Dragon Rising City, Fragrant Brocade? Yang Wudi's Eyes Went Straight!

"Not bad."

Yu Nan affirmed:

"The Breaking Clan excels in pharmacy and poison refinement.

Their clan head, Yang Wudi, wields the Soul Breaking Spear with such divine mastery that his offensive power is considered the ceiling among Spirit Douluo.

He can even go head-to-head with an ordinary Title Douluo."

Although this sounded somewhat absurd.

Yet during the Heaven Dou Palace Coup, Yang Wudi's performance had indeed been eye-catching.

"Why look for them?"

Dugu Bo was somewhat startled, his brows furrowing slightly:

"That Yang Wudi is a notoriously stubborn mule, foul and rigid, and because of the Clear Sky Sect incident back then, he is extremely repulsed by the outside world.

If we go looking for him, I fear we will be met with a closed door."

"Met with a closed door?"

Yu Nan scoffed, his tone filled with the confidence of one who controls everything:

"That applies to others.

For us, subduing the Breaking Clan will be as easy as turning over one's hand."

"Does the senior mean..."

"Building a faction."

Yu Nan's voice turned serious:

"Relying solely on the two of you, grandfather and granddaughter, is ultimately too thin a force.

If you want to gain a foothold in this chaotic world, or even stand on equal footing with Martial Soul Hall, you must have your own foundation."

Building a faction to rival Martial Soul Hall was unrealistic.

One could only rely on personal strength.

But building a faction was still very necessary.

"The Breaking Clan is the best cornerstone."

"Not only is their combat power formidable, but more importantly, their attainments in pharmaceutical research can perfectly assist Yan Yan's cultivation.

It will also help you make better use of the resources at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

Dugu Bo nodded repeatedly as he listened, yet he remained somewhat worried:

"What the senior says is true.

But that Yang Wudi is impervious to both soft and hard tactics; how are we to subdue him?

Are we to simply beat him into submission?"

"Beating him into submission is only a secondary strategy."

Yu Nan said indifferently:

"Winning the heart is paramount.

Aside from seeking revenge against Martial Soul Hall, the greatest obsession in Yang Wudi's life is alchemy."

"And for someone obsessed with alchemy, there is one thing he absolutely cannot refuse."

As he spoke, Yu Nan moved his mind.

Dugu Yan only felt a blur before her eyes, and a strange immortal herb appeared out of thin air in her hand.

It was a large, pale pink flower, leafless, with a stem three feet long and an enormous bloom.

The petals were layered and overlapping, emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.

This fragrance was not heavy, yet it possessed a magical power that could calm the mind, as if it could soothe all restlessness in the world.

"This is..."

Dugu Bo's pupils constricted. As a master of poisons, he recognized the extraordinary nature of this immortal herb at a glance:

"Aromatic Silk Beauty?!"

"You have a discerning eye."

Yu Nan said proudly:

"This flower is the nemesis of all poisons; it can neutralize ten thousand toxins and never withers.

To an alchemist, it is a priceless treasure, a divine object they dream of."

"As long as you place this thing in front of Yang Wudi, let alone asking him to join, even if you asked him to work like an ox or a horse for you, he would agree without the slightest hesitation."

Dugu Bo looked at the Aromatic Silk Beauty and couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

This item was also extremely tempting to him, but he knew that using it to subdue the Breaking Clan was truly putting it to its best use.

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

Dugu Bo gave a thumbs-up, sighing in genuine admiration: "With your methods, Senior, that Yang Wudi will surely be held firmly in the palm of your hand."

"In that case, let us depart at once!"

Several days later.

Star Luo Empire, Dragon Rising City.

The residence of the Breaking Clan was located in the north of the city; it occupied a vast area, yet appeared somewhat desolate and solemn.

On the towering gatehouse, the four characters for "Breaking Clan" were written with vigorous, powerful strokes, exuding an unyielding pride that would rather break than bend.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Two disciples of the Breaking Clan dressed in black blocked the path of Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, their expressions wary.

Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his ink-green robe fluttering despite the lack of wind.

He released a mere sliver of his pressure as a Title Douluo, causing the two disciples to turn pale and their legs to go weak.

"Go tell Yang Wudi that his old friend Dugu Bo has come to visit."

Dugu Bo spoke indifferently; his voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly into the depths of the manor.

"Du... Dugu Bo? Poison Douluo?!"

The two disciples were scared out of their wits. Daring not to block him any longer, they scrambled inside to report, tumbling over themselves in their haste.

A moment later.

A deep, resonant voice filled with the scent of gunpowder drifted out from within the manor:

"Old Poison Freak? You aren't enjoying your leisure in Heaven Dou City, so why have you come to this backwater of mine? Could it be that you want to spar with this old man?"

As the voice faded, a tall, sturdy elder with a resolute face strode out.

His hair and beard were snow-white, yet he was full of vigor, his eyes bright and piercing, his entire being radiating a sharp, piercing spear intent.

It was as if the man himself were an unsheathed, lethal spear.

It was none other than the head of the Breaking Clan, Yang Wudi!

Dugu Bo looked at Yang Wudi's posture, which suggested he was ready to fight at any moment, but he did not get angry; instead, he laughed heartily: "Old Goat Yang, it has been so many years, yet your temper is still as fiery as ever."

"Enough nonsense!"

Yang Wudi snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping vigilantly over Dugu Bo and the Dugu Yan behind him: "You never visit without a reason. You, Old Poison Freak, have always been one to never act without profit. Speak, what business do you have with me? If you are here to recruit me into some faction, then save your breath and be on your way!"

Dugu Bo was not annoyed; he merely smiled mysteriously and flipped his palm.

The Aromatic Silk Beauty instantly appeared in his hand.

A faint, delicate fragrance drifted on the breeze, instantly burrowing into Yang Wudi's nostrils.

The previously impatient Yang Wudi stiffened abruptly the moment he caught the scent.

His nose twitched twice, and then his eyes widened, staring fixedly at the large pink flower in Dugu Bo's hand.

That look was like a beggar who had been starving for three days seeing a full banquet, or like a lecher seeing a peerless beauty.

It was filled with shock, longing, disbelief, and... madness!

"This... this is..."

Yang Wudi's voice trembled. He reached out with shaking hands, wanting to touch it but not daring to, fearing it might only be an illusion.

"Aromatic Silk Beauty?!"

"It really is the Aromatic Silk Beauty?!"

Dugu Bo watched Yang Wudi's uncharacteristic display and felt a secret thrill, though on the surface, he maintained the detached, breezy air of an expert: "Clan Head Yang has a sharp eye."

"It is precisely this item."

"How about it? Are you interested in sitting down for a chat?"

"Please!"

Yang Wudi squeezed the word out from between his teeth, stepping aside to clear a path and gesturing for Dugu Bo to enter.

Yet, his eyes never once left the Aromatic Silk Beauty in Dugu Bo's hand.

It was as if he feared the treasure would fly away the moment he blinked.

Dugu Bo's lips curled upward, and with a flip of his palm, the immortal herb that haunted Yang Wudi's dreams vanished into thin air, stowed away into his Soul Tool.

"You—!"

Yang Wudi's breath hitched, his face flushing crimson in an instant, as if someone had clamped a hand around his throat.

"Don't be so impatient, Old Goat."

Dugu Bo strode across the threshold with his hands behind his back, his tone leisurely:

"The item is right here with this old man; it isn't going anywhere. Since we are here to talk business, we naturally must sit down and discuss it slowly."