Dugu Bo

Chrysanthemum Douluo stood behind him, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding vegetation. On that heavily powdered face, his expression shifted from indifference to surprise, then to shock.

"Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Aromatic Silk Beauty..." He reeled off seven or eight names in one breath, his voice drifting slightly. "Young Master Gu Qingshan, this place is practically a treasure trove."

His gaze landed on a golden chrysanthemum, and his pupils constricted slightly.

That was the immortal herb homologous to his own martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

If he could consume this immortal herb, the quality of his martial soul would improve by at least one grade.

Chrysanthemum Douluo took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away.

He looked at Gu Qingshan and found the six-year-old child standing by the pool, hands in his pockets, chewing on a Blue Silver Leaf. His expression was unnervingly calm, as if everything before them had been within his expectations.

Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed inwardly.

Just how many more secrets did this child know?

Just then, a green figure sped down from the mountain peak.

The speed was immense, like a bolt of green lightning streaking across the cliff face, reaching the valley floor in a few leaps.

The newcomer was an old man, tall and thin, dressed in a grey robe. His long, ink-green hair hung over his shoulders, and his eyes of the same color were cold and sharp.

It was none other than Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

"Ju Huaguan, what are you doing here?" His voice was hoarse and low.

Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward, calmly shielding Gu Qingshan behind him.

"Old Poison, so this is where you've been hiding." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice was shrill yet composed, carrying a faint, elusive smile. "Trust you've been well."

"Hmph." Dugu Bo let out a cold snort, a flash of killing intent crossing his green eyes. "Ju Huaguan, I asked you, what are you doing here?"

He watched Chrysanthemum Douluo with vigilance, but soon shifted his gaze.

He noticed the child behind Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Dugu Bo's eyelids twitched.

Was Ju Huaguan here to hunt him down? Unlikely; one wouldn't bring a child to an assassination.

Then what was he here for?

Seeing Dugu Bo's confusion, Chrysanthemum Douluo took the initiative. "Old Poison, no need to be tense. I haven't come to cause you trouble today, but to propose a trade."

"A trade? What could you and I possibly have to trade?" Dugu Bo's brows furrowed deeper, his green eyes filled with suspicion.

Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo was about to speak, Gu Qingshan stepped out from behind him.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, let me handle this."

He stood by the pool, facing Dugu Bo across the water, his eyes calm and devoid of any fear.

"Senior Dugu, I know there are many medicinal herbs here, and we have come specifically for them."

Dugu Bo's pupils constricted violently.

He subconsciously glanced at the immortal herbs around the pool, then looked back at Gu Qingshan, his gaze turning sharp as a blade.

"Hmph, a mere brat thinks he's qualified to negotiate with me, Dugu Bo."

"Old Poison, this is the personal disciple of Her Majesty the Pope. His presence here represents Martial Soul Hall." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice rang out at the perfect moment.

Dugu Bo's expression shifted.

Bibi Dong's disciple.

He re-evaluated Gu Qingshan, the contempt in his eyes fading slightly, though his vigilance remained undiminished.

Gu Qingshan did not rush to speak.

He waited a moment, letting Dugu Bo digest the information about being "Bibi Dong's disciple" before continuing.

"Senior Dugu, is it true that whenever it rains, you feel a numbing pain in your ribs and a stabbing, spasmodic ache in your crown, and that these symptoms are becoming increasingly pronounced?"

Dugu Bo's expression froze, his green eyes filled with shock.

"You—how could you know that?"

No one else knew of these symptoms; he had never told a soul.

Chrysanthemum Douluo stood behind Gu Qingshan, the corners of his mouth curling up.

He had long since noticed that Dugu Bo's aura was wrong; the poison power was too intense, so intense that it had exceeded the limits of what his body could withstand.

The aura of a Title Douluo should be stable and profound, but Dugu Bo's aura was like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment—calm on the surface, but churning violently within.

This was the sign of poison having seeped into the bone marrow.

Chrysanthemum Douluo took over, his shrill voice tinged with schadenfreude. "Old Poison, you have practiced poison arts for years, and your martial soul has backfired. The poison has now reached your marrow. If I am not mistaken, you are not far from death."

Dugu Bo's face turned a shade of green and white.

He did not refute it, for what Ju Huaguan said was the truth.

His body was deteriorating by the day, and he could feel his vitality slipping away.

At this rate, he could last at most three to five years, perhaps even less.

"However..." Elder Chrysanthemum shifted his tone.

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes.

"However what?"

Gu Qingshan stepped forward, standing by the edge of the pool, and looked up at Dugu Bo.

"We can completely resolve the poison plaguing you and your granddaughter, but there are two conditions."

Dugu Bo fell silent.

He looked at this six-year-old child, his gaze complex.

Could the words of a six-year-old child be trusted?

What if what he said was true? What if Dugu Yan's poison could really be cured?

In the end, he only let out a cold snort: "Speak, what are the conditions?"

Gu Qingshan held up two fingers.

"First, Senior Dugu must join Martial Soul Hall."

Dugu Bo's expression did not change, but his hands tightened slightly.

"Second, we may take any of the medicinal herbs here."

Dugu Bo's expression finally changed.

"Take any you want? Do you know how many years I spent collecting these herbs? You want to take them all with just one sentence?"

"Not all of them." Gu Qingshan corrected, "We will take them selectively. Senior Dugu, there are many herbs here, but most have no direct effect on detoxifying you and Dugu Yan. We only truly need two, and we will take about a dozen others as well."

"Two?" Dugu Bo frowned slightly.

"Correct. First, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid for your granddaughter. She is still young and not deeply poisoned; the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid can not only completely clear the toxins from her body but also consolidate her foundation and enhance her cultivation talent."

"Second, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma for you. The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma can neutralize the toxins that have accumulated in your body over the years, but it requires six months of treatment with Elder Chrysanthemum's prescription to be completely eradicated."

Dugu Bo was silent.

His gaze shifted back and forth between Gu Qingshan and Elder Chrysanthemum. These conditions sounded too good to be true.

"If you can truly resolve the poisoning issue for me and Dugu Yan, it is not impossible to agree."

Gu Qingshan smiled.

"Senior Dugu, we have no reason to deceive you."

Dugu Bo stared at him for a long while, and a hint of hesitation finally appeared in his green eyes.

"However, if I discover that you have deceived me, I will destroy all the herbs here even if it costs me my life. You won't get a single one," he added, his voice regaining the majesty and coldness of a Title Douluo.

"Deal."

Elder Chrysanthemum stood to the side, watching this scene, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

He thought to himself: Young Master Qingshan is only six years old, and he has already struck a deal with a Title Douluo.

Ten years from now, will there be anything in this Spirit Master world that he cannot handle?

Gu Qingshan turned to look at the immortal herbs surrounding the pool, his eyes sparkling.

He needed to choose these immortal herbs carefully.

The Aromatic Silk Beauty for Ye Lingling, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma for Dugu Bo, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid for Dugu Yan, and also...

Gu Qingshan glanced at Elder Chrysanthemum.

Elder Chrysanthemum was staring at that golden Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, his eyes filled with longing.

Gu Qingshan smiled.

This trip was worth it.