Red Flame Nine-Headed Cypress

Qian Xunji turned around slowly.

"Poison Douluo, what a grand display of power."

BOOM—

Without any warning, Qian Xunji stomped his foot, and nine soul rings instantly surged up from beneath him!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black... and finally, a terrifying, scarlet hundred-thousand-year soul ring!

The horrific pressure of a level 95 Super Douluo, combined with the absolute suppression of the Six-Winged Angel's supreme holy aura, crashed down upon Dugu Bo like the weight of Haotian Mountain.

Dugu Bo's originally arrogant aura was instantly extinguished. He let out a muffled groan as the phantom of the Red Phosphorus Snake Emperor behind him trembled violently. He was forced back to the ground from mid-air by this sheer pressure, his legs buckling until he was nearly kneeling.

"Six-Winged Angel! A... Super Douluo?" Dugu Bo stared at the man in horror. Hadn't the Angel Sect sealed itself off? Could this person be...

Qian Xunji withdrew his pressure and said indifferently, "I have come here only to seek medicine. Of course, in exchange, I can help you resolve the backlash of the fire poison from the Red Phosphorus Snake Emperor within you."

Dugu Bo shuddered, his eyes locked onto Qian Xunji.

"You...! How do you know I am poisoned?"

"Your fire poison has already seeped into your bone marrow. Every time it rains, you feel as if your body is being burned by a raging fire, an agony worse than death, right?" Qian Xunji stood with his hands behind his back, his tone certain.

"Your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, must have inherited this tyrannical fire poison as well. If you do not want her to die young, you had better put away your ridiculous pride."

The combination of martial force and a strike at his weakness left Dugu Bo completely deflated. He was a smart man; he knew that in the face of absolute strength, resistance was a dead end. Moreover, the bait the other party had thrown out was a chronic illness he had dreamed of curing his entire life.

"Fine! As long as you can cure the poison in my granddaughter and me, you may take whatever you wish from this entire garden of immortal herbs!" Dugu Bo gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and added, "I will also be at your beck and call."

Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction. He walked to the side of the Light and Dark Yin-Yang Eye spring and scanned the various immortal herbs, quickly locking his gaze onto two plants.

One grew on the edge of the dark spring but was bright all over, resembling a miniature sun; it was called the Octagonal Sun Grass.

The other grew on the edge of the light spring, pitch-black as ink; it was called the Dark Nether Apricot.

Qian Xunji wrapped his hands in soul power and carefully plucked both immortal herbs at once. The moment their auras intersected and their toxicity neutralized, he shoved both herbs into his mouth without hesitation and swallowed them whole.

"Splash!"

The moment he swallowed the herbs, Qian Xunji leaped directly into the center of the Light and Dark Yin-Yang Eye.

Dugu Bo watched from the shore, his scalp tingling. This man actually jumped straight in? He was a complete madman!

However, only half a day passed.

"BOOM!"

A brilliant golden light, mixed with the violent energy of the Light and Dark Yin-Yang, erupted from the spring!

Qian Xunji emerged from the water, his upper body bare. The tempering of the light and dark elements, combined with the immense medicinal power of the herbs, allowed his cultivation to break through the level 96 bottleneck without any obstruction!

Feeling the power within him so full it was nearly overflowing, Qian Xunji clenched his fists. He was confident that he would soon be able to break through to level 97!

"Congratulations on your great advancement in cultivation." Dugu Bo watched from the side, his heart pounding, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful.

Qian Xunji turned his head, took a brand-new robe from his storage ring, and draped it over himself. He walked to an immortal herb that was burning with crimson flames, plucked it, and tossed it to Dugu Bo.

"This herb is called the Red Flame Nine-Headed Cypress, a top-tier immortal herb of extreme Yang and fire. If you consume it, not only will it neutralize the fire poison in your body, but it will also cause your martial soul to undergo a complete transformation."

Dugu Bo took the herb with trembling hands, his eyes filled with excitement. However, he hesitated for a moment and said, "Senior, such an immortal herb is so precious, I think... I should save it for my granddaughter, Yan-yan."

"Put away that doting attitude." Qian Xunji sneered.

"There are gentler immortal herbs more suitable for your granddaughter. This Red Flame Nine-Headed Cypress is too tyrannical; if she eats it, she will only explode and die. You must consume it first to increase your strength; only then will you be qualified to protect her."

Dugu Bo suddenly realized his mistake. No longer acting coy, he sat cross-legged and swallowed the Red Flame Nine-Headed Cypress.

Two days later.

The Red Phosphorus Snake Emperor phantom behind Dugu Bo underwent a frantic transformation amidst the flames. The originally fine, crimson scales turned into dark red, hardened armor. Its body grew even more massive, and the sinister fire poison aura vanished completely, replaced by a majestic, tyrannical, and purely masculine flame!

Martial Soul Evolution—Red Heaven Python Emperor!

Not only that, but under the accumulation of the herb's massive medicinal power, Dugu Bo's stagnant soul power finally broke through, soaring directly from level 91 to level 93!

"Thank you, Senior, for your grace in remaking me!" Dugu Bo was moved to tears. He slammed one knee onto the ground and bowed his head deeply.

"Not only did you cure the backlash of the poison in my body, but you also bestowed upon me such a heaven-defying opportunity! From this day forward, I am willing to offer this herb garden of the Light and Dark Yin-Yang Eye to you, and I will follow your every command!"

Qian Xunji looked at this straightforward and loyal old poison master, smiled faintly, and waved a gentle stream of soul power to lift him up.

"You are a man of true character. I will only take a few useful herbs from this garden for now; the rest will remain here to grow. In the future, I will trouble the Poison Douluo to continue looking after this treasure land for me."

"Rest assured, Senior! As long as I, Dugu Bo, have a breath left, not even a fly will be able to step half a foot into this herb garden in the Falling Moon Forest!" Dugu Bo cupped his hands and swore solemnly.

Qian Xunji nodded slightly, then suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat casual.

"There is one more thing. I am going into seclusion to consolidate my realm, but my son is currently in his golden period of cultivation. If he needs to hunt for soul rings in the future..."

Before Qian Xunji could finish, Dugu Bo immediately understood and replied decisively, "Senior, please go into seclusion! Your son's affairs are my own! No matter what soul beast he sets his sights on, I will do my utmost to ensure his safety!"

"Very good. It is always easy to talk to a smart man." Qian Xunji smiled with satisfaction. He flipped his wrist and handed over a piece of animal hide filled with soul beast types and ages, along with a golden feather that emitted a faint glow.

"This is the soul ring route I have planned for him. When he needs soul rings, he will contact you through this feather. Since you are free, you can go and scout the locations for him first."

At this point, Qian Xunji's gaze turned cold, and his level 96 soul power pressed directly onto Dugu Bo's shoulders.

"I will say this first: when I emerge from seclusion, I will personally help your granddaughter completely eradicate her fire poison. However... my son is accompanied by a non-human companion with a special identity. I hope the Poison Douluo knows what is important, keeps his eyes to himself, and controls his greed. Otherwise... do not blame me for being heartless!"