Soul Core, Level 92! Dugu Bo: You mean we should find Dragon Duke and Snake Granny and build a faction?

At first, the vortex was incredibly weak, and it seemed as though the raging poison could scatter it at any moment.

But as Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and held on, the vortex spun faster and faster!

Whoosh!

A terrifying suction force burst from the vortex in his dantian!

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison that had rampaged through his meridians and bone marrow for decades—

As though it had encountered an irresistible black hole, it was dragged in and swallowed up!

It wasn't just the poison. Even all the Soul Power in Dugu Bo's body was drawn into the vortex.

Compression!

Extreme compression!

A foul-smelling layer of black impurities began to seep from Dugu Bo's skin. They were the accumulated remnants of the poison that had corroded his body over the years.

Deep in his dantian, his Soul Power and poison, which had originally been gaseous—

Under an incredibly rapid rotation, they began to liquefy, then gradually showed signs of solidifying!

Hum—

Hum—

Hum—

The air throughout Sunset Forest seemed to freeze.

The vast energy of heaven and earth around them appeared to be drawn by some unseen force.

It turned into visible specks of light and surged madly into Dugu Bo's body.

Time passed.

When the last trace of poison hidden deep in his bone marrow had been completely stripped away and drawn into his dantian—

"Congeal!!!"

Dugu Bo's eyes snapped open, and he let out a thunderous shout!

Crack—

A crisp sound rang inside Dugu Bo, as if something had broken the shackles of heaven and earth.

The rapidly spinning vortex in his dantian abruptly stopped!

In its place was a dark-green Soul Core, no bigger than a pigeon's egg!

The instant the Soul Core took shape—

Boom!!!

An aura far more powerful and pure than before erupted from Dugu Bo's body!

The bottleneck at the peak of Level 91—

Propelled by the Soul Core's inexhaustible power, it was torn apart with ease, like paper!

Level 92!

Taking advantage of the moment he formed his Soul Core, Dugu Bo's Soul Power had risen another level!

His gaunt body was now brimming with vitality, his muscles full and firm.

His withered, dark-green hair had turned glossy gray-black!

Even his eyes had grown deep and bright.

Not a trace of the poison's backlash remained.

A complete rebirth!

This was a true, complete rebirth!

"I... I not only survived, but the poison is gone..."

Dugu Bo stared blankly at his hands.

Feeling the Soul Core inside him continually drawing in and releasing pure Soul Power and deadly poison, tears welled up in his eyes once more.

"And... my strength now..."

He had a powerful intuition.

With this poison-attribute Soul Core and the boost from his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring—

Even against Super Douluo at Level 94 or even Level 95, he dared to face them head-on—and might even kill them with his deadly poison!

It all felt like a dream!

Even Dugu Bo could tell—

This was probably just an unrealistic fantasy brought on by his sudden surge in strength.

But he still couldn't contain his excitement. He trembled from head to toe!

Thump!

Dugu Bo spun around and faced Huang Yan, dropping heavily to both knees.

This time, he didn't shield himself with Soul Power. He let the mud stain his clothes.

He lowered his head to the ground, his voice filled with unprecedented loyalty and resolve.

"Senior, you gave me a new life. I, Dugu Bo, would gladly give my life in return!"

"From this day forth, my life—and the generations of my Dugu Clan to come—"

"Will be blades in your hand!"

"Wherever your sword points, I, Dugu Bo, will follow, even if it costs me my life!!!"

Looking at Dugu Bo below, reborn and utterly devoted, Huang Yan slowly descended from the air.

At last, a faint smile appeared on his face, which had been as cold as ice.

"Good."

Huang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his golden eyes glinting with the depth of one who held everything in his grasp.

"Rise."

"Now that you've formed a Soul Core and been given a new life, it's time for me to give you your first task."

"I want you to establish a faction."

"Establish a faction?"

Dugu Bo had just straightened up, but now he stiffened. The flush of excitement on his face gave way to confusion and bewilderment.

He hesitated, then looked up and rubbed his hands awkwardly, offering a wry smile.

"Senior, I... It's not that I want to refuse. It's just..."

"I've always kept to myself in the Soul Master World.

I'm a loner. Apart from occasionally guiding my granddaughter Yanyan, I've never even taken on a disciple.

Setting up a sect, recruiting people, managing businesses, and dealing with all the red tape—I haven't the slightest idea how to do any of that!"

Dugu Bo was telling the truth.

He was neither good nor evil, doing as he pleased. He had few friends in the Soul Master World and enemies around every corner.

If he were asked to kill, burn, poison, or slaughter a city, he wouldn't even bat an eye.

But asking him to establish a proper faction—

He was afraid his hot temper would ruin everything and derail Senior's great plan.

Seeing how at a loss Dugu Bo was, Huang Yan merely glanced at him. He didn't bother with a lengthy explanation.

In Huang Yan's eyes, in a world where strength reigned supreme, having a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Soul Core establish a faction was as easy as reaching into a bag and pulling something out.

There was no need to start from scratch and recruit people.

"Who told you to build it up from scratch?"

Huang Yan clasped his hands behind his back. His tone was calm, yet brooked no argument.

"If you don't know how to build one, then just take over one that's already there."

"One that's already there?"

Dugu Bo was taken aback.

"Exactly."

Huang Yan gave a slight nod.

"There's a married couple in the Soul Master World known as the 'Peerless Dragon and Serpent,' Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang. Do you know them?"

"The Peerless Dragon and Serpent?

Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang?"

Dugu Bo was briefly stunned. Then a flash of inspiration struck, and he suddenly understood!

"So that's it!

Senior, you're a genius!"

Dugu Bo slapped his thigh, a glint flashing in his eyes as all his confusion vanished.

Of course he knew them!

Dragon Duke Meng Shu was a Soul Douluo above Level 80.

Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang was a Soul Emperor above Level 60.

On their own, they were nothing to Dugu Bo now.

But they possessed an exceptionally powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Once they used it, even an ordinary Titled Douluo could barely hold their own against them.

In the eyes of ordinary Soul Masters, they were formidable figures who commanded respect across the region.

But the most important thing wasn't their strength!

Dugu Bo said excitedly,

"Senior is absolutely right!

Behind Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang stands not only the Meng Family, which has a fairly solid foundation, but, more importantly..."

"They also control a high-level Soul Master Academy.

Beast Academy!"

A high-level Soul Master Academy was the perfect cradle for training new talent and recruiting gifted Soul Masters!

With the family as its backbone and the academy as its talent pool—

It was practically the perfect foundation for a faction!

The more Dugu Bo thought about it, the more impressed he was by Huang Yan's keen eye.

Back when he was merely a Soul Douluo—

Even with his Soul Power at the peak of Level 89, his combat strength was too weak.

At best, he could draw with Meng Shu.

But if Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill—

He'd have to flee.

But now?

He was a Level 92 powerhouse with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a poison-attribute Soul Core!

Forget the Peerless Dragon and Serpent's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Even if two ordinary Titled Douluo showed up, he could teach them a lesson!

"Do you mean I should bring the Meng Family and Beast Academy under my command—

And use them as the foundation to build a faction for you?"

Dugu Bo asked respectfully, his voice already carrying a hint of eager menace.

If Meng Shu knew what was good for him, then fine.

If not, Dugu Bo could use the Peerless Dragon and Serpent to test out the power of his brand-new Soul Core!