The Power of a God

Aizen looked coldly at Dugu Bo and said, "What, is that so strange? The one who cut off her arm was my martial soul. I have a special ability: when my martial soul cuts an opponent, I can learn about their physical condition. Her body is already filled with toxins. Even if I hadn't killed her in the Soul Arena, she wouldn't have had long to live!"

Dugu Bo grew somewhat agitated and tightly grabbed Aizen with both hands.

"Where did the poison in her body come from?"

"Heh." Aizen broke free from Dugu Bo's grasp, glanced at him, and sneered. "Where else could it have come from? Naturally, it was passed on from you."

Dugu Bo was somewhat shocked, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "From me?"

Aizen said calmly, "Don't you know the poison you cultivated yourself? You can barely protect yourself, yet you still want to look after your granddaughter?"

An uncertain light flickered in Dugu Bo's eyes. He had already believed Aizen's words.

His body was in terrible condition. Behind his formidable strength lay unimaginable torment, a torment that had existed ever since he began cultivating.

Dugu Yan, standing to the side, was also too shocked to say anything.

She had been poisoned, yet she had not even known.

If Aizen had not cut off her arm and discovered the poison in her body, she might not have had more than a few years left to live.

If everything Aizen said was true, then not only could she not blame him for cutting off her arm, she should even thank him?

"Can you detoxify us?" Dugu Bo finally gave up resisting and asked.

At that point, Dugu Yan completely believed Aizen's words. Even her grandfather, such a proud man, had acknowledged what Aizen said. There had to be an extremely potent poison in her body.

Dugu Yan no longer looked at Aizen as though she had come to demand an explanation. Her eyes now held a plea, hoping that Aizen could save her, perhaps even her grandfather.

Aizen took in both their reactions and smiled faintly. "I can't, but I know someone who can."

Taking a deep breath, Dugu Bo looked at Aizen in confusion.

"First, let me see how you restore Yan Er's arm."

"Oh, that's simple. Wait for me a moment." Aizen chuckled.

He turned and left the hall for Inoue Orihime's bedroom, leaving Dugu Bo and his granddaughter behind.

"Grandfather!" Dugu Yan looked at Dugu Bo uneasily and called out softly.

"It's fine. Let's first see what he can do. If he can heal your arm, then he may truly have the ability to detoxify us." Dugu Bo gently patted Dugu Yan's back in reassurance.

Very soon, Aizen returned to the hall with a sleepy-eyed girl.

"Big Brother Aizen, I still want to sleep a little longer." Inoue Orihime yawned and pleaded in a soft, drowsy voice.

"If you want to sleep, go back to sleep later. Heal this woman's arm first!" Aizen impatiently pushed Inoue Orihime in front of Dugu Yan. The forceful movement made her chest bounce.

"Sigh..." Seeing Dugu Yan's severed arm, Inoue Orihime could not help softening. She pursed her lips and said, "All right!"

Seeing how carefree Inoue Orihime looked, Dugu Bo found it hard to believe that this girl could heal a severed arm.

He had imagined that the person capable of healing Yan Er's arm would be a powerful expert, an elder, or perhaps even an elite young talent.

He had never expected it to be a girl who looked underage.

When it came to saving someone, Inoue Orihime did not hesitate in the slightest. She tore away the sleeve from Dugu Yan's armless shoulder, released her three soul rings, and used her martial soul—the Six Flowers Shield.

Her second soul ring lit up.

"Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"

Two petals flew from the six-petaled hairpin atop Inoue Orihime's head, spreading an orange-yellow barrier over Dugu Yan's severed arm.

To the astonishment of the grandfather and granddaughter, Dugu Yan's severed arm slowly began growing back!

Before long, Dugu Yan's arm was once again whole and intact, as though it had never been lost.

Even Dugu Bo, who had seen much in his life, stared dumbfounded at such a miraculous sight.

"This is practically the power of a god!"

As he spoke, Dugu Bo swallowed. "If gods truly exist in this world."

Having received Dugu Bo's praise, Inoue Orihime scratched her head somewhat shyly.

"It's really nothing. Just an ordinary healing technique. In some respects, it isn't even as impressive as Big Sister Mao Zhi Hua's."

Dugu Bo's gaze toward Inoue Orihime grew somewhat fervent, especially when she mentioned Mao Zhi Hua. He desperately wanted to meet her.

Perhaps the poison expert was that woman named Mao Zhi Hua!

"Could you please call out this Big Sister Mao Zhi Hua of yours? I have something I wish to ask of her!" Bypassing Aizen, the intermediary, Dugu Bo sincerely sought help from Inoue Orihime.

"Ah, um, Big Sister Mao Zhi Hua isn't home. I think she went out to chop people up." Inoue Orihime smiled apologetically.

"Chop people up?" Dugu Bo recalled what Aizen had said earlier. Someone skilled in healing and combat—could he have meant her?

"Dugu Bo, aren't you overstepping your bounds?" Aizen said coldly.

"My apologies. I was rash!" Coming back to his senses from his shock, Dugu Bo quickly apologized to Aizen.

He now truly believed that Aizen could cure their poison. Just from that restoration technique, he could see how powerful the experts Aizen commanded were.

"Hmph!" Aizen cast Dugu Bo a haughty glance before saying, "Stop thinking about finding that person. She might not be able to cure the poison in you and your granddaughter. The one who can detoxify you is someone else."

"Oh!" Dugu Bo asked urgently, "Who is it?"

"You think I'll tell you?" Aizen said disdainfully.

"Sigh, I beg you to save my granddaughter!" Dugu Bo sighed, setting aside the dignity of a Titled Douluo as he lowered his head and sought Aizen's help.

This was his only granddaughter. He did not want to watch his sole descendant die young like this.

Aizen returned to his seat, crossed one leg over the other, and looked at Dugu Bo. "Detoxifying you isn't a problem. The question is, what will you offer in exchange?"

Dugu Bo paused slightly, knowing that Aizen had agreed. He then said generously, "Please name whatever you desire."

Aizen smiled faintly. "I've heard that Mister Dugu Bo has attained considerable mastery over poison. You must have some rare spiritual flowers and herbs hidden away."

Dugu Bo frowned slightly, giving Aizen a deep look. After closing his eyes and pondering for a moment, he reluctantly said, "That's right. If you are interested, I can take you to see my Medicine Garden."

Aizen nodded. "Fine. If your Medicine Garden satisfies me, I will save you and your granddaughter."

"Thank you, Lord Aizen!" Delight flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes as he expressed his gratitude.

"Time is of the essence. Wait here while I bring the person over, then we'll leave at once. That way, we can determine sooner whether your poison can be cured."

"Of course!" Dugu Bo's brow relaxed. With Aizen's affirmative answer, it seemed his granddaughter's poison finally had hope.

Aizen stood and headed toward the rear courtyard, bringing back Urahara Kisuke, who had been conducting experiments.

"Boss Aizen, you said there were spiritual flowers and herbs for me to research, and that you wanted me to detoxify someone?" Urahara Kisuke was dragged out by Aizen with a baffled expression, still holding a test tube and a titration apparatus.

"That's right. Isn't this what you're best at? This is a perfect chance to study this poison-type martial soul and the medicinal properties of this world's top-grade plants. Don't miss it!" Aizen coaxed and persuaded him all the way until Urahara Kisuke finally became interested.

Dugu Bo looked at the dirty-faced Urahara Kisuke and found it hard to believe.

"This is the person you said could detoxify us?"

Aizen grinned and patted Urahara Kisuke on the back, making Urahara Kisuke stagger and nearly fall to the ground.

"Of course. He's the smartest among us. There's nothing in this world he can't figure out through research!"

Urahara Kisuke smiled foolishly. "Not really, they're just some little inventions."

Even so, Dugu Bo did not dare believe him so easily.

That little girl who had just healed Yan Er's severed arm had said the same thing about herself!