All they needed was to draw the poison into the Soul Bone, so the medicinal ingredients required were not complicated.
Of course, as the poison moved through his body, it would inevitably enter the vessels around his heart. The slightest mistake, and Dugu Bo would die from the poison.
That was where Qin Yuan's additional help came in.
He took the set of silver needles from his Soul Tool, preparing to use acupuncture to temporarily seal the vessels around Dugu Bo's heart.
At the sight of the needles, Dugu Bo's face filled with surprise. "These are the silver needles the divine physician Fang Yan used back then. They say that after he died, his descendants couldn't find them among his belongings. Where did you get them?"
According to Dugu Bo, Fang Yan had died a century ago. His cultivation as a Soul Master had been nothing remarkable, but he had enjoyed tremendous prestige in medicine across the continent. No wonder Dugu Bo knew of him.
When Qin Yuan had first obtained the needles, he had guessed they had an extraordinary history. He had not expected one quite like this.
"They were spoils I took from a mountain stronghold. I had no idea there was so much history behind them. I'm not skilled in medicine myself. If you want them, Senior Dugu, you can have them once we're done."
Dugu Bo did not want to miss out on such a treasure, but he would not take it for nothing. "I do have a fondness for them. Tell me what you need. Even if it's a Soul Bone, I can get one."
Qin Yuan shook his head and turned to point at the Immortal Herbs beside the spring. "Since you don't recognize those herbs, Senior Dugu, why not give them all to me? I'm interested in them and would like to study them."
Dugu Bo agreed at once, though he did not forget to warn him how dangerous the plants were.
With the preparations complete, Dugu Bo drank the medicinal broth and went into seclusion in a nearby wooden hut.
Qin Yuan was now the only person at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. With Dugu Bo's permission, he finally had time to attend to the Immortal Herbs.
He went straight to a large pinkish-purple flower.
A pale violet halo surrounded it. When he stepped inside, a refreshing fragrance filled his nose and lifted his spirits.
This was the Aromatic Silk Beauty. Within the Immortal Herb's "domain," all external poisons were kept at bay.
He did not know whether Dugu Bo would leak poison while cultivating, but as long as he stayed within the halo, he could avoid most of the danger.
After taking the herb, he turned his attention to the others.
His Martial Soul was a saber, and its quality was not high. The Immortal Herbs best suited to him were those that could improve the quality of a Martial Soul.
But whether an Immortal Herb could evolve a Martial Soul came down partly to chance. Success was not guaranteed.
Besides, the system would reward him with a chance at Martial Soul Evolution after he cured Dugu Bo's poison.
Qin Yuan decided to take the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum first to strengthen his body. If the Martial Soul Evolution granted by the system did not take him in the direction best suited to him, he could always absorb another Immortal Herb later.
If he evolved his Martial Soul now and the result clashed with the system's evolution, wouldn't he have wasted a reward?
As for the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass on opposite sides of the spring, Qin Yuan had no intention of taking either.
For one thing, his Martial Soul already contained fire-attribute energy. Absorbing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass would certainly neutralize that fire attribute and cost him a great deal of combat strength.
The Infernal Delicate Apricot, taken on its own, was highly poisonous. How would absorbing it directly be any different from suicide?
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was his fallback. If the system's evolution had something to do with fire, he would take it as soon as the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum's medicinal power was exhausted, evolving his Martial Soul's flame abilities.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
When the Lei Clan learned of Qin Yuan's mastery of saber techniques, they clamored to have Lei Meng become his disciple.
But Qin Yuan had already left with Dugu Bo. Meng Shenji could not find him anywhere; Qin Yuan had not even returned to the Golden Saber Shop.
To the Lei Clan, Meng Shenji was deliberately obstructing them to gain something for himself, putting Lei Meng's apprenticeship at risk.
The Lei Clan's Martial Soul did not pass down consistently, but they were all lightning-attribute Soul Masters. A Soul Master's temperament was heavily influenced by his Martial Soul, and fire and lightning were both powerful combat attributes. Who among their wielders did not have a fiery temper?
As soon as that day's imperial court session ended, Lei Zhen stormed into the Education Committee and jabbed a finger at Meng Shenji's nose. "You old fossil! Are you trying to ruin my son's future?"
Lei Zhen was also a Soul Douluo. Unlike Meng Shenji, however, he was a hereditary duke with considerable influence at the Heaven Dou Empire's court and a great deal of military power. His standing was second only to that of the empire's pillar, Marshal Ge Long.
Meng Shenji heaved a weary sigh. "Your Grace, taking your anger out on me won't help. Mr. Qin left the academy with Poison Douluo early yesterday morning. He hasn't returned to his lodgings. How would I know where he went?"
"Besides, becoming master and disciple requires both sides to agree. When the time is right, I expect Mr. Qin won't refuse."
Lei Zhen planted his hands on his hips, the heavy flesh of his face twitching. "Listen here, you old fool. Isn't Meng'er your student? The Soul Master Tournament starts in just a few days. Don't you want the academy to do better?"
"And what do you mean, 'both sides agree'? You're just being lazy, old man! You're the foremost figure in imperial education. What, can't you offer him a suitable price?"
Meng Shenji looked miserable.
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