Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Secured!

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

At the southeastern entrance of Sunset Forest, Fu Shiyan's Caomu Huashen stood with his hands behind his back, while Fu Ze stood silently behind him like a shadow.

The moment of their appointment had just arrived when a cold, sickly-sweet poisonous mist quietly spread through the air. Dugu Bo's lanky figure condensed out of the fog.

When he clearly saw Fu Shiyan's Avatar's face, despite having mentally prepared himself, intense shock still flashed uncontrollably through his eyes!

Too young!

Judging by his appearance, he was clearly just an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old youth!

Yet when Dugu Bo focused and carefully sensed him, his shock transformed into even deeper horror—the Soul Power fluctuations faintly emanating from this youth had actually reached the Soul Emperor level, perhaps even higher!

"An eighteen- or nineteen-year-old Soul Emperor?! This... this is simply monstrous!"

A storm surged through Dugu Bo's heart, and his estimation of the mysterious "Fu Family" rose once more.

Any force capable of nurturing such a young powerhouse likely possessed foundations far beyond his imagination.

Shocked though he was, he had not forgotten the purpose of this trip. Suppressing his emotions, he fixed Fu Shiyan with a sharp gaze and said in a deep voice:

"Your Excellency... are you the 'Young Master' that person spoke of? Are you the one who claimed you could resolve the afflictions plaguing this old man and his granddaughter, and summoned me here?"

Fu Shiyan's Avatar smiled faintly, looking entirely at ease. "That would be me. Poison Douluo, I have long heard of you."

Then he changed the subject. Rather than directly addressing the matter of the poison, he said:

"This is not a suitable place for conversation. I have long admired the wonders of Your Excellency's medicinal garden."

"Why not move our discussion into the garden?"

"At that time, I will naturally present the precise method for eliminating your hidden troubles."

Dugu Bo's expression abruptly darkened, but circumstances were stronger than him. Not only did the other side have a level ninety-five Title Douluo accompanying them, they also possessed his fatal secret and a possible hope.

By coming here for this appointment, he had, to a certain extent, already surrendered the initiative.

After a moment of silence, Dugu Bo finally snorted coldly. "Fine! This old man will show you around!

"But let me make this clear first. If you cannot produce any real skill, or if you harbor ill intentions, then even if this old man has to stake his life..." Poisonous mist stirred faintly around him, and his unfinished words carried a threatening bravado.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency. Fu came here only for a transaction, not to make enemies," Fu Shiyan said calmly.

Dugu Bo said no more. Turning around, he transformed into a streak of dark green light and led the way.

Fu Shiyan and Fu Ze followed closely behind him.

After passing through layer upon layer of poisonous barriers, the magnificent valley where ice and fire intertwined, with mist rising into the air, finally appeared before them. Though Fu Shiyan had been mentally prepared, he still felt a trace of shock.

Obvious surprise also flashed through Fu Ze's eyes. He had clearly not expected such a natural wonder.

Once they entered the valley, the two extreme auras of blazing heat and freezing cold became even more distinct.

Dugu Bo stopped and turned to stare fixedly at Fu Shiyan, his tone carrying suppressed urgency:

"You have seen the medicinal garden! Now, should you not tell this old man the method?!"

This time, Fu Shiyan did not keep him in suspense. His gaze swept over the Immortal Herbs in the valley, and his confidence grew stronger as he went straight to the point:

"There is naturally a method. But before I tell you, we must first agree upon the terms of the transaction."

"Speak!" Dugu Bo's voice tightened.

"It is very simple."

Fu Shiyan said calmly, "If I successfully resolve the Martial Soul backlash and bloodline defects suffered by Your Excellency and your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and help the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul advance even further..."

"Then this medicinal garden will belong to my Fu Family from now on. Moreover, from this day onward, Poison Douluo, you must serve as a guest elder of my 'Beichen Fu Clan.'"

"A guest elder?!"

Dugu Bo's face instantly turned livid. The medicinal garden was negotiable; before coming here, he had already prepared himself for that. But he had been proud and unruly all his life, loved freedom above all else, and hated restraint the most. Asking him to join some clan and be commanded by it was simply...

But when he thought of how this was the only chance that might resolve the hidden dangers in his own body and Yanyan's, he fell silent, caught in indecision.

Fu Shiyan had expected his reaction long ago and added unhurriedly:

"Do not be hasty, Your Excellency. Please hear me out."

"My Beichen Fu Clan is a reclusive clan. For generations, we have devoted ourselves to cultivation and the study of various arts, rarely involving ourselves in worldly disputes."

"The position of guest elder is more a symbolic alliance and bond of friendship."

Seeing Dugu Bo's expression ease slightly, he continued, "After becoming a guest elder of the Fu Family, Your Excellency's life will remain exactly as it was. There will be absolutely no restraints."

"The Fu Family will not interfere with any of Your Excellency's freedoms, much less ask you to do anything against your will."

"Only when the Fu Family encounters a major crisis, or requires Your Excellency's expertise in poison and medicinal theory, will we send someone to ask for your aid."

"For Your Excellency, it merely means gaining a powerful ally and a source of resources, as well as... a chance to eradicate the defects of your Martial Soul."

Dugu Bo remained silent for a long while before finally speaking hoarsely. "...If it is as you say, this old man can agree."

"But the prerequisite is that you must first prove that you truly have a way!"

"Of course." Seeing that his initial objective had been achieved, Fu Shiyan stopped delaying and began explaining the method.

"The root cause of Bilin Snake Poison backlash is that although the Martial Soul can produce deadly poison, a Soul Master's body lacks a matching 'poison sac' capable of safely containing it.

"As toxins accumulate within the body and corrode the Soul Master himself, backlash occurs."

"The first method treats the symptoms."

Fu Shiyan raised one finger. "I can prepare a special prescription to dissolve most of the residual poison accumulated in Your Excellency's body and alleviate your suffering.

"Afterward, you must find a suitable Spirit Bone and use it as a temporary 'poison sac' to contain the toxins subsequently produced by the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.

"In this way, Your Excellency and your granddaughter can remain free of backlash for a considerable period, and your cultivation can continue to improve."

When Dugu Bo heard the words "Spirit Bone," his eyes immediately lit up.

Though Spirit Bones were rare, this method did indeed sound feasible!

However, Fu Shiyan's tone shifted. "But this method carries a fatal danger—the Spirit Bone, as a vessel, has a limit to what it can withstand.

"Once the toxins produced within the body exceed the Spirit Bone's capacity, the Spirit Bone will shatter, and the toxins will instantly surge back through the entire body... By then, not even immortals could save you.

"Furthermore, this method treats the symptoms but not the root cause. The hidden danger in your descendants' bloodline will still remain."

The flame of hope that had just risen in Dugu Bo's heart was doused by a bucket of cold water, and his expression darkened once more.

"The second method,"

Fu Shiyan raised a second finger, his tone growing heavier. "It treats the root cause. Since the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul itself cannot evolve a perfect 'poison sac,' then we will borrow external power to make the Martial Soul evolve once again!"

"Martial Soul Evolution?!"

Dugu Bo cried out in disbelief, his eyes bursting with unimaginable light.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor was already a top-tier Martial Soul. If it evolved further, what kind of sight would that be?!

"Correct."

Fu Shiyan affirmed, his gaze sweeping over the many Immortal Herbs beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Using the peerless Immortal Herbs of this place, combined with my exclusive pill-refining method, we can refine a pill capable of cleansing the Martial Soul's origin, awakening its potential, and guiding it to transform toward a higher level.

"Not only can it completely resolve the toxin backlash and eradicate the hidden danger, it may even elevate the quality and power of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul to an entirely new height!"

Completely resolve it! Eradicate the hidden danger! Martial Soul Evolution!

Those three phrases struck Dugu Bo's heart like heavy hammers. His breathing became hurried, and the shock in his eyes turned into wild joy and longing!

Compared to the Spirit Bone method with its hidden dangers, this second solution was simply a dreamlike way to resolve the problem!

If it could truly be accomplished, then Fu Shiyan's favor to the Dugu Clan would be nothing less than a second creation!

"The second method! This old man chooses the second method!"

Dugu Bo said excitedly, almost without hesitation.

Freedom was indeed precious, but the continuation of his clan, his own liberation, his granddaughter's future, and the possibility of Martial Soul Evolution were worth far more than that slight potential restraint.

Fu Shiyan was not surprised by his choice in the slightest. He nodded and said:

"Good. Refining this pill requires several specific Immortal Herbs as the main ingredients, supplemented by many precious medicinal materials, as well as certain specialized tools.

"One week from now, I will gather everything needed and return here to begin refining the pill."

"It is a deal!"

The way Dugu Bo looked at Fu Shiyan now was entirely different. Fu Shiyan's grand promises had fed his hopes full, and his eyes were filled with yearning for Martial Soul Evolution.

After receiving the memories sent back by his Caomu Huashen, Fu Shiyan's true body, far away in the Nuoding City residence, revealed a sincere smile.

Subduing Dugu Bo and obtaining the right to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—the plan was progressing smoothly.

But even amid his delight, he did not lower his guard.