Confronting Dugu Bo, Exchanging Blows

Lin Li officially stepped into the Poison Barrier and immediately felt uncomfortable all over.

It was merely discomfort, nowhere near the level of danger. His poison resistance was practically maxed out now, and apart from certain strange poisons, nothing could cause him harm anymore.

The only thing he needed to worry about was speed. After all, his Soul Power was constantly being depleted.

Lin Li did not circulate his Soul Power. Instead, he accelerated using only his pure physical strength, flashing forward at high speed.

After weaving through the terrain, Lin Li stood at the edge of the mountain valley and looked down at the scenery below. Without hesitation, he jumped.

At the center of the valley lay an oval spring pool. It had one eye but two springs, each distinct from the other.

One side was the Extreme Cold Yin Spring, milky white with a lustrous blue hue and filled with bone-chilling cold. A thin white mist clung to its surface, and touching it felt like falling into an ice cellar. The other side was the Scorching Yang Spring, vermilion like molten magma. Heat waves billowed from it, slightly distorting the light above the water. Getting close was enough to sear the skin unbearably.

The two-colored springs shared the same pool yet never blended together. Their boundary was as clear as if cut by a blade. Vapor rose across the area, forming a strange, thin mist where cold and heat intertwined, while faint rainbow-colored light shimmered beneath the shifting reflections.

Looking at those strange, radiant plants that had appeared in the anime and looked exactly the same, Lin Li's eyes became excited despite himself.

Naturally, Lin Li did not recognize the Immortal Herbs that had never received a close-up shot, but they were not his targets anyway. He had never intended to take every Immortal Herb and medicinal plant away.

At the same time, after laboriously pulling his gaze away from the Immortal Herbs, Lin Li saw Dugu Bo slowly rising to his feet on the opposite side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Although Dugu Bo was doing his best to disguise it, Lin Li could still tell from his barely restrained aura and fluctuating Soul Power that he was in terrible condition!

"Kid, although this old man doesn't know how you infiltrated my Herb Garden, if you leave now, I can spare your life."

Dugu Bo's gaze was as cold and sinister as a poisonous snake's as it slowly swept over Lin Li's body, along with his constantly manifested Martial Soul and Soul Rings.

So young, and such a genius. After stumbling upon his secret, Lin Li should have been killed immediately. But unfortunately, his own condition...

The deadly poison inside Dugu Bo had flared up. He had only suppressed it halfway when he sensed someone entering and stood up. His strength had been greatly weakened, and he could not investigate whether someone was secretly protecting Lin Li. After all, in his eyes, a genius like this was sure to have someone guarding him.

"Treasure lands throughout the world belong to those capable or fated to possess them. What do you mean, 'my Herb Garden'?"

Lin Li pretended to have discovered this place by chance. Looking at Dugu Bo, he said, "Besides, judging from your appearance, it seems..."

"Impudent!"

Dugu Bo infused his voice with Soul Power, revealing part of his imposing pressure.

"Do you know who I am? I am Dugu Bo, the Poison-Titled Douluo! If you, junior, do not leave at once, be careful that I do not kill you and leave you here!"

The corners of Lin Li's mouth curled upward.

For someone with Dugu Bo's personality to spout so much nonsense, it seemed his condition really was poor.

He had originally only intended to enter the Immortal Herb exchange code, but now Lin Li wanted to test whether he could fight Dugu Bo while remaining immune to his poison attacks.

Seeing Lin Li clench his fists, Dugu Bo's eyes turned even colder.

He merely did not want to cause more trouble because of his current condition. That did not mean he was afraid of Lin Li. He was still a Titled Douluo, after all!

A Titled Douluo could not be insulted!

"Since you're so stubborn..." Dugu Bo summoned his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul. The serpent's head lifted him high into the air, while nine Soul Rings revolved beneath his feet. Looking down at Lin Li from above, he said coldly, "Then stay here!"

In the next moment, a dense cloud of Emerald Green Poisonous Mist spewed from the serpent's mouth, completely covering Lin Li.

"What a pity. A generation's proud genius, yet unfortunately, he's an ignorant fool who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

Dugu Bo felt somewhat regretful. Such a genius was insisting on throwing his life away.

But before he could withdraw his Martial Soul and return to suppress his poison, a fist appeared before his eyes, rapidly growing larger!

"What..."

Dugu Bo had never expected that a three-ring Soul Elder could actually withstand his poisonous mist, even though he had not held back!

Even so, he reacted quickly and blocked Lin Li's fist with one palm.

Feeling his fist blocked, Lin Li kicked Dugu Bo in the body, widening the distance between them once more.

"To be honest, attacks with the Poison Attribute are useless against me. You should stop using your Martial Soul... I think you seem to have been poisoned by a backlash."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's green pupils contracted sharply.

He had seen through it?

No, he was probably only guessing. As long as he killed Lin Li, his secret would not be exposed.

"Looks like you're underestimating the physical strength and abundant Soul Power of a Titled Douluo. Even with only one hand, this old man can kill you."

As he spoke, Dugu Bo withdrew his Martial Soul and flashed behind Lin Li.

So fast!

That was the first thought to appear in Lin Li's mind. When the second thought emerged, it was: It hurts!

His vision returned, and the dizzying sensation gradually subsided. Lin Li braced one hand against the rock, then climbed out of it.

If one looked back, they could see a human-shaped indentation in the rock!

"It's not only his Soul Rings that are unusual. Even his physical body is extraordinary..."

Dugu Bo was shocked for the second time. He had not expected Lin Li to still be alive.

With the physical strength of a Titled Douluo, he could exchange blows with a Power Attack System Soul Saint without even releasing his Martial Soul.

Although his strength had declined because of the deadly poison inside him, he was still far beyond what a three-ring Soul Elder like Lin Li could withstand.

An uneasy feeling arose in Dugu Bo's heart. He spoke to Lin Li once more:

"I'll give you one more chance. If you leave now, I will not pursue the matter!"

"Fight me a few more times, and I'll cure your poison, Old Poison Monster. Don't worry, I mean no harm."

As Lin Li spoke, he charged at Dugu Bo once more. Dugu Bo did not know whether Lin Li was bluffing or truly had a way to cure him, and he was unsure whether to fight with all his strength.

His thoughts were a mess.

He had clearly done his best to conceal it, yet he had still been discovered. Perhaps this kid had guessed it because he had seen him suppressing his poison.

While Dugu Bo was thinking, the two had already exchanged several blows. Most of the time, Lin Li attacked while Dugu Bo responded to each move.

"I'm done. This is boring."

The two struck each other with fists and palms, and Lin Li used the force of their collision to retreat.

Lin Li wanted to see exactly what level his strength had reached, but he did not want to play around until he killed Dugu Bo.

This man was especially famous for his character and loyalty. In the novel, he was already someone worth befriending. In the anime, he had even given his life for Tang San.

And all he had received in return was a cure for his poison.

"You don't believe that I can cure your poison?"

"Nonsense. You're nothing but a little brat..."

Dugu Bo realized that something was wrong and changed his words. "This old man has never been poisoned. Why would I need an antidote?"