His breathing grew heavy and rapid, each breath sending scorching air streaming from his nostrils, accompanied by stifled grunts.
His sweat evaporated the moment it seeped out, leaving a thin crust of salt that coated his ashen skin in white.
Dai Mobai slowly drew in a breath of slightly searing air. After a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth and guided the blood-red flames over the first section of pitch-black bone.
The instant the flames touched the bone, the poison seemed to awaken, writhing, churning, and struggling wildly.
Dark green poisonous mist rose from the bone's surface, sizzling beneath the blood-red flames as it turned into wisps of acrid smoke.
The poisonous mist tried to escape and spread outward, but the ring of blood-red flames held it fast, leaving it no choice but to be refined away bit by bit by the intense heat.
"Aah-!"
On the jade cushion, Dugu Bo's tightly shut eyes suddenly flew open.
A hoarse roar of agony burst from his mouth. It sounded less like a human scream than the mournful howl of a beast.
Low and raspy, it carried a heart-rending despair.
His eyes were bloodshot, his jade-green pupils narrowed to thin slits. He looked like a trapped beast driven into a corner.
His mouth gaped wide, his teeth coated in blood from his bitten lips. The excruciating pain had slightly dislocated his jaw, and his tongue protruded uncontrollably.
"Can you still bear it?"
Dai Mobai asked, but he did not lower the temperature of the flames in his hand despite Dugu Bo's screams.
"Just do it!"
Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down Dugu Bo's face.
His body shook violently, his clenched teeth chattered, and the rusty taste of blood filled his mouth.
Yet he gritted his teeth and forced a