The Solution, Water Fire Dragon Ring

"Um, Young Master, I have a presumptuous request."

Dugu Bo did not know why Lin Qi wanted him to befriend a brat named Tang San.

But it was hardly difficult, certainly better than being sent to fight a Titled Douluo.

"Speak."

"This Master Meng seems to have some insight into my Poison Skill. He knows I suffer from Poisonous Toxin Backlash from my Martial Soul. I wonder if Master Meng has a way to help me resolve it?"

Dugu Bo had not believed anyone could understand his Martial Soul problems better than he did, but after that dreamlike experience, he had awakened.

Lin Qi's group—whether Lin Qi, the Young Master, the two Titled Douluo, or that Soul Beast capable of Humanoid Transformation—

All proved that their origins were extraordinary and their methods far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Perhaps they truly could solve his problem.

"Master Meng, you can resolve Dugu Bo's Poisonous Toxin Backlash, right?"

Master Meng looked at Dugu Bo with disdain.

"This tiny problem is absurdly easy to resolve. I'm afraid only someone with a brain smaller than a grain of sand could cultivate all the way to the Titled Douluo realm and still be unable to handle such a trivial matter."

Master Meng did not name anyone, yet every word pointed toward one specific person.

Dugu Bo's old face grew long.

He was not known for his good temper. If he had not been unable to defeat Master Meng, he would have exploded long ago.

He endured it, then endured it some more.

"May I ask for your esteemed opinion? I have studied this for decades and still cannot completely resolve this Hidden Danger. You only took one look—do you truly already have a solution?"

Master Meng shook his head.

"No."

"No?"

Dugu Bo's rage had already rushed to his forehead.

You do not have a solution, yet you said all that?

"What I mean is, there is more than one way to resolve your problem."

"More than one?"

Dugu Bo's anger swiftly faded, replaced by deep suspicion.

I admit that I am weaker than you, but you have not even carefully examined my Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul, and you already have more than one way to resolve its Hidden Danger.

If that were true, then had he lived all these years for nothing?

"Nine. I have nine methods to resolve your problem."

"Gasp—"

Dugu Bo drew in a sharp breath.

Forget nine methods. Even if there were only two solutions, he would scarcely dare believe it.

Master Meng wore the expression of someone looking at a student with a wooden head.

"I have three methods to stop your Martial Soul from spreading poison through your body."

"I have three methods to neutralize the poison your Martial Soul has already backlashed into your body."

"I have two methods to make your Martial Soul lose its toxicity at the root."

"And I have one method that will let you completely adapt to your Martial Soul's poison, transform into a Poisonous Body, and contain all poisons."

"Master, I want to learn the last one."

Dugu Bo had not believed him at first, but seeing how serious Master Meng was, and how it truly did not sound like a lie, Dugu Bo wavered.

Of the four types of methods:

Dugu Bo felt that the first type could resolve his Poisonous Toxin Backlash without any other side effects.

The second type would weaken his Poison Skill.

The third type might even cause him to lose his Poison Skill entirely.

Only the fourth moved him most deeply: becoming a Poisonous Body and containing all poisons.

Just hearing it made it clear that it would not merely preserve his strength, but might even make his future brighter.

"You want to learn it?"

Master Meng asked.

Dugu Bo nodded repeatedly.

"You expect me to teach you just because you asked?"

"This..."

Dugu Bo felt numb.

Most of his possessions were in this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Now that even the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well belonged to someone else, what did he still have that he could offer?

"What do you want me to do before you are willing to teach me?"

Master Meng lowered his eyes. "The one you should be asking is not me."

Dugu Bo suddenly understood.

He should have said so earlier. Why beat around the bush? How was an honest man like him supposed to follow all those twists and turns?

"Young Master, I have yet to render any merit and should not have dared to hope for this."

"But I am old and my strength is lacking. I fear I may delay the Young Master's great plans."

"I beg the Young Master for mercy. Grant me the way to resolve this, and I will remember your kindness to the depths of my heart and serve you unto death."

Lin Qi smiled.

Who said Old Poison Dugu Bo was arrogant and incapable of saying flattering words?

Those little speeches came one after another. He had learned them without a teacher—truly a gifted talent.

"Master, teach him."

"Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, Young Master."

The last trace of Dugu Bo's hesitation vanished completely.

At this moment, he was not merely doing this for his own future, but for his granddaughter's life and the future of his entire family.

"Since Little Qi has spoken, this old man will teach you. Though you are quite advanced in years and your mind is not particularly sharp, I will reluctantly accept you as a nominal disciple."

"A nominal disciple?"

Dugu Bo pointed at himself.

"I, Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, am to become your nominal disciple?"

Having lived so long, this was the first time he had heard someone say they wanted him as a disciple—and only a nominal one at that.

"So, are you going to accept or not?"

Dugu Bo fell silent for a long time.

If he had not already been famous for so many years, if he had not stood high above others for so long—

For someone who could teach him a method capable of changing his family's fate, forget becoming a disciple; he would even be willing to become his son.

"I accept. Master, please accept this bow from your disciple."

After pondering for a long while, Dugu Bo finally cast aside his inner conflict and bowed respectfully.

Whether in strength or in his understanding of Martial Souls, Master Meng far surpassed him. He deserved this bow.

"Master, congratulations on gaining another disciple."

Lin Qi had not expected Master Meng to have such leisurely interest.

"Hahaha! Your talent is too high. You need someone a little dumber as a contrast. Little Bo, from now on, Lin Qi is not only your Young Master, but also your Senior Brother."

Dugu Bo: ...

Damn it, this was worse than being a subordinate.

The mental preparation Dugu Bo had painstakingly built up instantly began to crumble.

At his age, he had actually become the junior brother of a child whose age was only a fraction of his own?

"Junior Brother, from now on, we'll address each other as we please. You call me Young Master, and I'll call you Junior Brother."

"Y-Young Master."

Dugu Bo looked as though he had been thoroughly played with.

"Little Bo, come with me."

Dugu Bo followed Master Meng in a daze and was led to a white medicinal herb whose leaves resembled a Swan Neck.

Lin Qi had no interest in watching Master Meng instruct Dugu Bo, so he turned and headed toward the bamboo house.

"Let me see how well you cleaned it up."

Xiao Wu followed behind Lin Qi, hands on her hips.

"You can rest assured about my skills. It's not like this is my first day doing this kind of work. I'm very practiced."

This bamboo house was extremely similar to the one at Nuoding Academy, so Xiao Wu tidied it with great familiarity.

Xiao Wu was about to receive Lin Qi's praise when she suddenly discovered that his aura had drastically changed.

Lin Qi's back was still before her, yet in an instant, he had become far more imposing and domineering.

At the same time, red and blue colors emerged.

One red and one blue flying dragon chased each other head to tail, forming a ring around Lin Qi.

"Th-this... what is this?"

Xiao Wu was immensely surprised and did not understand why Lin Qi had changed like this.

"Isn't it obvious? They're Soul Rings."

"Soul Rings?"

Xiao Wu found it even harder to understand.

"These are Soul Rings? But your two Soul Rings do not look like this."

Lin Qi turned around.

"Because these are the Soul Rings of my Second Martial Soul."

"Water Fire Dragon Ring!"