Cooperation

If this kid named Ye Chen wasn't the successor of the Fire God, how could he be so close to the fire element, and how could he determine the existence of the hot spring just by the aura of the fire element on his own body?

If he wasn't the successor of the Fire God, how would he know that the hot spring is called the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, and even know that various rare medicinal herbs grow nearby?

"Kid, do you even understand the knowledge of the medicinal herbs near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?" Dugu Bo asked proactively.

Ye Chen nodded, "Yes. In order to make it easier for me to complete the Divine Trial, the great Fire God specifically mentioned in the Divine Trial rewards the opportunities that will be of great use to my future."

"These opportunities include the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well I just mentioned, as well as the knowledge of the various medicinal herbs growing near it. Senior, could it be that you don't understand herbal knowledge?"

Dugu Bo shook his head helplessly, "My poison arts are all based on the martial soul poison produced by my martial soul. Because I only need to increase my soul power, the martial soul poison will become stronger accordingly. If I want to refine mixed poisons, I only need to mix the toxins attached to multiple Soul Rings together."

"So I have spent all my time on soul power cultivation and haven't delved too much into pharmacology. Later, I tried to learn about various medicinal herbs, but even with that knowledge, I still couldn't distinguish the herbs near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Those herbs, as you said, are all rare treasures. It is difficult for ordinary people to distinguish them."

"Indeed." Ye Chen said with a smile, "However, I am not an ordinary person. I am the successor of the Fire God, so naturally, I can distinguish those rare medicinal herbs. Senior, it is truly a case of meeting each other too late."

"I have the Fire God's inheritance and herbal knowledge, while you have the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and various medicinal herbs. Looking at it this way, our meeting might have been destined by fate."

As he spoke, Ye Chen looked up at the sky, as if the legendary God Realm was far away yet right before his eyes.

"Could it be that the great Fire God prompted our meeting so that I could complete the Divine Trial faster?"

After hearing Ye Chen's words, Dugu Bo was somewhat convinced. First, they met because of the Jade-Eyed Three-Flower Serpent, then the thousand-year second Soul Ring gave them a chance to talk, and then they went from mutual suspicion during the conversation to choosing to trust each other. It all felt as if someone had deliberately orchestrated it, and it was by no means a coincidence.

"Senior, if you have the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and various rare medicinal herbs, then there is no need to wait until I become a god. Perhaps within these few years, I can help you and your granddaughter eradicate the problem of the snake venom backlash," Ye Chen said suddenly.

Dugu Bo was stunned, "Are you serious?"

"Serious." Ye Chen changed the subject and declared first, "But I cannot tell you for the time being how to eradicate the snake venom backlash through rare medicinal herbs. I have to wait until I confirm whether there are suitable rare medicinal herbs before I can give you an accurate answer."

"Hmm, after my granddaughter finishes absorbing her Soul Ring, I will take you to find them near that Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well." After saying this, Dugu Bo probed, "Kid, why don't you tell me first how you knew that my granddaughter and I were suffering from snake venom backlash?"

"Because the physical characteristics of you and your granddaughter are too unusual." Ye Chen bluffed, "Senior, haven't you noticed? Your hair and beard are all dark green. Where else on the continent is there such a strange hair and beard color? So I concluded that these unusual physical characteristics of yours must be caused by the influence of your martial soul."

"And your granddaughter has a similar situation, which means this influence is inherited through the martial soul bloodline. Unless one possesses a physique that can absorb toxins for cultivation, any hereditary toxin is harmful to the human body. Therefore, I used the snake venom backlash problem to test you, and I didn't expect to actually guess it right."

Dugu Bo gave a cold laugh upon hearing this, "You are quite bold. Weren't you afraid that I would have killed you right then and there?"

"Why should I be afraid?" Ye Chen said mysteriously, "After I completed the first trial, my affinity with the Fire God increased by ten percent. I can call upon a trace of the Fire God's divine power to fight. Even if I only have fifty-seven levels of soul power, with the blessing of the Fire God's divine power and the advantage of fire overcoming poison, I am not afraid of your poison at all."

"However, thanks to you being calm enough, Senior, you didn't fall out with me. You are worthy of being one of the few Control-type Title Douluo on the continent; your control over your own emotions is too strong."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo waved his hand, "Kid, stop flattering me. Although I am willing to support you, it doesn't mean I want to be your subordinate. Our relationship is more of a partnership."

"At the end of the day, I only do things according to my own preferences. If I encounter something unpleasant or something that doesn't satisfy me, I won't help you."

Seeing that Dugu Bo had made his stance clear, Ye Chen also spoke bluntly, "That is natural. Whether you are willing to help me or not is entirely up to you, Senior."

"However, since you have chosen to help me, I still hope that you will put some heart into it. Otherwise, after I become a god, I will also do things according to my own preferences, and I might not repay your kindness. Therefore, as long as it doesn't touch our bottom lines, it is better for us to help each other as much as we can. You should understand the principle of exchanging sincerity for sincerity, right, Senior?"

Dugu Bo did not expect a sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid to dare to speak to him like this. It seems that this person really has the Fire God's divine power, and he is full of confidence.

However, what Dugu Bo did not know was that while Ye Chen appeared to be a sixteen or seventeen-year-old adult on the surface, his real age was only nine.

If Dugu Bo knew that he was cooperating with a nine-year-old child and felt like he was being manipulated in the process, he would definitely be furious and lose face.

Precisely because of this, Ye Chen did not dare to reveal his true age.

Just as the two finished their conversation, Dugu Yan finally completed the absorption of her third Soul Ring. She slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view were two yellow and one purple, a total of three Soul Rings rhythmically circling her body.

"Grandpa, I succeeded!" With a cry of surprise, Dugu Yan stood up from the ground and threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms.

Dugu Bo, who had a serious face before, now had a completely softened expression. He reached out to hug Dugu Yan, who had thrown herself at him, and laughed, "Yes, not bad, Yan Yan, you have finally advanced to a three-ring Soul Elder."

"What do you mean by 'finally'?" Dugu Yan said unhappily, "Isn't it all because you told me to neglect my soul power cultivation? Otherwise, at my age of sixteen, I might have already cultivated to a four-ring Soul Ancestor. Grandpa, can you tell me now? Why did you ask me to neglect my soul power cultivation?"

"No rush. Wait until you become a four-ring Soul Ancestor, and Grandpa will tell you why." As he spoke, Dugu Bo gently pushed Dugu Yan away from his arms.

Dugu Yan crossed her arms and said huffily, "That sentence again. After I become a four-ring Soul Ancestor, are you going to say wait until I become a five-ring Soul King before you tell me why?"

"How could that be?" Dugu Bo promised, "Yan Yan, Grandpa swears that once you become a four-ring Soul Ancestor, I will definitely tell you why. For now, just follow Grandpa's request and neglect your soul power cultivation."