The next day's treatment was nearing its end.
Murong Ci helped the trembling Dugu Yan to her feet.
Her legs were still shaking, and her hand clung to Murong Ci's shoulder.
Murong Ci casually patted her shoulder.
He looked like he was giving grand advice to a brother he hadn't seen in ages.
"Head back first. You've been here long enough. Go home and take some time to recover. There's only a trace of poison left. Rest for a few days, and come back if you're still not better."
Dugu Yan lowered her head slightly, clutching the hem of her clothes. She seemed a little upset.
"Oh."
She walked away with her head down, never looking back at him.
Step by step, her little white shoes peeked out from beneath her skirt as she slowly walked off.
Mud clung to the shoes.
Murong Ci sighed softly and turned to look toward the cliff's summit.
A dark green figure silently landed beside the spring at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Murong Ci, his expression unreadable.
"Senior Dugu, Dugu Yan's poison is no longer a concern. She'll recover after a few days of rest, so you can put your mind at ease."
Dugu Bo raised a palm, signaling him to stop.
"Kid, you took so many Immortal Herbs from me, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet."
Murong Ci froze for a moment, seeming unsure what he meant.
"What do you mean? Didn't you say I could take whatever I wanted?"
Dugu Bo threw his head back and laughed. His laughter held a note of mockery and something else, hard to pin down.
"I did say you could take whatever you wanted, but there'd be a price. You cured my granddaughter, so I won't hold it against you. But you must have heard the saying, 'Fortune doesn't fall from the sky.'"
By now, Murong Ci was no longer acting reserved.
He finally understood the deeper meaning behind Dugu Bo's words.
"Oh? Senior wants to test what I can do?"
Dugu Bo's smile widened as he shot Murong Ci a sideways glance.
"Clever. Very clever. Just how old are you, kid?"
Murong Ci thought it over.
"Almost thirteen, I guess. Not quite there yet."
Dugu Bo drew in a sharp breath.
If only this kid could become his granddaughter's husband...
Dugu Bo cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"Back to business. Your talent is unprecedented, and there may never be anyone who comes after you, either."
"But since you took my Immortal Herbs, I can't just give them to you for nothing. I'll give you three trials. If you pass, I'll let you do as you please. If you fail, well..."
There was no need to guess what failure meant. He'd be dead.
Not bad. This is a good chance to test your current strength. I won't step in.
Murong Ci put one hand in his pocket and raised the other, beckoning Dugu Bo over.
"Good lad! In all my years, no one has ever dared to provoke me like this. You're the first!"
With that, Dugu Bo struck out with one palm. The air boomed, and poison seeped into its wake.
Murong Ci noticed, however, that he'd held back.
Dugu Bo was clearly afraid of killing him with a single blow and spoiling the fun.
Murong Ci dodged to the side. A cold gleam enveloped his other hand as ice-blue Soul Power gathered around it, frosting his palm.
He struck at Dugu Bo's forearm!
A Soul Elder facing a Titled Douluo couldn't afford to hold back. He had to give it everything.
Dugu Bo took the blow on his arm and let out a surprised "Hm?"
Normally, even with an elemental advantage, a Soul Elder shouldn't be able to make a Titled Douluo feel pain.
Yet Dugu Bo's forearm trembled slightly, numb and tingling.
"Interesting."
Dugu Bo thought to himself.
This Little Monster really couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.
"You really are a monster, kid. Impressive. Your talent is even beyond my expectations. Now, I'm going to get serious!"
As Dugu Bo spoke, he extended his right palm. A layer of pale green light covered it.
"My second strike will carry the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison. It's the poison at the very core of my being. Brace yourself!"
He's really forcing you into a dead end. Give it everything you've got.
Murong Ci immediately stopped hesitating. The Second Soul Ring on his body flashed.
He unleashed the Ice Scorpion Pincer at full power, holding nothing back.
But it wasn't enough. A Titled Douluo's full-powered strike, enhanced by a Soul Skill, wasn't something he could easily withstand.
Water nourished wood.
This was the first time Murong Ci had thought of combining wood and ice.
The five elements supported one another. If he used the Ice Scorpion Pincer—a Soul Skill that was essentially water-attribute—as a catalyst,
then triggered Hundred Years in an Instant, imbued with Ultimate Wood, its power might be far greater!
Good idea. The truth comes out in practice.
The system's encouragement made Murong Ci even more confident.
Then let's do it!
Murong Ci gathered all his Soul Power once more into his right hand, where the Ice Scorpion Pincer was unleashed.
In an instant, the ice scorpion claw that had formed around his right arm glowed a deep green.
Hundred Years in an Instant activated!
And this was a fusion Soul Skill brought forth by the five elements.
Its power spoke for itself!
Dugu Bo was visibly taken aback. He'd never imagined a Soul Master could unleash a "stacked Soul Skill"!
His attention wavered for a split second, and he too fell into the illusion of Hundred Years in an Instant.
Of course, the "stacked Soul Skill" Murong Ci had unleashed with all his Soul Power was indeed powerful, but it consumed a tremendous amount of Soul Power, too.
And his opponent was a Titled Douluo.
The difference in their total Soul Power was enormous.
Hundred Years in an Instant lasted barely a second before it wore off.
Murong Ci crashed heavily to the ground, dropping to one knee and spitting out a mouthful of blood. His face was pale.
But a smile spread across his face.
His strength had risen to a whole new level.
He was even more confident about facing the Five Elements Academies' exchange tournament a month from now!
He was sure he could win the championship and bring glory to Huo Wu and the academy!
Dugu Bo had also recovered from the effects of Hundred Years in an Instant.
His eyes were wide with shock.
Had Murong Ci actually injured him?!
A Titled Douluo injured by a Soul Elder would be a laughingstock.
But Dugu Bo didn't care. His reputation on the mainland was already less than stellar.
Now that he'd made a friend of such a genius, his excitement outweighed everything else.
"You... really are a Little Monster. You've shocked me even more than the Golden Sacred Dragon those three brought out last night."
Murong Ci froze.
The Golden Sacred Dragon? Wasn't that the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of that useless Gangzi?
"You fought the Golden Iron Triangle?"
Murong Ci asked in surprise, his eyes full of confusion. By all rights, he should have prevented Tang San and Dugu Bo from meeting.
Those three shouldn't have fought Dugu Bo at all.
"They had a disciple named Tang San. His talent was pretty good, but nowhere near yours. Still, that kid dared to call my poison garbage. Unforgivable."
Murong Ci gave a slight nod. It seemed he'd successfully prevented Tang San and Dugu Bo from working together, and had even worsened their relationship without realizing it.
"Let him go. He's got a poisonous tongue and too much pride, but he's not a bad person. No need to invite trouble later."
"Oh? You know him?"
Murong Ci finally managed to stand, trembling, his steps unsteady.
"I don't know him. I've heard of him."
"I can let him go. But, Little Monster, haven't you forgotten something?"
Dugu Bo stood up as well, having recovered his composure. Murong Ci looked far worse off than he did.
"I said there'd be three trials. That was only the second."