Trust, Heading to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well

"Third, the method that treats both the symptoms and the root cause is to have you completely rein in your own condition and turn the poison into a weapon. But I only have a rough idea of this method. I still don't know how to put it into practice."

"Legend has it that True Dragons naturally form Dragon Cores within their bodies, and a Dragon Core contains the essence of a dragon's entire being. As snake-type Spirit Beasts increase their cultivation, they also develop the rudiments of a Core Bead. If it were possible..."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes slightly. After thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth and directly spat out his Poison Core.

It was a spherical object with a pitted surface, dark green in color. Its energy was immense yet impure, and it emitted a fishy stench.

Was it an Inner Core? It certainly was. But as for its quality...

In cultivation novels, an Inner Core like this would not even qualify as a low-grade Golden Core. Calling it a False Golden Core would be embarrassing enough.

"This is the Poison Core I cultivated, boy. Can you see anything from it?"

"This is rather far from the legendary Dragon Core... isn't it?" Chen Ming forced out the words after a long pause. Dugu Bo felt the veins on his forehead twitching faintly, yet there was nothing he could say.

"In theory, if you were able to cultivate an Inner Core like this, you shouldn't suffer a backlash. But with the quality of your core, it wouldn't be surprising if you did."

Dugu Bo felt as though someone had stabbed him in the chest, but he had no way to refute it. After all, even he did not know how he had created this thing. It had only formed by chance under a fortunate coincidence. Naturally, it was normal for it to have flaws.

"Senior, I know you have many problems. But the biggest problem is that I'm not omniscient. I'm merely an ordinary Spirit Master who has learned a little more than most. I can only offer a general direction and some broad suggestions. The specific implementation and experimentation will require more time and your cooperation."

"That is all I can do. Perhaps I can completely cure you. Perhaps you may even become stronger because of it. Or perhaps, in the end, I can only barely suppress the poison's backlash... Senior, please calm down."

Chen Ming tried to persuade Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo remained silent for a long time, unsure of what to say. He seemed to have aged several more years.

"Boy, you're impressive. You said things that others either cannot understand or dare not say even if they do. Though you're just a child, some of your insights and ideas have truly astonished me."

"Based on this talent alone, you will certainly become a powerful Spirit Master in the future."

"Tell me, how much longer can I live?" Dugu Bo asked gloomily.

"Your condition... without outside intervention, you probably only have a few years left. But judging by your current state, I believe you must have some means of temporarily suppressing it through external help. Holding on for another ten years should not be a problem?"

Dugu Bo really wanted to ask what Chen Ming meant by saying that his condition clearly showed he had received outside help. Did that mean he should have died long ago without it? But after considering his life experiences, Dugu Bo did not have the nerve to ask.

After all, without that treasured place, he probably would have died long ago. Without outside help, he would never have been able to break through to the rank of Titled Douluo in this lifetime.

"Boy, can you keep my secret?" Dugu Bo asked.

"Senior, of course I must keep it. To you, with my strength, I'm nothing more than an ant. Emotionally speaking, if I keep your secret, you owe me a favor. Rationally speaking, if I reveal it, I may provoke your retaliation. Naturally, I will keep it."

"Ant, ant. Forget it. Keep it secret or don't, as you please. Over the years, I'm afraid people have long guessed my problem. They simply never said it to my face. Meanwhile, I foolishly thought I had hidden it well."

"Ten years. In ten years, can you cure me, or at least stop me from worsening and let me live longer?"

"If it is only a matter of suppressing the deterioration and the periodic backlash, I can probably manage it within a few years. Even if I only treat the symptoms and not the root cause, with your cultivation, living another twenty years should be quite easy."

"Fine. I'll trust you once. It's not as though I have much left to distrust. Ten years, then. My death would not be a pity. I only fear that my granddaughter will be left all alone..." Dugu Bo's expression darkened.

In truth, living was torment for him. Every day he lived was another day of pain. Once the backlash intensified, he could neither live nor die. The agony was like countless tiny insects gnawing at his marrow and flesh, enough to drive a person nearly insane.

If he had not worried about his only bloodline, Dugu Bo might have long ago chosen to die in some corner rather than endure this suffering.

"I swear upon the name and bloodline of the Dugu Family: as long as you can cure or suppress my family's backlash, you will be the Dugu Family's most honored guest. I will protect you and aid you with my life."

"Since I kept you so long tonight, and you gave me quite a few suggestions, I can grant you one small wish. If there is anything you want, say it."

Unlike Tang San, who simply claimed outright that he could cure poison, Chen Ming had systematically pointed out Dugu Bo's problems and given him several possible approaches, allowing Dugu Bo to think for himself.

Moreover, every direction Chen Ming had offered was correct and feasible. If someone truly talented had enough time, they could even derive the right path from those correct lines of thought.

But Dugu Bo possessed neither that talent nor much time. Nor did he wish to place the burden on his granddaughter, so he could only rely on Chen Ming, who had raised these possibilities, to further develop the path for him.

In medical skill and poison techniques, Chen Ming was far inferior to Tang San. Yet what he had displayed made Dugu Bo feel that this had a real chance of succeeding.

"I don't have anything I want for the time being. But that doesn't mean I seek nothing. If I need something in the future, I will ask you, Senior." What Chen Ming actually wanted were Immortal Herbs, but he could not ask for them now.

"If you need anything, Senior, you can come find me. I'll study it and help you think of a way to restrain the poison."

"There's no need to wait for another day. Let's do it today." Dugu Bo bared his teeth at Chen Ming in a strange smile. "At the very least, let me see just how capable you are."

"Senior, are you taking me away? Then please allow me to write a leave request to the three Education Committee Members."

"No need. Someone will naturally request leave for you." When Dugu Bo abducted Chen Ming, he had sensed fluctuations of Soul Power nearby and knew someone was secretly watching.

Without waiting for Chen Ming to say anything else, Dugu Bo grabbed him and continued racing away from Heaven Dou City. After making a wide detour, he plunged into Sunset Forest and expertly followed the small paths he had explored over the years toward the forest's depths.