The morning mist had yet to clear from Sunset Forest, but all kinds of Soul Guiding Chariots already filled the entrance to the valley. The Poisonous Valley, once a place everyone avoided, had become the busiest social hub on the Douluo Continent. Emissaries from every major power stood respectfully at the edge of the miasma, bearing rare resources. They hardly dared breathe too loudly, afraid of disturbing the great figure within.
"Your Excellency, Poison Douluo, this is Thousand Year Glazed Jade, newly mined by our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It can stabilize Soul Power and nourish the meridians. Please have a look..." Ning Fengzhi's personal guard held out a brocade box, his tone so respectful it was almost obsequious. In the past, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as one of the Upper Three Sects, had never bowed easily to anyone. But now, facing Dugu Bo, they had lowered themselves completely.
The hem of Dugu Bo's ink-colored robe stirred in the morning breeze as he walked slowly out of the valley. A faint Poison Battle Qi swirled around him. It was no longer the terrifying, violent aura of old; instead, it carried a steady pressure. He accepted the brocade box and opened it. The jade's warm luster reflected in his eyes, and a barely perceptible smile curled his lips. "Sect Master Ning has been very thoughtful. Lin Yue is sorting through Battle Skill scrolls these days. I'll put in a word for you, but whether you get priority will depend on the Auction House's rules."
"Yes, yes, of course! We'll leave everything to you, Your Excellency, Poison Douluo!" The guard nodded hurriedly, his face bright with delight, as if he'd just received a momentous promise.
Watching the guard's departing figure, Dugu Bo felt a surge of satisfaction. In the past, everyone had avoided him as the "poisonous old monster," and Spirit Hall's people had mocked him to his face. Now, members of the Upper Three Sects bowed to him, while emissaries from the two great empires came three days early just to get in line, hoping he would put in a good word for them with Lin Yue. This transformation from "the weakest" to "top-tier" made him appreciate the title Poison Douluo all the more. After all, his strength truly deserved this respect now.
"If Yan Yan could see me now, she'd be so happy," Dugu Bo murmured, a flicker of tenderness in his eyes. He thought of how his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, used to complain that people bullied him, and how he'd once been able to do nothing but watch her envy others. The memories only strengthened his resolve.
He turned and headed back into the valley, his gaze sweeping over the poisonous plants scattered everywhere. What others had once considered worthless were now treasures that could be exchanged for Points. Youluo Grass could fetch a million. Wouldn't rarer things like Corpse Heart Flower and Bone Gnawing Vine be worth even more? Once he had saved enough Points, he would trade them not only for a Mysterious Tier Combat Skill for himself, but also for one suited to the Agility Attack System for Yan Yan, so she could become someone others envied, too.
With that thought, Dugu Bo wasted no time. He circulated his Abyssal Poison movement technique, his figure turning into a purple streak as he darted through the depths of the valley. He carefully gathered the poisonous plants and packed them into specially made jade boxes, afraid to damage their appearance. These were his future capital—and the leverage he needed to stay firmly attached to the Auction House's coattails.
Three days later, Dugu Bo appeared once more before the Black Jade Main Building of the Otherworld Auction House. This time, he had brought five rare poisonous plants. Two of them were Corpse Heart Flowers, their petals gleaming dark red. The poison on their petals could corrode Soul Bones, making them a crucial ingredient for refining high-level Poison Pills.
"Your Excellency, Mo Chen, sorry to trouble you. This old man requests an audience with Your Excellency, Lin Yue." Dugu Bo clasped his hands in greeting to Mo Chen at the entrance, his tone respectful, without a trace of a Titled Douluo's usual airs. He used to be arrogant toward everyone, but when it came to the Auction House's people, he willingly lowered his status. He knew everything he had now came from the Auction House. Only by staying firmly attached to its coattails could he secure his place on the Douluo Continent.
Mo Chen smiled and nodded. "Your Excellency, Poison Douluo, you're too kind. Master is already waiting for you inside."
Following Mo Chen into the inner hall, Dugu Bo immediately spotted Lin Yue sitting at the tea table, turning a Light Blue Jade Pendant over in his hand. He hurried forward and placed the jade box of poisonous plants on the table. "Your Excellency, Lin Yue, these are the poisonous plants I've gathered recently. Please see if they're to your liking."
Lin Yue opened the jade box and brushed his fingertips over the petals of a Corpse Heart Flower. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes. "Corpse Heart Flower. It grows in miasma that has accumulated for ten thousand years and must absorb the blood essence of Soul Beasts to mature. Quite rare. These five plants are all in excellent condition. The Auction House is willing to buy them for 1.2 million Points."
"1.2 million?!" Dugu Bo's eyes widened, and a rush of joy flooded his heart. He'd expected to get a million at most, but he'd been offered 200,000 more! That was enough to redeem—
"Your Excellency, Lin Yue, this old man has another request." Dugu Bo drew a deep breath and bowed. "My granddaughter is an Agility Attack System Soul Master. Does the Auction House have any Battle Skills suitable for her? If so, I'm willing to trade even more poisonous plants for one."
Lin Yue looked at his respectful manner and smiled. "We do have Battle Skills suited to the Agility Attack System. The Yellow Tier High Grade Shadow Kill Technique is good for stealth and surprise attacks. But Mysterious Tier Combat Skills cost a lot of Points, and you don't have enough yet."
"That's no problem!" Dugu Bo said hurriedly, his eyes full of urgency. "There are plenty more poisonous plants in my valley. I'll bring more next time! I only ask that you reserve a Shadow Kill Technique for me, Your Excellency, Lin Yue. I would be deeply grateful!" As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Lin Yue. A Titled Douluo, bowing willingly to a man of unknown origins for his granddaughter and a Battle Skill—if word got out, the whole continent would be stunned.
Lin Yue understood and nodded. "All right. If you bring Bone Gnawing Vine next time, I'll reserve a Shadow Kill Technique for you."
"Thank you, Your Excellency, Lin Yue! Thank you!" Dugu Bo was overjoyed and thanked him again and again. By the time he left the inner hall, his steps had grown light. Walking through the Auction House's corridors, he watched Soul Masters coming and going, his heart full of emotion. In the past, he hadn't even dared to enter the Auction House. Now, he was treated specially here, all because he'd chosen the right patron. From now on, he would visit the Auction House more often and build a closer relationship with Lin Yue. Maybe he could even get his hands on higher-tier Battle Skills.
"The Otherworld Auction House will hold a major auction in seven days. This auction will feature the Yellow Tier High Grade Battle Skills 'Windchaser Step' and 'Mountain Splitting Fist,' as well as several mysterious fragments of high-level Battle Skills..."
When the auction announcement lit up on the Golden Light Screen, the entire Douluo Continent erupted. They might only be Yellow Tier Battle Skills, but Dugu Bo's example was right there before them. One Yellow Tier High Grade Battle Skill had allowed a Level 91 Titled Douluo to turn things around and reach Level 97 strength. Who wouldn't want one?
The major powers reacted even more frantically than expected. In the Worship Hall in Spirit City, Qian Daoliu stared at the auction announcement as the Angel Sacred Sword in his hand trembled slightly.
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