked up the Youluo Grass and gently brushed his fingertips over the leaves, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Youluo Grass, it grows in thousand-year miasma and requires the essence of ten thousand poisons to mature. It grows only one leaf in ten years and flowers in a hundred. It can not only be used to refine the 'Myriad Poison Pill' but also as a cultivation catalyst for the combat skill 'Ghost Poison.' It is quite rare."

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply, and he looked up at Lin Yue abruptly. "You recognize this grass?" He had studied Youluo Grass for many years, only knowing it could be used to refine poison, never hearing that it could be a catalyst for combat skills!

"Not only do I recognize it, but I also know its value." Lin Yue put down the Youluo Grass and said with a smile, "These two stalks of Youluo Grass have intact leaves and a poison purity of up to ninety percent. They are rare top-grade items. The auction house is willing to purchase them for 1 million points."

"1...1 million?!" Dugu Bo shot up from his seat, his chair toppling to the ground with a loud crash, but he was completely oblivious. He had expected at most a few thousand points, but he never imagined it would be 1 million! This was enough to exchange for a Mysterious Tier Combat Skill, and even buy some rare medicinal ingredients to condition his body! The immense surprise made his voice tremble, and he subconsciously clenched his robe, his knuckles turning white.

Lin Yue looked at his reaction and a smile curved his lips. "Lord Dugu Bo, 1 million points is enough to exchange for quite a few resources. What do you wish to exchange these points for? Combat skills, or medicinal ingredients?"

Dugu Bo took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, his gaze becoming firm. The thing he wanted most in his life was to control the poison within him and shed the label of "weakest Titled Douluo." "This old man wishes to exchange for a combat skill that can resolve the poison within my body and also enhance my strength." He paused and added, "Preferably one suited for using poison. Other types of combat skills are not convenient for me to use."

"A combat skill suited for using poison..." Lin Yue pondered for a moment, then took out a black scroll from his storage ring. The scroll was embroidered with light purple poison patterns, emitting a faint poisonous gas, yet it did not harm anyone. He placed the scroll on the table. "This is the Yellow Tier High Grade Combat Skill 'Ghost Poison.' Although it is only Yellow Tier, it is specifically for poison-using Soul Masters. It can guide the poison within the body to transform into 'Poison Battle Qi,' which not only resolves the problem of poison backlash but also amplifies the poison's power tenfold and increases speed. The more potent the Bilin Purple Mist Poison in your body, the better the effect of cultivating this combat skill. It is perfectly suited for you."

Dugu Bo picked up the scroll, injecting his soul power into it. Dense Text and patterns instantly appeared on the scroll. The cultivation method of "Ghost Poison" was clearly presented before him: Step one, use one's own poison as a catalyst to condense Poison Battle Qi in the dantian. It requires circulating three cycles daily to dissolve the poison's viciousness; Step two, use Poison Battle Qi to nourish the meridians eroded by poison. After repair, one can break through the soul power bottleneck; Step three, attach Poison Battle Qi to soul skills. When released, it can form a "Ghost Poison Domain," where enemies within the domain will be slowly eroded by poison...

"This... this is practically tailor-made for this old man!" The more Dugu Bo read, the more excited he became. The poison within his body seemed to respond to the power of the scroll, and the previously restless poison gas became docile. He looked up at Lin Yue, his tone filled with urgency. "How many points does this combat skill require? Are my remaining points enough to exchange for some medicinal ingredients to aid cultivation?"

"1.8 million points," Lin Yue said. "With the remaining 200,000 points, you can exchange for some 'Detoxifying Grass' and 'Qi Condensing Flower.' The former can help you dissolve the viciousness of Poison Battle Qi, and the latter can speed up soul power circulation, both helping you break through the bottleneck."

"Enough! More than enough!" Dugu Bo agreed without hesitation, afraid Lin Yue would go back on his word. He immediately asked Mo Chen to process the point deduction and, holding the "Ghost Poison" scroll and the exchanged medicinal ingredients, practically floated out of the auction house. He wanted to return immediately to cultivate, break through his bottleneck as soon as possible, and make those who mocked him look up to him! As he walked out of the auction house, he couldn't help but glance back at the Black Jade Main Building, his eyes filled with reverence for the first time. This Lin Yue and his auction house held too many secrets he couldn't understand, making them more mysterious and powerful than any force on the Douluo Continent.