Yu Nan explained,
"But Yan Yan is only at the Soul King level. The Soul Power in her body is still in the process of changing from a gaseous state to a liquid one.
If she forcibly condenses a Soul Core now, not only will she fail, but her Soul Power may also spiral out of control, burst her dantian, and make her explode."
"Gasp—"
Dugu Bo sucked in a sharp breath and quickly abandoned the idea.
"I was rash. Thank you for the warning, senior."
"There's no need to rush."
Yu Nan said calmly,
"Although she can't condense a Soul Core for now, I have a much grander plan for Yan Yan's cultivation."
At this, Yu Nan paused. An indescribable arrogance and mystery seeped into his voice.
"A Soul Core is merely an aid. A true powerhouse cultivates the self."
"I plan to make use of the meridians in her body, strengthened by Ice and Fire Golden Body Refinement, and combine them with constant stimulation from potent poison and the later addition of several specific Soul Bones..."
"To help her awaken a 'Body Martial Soul' through acquired means!"
"A Body Martial Soul?"
Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo cried out in their minds almost in unison.
The term was utterly unfamiliar to Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent today.
Dugu Yan blinked her large green eyes and asked, brimming with curiosity,
"Senior, what is a Body Martial Soul?
Does it mean what it sounds like?
Do you use my body as a Martial Soul?"
As far as she knew, Martial Souls were beasts, objects, or plants.
How could someone's own body become a Martial Soul?
"Exactly. You're very perceptive."
Yu Nan praised her.
"A Body Martial Soul is one in which the Soul Master uses a part of their own body—or even their entire body—as their Martial Soul."
"Eyes, arms, the torso, or even... blood and meridians."
Yu Nan's voice grew low and enticing.
"In the Soul Master World today, Beast Martial Souls and Tool Martial Souls are still the mainstream.
But they don't know that the human body itself is the most intricately crafted vessel in this world—and the most powerful weapon."
"When a Beast Martial Soul possesses its user, it's ultimately borrowing the beast's strength.
A Body Martial Soul, on the other hand, excavates the hidden potential of the human body!"
"Once a Body Martial Soul awakens, it allows a Soul Master to achieve absolute control over their own body. More importantly..."
"A Body Martial Soul can undergo a 'Second Awakening'!"
"A Second Awakening?!"
Dugu Bo was left dumbfounded. This had gone far beyond the limits of his knowledge.
"Precisely."
Yu Nan continued,
"Yan Yan, your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor is powerful, but it's ultimately an external manifestation.
If you can completely fuse its poison into every drop of your blood and every inch of your skin,
then your body will become the source of the poison, not merely its vessel."
"When that happens, you'll no longer be a 'Soul Master who controls the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.'"
"You yourself will be the 'Beautiful Snake' capable of poisoning the whole world."
As Dugu Yan listened to Yu Nan's description, a scene took shape in her mind.
She would no longer need Martial Soul Possession. Every gesture would unleash poison capable of destroying heaven and earth, and every time her eyes opened or closed, divine light would petrify all things...
Just imagining such a realm made her tremble all over, her blood boiling.
"Senior, I'm willing!"
Ambition blazed in Dugu Yan's eyes.
"As long as it makes me stronger, I can endure any painful poison!"
"Excellent."
Yu Nan smiled with satisfaction.
"That's the spirit.
Once we get the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, we can use the restorative power of that Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone and begin our first attempt at 'blood replacement.'"
"For now, though..."
Yu Nan's perception stretched ahead, sensing the aura of a small town hidden among the distant mountains and woods.
"Let's go get the Immortal Herb from that Old White Bird first."
Above an unremarkable little town outside Dragon Rising City,
the clear sky suddenly darkened. A terrifying pressure crashed down like a mountain, bringing with it a suffocating weight.
The pressure carried not the slightest trace of killing intent, yet it held a chilling, sickly-sweet coldness that made the soul tremble.
It was as if an ancient serpent were coiled among the clouds, coldly gazing down at the ants below.
"Gasp—"
Every Soul Master in town felt their chest tighten and their Soul Power seize up.
Those with weaker cultivation crumpled straight to the ground, shivering in fear.
"May I ask which Title Douluo has honored us with his presence?
Bai He of the Speed Clan welcomes you!"
An aged yet somewhat shrill voice came from the depths of the town.
A white figure flashed across the sky and appeared in midair in an instant.
It was none other than Bai He, the clan leader of the Speed Clan.
But at that moment, the old man, whose speed was unmatched in the Soul Master World, had cold sweat running down his forehead.
He looked at Dugu Bo, floating opposite him in a green robe with his hands behind his back, and at the indifferent young woman standing beside him. His pupils suddenly contracted.
"P-Poison Douluo?!"
Bai He's heart sank.
Dugu Bo's name was as thunderous as it was feared throughout the Soul Master World.
His capricious temper and poison skills, which could wipe out an entire city at a whim, terrified everyone.
The Speed Clan had fallen on such hard times. If that Old Poison Freak had set his sights on them...
"Heh heh, old Bai He. It's been years, but you haven't lost much of your speed."
Dugu Bo greeted him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. His green gaze swept over Bai He as though he were prey waiting to be slaughtered.
"May I ask what brings Poison Douluo here?"
Bai He forced down his unease and cupped his hands.
"My Speed Clan has long since withdrawn from the world. I don't believe we've offended you, Your Excellency?"
"Offended me? No."
Dugu Bo waved a hand casually, his tone as relaxed as if they were chatting about the weather.
"I've only come to ask you for something."
"Something?"
Bai He was taken aback.
"I hear you have a Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng?"
A playful curve touched Dugu Bo's lips.
"Good timing. My granddaughter has hit a bottleneck in her cultivation and needs a tonic.
I was thinking that a treasure like that would be wasted in your hands. Why not... lend it to me?"
At the words "Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng," Bai He's expression changed instantly.
His hunched body straightened, and a flash of resolve and wariness crossed his eyes.
"Poison Douluo, you must be joking!"
Bai He gritted his teeth.
"The Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng is the Speed Clan's ancestral treasure, and the hope of our clan's future. I can't comply!"
This Immortal Herb was his last trump card for restoring the clan. How could he hand it over?
"Hope?"
Dugu Bo scoffed, his disdain undisguised.
"You lot are nothing but a flock of birds who know how to run away. You dare talk about hope?"
"Bai He, I'm not asking you."
Before you continue