Nuoding City

"Of course. When had I ever lied to you?"

Dugu Bo was not at all surprised by Dugu Yang's reaction and said,

"A Soul Beast known as the Tree Poison Toad lives in the Soul Hunting Forest. Every Tree Poison Toad carries nearly dozens of potent poisons."

"Dozens of potent poisons!"

Dugu Yang's eyes lit up. This was far more impressive than the Five-Colored Poisonous Miasma Butterfly.

But then he became somewhat puzzled.

"Second Grandfather, if the Tree Poison Toad possesses so many poisons, why hadn't I found it in the records of Poison Soul Beasts?"

Dugu Yang had looked through almost every Poison Soul Beast, yet he had never seen any mention of the Tree Poison Toad.

Hearing this, Dugu Bo smiled faintly. "Because, strictly speaking, the Tree Poison Toad does not count as a Poison Soul Beast."

Dugu Yang froze, unable to understand.

Dugu Bo did not keep him guessing and said with a smile,

"Poison Soul Beasts are Soul Beasts born with potent poison. Tree Poison Toads, however, are born without poison. Yet they possess an exceptionally unique ability: the Poison Sac. By consuming poison, they can produce the toxins they have swallowed within their own bodies, with no limit to the number."

"Thus, an adult Tree Poison Toad often possesses dozens of potent poisons, and they are almost never duplicates."

Dugu Yang was deeply shaken by Dugu Bo's words. His dark eyes brimmed with yearning. This was exactly what he wanted.

"Second Grandfather, I'll choose the Tree Poison Toad for my First Soul Ring!"

"I knew you would say that. Then train well. Leave the Tree Poison Toad to me."

Dugu Bo smiled.

"Second Grandfather, thank you. I'll definitely break through to level 10 as soon as possible."

Now that he had a goal, Dugu Yang only needed to work hard.

Spring passed into autumn. In the blink of an eye, Dugu Yang had spent more than half a year at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

Today, he would leave the Mountain Valley.

It was not because he had stayed in the Mountain Valley too long and wanted to go out for a stroll, but because his Soul Power Level had reached level 10, and he needed to obtain his first Spirit Ring.

"Xiaoyang, have you made up your mind?"

Dugu Bo led Dugu Yang out of the Mountain Valley. Dugu Yang was still too weak; even climbing out of the valley was somewhat difficult for him, let alone dealing with the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolutes Flower guarding the outside.

"I made up my mind half a year ago. I must obtain the Tree Poison Toad's Poison Sac."

Dugu Yang spoke firmly.

Compared to half a year ago, Dugu Yang's appearance had not changed much, though he had grown half a head taller.

"Very well. But even if you absorb a Tree Poison Toad's Spirit Ring, you may not necessarily gain its Poison Sac soul skill."

Dugu Bo reminded him again.

Soul Beasts possessed more than one soul skill, so even if one absorbed the Spirit Ring of the same Soul Beast, one might not gain the same soul skill.

Unless it was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, which could freely choose the soul skill it bestowed.

"I understand. But even if I don't obtain the Poison Sac soul skill this time, I'll continue absorbing Tree Poison Toad Spirit Rings once I reach level 20."

Clearly, Dugu Yang had made up his mind. He had to obtain the Poison Sac.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo stopped trying to persuade him and merely said,

"Then I hope your luck is better. Perhaps you'll obtain the Poison Sac soul skill this time."

"I definitely will."

Dugu Yang smiled faintly, appearing very confident.

During his half year at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, aside from the growth of his Soul Power and knowledge, Dugu Yang had discovered that he possessed an unusual ability.

Or rather, a Golden Finger.

Affinity!

It was not affinity with humans, but affinity with beings that possessed intelligence or spirituality, such as immortal herbs and Soul Beasts.

As everyone knew, most of the Immortal Grade Spirit Grass around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye possessed intense toxicity. Yet in one accident, Dugu Yang had accidentally touched an Immortal Grade Spirit Grass carrying deadly poison. Not only had he not been poisoned, he had instead sensed the spirit grass's source power and a trace of uncertain goodwill.

Afterward, Dugu Yang repeatedly tested it and proved that he truly possessed the Golden Finger of All Things Affinity.

Though he could not say for certain what effects this Golden Finger had, Dugu Yang vaguely felt that it should be related to Spirit Rings.

Nuoding City was a small frontier city of the Heaven Dou Empire, located in the empire's southwestern region near the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Balak Kingdom. Four hundred li to the northeast lay Dugu Yang's destination: the Soul Hunting Forest.

Since they did not know how many days they would spend in the Soul Hunting Forest, Dugu Bo first stopped in Nuoding City to prepare food.

While shopping, the two passed by Nuoding Academy, immediately drawing Dugu Yang's attention.

He knew that in three years, Tang San would enter this place to study, accompanied by the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu..."

Dugu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze flickered as he considered whether he should make preparations in advance and capture Xiao Wu.

After all, she was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Bone. More importantly, as a Shapeshifting Soul Beast, Xiao Wu's strength was merely comparable to that of a Soul Master. Even the current Dugu Yang could easily poison her to death.

But after considering it, Dugu Yang still gave up.

He had not forgotten that Tang Hao had always been secretly protecting Tang San.

As a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao naturally knew Xiao Wu's true identity as well.

The reason he had not acted against Xiao Wu was naturally because he intended to leave Xiao Wu's Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone for Tang San.

Do not claim it was because of Tang San's mother that Tang Hao had not acted against Xiao Wu.

That was entirely an excuse fabricated by Tang Hao himself.

Dugu Yang did not believe that Tang Hao would harbor goodwill toward an unfamiliar Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast when he first met Xiao Wu.

Dugu Yang even doubted Tang Hao's feelings for Tang San's mother, Ah Yin.

In the original work, Tang Hao had appeared deeply devoted to Ah Yin. But on closer examination, one would discover that Tang Hao was a complete scumbag.

First was Tang San. As the crystallization of their love, Tang Hao had neglected him completely and drank himself senseless every day. If Tang San had not also been a transmigrator, he might not even have survived past the age of six.

It was only after Tang San awakened the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul at the age of six that Tang Hao truly began to value him.

If Tang Hao had truly loved Ah Yin wholeheartedly, how could he have treated their child like that?

Then there was Ah Yin. After sacrificing herself, she had left behind a seed due to the Blue Silver Emperor's inexhaustible vitality. As long as it grew, she could be revived.

But what had Tang Hao done? He had directly planted Ah Yin's seed in a sunless cave, with no intention of allowing Ah Yin to revive at all.

Of course, Ah Yin herself had been foolish as well. As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, she had actually failed to see through a human's true nature.

But none of this had much to do with Dugu Yang. If he got the chance, he even wanted to take Ah Yin's Spirit Bone from Tang Hao. Whether in quality or soul skills, Ah Yin's Spirit Bone could be considered a top-grade Spirit Bone.

But for now, Dugu Yang could not think too far ahead. He was still far too weak.