The Method of Detoxification

"Ding, the host has been detected arriving at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and has encountered Dugu Bo!"

"Activating system mission: Detoxification."

"Help Dugu Bo resolve the toxic defect of his martial soul. Mission reward: Master Alchemist title."

"Master Alchemist: Proficient in alchemy and herbal identification."

Qian Yufeng had not expected the condition for triggering Dugu Bo's system mission to be meeting him at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

This mission was not particularly difficult; at this moment, Dugu Bo's poisoning was not yet deep. Compared to the state he was in when he first met Tang San in the original work, he was in much better shape.

After the Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul evolved, the poison it produced affected both the spirit master themselves and those in long-term contact with them.

This was because the spirit master's own body could not provide a space to contain the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison.

It was similar to the Woe Poison Body of the Little Medical Fairy in Battle Through the Heavens; once a special space was opened up, the Woe Poison Body not only ceased to be a problem but allowed for even more stable cultivation.

If Dugu Bo could solve this issue, reaching level ninety-five should be no problem. As for going any higher, that would depend on his own fortune.

Qian Yufeng looked at Dugu Bo and said, "The two types of poison here are temporarily neutralizing the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison in your body. You only just broke through, so you can use this place to suppress it for now, but after a long time—ten or twenty years—it will likely become very difficult."

Dugu Bo's father, Dugu Qingtian, had been even more talented than Dugu Bo, but unfortunately, he lacked a bit of luck; otherwise, he surely would have found a way to resolve the martial soul backlash.

"Senior, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison is produced every day. If I deliberately suppress it, it backlashes against me; if I don't control it, the poison affects others."

"Staying here at least gives me time to focus on research. Whether it takes ten years or twenty, I will definitely find a way to solve this problem."

Dugu Bo spoke, having already steeled himself for the task.

Qian Yufeng already had a plan for the herbs near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and he prepared to leave for a while to turn up the intensity for Dugu Bo.

In terms of theoretical knowledge, after so many years of campaigning and research, Qian Yufeng could be considered a master-level figure.

He knew what was recorded in the Spirit Hall archives, and he knew what was not.

Qian Lingxin and Qian Lingsu were the practitioners of his martial soul theories.

They appeared very young, looking to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but in reality, they were already nearly fifty years old.

As for Shui Ya, she was a monster among monsters.

Reaching Spirit Douluo at twenty-eight was simply an anomaly.

Her spirit power growth rate in the Mimicry Training Ground was extremely fast, incomparable to others; describing her as a human-shaped cultivation cheat would not be an exaggeration.

Compared to the "Gangzi" from the original work, Qian Yufeng did not know how many times he had surpassed him.

Qian Yufeng said again, "This is not a suitable place for conversation. Let's go to your residence to talk, and I can share my views on your current martial soul situation."

Dugu Bo felt a surge of joy. This senior could be called a living fossil of the current spirit master world; perhaps he really could find a direction for research.

"Very well, Senior, please follow me."

With that, he led the three of them away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Ten minutes later, the group sat down in front of Dugu Bo's wooden house.

Dugu Bo looked at Qian Yufeng and spoke first: "Senior, what are your thoughts on the current state of my martial soul?"

Qian Yufeng pondered for a moment before saying, "Your martial soul releasing poison can be considered an innate martial soul talent. In battle, it will act as a surprise element against enemies, but the flaw is that it cannot be controlled."

"If you compare it to a water source, then your body is the container for that source."

"Once the capacity reaches its limit, problems arise and the water overflows. This is the reason for the faint, fishy scent you carry."

After finishing, he looked at Dugu Bo, who nodded repeatedly, clearly agreeing with this assessment.

"Senior, then how should I solve this problem?" Dugu Bo asked again.

He could not cut off the source, as it would cause a violent backlash against himself.

But was there any way to upgrade the container so that his martial soul's poison could be controlled?

Qian Yufeng smiled slightly and said, "Actually, there is a way to upgrade the container, but it depends quite a bit on luck."

"A spirit master's own physique strengthens with cultivation, but compared to spirit beasts, it is still lacking. For example, spirit beasts over fifty thousand years old have very strong immunity to various types of poison."

"Therefore, absorbing spirit bones is a good way to increase one's physical strength, but the drop rate for spirit bones is very low."

"Your poison can be considered a special type of spirit power. If it could be stored within a spirit bone, wouldn't that solve the problem?"

"This method is similar to some tool-type spirit masters who absorb spirit rings from poisonous spirit beasts, causing their martial soul to gain the toxic characteristics of that beast."

These words made Dugu Bo's eyes light up. Spirit bones were very special existences; perhaps this really could work.

He said excitedly, "Senior, that is a great method! It might actually work!"

Qian Yufeng signaled for him not to get too excited, then continued, "However, the choice of spirit bone cannot be careless. The skull and torso bones are not only rare and hard to obtain, but they are also unsuitable as storage sites."

After all, the head and torso were critical parts of the human body. If the poison gas could not be controlled and entered the brain or the internal organs, even if a Nine Heart Begonia spirit master were present, they would not be able to save him.

"I think limb spirit bones are more appropriate, and they can also play a key role in battle."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo thought it over and felt that what he said was very correct.

Limb spirit bones were the best choice. If a problem occurred, one could simply sever the limb to survive; losing twenty levels of spirit power was better than losing one's life.

Qian Lingsu and Qian Lingxin maintained their indifferent expressions, though in their hearts, they were also considering whether Qian Yufeng's idea was feasible.

The abilities of spirit bones were miraculous, and each of them possessed one, dropped by spirit beasts when they obtained their eighth and ninth spirit rings.

As his spirit power entered the spirit bone, it felt as if it had fallen into a bottomless pit, not even causing a single ripple.

Since things had reached this point, Dugu Bo knew what he had to do.

"Senior, I shall go and search for a spirit bone immediately. The Heaven Dou Auction House holds a spirit bone auction every week; I can certainly manage to secure a thousand-year spirit bone."

After speaking, he stood up and bowed to Qian Yufeng.

Today's guidance was akin to a rebirth, a kindness that he, Dugu Bo, would forever keep in his heart.

Qian Yufeng accepted the gesture graciously, preparing to give Dugu Bo a small gift as well—a token for a junior.

"Do not be in such a rush. This was left behind after I killed a fallen spirit master years ago; perhaps it will be of some help to you."

He then retrieved a lead-lined iron box from his storage spirit tool and placed it on the table before him.

Once Qian Yufeng opened it, Dugu Bo stared at the contents of the box in astonishment.

"Senior, this spirit bone... why does it look so familiar?"

"That is correct. This is the spirit bone dropped by a ten-thousand-year Jade Phosphor Snake, specifically a left arm bone."

"This is too precious! Please forgive this junior, but I cannot accept it!"

Dugu Bo understood the rarity of spirit bones, but he also held onto his own principles.

Furthermore, he already owed a great debt of gratitude; accepting a spirit bone would be crossing the line.

"I had intended to give this spirit bone to your father personally, but alas, I never got to see him one last time."

"You are the child of an old friend, so accept it with peace of mind. I have only one request: do not show mercy when facing fallen spirit masters."

Qian Yufeng spoke; with a condition attached, it could no longer be considered a gift given for nothing.

Seeing how insistent he was, Dugu Bo accepted it. "Senior, I swear here and now: whenever I encounter a fallen spirit master, I shall show no mercy, taking the preservation of the continent's stability as my own duty!"