In the afternoon, sunlight pierced the miasma over Sunset Forest, casting dappled patches of light across the ground. At the valley entrance, two rows of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples held Soul Tool Lamps, dispelling the dense Poison Mist. The lamp wicks had been made from thousand-year-old Spirit Calming Grass. They could suppress the poison temporarily, but barely protected an area three feet around them.
Ning Fengzhi wore a moon-white brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. The face of the Jade Folding Fan in his hand was painted with an ink-wash landscape, and every gentle sweep carried an elegant rhythm. Standing at the edge of the Poison Mist, he gazed past the swaying poisonous plants toward the familiar dark figure deep in the valley. A warm smile, edged with calculation, curved his lips.
"Sect Master, the poison here in Sunset Forest is stronger than the rumors suggested. Should we have the disciples clear a path first?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin asked quietly behind him. He wore a silver-white sword robe, and the phantom of his Seven Kill Sword flickered behind him. His fierce sword aura kept the surrounding poisonous plants at bay.
Ning Fengzhi gave a slight shake of his head, snapping his fan shut. "No need. We're here to negotiate a partnership, not provoke him. Old Poison Dugu Bo is extremely protective. If we disturb his precious poisonous plants, we'll never get anywhere today." With that, he circulated his Soul Power, covering himself in a wisp of Glazed colored Auxiliary Soul Power, and slowly stepped into the valley.
The Poison Mist touched the Glazed colored Soul Power and vanished instantly, like snow melting in a blazing fire. Ning Fengzhi moved lightly, placing each step between the poisonous plants. He avoided damaging even a single plant and steered clear of the poisonous bogs on the ground. He had already learned the valley's layout from his intelligence network and had come well prepared.
The Cold Jade Bed stood atop a boulder in the middle of the valley, its surface ice-blue and wreathed in wisps of cold air that countered the surrounding poisonous heat. Dugu Bo wore a dark robe embroidered at the collar with shadowy purple poisonous-plant patterns. Seated cross-legged, he rolled a leaf of Youluo Grass between his fingers, carefully using Soul Power to regulate the poison in its veins.
The Youluo Grass stood about half a foot tall, its leaves deep purple with faint silver edges. Droplets of poison clinging to them were crystal clear; it was obviously a rare specimen cultivated with great care. A faint purple Poison Battle Qi glowed at Dugu Bo's fingertips. Each time he touched a leaf, the droplets trembled slightly, showing that he was adjusting the poison's concentration.
"Your Excellency, Dugu Douluo, it's been a while," Ning Fengzhi said warmly, breaking the silence in the valley.
Dugu Bo slowly raised his eyes. A trace of impatience flickered in his pale purple gaze, but he didn't immediately give voice to it. He set down the Youluo Grass and leaned back against the Cold Jade Bed, folding his arms. "Sect Master Ning, you certainly went to a lot of trouble to find this dump of mine through ten miles of Poison Mist. What is it? Has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect run short of poisonous plants for its medicines?" His tone carried a hint of mockery, but his gaze remained fixed on the Glazed colored Soul Power surrounding Ning Fengzhi. It was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's core Auxiliary Soul Power, capable of strengthening defense. Ning Fengzhi had clearly come prepared.
Ning Fengzhi stopped three steps from the Cold Jade Bed and reopened his fan, waving it gently. "You jest, Your Excellency. Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is skilled in medicine, we wouldn't dare tamper with the poisonous plants you've cultivated. I came today because of what happened at the Auction House yesterday. That thousand-year-old Corpse Heart Flower you brought out was truly a rare sight."
He changed the subject, turning his gaze to the jade box beside the Cold Jade Bed. "The Corpse Heart Flower's petals were dark red, and its poison was concentrated but not volatile. It must have grown where countless poisons converge. The poison in an ordinary valley is too chaotic to produce such a treasure. You must have a hidden treasure trove somewhere, don't you?"
Dugu Bo's heart tightened, and his fingers instinctively gripped the edge of the jade box. Inside were three newly matured Corpse Heart Flowers, which he had planned to take to the Auction House the next day to exchange for Points. But his expression stayed composed as he sneered. "Sect Master Ning has a keen eye. I was just lucky enough to find a few in a cave deep in the valley. There's no treasure trove."
Sword Douluo stepped forward, his voice steady as a sword. "Your Excellency, let's speak plainly. Points at the Auction House are precious now, and Battle Skills and quick-learning services all require large amounts of rare resources. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has a unique Spirit Gathering Cultivation Technique for growing rare plants. It can shorten the maturation period of poisonous plants by thirty percent and improve their quality. If you're having trouble, we'd be glad to lend a hand."
As he spoke, his sword aura stirred faintly, not to intimidate, but to deliberately release a wisp of Soul Power. It carried the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's distinctive supportive aura, making their message clear: they had the means to help him and sincerely wanted to cooperate.
A trace of wariness crossed Dugu Bo's eyes, and he leaned forward slightly. "Help me? What does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect want? You're not offering your help for free, are you?" He was nearly a hundred years old and had seen every kind of storm. No one got a bargain out of one of the Upper Three Sects so easily.
Seeing Dugu Bo's reservations, Ning Fengzhi's smile grew even warmer. "Rest assured, Your Excellency. We have no intention of taking anything from you. Look." He took a rosewood box from his storage ring and opened it to reveal three pieces of Thousand Year Glazed Jade. Their surfaces were smooth and warm, with a faint green glow and a wisp of pure Soul Power swirling around them. "This is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's treasured Thousand Year Glazed Jade. It nourishes soil and stabilizes medicinal properties. Buried by the roots of poisonous plants, it can improve their quality and prevent their medicinal power from leaking away."
He held out the box to Dugu Bo, his tone sincere. "All we ask is a share of the harvest in the future. You have the treasure trove, and we have the expertise and manpower. We both benefit. Why not?"
Dugu Bo stared at the Glazed Jade in the box, tempted. His cave was nourished by countless poisons, but he lacked a treasure that could stabilize medicinal properties. Several Corpse Heart Flowers he had cultivated before had developed scorched edges because their medicinal power had leaked away, greatly diminishing their quality. He had lost nearly a hundred thousand Points when he exchanged them. Still, he wasn't willing to give in. The treasure trove was the foundation of his strength, and if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect set its sights on it, trouble could grow over time.
"Even with Glazed Jade, I can take care of the plants myself." Dugu Bo pushed the box away, his tone firm. "I, Dugu Bo, have lived this long without needing anyone's help."
Ning Fengzhi didn't lose heart. He put the box away and tapped his fan against his palm. "I doubt you can keep up with all the work, Your Excellency. The Corpse Heart Flowers you brought to the Auction House yesterday had faint scorch marks along the edges of their petals. You didn't control the heat properly while cultivating them. And the Youluo Grass you were holding just now had a hint of yellow soil clinging to its roots, which means the soil lacks nutrients."
He paused, glancing over the poisonous plants in the valley. "The poisonous plants here may look lush, but nearly thirty percent of the seedlings have withered from neglect. If things continue this way, your source of Points will eventually dry up. Then, forget exchanging for a Mysterious Tier Battle Skill for your granddaughter—even mastering the quick-learning course for the 'Abyssal Poison' Battle Skill may be out of reach."
His words struck Dugu Bo right where it hurt, like a sharp blade! His expression shifted, and he clenched his fists. Dugu Yan had always wanted a Mysterious Tier Agility Attack System Battle Skill, but a Mysterious Tier Battle Skill cost at least five million Points, and the fee for mastering it through quick-learning brought the total to ten million. At his current cultivation rate, it would take him at least five years to save up. If the seedlings kept withering, it would take even longer.
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