Sea Witch disappeared from sight.
Dugu Bo sighed deeply. "Sigh... It really is a turbulent time. What have I done to deserve this?"
"She beat the hell out of me as soon as she showed up."
"I hope that young master she mentioned is someone reasonable."
Someone a Titled Douluo addressed as "young master"!
There probably weren't many forces on the whole continent capable of commanding such respect.
At the very least, neither the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect nor the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could.
Could that young master be from Spirit Hall?
At the thought, a flicker of apprehension crossed Dugu Bo's eyes.
His relationship with Spirit Hall had never been good. If the other party really was from Spirit Hall, he was in for trouble.
Just then, two figures, one large and one small, approached from the distance.
Dugu Bo's eyes widened as he stared in utter astonishment at the tender-looking figure beside Sea Witch.
He really was a "little" young master?
Dugu Bo had thought it was merely an honorific. He hadn't expected the boy to actually be so young!
Still, with that blue hair and those blue eyes, he probably had nothing to do with Spirit Hall, right?
After all, everyone in the Qian Family of Spirit Hall was blond.
Just as Dugu Bo was growing uneasy, Poseinan walked up to him and declared imperiously, "You're Dugu Bo, right? I'm Poseinan. From now on, this Medicine Garden is mine!"
"Why should I?"
The words burst from Dugu Bo almost reflexively, and a surge of humiliation and anger welled up inside him.
He had poured his heart and soul into tending this Medicine Garden for decades.
It was his only hope of suppressing his own deadly poison and finding a way to survive!
And you think you can just take it with a single sentence?
"Why should you?"
"Because your whole family's lives are in my hands now. Because I can kill you with a single word. Because I have a level-99 Peerless Douluo standing behind me as my protector!"
"Is that enough?"
It was. More than enough!
Every word Poseinan spoke struck home, each one heavier than the last.
The Soul Master World had always been ruled by the law of the jungle.
Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and looked at the blue-haired, youthful-looking boy before him. His eyes were clear and confident, and he wasn't the least bit afraid to meet Dugu Bo's gaze. For a moment, Dugu Bo felt dazed.
What kind of parents, what kind of family, what kind of environment...
Could raise a child like this, only six or seven years old,
who dared to stand before a renowned Soul Douluo and, with such calm yet domineering confidence, announce that he was taking the very thing the man regarded as the foundation of his life?
Poseinan stared straight at him. "Have you made up your mind? Will you make an enemy of me, or hand over the Medicine Garden like a good little boy?"
Dugu Bo's old body seemed to lose all its vigor in an instant. His voice turned hoarse.
"I... I'll hand it over. I'll hand it over!"
Sea Witch chuckled and patted him on the shoulder in consolation. "Sir, wouldn't it have been easier to do that from the start?"
"My young master is doing this for your own good. Think about it: how could an 89th-level Soul Douluo like you guard a treasure land like this?"
"Now hurry up and thank the young master!"
On the way here, she'd heard her young master explain just how incredible this place was.
Immortal Herbs!
She'd never imagined that something as legendary as these things, said to be capable of defying fate and changing one's destiny, actually existed!
At this, Dugu Bo felt like crying. He forced a bitter smile and clasped his hands in a bow. "Yes. Thank you, young master, for considering this old man's welfare!"
Damn it, what kind of person would do something like this?
You steal my Medicine Garden and then expect me to thank you?
You monster!
If my granddaughter's life and mine weren't in your hands...
Wait, granddaughter?
Looking at Poseinan's youthful face, Dugu Bo's eyes suddenly lit up. He looks about six or seven. My Yan Yan is just about that age too. Should I try to bring them together?
No, that wouldn't do!
The power behind Poseinan was clearly unfathomable, and he'd said himself that a level-99 Peerless Douluo stood behind him.
Though Dugu Bo didn't know if it was true,
he had heard plenty about how powerful a level-99 Peerless Douluo was.
Tang Chen, once the strongest person in the Soul Master World, had been a level-99 Peerless Douluo, hailed as invincible on land!
Could someone like that really be a lofty branch Dugu Bo could climb?
Better not. He might bring disaster down on himself and drag Yan Yan into it too.
Dugu Bo shook his head bitterly, casting aside the impractical thought.
Meanwhile,
Poseinan had already started picking the Immortal Herbs. Back in the Divine Realm, he'd made a point of studying the various medicinal tomes in the Goddess of Life's home.
He was already well acquainted with all sorts of Immortal Herbs.
"The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. It makes the body impervious to blades, strengthens the limbs, and is best suited for building a solid physical foundation. But its properties don't suit me, so I'll leave it for Sea Dragon Douluo."
"The Water Immortal Jade Bone. It nourishes the sinews and bones, preserves beauty, and replenishes vitality. It's just right for Sister Hai."
He carefully plucked the herb, its whole body as white as snow and shining with the cool brilliance of moonlight, then handed it to Sea Witch, who was watching with curiosity.
"Hehe! Little Nan Nan, I knew you cared about us most!"
Sea Witch took the Water Immortal Jade Bone and, deeply moved, wrapped Poseinan in a hug. She planted a loud kiss on his cheek, leaving a faint, damp lip mark.
And who was the Sea God, again?
Never heard of him.
Let's not keep in touch from now on!
"As for the rest... Let me think. Never mind, I'll just pack them all up and take them with me."
In just five minutes, Poseinan had divided up every Immortal Herb in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo's heart bled as he watched from afar.
Unfortunately, he didn't dare say a word.
He was afraid he'd get beaten up again.
Just then, Poseinan walked over and handed him a spirit herb. "Hey, Old Monster. Take this and consume it."
"Eh? Me? I get one too?"
Dugu Bo pointed at himself, unable to believe it.
They'd just been fighting tooth and nail moments ago.
And Poseinan was already letting bygones be bygones?
Could there be a trick to this?
Seeing him hesitate, Poseinan could tell what he was thinking. "Hmph. Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not giving you this spirit herb for nothing."
Dugu Bo's heart sank. "I knew it. There's no such thing as a free lunch."
"I want you to guard this Medicine Garden for me from now on!"
Dugu Bo blinked. "That's all?"
"What else?" Poseinan shot him a look.
The Ten Thousand Year Spirit Grass was of little use to Poseinan, but for Dugu Bo, who was stuck at level 89, it was like timely help in a snowstorm.
It was enough to let him break through to Titled Douluo.
Besides, Poseinan would definitely be returning to Sea God Island later, so there was no way he could keep an eye on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Using a spirit herb that wasn't especially important to buy Dugu Bo's help guarding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a great deal.
Besides, after taking so many of the man's herbs, if Poseinan didn't leave him even one,
wouldn't that make him just like Tang San?
"Rest assured, young master. I absolutely won't let anyone trespass on this Medicine Garden!"
Dugu Bo took the spirit herb and promised solemnly.
Only moments ago, he'd feared Poseinan would drive him out of the Medicine Garden and never let him return.
If that happened, Dugu Bo would be as good as dead.
Without the Medicine Garden to suppress his poison, he wouldn't be able to control it when it flared up.
Now, hearing that he didn't have to leave and could stay to guard the garden, he felt as if he'd found a new village after passing through dark willows and bright flowers!
It did hurt a little to see so many herbs taken from him.
But it was only a little hurt.
After all, Dugu Bo didn't know what specific effects those herbs had.
Poseinan waved a hand. "All right. If there's nothing else, you can go absorb your herb too. This one can help you break through to level 90."
"Really?"
Dugu Bo's breathing instantly quickened.
He'd been stuck at level 89 for many years.
Now that he'd learned he could break through simply by consuming this spirit herb, how could he not be excited?
"Of course. Do you think I'd lie to you?"
Dugu Bo could barely hide his excitement. He clasped his hands. "Yes. Thank you, young master!"
Then he went off to a spot nearby and began absorbing the herb, just as Sea Witch had.
After Poseinan had packed up all the Immortal Herbs, he turned his gaze to the two Immortal Herbs entwined with ice and fire at the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Come on, let's see just what potential the fusion of ice and fire can unleash!"