Seeking Dugu Bo!

After manifesting Fu Ze, a level ninety-five Title Douluo, Fu Shiyan's first planned step could finally be put on the agenda.

Looking at Fu Ze before him, he gave a direct order.

"Fu Ze, make preparations. In a few days, you need to go somewhere."

"Yes, Young Master."

Fu Ze did not ask for a reason in the slightest, merely lowering his head respectfully to accept the order.

Fu Shiyan was very satisfied with his reaction and did not beat around the bush as he asked directly,

"Are you still familiar with Sunset Forest?"

After thinking briefly, Fu Ze replied, "In reply to Young Master, when this subordinate obtained his seventh Spirit Ring, the clan elders personally led me deep into Sunset Forest to hunt. I still remember the terrain of its outer regions and the distribution of Soul Beasts."

This memory had naturally been generated by the system during manifestation, based on the background Fu Shiyan had set for him: "a talented collateral descendant of the Fu Family, raised by the family."

Fu Shiyan nodded. It matched the memories he had planned to give Fu Ze.

"Very good."

After pondering for a moment, he began explaining in detail. "I need you to go to Sunset Forest and find someone—or rather, find a special valley sealed off by a poison formation."

"There should be a Title Douluo living there. His name is Dugu Bo. His Martial Soul is the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, and he is known as the Poison Douluo."

He handed Fu Ze a slip of paper he had prepared long ago. It did not contain a specific address, since he did not know the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Instead, several lines were written on it:

"Bilin Snake Poison devours the body and corrodes the soul. At midnight, the pain pierces the marrow."

"Your granddaughter Dugu Yan possesses passable talent, yet the hidden danger in her bloodline has already emerged. If it is not eradicated, she will likely struggle to surpass the Soul Saint realm."

"A wondrous medicinal garden, where ice and fire share the same origin, strange herbs grow nearby, and deadly poison lurks all around."

"Squandering treasures and letting pearls gather dust, guarding a mountain of treasure only to sigh in vain."

"The holder of this note can resolve the calamity that has plagued your lineage for generations and can also satisfy my need for medicine."

"Three days from now, wait at the southeastern entrance of Sunset Forest."

Fu Shiyan explained, "Carry this note with you. Once you find the poison formation, there is no need to force your way in. Just find a way to let Dugu Bo see it."

"If he comes out, give him this note and tell him it was sent by me."

"If he has questions, tell him that I know about the poison afflicting him, the hidden danger in his granddaughter's bloodline, and the properties of the Immortal Herbs in that medicinal garden, including the principles of mutual generation and restraint. I also have a way to resolve them."

"Invite him to meet at the southeastern entrance of Sunset Forest three days from now, where we can discuss the matter in detail."

"If you truly cannot find that poisonous place in Sunset Forest, go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and inquire about Dugu Bo's residence."

He paused before adding, "Dugu Bo is solitary and eccentric, but he is not unreasonable, especially where his own life and his granddaughter's future are concerned."

"Your primary goal on this trip is negotiation. Demonstrating your strength is secondary."

"If he is willing to talk, that is naturally for the best."

"If he refuses, or even attacks... with your abilities, there should be no problem handling him."

"Remember, avoid a fight to the death if possible. Our purpose is not to kill him, but to make a deal. If possible... it would be even better to recruit him."

The reason Fu Shiyan was so confident was the vast body of herbalism and knowledge of immortal-grade treasures he had gained from the previous simulation manifestation.

In this regard, his current theoretical knowledge was likely as he had imagined: even Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who was obsessed with flowers and plants, and Yang Wudi, patriarch of the Breaking Clan, might not match him.

He was indeed confident that he could resolve the backlash from Bilin Snake Poison and optimize Dugu Yan's path of cultivation.

As for Dugu Bo's strength, he was currently only level ninety-one, placing him at the bottom among Title Douluo. Dealing with him would not be difficult.

However, Fu Shiyan saw further ahead. Dugu Bo's potential and his ability to use poison had actually been severely underestimated.

In the future, he could entirely fabricate suitable memories or fortuitous encounters for other "children of destiny," implanting insights on poison usage and methods to evolve poison techniques before manifesting them through the system.

That would reasonably raise Dugu Bo's upper limit of strength and turn him into a truly formidable general under his command.

Fu Ze accepted the note with both hands and carefully put it away. He had no doubts whatsoever about the Young Master's arrangements and merely asked,

"This subordinate understands. If Dugu Bo asks about Young Master's name and origins, how should this subordinate answer?"

Fu Shiyan smiled faintly. "Tell him my surname is Fu."

"As for my origins... there is no need to say more for now. If he is curious, he will find out in three days."

"Yes! This subordinate accepts the order!" Fu Ze bowed with clasped fists.

"Go. Be careful on the road."

"If an emergency arises, you only need to channel Soul Power into the Blue Silver Seed I gave you to activate it."

"I placed a Caomu Huashen inside it. If Dugu Bo comes as promised three days from now, simply bring my Caomu Huashen to meet him."

Fu Shiyan waved his hand.

Fu Ze gave another respectful bow and said no more. His body flickered, and he swept out of the courtyard like a wisp of black smoke. Then his Soul Power trembled lightly as he shot into the sky, becoming an inconspicuous streak of light racing toward Sunset Forest before vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Fu Shiyan stood in the courtyard, gazing in the direction Fu Ze had departed. His fingers lightly tapped against the stone table.

"Dugu Bo... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well... Immortal Herbs..."

He murmured softly, anticipation flashing in his eyes.

That treasure ground was crucial to his subsequent plans. It could not only accelerate Tang San's growth, but also lay the foundation for the future pill and resource supply of his "faction."

(Here, I should emphasize that in Chapter Two, I mentioned the system's setting: the stronger the target person, the more Faith Points they provide, and the faster the protagonist's progress in growing stronger will be.)

And negotiating with Dugu Bo would be the first step in establishing the "Beichen Fu Clan" on Douluo Continent.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. I hope this first step goes smoothly."

Over the following days, Fu Shiyan devoted most of his life to teaching Tang San.

A secluded clearing behind Nuoding Academy became the training ground the master and disciple frequently used.

"Xiao San."

Fu Shiyan pointed at a hard piece of granite the size of a washbasin on the ground.

"I noticed before that the meditation method you use differs from those commonly circulated. However, the state of emptying yourself and keeping your mind free of distractions while cultivating is extremely rare."

"You can use that same state when training your control over your Martial Soul."

Tang San listened attentively, thought in his eyes. "Master means that, in that state of stillness, I should focus all my mind on the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, treating it as though it were part of my body and using my thoughts to control it precisely?"

"That's right."

Fu Shiyan nodded approvingly. "A Martial Soul is an extension of a Soul Master's soul and power. It is not an inanimate object."

"Your first task is to use your thoughts, while in that state of stillness, to control the Blue Silver Grass and Entangle the stone before you. Without using brute force to yank at it, keep contracting the vines and apply pressure, generating sustained inner force until you destroy it."

"Remember, this is control, not the use of a Spirit Skill."

"This disciple understands."

Tang San took a deep breath, sat cross-legged before the granite, and closed his eyes. The Mysterious Heaven Skill began circulating slowly, and he swiftly entered a tranquil state where he forgot both self and surroundings.

Then, dark blue Blue Silver Grass spread from his palm, wrapping gently around the rock like tentacles with independent life before gradually tightening with a steady, sustained force.

At first, the friction between the Blue Silver Grass and the stone produced faint rustling sounds.

Tang San focused completely, sensing every trace of force transmitted through the vines and every minute shift of stress within the rock, constantly adjusting the angle and rhythm of the constriction.

For Tang San, whose spiritual power was strong and who was accustomed to precisely controlling hidden weapons, this process was not exceedingly difficult.

Time slowly passed under Tang San's training method.

Two days later, accompanied by a dull crack, the hard granite finally split with several fissures under the Blue Silver Grass's unceasing pressure before breaking into several pieces.

"Master, I succeeded!"

Tang San opened his eyes and looked at the shattered stone, delight appearing on his face.

He could clearly feel that the precision of his control over his Martial Soul had improved by a great deal.

"Not bad."