Dugu Bo watched his retreating figure and froze for a moment, muttering to himself, Without the herbs, there really is no way to make the medicine.
"You know what these things do?"
Dugu Yan couldn't help speaking up. Her pale violet eyes were filled with disbelief.
She had grown up here, yet she had never heard her grandfather explain the specific uses of these exotic flowers and herbs. She only knew that they all contained deadly poison and shouldn't be touched lightly.
Qin Yao didn't turn around. He merely walked to the edge of the spring, his gaze sweeping over the Immortal Herbs that still flourished despite their extreme surroundings.
"Old Poison, there are two ways to cure your poison."
He spoke directly to Dugu Bo.
"First, find a Soul Bone that's at least ten thousand years old. An External Soul Bone would be best. I'll use medicine to guide you, and you'll force all the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in your bodies into the Soul Bone. This method will preserve your poison abilities and prevent the poison from turning on you.
"But the Soul Bone will have to bear the poison, so it needs to be high quality."
Dugu Bo's breath caught.
That method wasn't bad at all!
Qin Yao paused and raised a second finger.
"Second, consume the Immortal Herbs here. They can completely purge the snake poison from your bodies and eliminate the problem forever. But the price is that your poison abilities will vanish along with it, and your cultivation will suffer a great loss."
With that, Qin Yao fell silent and waited for Dugu Bo to choose.
Dugu Bo fell into silence.
The first method could preserve the poison abilities he took pride in, as well as his dignity as a Titled Douluo.
The second method could free him and his granddaughter from their torment once and for all, but the price was that he would become a cripple.
Without poison, was a Poison Douluo still a Poison Douluo?
He gave a self-deprecating smile.
If he lost all his poison abilities, he probably wouldn't be of any use to His Highness the Holy Son anymore.
"This old man chooses the first method." Dugu Bo's voice was hoarse, but unusually firm.
"Good."
Qin Yao gave a faint laugh and said nothing more.
He had expected this outcome all along.
Then Qin Yao paid the grandfather and granddaughter no further mind and began his "harvesting" spree.
First, he walked over to a plant that was fiery red all over and shaped like a cabbage. This was the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
Then he went to the other side and plucked a large white flower shaped like an octagon. This was the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
"Those are extremely poisonous herbs of ultimate yang heat and ultimate yin cold. You..." Dugu Bo instinctively began to warn him.
But Qin Yao seemed not to hear. He put both Immortal Herbs into his Storage Soul Tool.
As for why Qin Yao hadn't asked Dugu Bo for his Treasure Bag of a Hundred Treasures—
Come on, what treasure didn't the Worship Hall have?
Next, Qin Yao went about like a merchant stocking up on goods. Wherever he went, every Immortal Herb he recognized was packed away, one after another.
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were left completely dumbfounded.
Did His Highness the Holy Son recognize every single one of these exotic flowers and herbs?
The next moment, Qin Yao spotted the Lovesick Heartbreak Red rooted in the Black Absolute Stone.
But he only glanced at it before looking away.
The conditions for picking this thing were too demanding. He had to be thinking of the woman he loved. Right now, there wasn't a woman in Qin Yao's heart whom he loved deeply.
A short while later, he had packed up all the Immortal Herbs he recognized. Qin Yao clapped his hands, turned around in satisfaction, and looked at the grandfather and granddaughter, who were still frozen in shock.
"All right, now let's talk about the Soul Bones."
Qin Yao's voice brought the two back to reality.
"The Soul Bone should be at least ten thousand years old. An External Soul Bone would be best. Of course, External Soul Bones are rare and hard to come by."
"As for ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Bones, if you can't get your hands on them, come back to Spirit Hall with me."
"I'm never stingy with people who are useful to me."
Dugu Bo's heart shook, and then a rush of elation surged through him!
Ten-thousand-year Soul Bones!
How precious were those? He himself only had one!
His Highness the Holy Son was actually willing to get him two ten-thousand-year Soul Bones!
"Thank you, Your Highness the Holy Son!"
This time, Dugu Bo's thanks came from the heart. He dropped to one knee and lowered the head he had held high for decades.
"Good." Qin Yao accepted his salute without hesitation.
Then he said to the two of them:
"Step back for now. I need to cultivate here for a while. Once I'm done, I'll cure your poison."
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were puzzled, but they obediently retreated to the edge of the valley.
The next moment, Qin Yao's actions nearly made Dugu Bo's eyes pop out of his head.
Qin Yao actually took out the two extremely poisonous Immortal Herbs he had just picked—the Infernal Delicate Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass—from his Soul Tool.
Then, under Dugu Bo's horrified gaze, he opened his mouth and swallowed both Immortal Herbs at once!
"Are you insane?!"
Dugu Bo cried out.
Those were substances of ultimate yang and ultimate yin! Forget taking them together—even swallowing just one would kill a Titled Douluo on the spot!
Yet Qin Yao acted as though nothing had happened and did something even more reckless.
He walked to the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and leaped straight into the place where the two springs met!
Boom!
The crimson Yang Spring instantly boiled, while the white Yin Spring crystallized into bitterly cold ice.
Two opposing energies, one red and one white, formed a terrifying vortex around Qin Yao.
Dugu Bo was completely numb by now.
Was this the Holy Son of Spirit Hall?
Not only did he know the herbs in this treasure land inside and out, he had even jumped straight into the scalding-hot and freezing-cold springs that Dugu Bo himself didn't dare approach, as if he were taking a bath!
Time passed, second by second.
About an hour later.
Roar!!!
A heaven-shaking lion's roar erupted from the center of the spring!
The phantom of the Amethyst Winged Lion King coiled behind Qin Yao suddenly opened its eyes.
Its originally scarlet pupils now blazed with two purple flames!
Then a scorching aura beyond description spread through the valley, and its temperature climbed rapidly.
The Purple Fire on Qin Yao's body quietly changed, its color growing even deeper.
Ultimate Fire—achieved!
Qin Yao slowly emerged from the spring. His body had become impervious to ice, fire, and all poisons.
He changed into clean clothes and felt the Purple Fire Soul Power inside him, now several times stronger than before. Satisfied, he nodded.
Qin Yao paid no attention to Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo, who were still in shock.
Since he had so many Immortal Herbs, he naturally ought to help his grandfathers improve their strength.
The first would of course be his own grandfather, Mighty Lion Douluo Qin Xiong, who had always been by his side.
Qin Xiong was Level 97. He, too, had been stuck at Level 97 for far too long. Without a major opportunity, he would probably never break through to Level 98 in his lifetime.
And now, the opportunity had arrived!
Qin Yao made up his mind. He turned toward the entrance to the valley and suddenly shouted:
"Grandpa! You can stop hiding! I know you're following me! Hurry over—there's a huge opportunity here!"
His voice rang out with full force, echoing through the entire valley.
Atop the valley, in a concealed thicket.
Qin Xiong's figure stiffened. He muttered to himself, his face full of disbelief.
"How did that brat find me?"
He had been certain that he'd concealed himself to perfection along the way, completely suppressing his aura. Forget a Soul Ancestor—even a Titled Douluo of the same level wouldn't have found him without deliberately searching.
Yet Qin Yao had shouted with such certainty. He had clearly known all along.
He hesitated for a moment, but soon let it go.
His grandson never did anything unless he was sure of it.
At the same time, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had recovered from Qin Yao's reckless actions.
They followed Qin Yao's gaze toward the valley entrance, equally curious.
Just what sort of person was His Highness the Holy Son's grandfather?
What kind of terrifying existence could have raised a monstrous grandson like this?
As the two wondered, a blazing red figure descended from the sky, bringing a wave of scorching air as he landed heavily in the valley.
The newcomer was burly, his beard and hair bristling. He was none other than Mighty Lion Douluo Qin Xiong.
As soon as he landed, he shot Qin Yao an annoyed glare before asking, "Xiao Yao, how did you know Grandpa was here?"
Qin Yao withdrew the Purple Fire around his body and returned to his usual appearance. He shrugged, looking entirely unconcerned.
"I sensed you as soon as you left Spirit City."
Qin Xiong's old face reddened, and he felt a little embarrassed. In front of his own grandson, the dignity of a Level 97 Titled Douluo had completely vanished.
He coughed twice, trying to change the subject, and looked at Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan beside them.
Qin Yao understood. He stepped forward and introduced them to each other.
"Grandpa, this is Poison Douluo Dugu Bo. He'll be one of ours from now on."
"Old Poison, this is my grandfather, Fourth Worship of Spirit Hall. He's a Level 97 Power Attack System Titled Douluo with the title of Mighty Lion."
When "Level 97" and "Fourth Worship" came together so casually from Qin Yao's mouth, Dugu Bo gaped in shock.
A Level 97 Power Attack System Titled Douluo!
He was only ranked fourth in Spirit Hall's Worship Hall?
How terrifying must the cultivation of the three ranked above him be?
At that moment, Dugu Bo suddenly felt that his decision to pledge himself to Spirit Hall had been a tremendous bargain!
This wasn't merely pledging himself to Spirit Hall. It was latching onto the thickest thigh on the entire continent!
Once he understood that, Dugu Bo's manner became instantly and utterly respectful.
He hurried forward and bowed deeply to Qin Xiong.
"Dugu Bo greets Fourth Worship!"
Dugu Yan beside him also came to her senses and quickly followed suit.
Qin Xiong waved his hand carelessly. He already liked Dugu Bo much better.
"All right, all right. We're family now, so there's no need to be so polite."
He patted Dugu Bo on the shoulder, looking as if he approved of him.
"Since you've decided to follow Xiao Yao, make sure you do your job well from now on! You won't be treated unfairly!"
"Yes! Yes!" Dugu Bo replied repeatedly.
They had only just finished exchanging pleasantries when Qin Yao spoke again.
"Grandpa, don't just stand there. Here, take this."
Qin Yao took an Immortal Herb from his Soul Tool and held it out.
The Immortal Herb was crimson from top to bottom, its leaves ending in a shape like a cockscomb. The moment it appeared, the temperature throughout the valley seemed to rise several degrees.
It was the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, an Immortal Herb that greatly nourished pure yang energy!
Before you continue