"Dugu Bo!" Yu Yuanzhen recognized the other man at a glance. Surprise colored his voice, along with the complicated emotions of being reunited with an old acquaintance.
The green-haired man turned at the sound of his name. When he saw who had arrived, he paused briefly, then clasped his hands in greeting and spoke in a low, hoarse voice:
"So it's the head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Yu family's patriarch. It's been many years. Your bearing is even more impressive than before."
Dugu Bo. His name carried considerable weight in the Soul Master World.
He was famous for using poison and was neither wholly righteous nor wholly wicked in his dealings. His temperament was solitary and eccentric, but there was no question about his strength.
He and Yu Yuanzhen were about the same age, both renowned geniuses of their generation. Yu Yuanzhen, however, came from a distinguished, orthodox clan, while Dugu Bo was more like a lone wolf who walked his own path.
"You're too kind, Brother Dugu." Yu Yuanzhen returned the greeting. His gaze swept over the dead snake and the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring on the ground, then fell on the young man absorbing the ring. "And this is... your son?"
"Indeed. My son, Dugu Ce." A rare trace of paternal pride crept into Dugu Bo's voice as he spoke of him.
"He's twenty-eight and only recently broke through to Five-Ring Soul King. I brought him to Star Dou Forest to try his luck and find a suitable Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for his fifth Soul Ring. We had good fortune and came across this Jade Phosphorous Serpent. Its age was just right."
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent was a difficult Soul Beast to deal with, possessing potent venom and great speed. The fact that Dugu Bo and his son had hunted one showed that they were indeed formidable.
"A Soul King at twenty-eight—your nephew's talent is exceptional. Brother Dugu, your legacy is in good hands." Yu Yuanzhen offered a polite compliment.
Dugu Bo's lips twitched in reply. His gaze passed over Yu Yuanzhen and settled on Yu Tianlong behind him. It lingered especially on the golden and silver Luo Sanpaos, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"And these two are... younger members of the Yu family?"
"This is my son, Yu Xiaogang, and this is Yu Tianlong." Yu Yuanzhen introduced them briefly, saying nothing about Yu Tianlong's unusual circumstances.
Yu Tianlong stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "This junior, Yu Tianlong, pays his respects to Senior Dugu."
Dugu Bo gave a quiet "Mm." His gaze swept over Yu Tianlong, then shifted to the two Luo Sanpaos. A strange glint crossed his eyes, but he asked no questions.
As far as he could tell, this was probably some branch-family member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan who had awakened a Mutated Martial Soul. Twin Martial Souls were rare, but there was nothing about the Luo Sanpao form... that seemed particularly noteworthy.
Yu Xiaogang, however, stiffened slightly at the name "Dugu Bo."
Though young, he had heard of the fearsome poison master. Now he hardly dared breathe, standing obediently behind the others and wishing he could hide himself away.
After a few pleasantries, silence settled over the group. Yu Tianlong stood to one side, but inside, his thoughts churned.
Dugu Bo! He'd actually run into Dugu Bo here!
What a coincidence. He'd just been wondering how he could get in touch with this old poison master, and now they'd crossed paths.
And judging by Dugu Bo's current state, he probably hadn't yet broken through to Titled Douluo. His presence was imposing, but compared with the steady restraint of Yu Yuanji, who had already become one, he was still a step short.
If I can make a connection with him now, I'll have a way into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well later... Yu Tianlong's thoughts raced. But I can't make it too obvious. I need to find a natural opening...
As the thought crossed his mind, disaster struck!
"Pfft—!"
Dugu Ce, who was absorbing the Soul Ring, suddenly spewed out a mouthful of blood!
Its color was horribly strange—not the ordinary crimson, but a murky blend of green and dark purple. When it hit the ground, it sizzled and ate into the soil, burning a small hole!
"Ce'er!" Dugu Bo cried out in alarm. In a single stride, he reached his son and pressed a palm against his back, pouring in his powerful Soul Power in an attempt to steady the energy raging inside him.
But Dugu Ce's condition didn't improve. It grew worse.
His whole body convulsed violently. Horrifying green patterns rose beneath his skin, writhing like the veins of poisonous snakes. His face shifted rapidly between green and purple; his lips turned black, and even bloody tears seeped from the corners of his eyes.
His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Only a wheezing "khh, khh" escaped his throat, as though someone were strangling him.
"Not good!" Yu Yuanzhen's expression changed.
"There's something wrong with the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Soul Ring he's absorbing! Too much of the snake's poison remains, and its Soul Power is clashing with his Martial Soul! This isn't merely difficulty absorbing it. The poison and Soul Power are turning on him!"
Dugu Bo's face darkened at once. He knew it too, but his Soul Power was only fanning the flames. The poison and the raging energy inside Dugu Ce grew even more violent, and he was on the verge of losing control!
"Ce'er! Hold on! I'll find a way!" Dugu Bo's eyes reddened. His voice was hoarse, and for the first time, the usually cold, composed man looked almost desperately panicked.
Standing some distance away, Yu Tianlong watched, his pupils narrowing.
Jade Phosphorous Serpent... poisonous backlash... failed Soul Ring absorption...
A thought flashed through his mind.
If I help stabilize the situation... could I use that as a natural way to get close to Dugu Bo?
But the problem was that he was only a six-year-old child, a novice Soul Master who had just obtained his First Soul Ring. What right did he have to interfere in a Soul King's Soul Ring absorption crisis? Even if he wanted to help, what could he do?
Unless... Little Silver.
Little Silver could absorb elemental energy. Could poison be classified as a special kind of "element"? If so, perhaps Little Silver could absorb some of the excess poison from Dugu Ce and ease the crisis.
But that idea was too risky. Little Silver might not be able to do it. And even if it could, revealing Little Silver's unusual ability in front of Dugu Bo might invite trouble.
In the brief moment he hesitated, Dugu Ce's condition had already deteriorated to the brink.
His eyes flew open. Blood vessels webbed across their surfaces, and his pupils began to lose focus. His body convulsed as if electrocuted, and more and more blood poured from his mouth, growing darker until it was almost pure black!
"Ce'er!!!" Dugu Bo let out a heartrending roar, his voice filled with despair and madness.
Yu Tianlong took a deep breath and stopped hesitating.
"Senior Dugu! Let me try!"