Subduing Dugu Bo

Tang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, as if the aura he had just released was merely him brushing dust off his sleeves.

There are gaps even between Title Douluo.

Dugu Bo had lived for so many years, yet this was the first time he had realized this truth so clearly.

He had the confidence to protect himself before Ju of the Martial Soul Hall because the gap between them was no more than three or four levels, and his potent poison was enough to make the other party wary.

But the person before him gave him an entirely different feeling—it was like an abyss looking down upon a shallow shoal; they were simply not on the same level.

It's over.

Everything is over.

Dugu Bo closed his eyes, his face ashen.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was his only reliance for suppressing the virulent poison within his body. Without this precious land, given the frequency of his toxin flare-ups, he would die within three to five years at most.

And there was Yan Yan, his granddaughter who was only in her teens. Although the toxins in her body were much milder than his, without the suppression of the immortal herbs and spiritual medicines here, she would sooner or later follow in his footsteps.

To think that he, Dugu Bo, had traversed his whole life without ever bowing his head to anyone.

When the Martial Soul Hall tried to recruit him, he scoffed at them.

When the Heaven Dou Empire tried to win him over, he ignored them.

Relying on his poison arts and the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor martial soul, he had carved a bloody path through this world where the strong preyed on the weak, becoming a Title Douluo and a figure of great renown.

Yet in the end, he could not even protect his own life, nor could he safeguard his granddaughter's future.

Just as Dugu Bo was in the depths of despair, Jiang Lin's voice rang out, unhurried.

"Uncle Tang, withdraw it."

Tang Yuan glanced at Jiang Lin without asking any questions, and the aura on his body retracted; the terrifying pressure weighing down on Dugu Bo instantly dissipated.

Dugu Bo's body felt light, and he staggered to his feet, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, his emerald-green pupils filled with lingering shock and suspicion.

He did not understand why this youth had suddenly stopped—was he playing cat and mouse, intending to toy with him before killing him?

Jiang Lin took two steps forward, hands behind his back, looking at Dugu Bo with a calm gaze, his tone as casual as if they were chatting:

"Poison Douluo, if I am not mistaken, your Jade Phosphor Snake Poison has long since seeped into your bone marrow. Every time it rains, you suffer excruciating pain throughout your body, and your soul power circulation becomes sluggish."

"Over these years, the toxins have been continuously eroding your heart meridians. How many more years do you think you can hold on by using this spring to suppress them?"

Jiang Lin briefly stated his approximate symptoms; there was no help for it, as these were all the redemption codes he could remember, and he couldn't recall any more.

However, with absolute strength on his side, these few redemption codes were enough.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's expression changed instantly.

The backlash of the toxins in his body was his greatest secret; apart from himself, no one else in the world knew of it.

He had even kept it from his granddaughter.

How did this youth see through it?

He looked no older than fifteen or sixteen; how could he see through his true condition at a single glance?

"You..." Dugu Bo's voice was dry and hoarse, "Who exactly are you?"

"Someone who can help you detoxify."

When Jiang Lin said this, his tone was very flat, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter.

Dugu Bo was stunned.

A moment later, he let out a hoarse, cold laugh, the laughter filled with bitterness and disbelief:

"Kid, I have studied this poison for decades and tasted every spiritual medicine in the world, yet I have found no cure. You, a mere child, on what grounds do you claim you can cure me?"

"Believe it or not, it is up to you. In any case, without this precious land, you won't live much longer."

Jiang Lin's tone was very flat, but he was contemplating a more dangerous matter.

Dugu Bo looked at the confident expression of the youth before him, and his once-dead heart began to stir again.

He did not believe that the other party, having two Title Douluo stronger than himself, needed to lie to him.

Moreover, the matter of detoxification was not something one could lie about.

"Then... what do you need me to pay?"

Dugu Bo was sensible and did not say anything foolish like, "You took my precious land, so helping me detoxify is only right."

Opportunities belong to those with the "virtue" to hold them.

Undoubtedly, compared to Dugu Bo, Jiang Lin was the one with the "virtue."

"It is very simple. You must swear by your martial soul to serve me from now on."

"Serve... you?" Dugu Bo's gaze swept over Jiang Lin, then shifted to Tang Yuan and Elder Chen behind him.

Two Title Douluo, one of whom was an unfathomable powerhouse—how could such people be willing to follow behind a Soul Elder youth?

Jiang Lin did not explain.

But he silently sent a telepathic message to Elder Chen and Tang Yuan.

The meaning is simple: this treasure land must not be known to others.

If Dugu Bo is unwilling to pledge his loyalty, then there is only one choice...

Dugu Bo fell into silence.

He lowered his head, looking at the familiar land beneath his feet, and could not help but sigh in his heart.

He had guarded this valley for half his life, and now that it was changing hands, it would be a lie to say he was content.

But he knew even better that in today's situation, the other party had no need to negotiate with him—with two Title Douluo taking action, he didn't even have a chance to fight back.

The fact that they were willing to talk to him and help him detoxify was already giving him plenty of face.

What's more, he could die, but Yan Yan could not.

The Jade Phosphor Snake Poison in that girl had not yet completely eroded her meridians; there was still hope.

As long as Yan Yan could be saved, what did it matter who he sold his old bones to?

"This old man..." Dugu Bo slowly raised his head, a trace of determination flashing through his emerald-green pupils.

He took a deep breath, walked up to Jiang Lin, knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and lowered his head. "Dugu Bo swears by his Martial Soul to serve my lord. Should I break this oath, may my cultivation be lost and my life ended."

This kneeling was far more solemn than the time Tang Yuan had forced him down earlier.

That time he was coerced; this time, it was his own choice.

The pride of a Title Douluo was something he was now willing to set aside before this youth.

Jiang Lin reached out to gesture for him to rise.

"Get up. Since we are on the same side, I will say this first: I don't have many rules for my subordinates, loyalty is enough. Since you are with me, your granddaughter is under my protection, and I will resolve her poison as well."

"Many thanks, my lord."

Dugu Bo stood up, the gloomy look on his face dissipating significantly, replaced by an expression of relief.

The knot that had plagued him for decades finally had a hope of being untied; this transition from despair to rebirth made his entire being feel lighter.

"By the way, just call me Young Master from now on. 'My lord' is too conspicuous for a ten-year-old Soul Elder like me."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo nodded subconsciously, but then immediately caught the key point.

"Wait, Young Master, you are only ten years old?!"

Dugu Bo's face was full of disbelief.

A level 34 Soul Elder at ten years old?

What kind of monstrous cultivation speed is this?

Even Innate Full Soul Power shouldn't be this outrageous, right?

"Alright, the serious business is done, time for the next task."

Jiang Lin rubbed his hands together, his gaze turning toward the Taiji-shaped Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the light in his eyes shining brilliantly.

He had waited for this day for far too long.