Resolving the Jade Phosphor Snake Poison, Revealing the Soul Core

Chrysanthemum Douluo's face flushed red, his hands trembling with excitement.

His expression instantly turned intoxicated.

As his hand attempted to stroke the leaves of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the flower suddenly emitted a brilliant golden-red light.

Knowing that this immortal herb was rejecting him, Chrysanthemum Douluo actually bowed to the flower in apology.

His face remained filled with infatuation.

"This is the 'Lovesick Heartbreak Red,' known as the king of immortal herbs; consuming it grants effects that seize the very fortune of heaven and earth."

"It is a pity..."

Chrysanthemum Douluo recounted the bizarre harvesting requirements of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. (Chrysanthemum Douluo likely did not know the story behind it.)

The few people present were quite surprised; could this tiny flower actually choose its own master?

They noticed that Lin Huai had specifically shown this immortal herb to Yue Guan.

"Little Huai, do you recognize this immortal herb?"

Lin Huai tossed it onto the ground and shook his hands.

He paid no mind to the pained expression on Yue Guan's face.

"Yes, Teacher, I recognize a few, and this immortal herb is one of them.

It is fortunate that Chrysanthemum Douluo knows the method of harvesting, otherwise, how many immortal herbs would have been wasted!"

Yue Guan stepped forward and carefully cradled the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

He bowed to Qian Daoliu and pleaded, "Great Protector, I know that I cannot obtain the recognition of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

I implore you to allow me to care for it until someone capable of picking it appears."

Qian Daoliu thought of the old fogies in the Worship Hall; indeed, none of them had experienced a love that cut to the bone.

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Very well, you may keep it for now."

"However, if you take it away, will its essence not dissipate?"

Hearing Qian Daoliu grant his request, Yue Guan hurriedly retrieved a rather exquisite flowerpot from his Soul Tool.

As he used his hands to scoop soil into the pot, he responded to the question.

"Rest assured, Great Protector. As long as a mature immortal herb has not been plucked, or has been harvested and stored using the correct method,"

"there will be no loss of medicinal potency. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red is currently in a state of not having been plucked."

Watching Yue Guan replant the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Qian Daoliu spoke.

"Very well, we shall harvest the other immortal herbs later. For now, discuss with Little Huai how to resolve the Martial Soul defects of Dugu Bo and his granddaughter."

Yue Guan used his soul power to clean the soil from his hands, while looking toward Dugu Bo.

"Martial Soul defects?"

"Old Poison, what defect does your Martial Soul have?"

Dugu Bo's face was filled with a look of utter disdain.

"You can't be serious!"

"Young Master Lin, a seven-year-old Spirit Master, could see it."

"And you, a Title Douluo proficient in herbs, cannot?"

Dugu Yan watched her grandfather, who had never shown such an expression before.

Her intuition told her that these two were certainly not just simple mortal enemies.

"Senior Yue Guan, the toxins of the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul have already affected the host."

"Just like the green hair and eyes of Senior Dugu Bo, the same is true for Miss Dugu."

Lin Huai's voice interrupted their bickering at the perfect moment.

"I do have ways to help them, but they either cannot be cured at the root, or they require the complete purification of the toxins within the body."

His gaze swept over Dugu Bo's hair, which was a somewhat eerie shade of green.

"Unless it is a last resort, I do not believe Senior would choose either of these methods."

Lin Huai held the Aromatic Silk Beauty in his hand.

He walked into the middle of the immortal herbs and spread his hands.

"But as a senior who has provided us with so many immortal herbs,"

"I feel we should seek better solutions; it would not be right to let his defection to our Martial Soul Hall go unrewarded."

Yue Guan suddenly covered his mouth and chuckled, sounding just like a woman.

He examined Dugu Bo with a teasing gaze.

"Look, didn't you end up joining Martial Soul Hall after all?"

"If you had defected to us earlier and told me about this place..."

Yue Guan paused, gently stroking a verdant immortal herb.

"...you might have even caught up to me by now."

A green figure flashed.

Dugu Bo grabbed Yue Guan's arms tightly, speaking urgently:

"My Lady..."

"Pah, pah."

Noticing Yue Guan's face stiffen, Dugu Bo quickly corrected himself.

"Yue Guan, are you certain you can handle the toxins in both me and Yan Yan?"

Yue Guan tugged at his arm, only to find he couldn't pull it away.

"With the aid of immortal herbs, there is no poison that cannot be resolved."

"Release me first and let me see which herbs are required."

Dugu Bo let go of his arms, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Yue Guan walked over to Dugu Yan and offered a kindly smile.

"Yan Yan, is it? Extend your hand and let me sense the spread of the toxins within your body."

Dugu Yan held out her slender, jade-like hand.

Yue Guan pinched her wrist and slowly released his soul power.

Before long, he let go of her fingers.

He walked toward the emerald, lotus-shaped immortal herb from earlier.

"Fortunately, Yan Yan's toxins have not yet fully formed; we can use this 'Jade Scale Nine Nether Lotus'."

"It can perfectly resolve the snake venom in her body, and it might even trigger a Martial Soul Evolution."

Yue Guan looked toward Qian Daoliu, who was still flipping through the immortal herb catalog.

Qian Daoliu didn't even look up, waving his hand dismissively.

"No need to signal me. Since this was Elder Dugu's former residence anyway, just go ahead and resolve their defects."

Yue Guan then used a jade ruler to sever the roots, using his soul power to float it in front of Dugu Yan.

"Consume the petals first, then swallow the single lotus seed in the center."

Dugu Yan followed the instructions to consume the Jade Scale Nine Nether Lotus and immediately sat cross-legged to begin refining it.

Seeing that his granddaughter was truly fine and that her aura was steadily rising, Dugu Bo looked at Yue Guan with a relaxed expression, extending his somewhat withered hand.

"My thanks, old friend."

"Yan Yan's problem is solved. As for me, just do your best; it doesn't matter if you can't cure it, I can still hold on for another ten years or so."

Yue Guan gripped Dugu Bo's wrist.

"Do not worry. Even without immortal herbs, I can help you cure the Jade Phosphor Snake venom."

"Eh...?"

"Why are the toxins in your body so much less than I expected?"

Yue Guan stroked his chin, muttering to himself:

"According to what you said, the poison should have reached your bone marrow by now, yet you are far from being in such a severe state."

"What have you done?"

Feeling somewhat unnerved by Yue Guan's stare, Dugu Bo took two steps back and shook his head.

"I haven't done anything, and I haven't consumed any immortal herbs."

Hearing this, Lin Huai's intuition told him that it was likely the embryonic 'Inner Pellet' soul core that Dugu Bo had cultivated which was playing a role.

It was the perfect opportunity to briefly bring up the soul core theory.

Lin Huai's eyes darted around.

"Elder Dugu, could it be caused by your cultivation?"

"Was there anything different when you were cultivating?"

Dugu Bo slapped his forehead.

"There was indeed. Young Master Lin is truly sharp."

He immediately circulated his soul power and spat out a spinning, emerald-green bead.

Qian Daoliu sensed the situation, set down his book, and looked toward the two of them.

"What is this?"

Yue Guan probed the bead with his soul power.

Dugu Bo noticed the confusion of the group.

His tone was brimming with smugness.

"This is an Inner Pellet I condensed by spending more than half of my soul power!"

"Not only can it store my soul power, but using it in battle is equivalent to a powerful soul skill."

Qian Daoliu and Yue Guan gazed at this Inner Pellet, lost in thought.

Lin Huai took the opportunity to raise his hand and speak the words he had prepared.

"Teacher, I have also seen something similar in the library."