Allegiance

Luo Can smiled faintly.

Elder Ye, that old fox, had delivered a perfect assist. With a single sentence, he had struck precisely at Dugu Bo's weak spot.

"Senior Dugu," he looked at Dugu Bo and asked, "are you sure you want to join my faction?"

"As long as you can completely resolve the Martial Soul backlash poison in Yanyan and me—" Dugu Bo drew a deep breath and said, "then what harm is there in joining your faction?"

"Very good."

Luo Can nodded and smiled. "Since Senior Dugu thinks so highly of me, I'll take action and resolve your problem."

As he spoke, he crooked a finger at the purple-haired little girl beside Dugu Bo.

"Little girl, come here."

Dugu Yan first looked up at her grandfather. Only after seeing Dugu Bo nod lightly did she take a few small steps forward and walk somewhat timidly up to Luo Can.

"H-hello, Senior."

"Mm." Luo Can reached out and gently placed his hand atop the little girl's head.

His spiritual power seeped into Dugu Yan's body, examining every part of her condition.

The little girl had awakened her Martial Soul three years ago. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison accumulated in her meridians was not yet severe, mainly deposited around several major joints and the edge of her dantian. There was not much poison, so clearing it would not be difficult.

"How is she?" Dugu Bo asked nervously, his withered hand unconsciously tightening around the armrest.

"The situation is good. It'll be easy to resolve." Luo Can smiled, took out a Jade Bottle from his Storage Soul Tool, and held it out before Dugu Yan. "Come, little girl. Drink this."

Dugu Yan hesitated as she looked at the Jade Bottle, then turned back to her grandfather. Only after Dugu Bo nodded heavily did she carefully take it and pull out the stopper.

A clear, refreshing fragrance instantly filled the air. Merely smelling it made one feel invigorated. She no longer hesitated and tipped back her head, draining the liquid in one gulp.

The warm liquid slid down her throat and transformed into a current of heat that surged through her limbs and bones.

The next moment.

The accumulated Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in Dugu Yan's body melted away like spring snow beneath the warm sun, dissolving at a visible rate. In just a few breaths, the poison accumulated over three years had been completely cleared away.

Not only that, her soul power began to surge wildly!

Level fourteen, level fifteen, finally settling at level sixteen.

Dugu Yan stood there blankly, looking down at her hands before looking back up at her grandfather, her little face filled with disbelief.

"Th-this is solved already?"

Dugu Bo was stunned at first, then abruptly rose to his feet, his face brimming with ecstasy.

Yet Luo Can shook his head.

"This merely cleared out the poison accumulated in her body. Completely resolving the backlash from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison won't be so simple."

He paused, rapidly recalling the original work and various fan theories he had read in his previous life. There really were several ways to resolve the backlash of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, but their costs and effects differed.

"I have several methods for resolving the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison backlash. Some only treat the symptoms, while others require a considerable price. Still, all of them would allow you to control the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison rather than be controlled by it."

"Please, tell me!" Dugu Bo immediately sat upright, obvious respect entering his tone.

"First, find a high-quality Spirit Bone, preferably one over ten thousand years old, and force the poison in your body into the Spirit Bone for storage. However, that is only a temporary measure. Once the poison stored in the Spirit Bone reaches its limit, when it erupts, death is certain."

"Second, consume the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot together, forging a Body Impervious to Water and Fire that grants immunity to all poisons in the world. But those two Immortal Herbs are themselves poisons of the utmost extreme. One misstep, and the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison and the ice-fire poison would erupt together. You would still have no chance of survival."

"Third, repair the flaws in the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, resolving the backlash at its root and even turning the poison backlash into an advantage of the Martial Soul."

"Fourth, obtain an External Soul Bone. An External Soul Bone can evolve alongside a Spirit Master's growth, making it the most suitable vessel for bearing and refining one's natal venom."

Luo Can finished listing the four methods in one breath. These were all theoretically viable solutions he had seen in his previous life.

Dugu Bo fell into a long silence.

His withered fingers tapped against the armrest, light flickering in his emerald pupils as he clearly weighed the pros and cons of each method.

After a long while, he looked at Luo Can. "I already possess a Spirit Bone, and its age is not low. If I choose the first method, would it work?"

"What part is the Spirit Bone from?" Although Luo Can already knew it was a Head Spirit Bone, he still feigned confusion.

"A Head Spirit Bone."

"It could work." Luo Can frowned. "But my recommendation would be to use an arm bone or Leg Spirit Bone instead. That way, even if the poison erupts in the future, you could at least sever an arm or leg to preserve your life. If something goes wrong with a Head Spirit Bone, not even gods could save you."

At those words, Dugu Bo gave a bitter laugh.

"How could a ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone be so easy to find? This Head Spirit Bone of mine was obtained from a fifty-thousand-year Medusa after I narrowly escaped death. As for finding another suitable arm bone or Leg Spirit Bone..."

He shook his head and did not continue.

Spirit Bones were already rare, and those at the ten-thousand-year level were treasures coveted enough to spill rivers of blood over. In his current condition, finding a second suitable Spirit Bone before the poison fully erupted was virtually impossible.

"But I have one."

Luo Can calmly spoke three words.

Dugu Bo: "...?"

Ye Shengxin: "!!!"

The two old men froze at the same time, their eyes widening round.

Luo Can said no more. He merely raised his right hand and lightly swiped his index finger across his Storage Soul Tool.

The next instant, a pitch-black bone with dark purple patterns flowing over its surface appeared out of thin air above his palm.

The bone was about a foot long and shaped like a human right leg bone, though more robust. Dense, scale-like patterns covered its surface. It floated quietly in the air, radiating vast energy fluctuations and a cold, eerie aura.

"This is a Sixty Thousand Year Soul Bone, the Shadow Demon Lizard Right Leg Bone."

Luo Can held up the Spirit Bone, his voice calm.

"Use it to bear the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, then combine it with my method. I can't say it will completely resolve the backlash, but at the very least, the poison will no longer pose a threat for the next hundred years."

Dugu Bo's throat bobbed involuntarily.

He stared fixedly at the floating Spirit Bone, his withered hands trembling faintly.

Sixty thousand years! And it was an exceptionally rare shadow-attribute Spirit Bone! A treasure of this level would be enough to trigger a life-and-death struggle among Titled Douluo in the outside world!

"Y-you're really... giving it to me?" Dugu Bo asked hoarsely.

"Mm." Luo Can nodded and gently pushed the Spirit Bone toward him. "I took so many Immortal Herbs from your Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Consider this Spirit Bone compensation. Besides—"

He smiled. "I've always been generous to my own people."

Dugu Bo stretched out a trembling hand and accepted the heavy Spirit Bone.

At that moment, all restraint and dignity were cast beyond the clouds.

For decades.

He had been tormented by the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison for decades, forced to endure bone-eroding agony every month. Even his most beloved granddaughter was destined to suffer the same fate. Now, hope stood before him. Not only was there a solution to the poison, but there was also a Sixty Thousand Year Soul Bone enough to drive any Spirit Master mad!

"Lord... Lord Luo."

Dugu Bo slowly rose to his feet and deeply bowed to Luo Can.

"From this day onward, my Dugu Family is willing to serve you as our master!"

His voice was not loud, but it carried unwavering resolve.

Luo Can's lips twitched slightly.

That was close. He had nearly failed to hold back his laughter.

He gave a soft cough and steadied his expression before speaking.

"There is no need to call me master. We can associate as equals."

As he spoke, he took out another Jade Bottle and handed it to Dugu Bo.

"This contains an antidote refined from my blood mixed with a special medicinal solution. Drink one bottle each month, and it can temporarily suppress the poison in your body. Remember, only one bottle per month. Do not take more."

"I understand." Dugu Bo solemnly accepted the Jade Bottle and carefully put it away.

Luo Can then told him the detailed method for resolving Dugu Yan's Martial Soul affliction. It mainly relied on the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma left at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, supplemented with a special Medicinal Bath to repair the flaws in her Martial Soul.

Dugu Bo listened with utmost attention, committing every word to memory.

After the explanations were finished, the old man raised his head. A trace of hesitation flashed through his emerald pupils before he finally spoke.

"Luo... Little Friend Luo, I heard that you accepted that old Ye's granddaughter as your disciple. Then Yanyan..." He paused and asked somewhat uneasily, "could she also enter your tutelage?"