Qian Renxue's Worry

Dugu Bo saw Xue Ke muttering to herself and asked in surprise, "Little girl, do you recognize these herbs?"

"I recognize most of them. With the help of these herbs, I believe I can help you effectively suppress the toxins in your body," Xue Ke replied.

"Oh? Little girl, what method have you thought of?" Dugu Bo asked.

Recalling the method Tang San had mentioned in the anime, Xue Ke slowly said, "There are two ways to suppress the toxins in your body."

"First, I'll consume two immortal herbs, one cold and one hot, and use my body to neutralize their medicinal properties. Then, if you drink my fresh blood at regular intervals, you'll be able to suppress the toxins temporarily."

"The second method is for you to try forcing the toxins in your body into your soul bones. However, this method carries a certain degree of danger. If you make even the slightest mistake while forcing out the poison, I'm afraid you'll suffer an even greater backlash."

However, what Xue Ke did not know was that although the two methods Tang San had proposed could suppress the toxins in Dugu Bo's body, they were extremely harmful to both Dugu Bo's cultivation and his life.

The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot could indeed neutralize the toxins in Dugu Bo's body, but at the same time, they would also dissolve all of Dugu Bo's poison arts, ultimately causing his cultivation to decline.

There was no need to elaborate on the second method; it was far more dangerous than it appeared. Even if Dugu Bo successfully forced the toxins in his body into his soul bones, the amount of poison those soul bones could store was limited. One day, the soul bones would no longer be able to withstand the deadly poison Dugu Bo had forced into them. Once the poison within the soul bones erupted, Dugu Bo would die on the spot.

This showed that Tang San had never harbored good intentions toward Dugu Bo. When Dugu Bo captured Tang San from Blue Tyrant Academy and threatened to kill him, Dugu Bo had already met Tang San's so-called "path to death."

The general outline of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record stated: "Once you have determined that someone is an enemy, as long as they have set foot on the path to death, show no mercy. Otherwise, you will only bring trouble upon yourself."

Xue Ke had purely meant well but ended up doing harm. She never expected that blindly copying Tang San's methods would bring Dugu Bo such tremendous harm. Xue Ke had never imagined Tang San could be so vile and cruel. After all, the Tang San in the anime had been the "Great Righteous" protagonist.

"Little girl, if the method you mentioned truly works and can suppress the toxins in my body, then this old man will owe you a favor. From now on, whatever you ask of me, so long as it is within my abilities, I will certainly do it for you," Dugu Bo promised solemnly.

"Grandpa Dugu, there's no need to say that. You're Sister Yan's grandfather, which makes you my grandfather too. Sister Yan is my teammate, so helping you is simply what I should do." Xue Ke seized the opportunity, glanced at Dugu Yan, and spoke with a face full of sincerity.

"Good, good!" The more Dugu Bo looked at Xue Ke, the more pleasing she seemed. He was especially delighted by the affectionate address "Grandpa Dugu," which drew them closer together.

"Grandpa Dugu, besides those two immortal herbs, can I take some other herbs as well?" Xue Ke looked at Dugu Bo expectantly, her big eyes blinking as she unleashed the Eighteen Styles of Cuteness.

"It's fine. Take whatever you want, little girl. Grandpa has plenty of herbs," Dugu Bo said, patting his chest with great generosity.

"Hehe, then I won't stand on ceremony." Xue Ke turned around so the grandfather and granddaughter would not see the triumphant look on her face. She placed herb after herb into the ring she had swiped from Xue Qinghe, which could store living things. Dugu Bo merely twitched at the corner of his mouth and did not stop her.

After she had gathered almost all the immortal herbs, only the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass remained.

Xue Ke put on gloves forged from gold and iron, then activated the Bone-Breaking Hand, hardening her palms. With this "double insurance," she swiftly plucked the two immortal herbs, stuffed them into her mouth in one gulp, used the Floating Willow Movement Technique, and leaped into the icy-hot spring with a splash. The entire sequence was smooth and fluid.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were dumbfounded by Xue Ke's string of actions. Just as Dugu Bo was about to fish her out of the spring, Xue Ke hurriedly said, "Grandpa Dugu, don't come over! I'm fine. I'm absorbing the medicinal effects. I'll be done soon."

Xue Ke circulated the Sunflower Scripture, accelerating the absorption of the medicinal effects while resisting the extreme cold and heat surging from the spring.

And so, Xue Ke soaked in the spring for an entire day.

Heaven Dou City, Prince's Mansion.

After hearing his subordinate's report, Xue Qinghe's expression shifted unpredictably. He waved a hand, and the subordinate tactfully withdrew.

"What exactly is that little brat up to? Getting close to Dugu Yan is one thing—after all, they're on the same team—but she actually followed Dugu Yan to Sunset Forest to see Poison Douluo without making a sound. Dugu Bo is temperamental, and Xiao Ke loves stirring up trouble. If she provokes him..."

Xue Qinghe frowned and pondered for a moment before finally making up his mind. He called toward an empty corner outside the room, "Uncle Ci Xue!"

Soon, a hideous-looking burly man entered the room and respectfully bowed. "Young Master!"

"I'll have to trouble you, Uncle, to go to Sunset Forest and find out where Xue Ke is. She is currently with Dugu Bo. If she encounters danger, bring her back at all costs."

Porcupinefish Douluo hesitated, saying worriedly, "Young Master, but if I am exposed, it could very likely harm our plans in the Heaven Dou Empire! Besides, outsiders may question why we would rescue Princess Xue Ke."

"It's fine. I will handle all of that. Go first." Xue Qinghe's tone carried a trace of impatience.

"Yes, Young Master." Porcupinefish Douluo did not dare disobey Qian Renxue's order and immediately set off for Sunset Forest.

"Phew—" Xue Ke let out a long breath and leaped out of the spring. After an entire day, she had finally completed the Ice and Fire Golden Body Refining.

Looking at Dugu Yan, who had fallen asleep while leaning against a nearby rock, a glistening trail of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth, Xue Ke chuckled softly and felt a faint warmth in her heart.

Walking over to Dugu Yan's side, Xue Ke gently patted her shoulder and said tenderly, "Sister Yan, wake up!"

Dugu Yan slowly opened her bleary eyes. When she saw the unharmed Xue Ke before her, delight immediately appeared on her face.

"Little Sister Xue Ke, you finally came out! You have no idea how worried I was about you. You took such a risk to help my grandfather. If anything had happened to you, I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life."

I never expected Dugu Yan, who looked so fierce and vicious in the anime, to have such a kind side. The anime misled me!

"Sister Yan, aren't I fine? How could I possibly joke around with my own life? Huh, where did Grandpa Dugu go?" Xue Ke looked around.

"Grandpa went back to his room to rest. I'll take you to him." Dugu Yan took Xue Ke's little hand and led her away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.