The violent blue-green storm gradually died down. The red and blue spring water swept into the air turned into a fine rain that drifted back into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Xue Yao floated down from the enormous rock, once again looking every bit like the gentle, refined young prince of the imperial family.
But Dugu Bo, standing nearby, could no longer look at the eight-year-old boy as if he were a junior.
In all his years, Dugu Bo had never seen—or even heard of—anyone so monstrously talented.
"Monster... You brat, you're a monster through and through."
Xue Yao smiled faintly and cupped his fists.
"You flatter me, senior. I owe this complete transformation to your generosity, so naturally, I should repay your kindness."
"Senior, I said before that once I emerged from seclusion, I would completely eradicate the poison in you and Sister Yan. Now it's time to make good on that promise."
At those words, Dugu Bo's body jolted.
"Xue Yao... Are you really sure you can do it?"
"Rest assured, senior. I didn't just study records about Immortal Herbs in the ancient books of the royal library. I also conducted an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the continent's top Martial Souls."
With his hands behind his back, Xue Yao strolled slowly through the flowers.
"Your Martial Soul is the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, without a doubt one of the finest poison-type Martial Souls. But poison is a double-edged sword. The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison is too fierce and too yin. As your cultivation rises, the poison innate to your Martial Soul continually turns against your body."
"Since I already know that you've been poisoned, I can make a guess: whenever the rain falls for days on end, you feel a dull, knife-like pain in both sides of your ribs. And every night at midnight, your head and the soles of your feet suffer agony like ten thousand needles piercing you. Each episode lasts at least half an hour. Am I right, senior?"
"You... You even know that?!" Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at Xue Yao as if he'd seen a ghost.
At last, Dugu Bo's final doubts about Xue Yao vanished completely, leaving only deep admiration and hope.
"That's the power of knowledge, senior."
"The poison in your bodies wasn't caused by an outside force. It comes from your Martial Soul itself. Ordinary antidotes won't work. Even if you clear out the old poison, your Martial Soul will keep producing more."
"Then what do you suggest?"
In the original story, Tang San's solution was to force the poison into a Soul Bone and store it there.
But as a transmigrator who knew everything, Xue Yao knew that was merely a stopgap, an inferior solution that treated the symptoms, not the cause.
If he was going to help, he would offer the perfect solution!
"The cure lies in 'evolution' and 'neutralization'!"
Xue Yao turned away from Dugu Bo and began carefully searching the area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where the rich aura of earth filled the air.
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison is extremely yin, so it needs something substantial to bear and neutralize it. At the same time, the Serpent Martial Soul has an innate flaw. Only by breaking through its limits and achieving a leap in its bloodline can the Martial Soul gain the ability to control that poison perfectly."
As he spoke, Xue Yao's eyes suddenly lit up.
He stopped before a vine shrouded in a strange, ocher-colored mist.
"Found it!"
A delighted smile curved Xue Yao's lips. He carefully urged the wind element into tiny, sharp Wind Blades, precisely severed the vine, and plucked off its three dark-golden fruits intact.
"What... What kind of heavenly treasure is this? I've spent all these years in this medicinal garden, yet I never noticed it held such terrifying energy." Dugu Bo came closer, feeling the weighty aura radiating from the fruit, and couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
"It's no surprise you don't recognize it, senior. This is called an Earth Dragon Golden Melon."
"The Earth Dragon Golden Melon is a top-grade Immortal Herb, born from the purest essence of earth and nurtured by a trace of ancient Earth Dragon energy."
"Earth attribute? Earth Dragon energy?"
"But I'm a poison-type Soul Master. How can an earth-type Immortal Herb help cure my poison?"
"It can help in a great many ways!"
"First, among the Five Elements, earth can control water and bear all things. The vast, pure earth essence in the Earth Dragon Golden Melon is the perfect counter and vessel for the extremely yin, frigid Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison in your body! Without weakening the power of your poison, it can neutralize and absorb all the sinister poison that's been attacking your internal organs."
"Second—and most important!" Xue Yao pointed to the dragon-scale patterns on the fruit. "Your Martial Soul is a snake. After five hundred years, a snake becomes a serpent; after a thousand, a wyrm; after ten thousand, a dragon! The trace of pure Sub-Dragon bloodline in this Earth Dragon Golden Melon is the supreme catalyst for your Martial Soul's evolution!"
At the words "Martial Soul Evolution," Dugu Bo's hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
Martial Soul Evolution—the miracle every Soul Master dreamed of, yet could hardly hope to attain!
"Once you consume it, the Earth Dragon energy will awaken the deepest potential in the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's bloodline. Then poison will no longer be a burden. It will become a force you can perfectly assimilate as your own! Not only will the torment of the backlash be eradicated, but your Soul Power, stagnant for years, may even break through once more..."
Xue Yao's words thundered through Dugu Bo's mind.
Perfect control over poison? An end to the backlash? A breakthrough in Soul Power?
Dugu Bo looked at the Earth Dragon Golden Melon in his hands, tears streaming down his face.
All these years, he had endured the torment day and night, countless times howling in despair through the dead of night.
He had thought this was simply how his life would end. He had even prepared himself to be torn apart by his own poison at any moment.
But now, this eight-year-old boy had given him not only hope of survival, but also a path to a higher realm!
"Xue Yao..."
Dugu Bo abruptly looked up. The notorious Poison Douluo bent both knees, about to kneel before Xue Yao!
"Senior, you mustn't!"
"You do me too much honor, senior. I told you, you generously let me use this treasure trove, so I'm merely repaying your kindness. Besides, this Immortal Herb grew in your own garden. I've only borrowed it to present you with its benefits."
Xue Yao knew that in this world of the strong preying on the weak, talent alone was not enough. He also needed a powerful guardian.
Trading an Immortal Herb that already belonged here for the complete loyalty of a Titled Douluo was a deal that couldn't be better.
"Good! Well said—repaying kindness!"
Dugu Bo drew a deep breath. He said no more words of thanks, but the gratitude and reverence in his eyes said everything.
"There are three Earth Dragon Golden Melons here."
"Your cultivation has reached the Titled Douluo level, senior, and the poison accumulated in your body runs deep. You'll need to consume at least two at once to neutralize it completely and trigger your Martial Soul's evolution. As for the last one..."
"Sister Yan is only a Soul Elder, so the poison in her body hasn't built up as much. One should be enough to reshape her bloodline from the source. It will not only cure her poison, but also bring about a tremendous leap in her talent. Please take the third one back and guide her through consuming it yourself."
"Brother Xue Yao, words can't express my gratitude! From now on, this old man's life is yours!" Dugu Bo was so moved that even the way he addressed Xue Yao changed. He went straight from "brat" to "brother."
"You're too kind, senior."
"There's no time to lose. Hurry and consume the Earth Dragon Golden Melon beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, senior. With the superb spiritual energy here to assist you, you'll absorb its medicinal effects twice as fast. I'll stay here and protect you!"
"Good!"
Dugu Bo didn't hesitate. Holding two Earth Dragon Golden Melons, he hurried to an open spot and sat down cross-legged.
In the next moment, he opened his mouth and swallowed the essence of both Earth Dragon Golden Melons.
As the medicine dissolved, a thick, dark-golden light instantly enveloped Dugu Bo. A massive emerald serpent's phantom gradually appeared behind him, and two bumps like dragon horns slowly began to rise from the top of its head...
Watching Dugu Bo enter a profound transformation, Xue Yao stood with his hands behind his back, a satisfied smile curling his lips.
The Ice and Fire Golden Body was complete, his extreme speed was complete, and he had successfully secured the allegiance of a Titled Douluo on the verge of evolution.
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