In the Poisonous Valley of Sunset Forest, Dugu Bo followed the method in the "Abyssal Poison" scroll and sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Bed. He circulated his Soul Power, guiding the Bilin Purple Mist Poison within him toward his dantian. In the past, these toxins had been unruly, and the slightest lapse in attention could let them corrode his meridians. But now, guided by the "Abyssal Poison" technique, they obediently gathered into a pale purple cloud, streaked with black patterns. This was Poison Battle Qi.
Poison Battle Qi swirled in his dantian, then flowed slowly through his meridians. Wherever it passed, meridians once blackened by the toxins began to heal, taking on a faint sheen. His Soul Power stirred in response. Dugu Bo was delighted. He increased his output of Soul Power and guided the Poison Battle Qi toward the bottleneck at level 91.
"Boom!"
Three days later, at dawn, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from the valley. Pale purple Poison Mist shot into the sky, forming a massive pillar of light. Even the miasma outside the valley was blasted apart. Dugu Bo's eyes snapped open, a glint flashing in them—his Soul Power had broken straight through to level 93! Even more astonishing, the toxins in his body hadn't turned on him. Instead, they had fused with his Poison Battle Qi, becoming more concentrated, and now surged out several times faster than before.
"Hahahaha! I've finally broken through!" Dugu Bo roared with laughter, making the poisonous plants in the valley rustle. He flashed to an open area outside the valley and raised a hand, unleashing his Soul Skill, "Bioluminescent Purple Mist." Pale purple Poison Mist spread instantly, covering a radius of a hundred meters. Black Poison Battle Qi swirled within it. The ground turned charred black the moment the mist touched it, and even solid rock was corroded into small pits.
He then tried circulating the movement technique from "Abyssal Poison." Pushing off the ground with both feet, he turned into a streak of purple and raced across the clearing, leaving afterimages in his wake—he was three times faster than before! More terrifying still, when he infused Poison Battle Qi into his Soul Bone Skill, "Spatial Transfer," he could now teleport a hundred meters away, even though he'd previously only been able to blink short distances. His Soul Power consumption had also been cut in half!
"With this Battle Skill, I'm no longer the weakest Titled Douluo!" Dugu Bo clenched his fist, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Those who mocked me before will pay for it!" He looked toward Spirit City, a cold smile curling his lips. "Yue Guan, Ghost Douluo, just you wait. Soon, I'll show you who the real Titled Douluo is!"
The news spread throughout Douluo Continent as if on wings: after cultivating the "Abyssal Poison" Battle Skill, Dugu Bo had not only advanced to level 93, but could also amplify his poison tenfold and triple his speed. His strength now rivaled that of a level 97 Titled Douluo!
The major powers were thrown into an uproar. In the plaza of Shrek Academy, Flender was holding a report when his pipe dropped to the ground. His voice trembled. "An upper-grade Yellow Tier Combat Skill helped someone break through from level 91 to level 93, and even overpower a level 97? If Tang San got a Battle Skill, could he challenge a Titled Douluo across a whole level gap?"
Tang San stood nearby, just as stunned. He had been saving Points to exchange for a Yellow Tier Combat Skill, but now it seemed Battle Skills had far more potential than he'd imagined. He wanted to share his astonishment with Xiao Wu, but when he turned, he saw her staring toward the Auction House with longing in her eyes, clutching a newly exchanged Combat Skill Fragment.
"Xiao Wu, did you see the news about Senior Dugu Bo's breakthrough? Battle Skills are incredible. If we keep working hard, we'll soon be able to exchange for ones that suit us," Tang San said with a smile, reaching for her hand.
But Xiao Wu instinctively took a step back, avoiding his hand. Her tone was somewhat perfunctory. "Yeah, they're really impressive. I heard the Auction House is putting a movement-type Battle Skill up for sale next week. I want to save enough Points to exchange for it. Then, if we run into danger, I'll be able to run faster." As she spoke, her gaze returned to the Combat Skill Fragment in her hand. The longing in her eyes was stronger than when she'd looked at Tang San.
Tang San's hand froze in midair, and a trace of disappointment welled up in him. Ever since the Combat Skill Ranking had appeared, Xiao Wu had changed. She used to stick close to him and turn to him first whenever anything happened. But now, she spent every day studying Battle Skill information from the Auction House, and whenever she had a spare moment, she went to the Simulation Arena to grind for Points. She barely had any time to talk to him. The last time he'd wanted to analyze the Virtual Monsters' weaknesses with her, she'd said, "The Auction House's guides are more detailed," then turned and gone to read the manuals it had released.
"Xiao Wu, do you think... Battle Skills are more important than I am?" Tang San hesitated for a long time before finally asking.
Xiao Wu froze for a moment, then shook her head. "Tang San, don't overthink it. I just think Battle Skills can make me stronger. Look at Senior Dugu Bo. He used to be so weak, but after getting a Battle Skill, he became incredibly powerful. I want to get stronger too. I don't want to always be protected by you." She spoke honestly, not noticing the disappointment in Tang San's eyes. What she wanted was to become stronger on her own, not to grow stronger together with him.
Tang San looked at Xiao Wu's profile and sighed inwardly. He could feel the distance between them widening bit by bit because of the "new power" brought by the Auction House. He could only tell himself, It's fine. Once I exchange for a Battle Skill and become stronger too, Xiao Wu will rely on me again.
In the elders' hall of Spirit Hall, Yue Guan read the report handed to him by one of his subordinates and trembled with rage. His Chrysanthemum Staff struck the ground with a bang, scattering sparks of golden Soul Power. "That old monster Dugu Bo got nothing more than a Yellow Tier Combat Skill, and now he dares to act so arrogantly!"
As a level 95 Titled Douluo, he had already suffered the utter humiliation of being killed in a single blow by a level 95 puppet. Now even Dugu Bo, the "weakest Titled Douluo," could overpower a level 97. If word got out, where would that leave his reputation as Chrysanthemum Douluo? "I'd like to see just how powerful his Battle Skill is! If he can't even beat me, then this so-called 'Battle Skill' is nothing but a worthless gimmick!"
That afternoon, Yue Guan led a hundred Spirit Hall disciples in a grand procession to the edge of Sunset Forest and shouted toward the valley, "Dugu Bo! Get out here! Do you dare face me in battle? If you don't, then stop going around bragging about how powerful you are!"
In the valley, Dugu Bo heard Yue Guan's voice and smiled coldly. "I was just looking for someone to test my skills on, and here you are, delivered right to my door!" He flashed into view in front of Yue Guan, pale purple Poison Battle Qi swirling around him in a thin veil. Looking at Yue Guan with disdain, he said, "Yue Guan, you're no match for me. Go home before you lose and disgrace Spirit Hall."
"Arrogant!" Yue Guan shouted. His Martial Soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, instantly possessed him, and nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet: two yellow, two purple, and five black. Waves of Soul Power surged outward, forcing the surrounding Spirit Hall disciples to their knees. "Let's see if your Yellow Tier Combat Skill can withstand my ninth Soul Skill!"
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