Douluo: Martial Soul Iron-Eating Beast, Never a Slave

Dugu Bo naturally understood this as well. In fact, he was worse off—his Martial Soul had evolved, but all nine of his soul skills had become somewhat mismatched.

If Dugu Bo could obtain nine Soul Rings best suited to the Jade Phosphorous Profound Dragon anew, his combat power would definitely rise by at least several dozen percent!

But there was nothing to be done about that. With a silent sigh, Dugu Bo consoled Dugu Yan. "Yan Yan, fortunately, only your first three Soul Rings are unsuitable right now. As long as you choose appropriate Soul Rings later on, with the strength of your evolved Martial Soul, your future will definitely not be weak."

A trace of hesitation appeared on Dugu Yan's face. Only after a moment did she voice her true thoughts.

"Grandfather, I don't want to develop toward the Power Attack System. I still want to continue down the Control System path!"

Dugu Bo frowned slightly. "Control System? What will you use to control others? Don't tell me it's still poison?"

Dugu Yan nodded. "Grandfather, I like using poison. Maybe it's because my grandfather is the number one Poison Douluo in the world, maybe poison is the greatest reliance of our Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, or maybe it simply comes from my own preferences."

"I like using poison. I've always dreamed of becoming the most formidable Poison Soul Master on the continent. Martial Soul Evolution has indeed made me stronger, but I don't want to give up poison. I want to keep using it, step by step, until I become the strongest Poison Soul Master on the continent!"

Dugu Yan's words plunged Dugu Bo into thought.

Dugu Bo also enjoyed researching poison, but the evolution of his Martial Soul and the increase in his strength had drawn him away from it.

"Yan Yan, if your evolved Martial Soul continues down the poison path, I'm afraid it will waste the physical strength advantage of the Jiao."

Dugu Yan smiled faintly and showed no intention of giving up. "Even if I waste the Martial Soul's advantages, it doesn't matter. With Grandfather and Second Grandfather here, I don't need to worry about my future. So I don't want to give up poison."

Only then did Zhao Mu seem to understand. In the original story, when Tang San broke Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Purple Poison and shattered her mindset, perhaps it had not merely been because of her pride, but also because of her persistence toward poison.

In the end, unable to sway Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo could only agree to her wishes.

"Fine. Then choose a suitable venomous snake soul beast for your fourth Soul Ring." As he spoke, Dugu Bo turned to Zhao Mu. "Second Brother, what did you mean just now when you asked whether we were interested in obtaining Soul Rings another way?"

Zhao Mu replied, "Big Brother, hunting soul beasts isn't the only way to obtain Soul Rings."

Hearing that, Dugu Bo pondered for a moment before following up, "Not hunting soul beasts? Do you mean, like you and that bear of yours, condensing Soul Rings by consuming Immortal Herbs?"

"It isn't limited to consuming Immortal Herbs. Other things can work too, as long as they contain sufficient energy. After all, the essence of a Soul Ring is simply a form of energy carrier," Zhao Mu said.

Dugu Bo felt as though his entire worldview had been struck. Hunting soul beasts for Soul Rings was the most fundamental understanding shared by all soul masters, yet Zhao Mu's new concept was simply too shocking.

It was only because he had personally witnessed Zhao Mu obtain a Soul Ring by consuming an Immortal Herb that he had some faith in it. Under any other circumstances, Dugu Bo would have thought the other party was spouting nonsense.

"Second Brother, not everyone is like you, with a physical Martial Soul possessing an independent life. Other people's Martial Souls can't eat."

Zhao Mu said, "It doesn't necessarily have to be the Martial Soul that eats. Soul masters can also absorb things containing abundant energy and condense them into Soul Rings."

Zhao Mu was not speaking without basis; there was factual evidence for it.

In the original story, Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix was not a physical Martial Soul with an independent life, yet Ma Hongjun had still obtained his Seventh Soul Ring by absorbing the inner core of the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent. So there was precedent for this.

No, it had not happened yet, so it could not really count as precedent.

"Second Brother, are you sure?" Dugu Bo glanced at the surrounding Immortal Herbs. Many of them contained no less energy than the Soul Rings produced by powerful soul beasts, but no one had ever tried this method. Dugu Bo only had a degree of trust because he had seen Zhao Mu do it.

Seeing Zhao Mu nod in confirmation, Dugu Bo immediately continued, "But the poisonous Immortal Herbs here are all extremely dangerous. If we use an Immortal Herb to help Yan Yan obtain her fourth Soul Ring, I don't know which poisonous herb would be suitable."

Dugu Bo did not know many Immortal Herbs and did not dare let Dugu Yan try one recklessly.

Zhao Mu actually had one option in mind. He slowly said, "There is an Immortal Herb that is not particularly toxic by itself, but it is one of the most dangerous Immortal Herbs on the continent. Its effect is stimulation—it can trigger the activity of viruses and toxins, causing them to multiply a hundredfold or a thousandfold, strengthening them..."

"No!"

Before Zhao Mu could finish speaking, Dugu Bo's stern rejection rang out.

Hearing Dugu Bo's decisive refusal, Zhao Mu knew that Dugu Bo was aware of that most peculiar and dangerous Immortal Herb in the world.

Snowy Swan Kiss!

That made sense. Dugu Bo might not know much about the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but he probably recognized most poisonous herbs. Snowy Swan Kiss was so famous that it was not strange for Dugu Bo to know of it.

"No! Yan Yan must never use that thing! You only know that it can stimulate and strengthen toxins by hundreds or thousands of times, but precisely because of that, do you know how dangerous it is? Even a tiny amount of poison can become the most toxic and violent poison in existence after being stimulated by it!"

"As long as someone comes into contact with it, toxins will begin to multiply and grow stronger without end, eventually leading to fatal consequences!"

Dugu Bo grew more emotional as he spoke. He did not even call Zhao Mu Second Brother anymore, showing just how agitated and angry he was.

Zhao Mu naturally knew how terrifying Snowy Swan Kiss was. In fact, he knew even more than Dugu Bo. Snowy Swan Kiss had been capable of destroying Slaughter City and leaving even Tang Chen, transformed into the King of Slaughter, powerless to change the outcome. Naturally, it was terrifying.

"Grandfather, what exactly are you talking about? What Immortal Herb could be that powerful?" Dugu Yan listened from the side. Although neither Zhao Mu nor Dugu Bo had named the herb, she had picked up some crucial information from their words.

It could amplify toxins by hundreds or thousands of times. Even a trace of poison could be stimulated into the most toxic and violent poison in existence.

Those words alone were enough to describe the herb's power. Moreover, they had come from her grandfather, so they could not be false. If anything, the reality was likely even more terrifying than he described.

Zhao Mu did not say anything more. He merely had the idea in mind; he could not truly encourage Dugu Yan to try it. She called him Second Grandfather—was he really going to make her try everything? Even a real Second Grandfather could not do that.

Besides, Dugu Bo's resistance was so intense. If Zhao Mu said more, they might start fighting.

Seeing that neither of them spoke for a while, Dugu Yan asked Zhao Mu first, "Hey, Second Grandfather, what Immortal Herb were you and Grandfather talking about? How could it be so powerful?"

Zhao Mu spread his hands and did not answer. He could not say more; otherwise, it would become incitement.

Seeing that Zhao Mu still would not speak, Dugu Yan could only run over to Dugu Bo and pester him for answers.

Faced with Dugu Yan's relentless pestering, Dugu Bo finally gave in. After shooting Zhao Mu a fierce glare, he said, "The Immortal Herb we were discussing is called Snowy Swan Kiss. It is the most dangerous Immortal Herb on the continent. Although it is not very toxic by itself, it can stimulate toxins by hundreds or thousands of times. One careless mistake can kill someone."

"Hundreds or thousands of times?"

After receiving confirmation again, Dugu Yan was stunned by such amplification.

Since she was determined to become the strongest Poison Soul Master on the continent, Dugu Yan naturally would not easily let such a treasure slip away.

A Poison Soul Master's method of attack was poison. If poison could be amplified a hundredfold or a thousandfold, would that not indirectly mean that the Poison Soul Master's own strength had increased by a hundredfold or a thousandfold?

Perhaps it would not be as exaggerated as a hundredfold or a thousandfold, but it should not be too far off.

"Grandfather, is there an Immortal Herb called Snowy Swan Kiss here?" Dugu Yan grabbed Dugu Bo and asked again.

Dugu Bo decisively shook his head. "No!"

"I don't believe you! Since you brought it up, it must be here!" Dugu Yan's intelligence kicked in.

"Yan Yan, don't listen to that brat's nonsense. That thing can indeed strengthen toxins, but it is too dangerous. Even a tiny amount of poison can be stimulated into deadly poison by it. Once the toxins in your body are stimulated, they can easily spiral out of control. And once they lose control, it will be dangerous!" As he spoke, Dugu Bo once again shot Zhao Mu a blaming look. He was clearly angry that Zhao Mu had brought up something as dangerous as Snowy Swan Kiss.

Dugu Yan continued to cling to Dugu Bo. "It can easily lose control? That means as long as it is properly controlled and doesn't lose control, there won't be a problem, right?"

"Yan Yan, I can find you other suitable Soul Rings—soul beasts or Immortal Herbs, either is fine. But this is the one thing you must not touch." Dugu Bo tried to persuade her earnestly.

"Grandfather, we already endured the Martial Soul toxins, and Martial Soul Evolution was also a near-death experience. We are people who have walked through life and death already, so what is there to fear? You said it yourself: as long as the toxins in my body do not lose control, it will be fine. So I want to try!"

"I used to think I was among the most outstanding soul masters of the younger generation, but after meeting him, I realized the gap between me and others was so enormous. I chose Martial Soul Evolution because I wanted to become stronger. I want to try Snowy Swan Kiss because I want to become stronger too. Both carry risks. Since you agreed to let me undergo Martial Soul Evolution, why won't you agree to let me try Snowy Swan Kiss as well? I don't want to be left too far behind!"

Dugu Bo grew frantic. "That brat isn't human, he's a monster! Why are you comparing yourself to him? And he isn't someone else—he's your Second Grandfather!"

Zhao Mu grumbled inwardly. Why was he suddenly insulting people while talking? You're the one who isn't human!

Perhaps the outcome had been decided from the moment Zhao Mu mentioned Snowy Swan Kiss in front of Dugu Yan. In the end, Dugu Bo still could not do anything about her.

After letting out a heavy sigh, he walked toward the Immortal Herb area of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. After searching for some time, he finally returned carefully carrying a snow-white Immortal Herb.

The Immortal Herb was crystalline and snow-white. Every blade was tender enough to seem as though it could drip water, long and curved, resembling a swan's neck.

Seeing the snow-white Immortal Herb Dugu Bo brought back, Dugu Yan immediately asked Zhao Mu, "Is this Snowy Swan Kiss? Grandfather didn't secretly bring some other Immortal Herb to fool me, did he?"

Dugu Bo's face immediately darkened upon hearing that. She was actually doubting him now.

Zhao Mu shook his head. "I've never seen Snowy Swan Kiss before, so I'm not sure whether it is."

Hearing that, Dugu Bo instantly regretted everything. Brat, why didn't you say you didn't recognize it earlier? If I'd known, I really would have brought some other, less toxic Immortal Herb to fool her.

"Fine, I'll trust Grandfather this once! How should I use this thing to absorb it as a Soul Ring?" Dugu Yan asked.

Dugu Bo pointed at Zhao Mu. "Ask him. What normal person absorbs an Immortal Herb as a Soul Ring?"

When Dugu Yan looked at him, Zhao Mu said, "Like Heibai—eat it!"

Hearing about food, Heibai, who had been rolling around on the ground, somehow flipped over and crawled up, staring intently at the Snowy Swan Kiss in Dugu Yan's hand.

I really want half...

Heibai stared at it without blinking until Dugu Yan took the Snowy Swan Kiss from Dugu Bo and swallowed it.

At once, Dugu Bo flicked his sleeve, flinging a pool of venom onto the ground. It gave off a sizzling, corrosive sound.

As someone who used poison, Dugu Bo naturally carried quite a few toxins on him. In the brief time he had held Snowy Swan Kiss, the toxins on his hand had already become that much stronger. Dugu Bo hurriedly removed the remaining traces of Snowy Swan Kiss from his hand, while looking even more worriedly at Dugu Yan, who had swallowed it and sat cross-legged...

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"It's all your fault. You just had to bring up that Snowy Swan Kiss. Yan Yan is at the age where she loves novel things—how could she resist that temptation?" Dugu Bo still blamed Zhao Mu somewhat.

Zhao Mu did not argue with Dugu Bo and merely said kindly, "Things may not be as bad as you think, Big Brother. Snowy Swan Kiss can multiply and strengthen toxins by hundreds or thousands of times, but as long as the toxin itself is not some terminal poison with no antidote, it can still be kept under close control."

"If it were the Martial Soul toxin you had before, then after Snowy Swan Kiss multiplied and strengthened it, there would naturally be no cure. But the Jade Phosphorous Three Poisons in your granddaughter's body are not terminal toxins. They are curable poisons. As long as the toxin's intensity and dosage are controlled, there should not be any major problem."

How could Dugu Bo not know the benefits Snowy Swan Kiss offered Poison Soul Masters? But it was a double-edged sword. Used well, it could kill enemies; used poorly, it could harm its wielder just as easily.

Seeing that Dugu Bo was no longer quite as angry, Zhao Mu continued, "Actually, as elders, sometimes all we need to do is offer suggestions. Explain the advantages, disadvantages, gains, and losses clearly, then leave the final decision to the younger generation."

Dugu Bo shot Zhao Mu a glance and snorted. "A little brat of seven or eight years old can say something like that? Don't tell me you aren't actually seven or eight?"

Zhao Mu joked with a smile, "You really guessed right!"