The Two Poles Eye of the Upside-Down World! The Jade Phosphor Serpent's Innate Martial Soul Defect?!

"Oh? What method do you have? Let's hear it."

"You have been poisoned for a long time, and the toxins have already permeated your entire body. Dugu Yan is different, however, so I intend to first use medicine to regulate her condition."

Lan Yu's tone was steady as he composed himself.

"Beyond that, I need you to prepare a spirit bone. The primary requirement is that it must have a poison attribute, and the higher the age, the better."

"You intend to force the toxins into the spirit bone?" Dugu Bo's brows arched as he realized the implication instantly.

"Exactly."

"Will an ordinary spirit bone not suffice?"

"It will not."

Lan Yu shook his head, his tone solemn. "I choose a poison-attribute spirit bone because it allows the sealed toxins to be converted into spirit skills via spirit power and released. If you only store them without releasing them, even the strongest spirit bone has a capacity limit and will eventually burst."

"As for the high age requirement, that is to extend the storage cycle so you don't have to release the toxins every time a little bit accumulates, which would be troublesome."

Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

As a Title Douluo, he naturally understood this logic.

Although spirit bones were known in the spirit master world as "Blood River Treasures" that most people would never see in a lifetime, he was a dignified Title Douluo. While high-age poison-attribute bones were hard to come by, obtaining a few lower-age ones was no problem at all.

In any case, as Lan Yu had said, the age only affected the storage cycle; he could simply absorb a few more, and the effect would be much the same.

Seeing him agree, Lan Yu turned his gaze back to the black-and-white Yin Yang Spring before them.

Although it was worlds apart from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the original story, the way the black and white springs generated cold and heat in tandem, along with the strange immortal herbs growing along the banks, still made his heart race.

In the original story, Tang Shan had consumed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, then used her own blood as a catalyst to allow Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan to successfully purge the toxins from their bodies into a spirit bone.

After all, their bodies had been eroded by the toxins of their martial souls for years and had long since adapted; if they were to purge the toxins blindly, it would inevitably cause secondary damage to their systems.

Now that those two top-tier immortal herbs had changed their appearance, he didn't know how effective they would be. He would have to work with Xiao Shan to pair them with other mild medicinal herbs and proceed slowly.

"Little friend, don't stand by the spring for too long. Be careful that this black and white spring doesn't disturb your mind!"

Seeing him standing by the spring in a daze for a long time, Dugu Bo stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and offered a reminder.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior."

"What's with this 'Senior' nonsense?"

Dugu Bo waved his hand dismissively and gave Lan Yu's shoulder a firm pat, his tone laced with teasing. "You're younger than Yanyan; why not just call me Grandfather?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu couldn't help but curse inwardly: Well played, Dugu Bo. I'm here to treat your illness, and you're trying to take advantage of me?!

Seeing his expression, Dugu Bo felt no shame at all; instead, he became even more enthusiastic. "Are you really not considering becoming my grandson-in-law? My granddaughter Yanyan has fair skin, beauty, long legs, a kind heart, and great talent!"

Lan Yu was caught off guard and choked, coughing twice before straightening his expression. "Senior Dugu, the age gap between Senior Dugu Yan and me is too large; it wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, I have no such plans at the moment."

"What does a few years matter? 'A woman three years older is like holding a golden brick.' Yanyan is only seven years older than you; older women know how to cherish people."

Dugu Bo blustered, then suddenly shifted his gaze to Tang Shan, who was standing nearby. "And you say you have no ideas? You were holding your little girlfriend so tightly just a moment ago."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Tang Shan, who had been glaring indignantly at Dugu Bo, turned bright red. She lowered her head and clutched her hem, unable to say a word for a long time.

"Oh, I see. Is it your little girlfriend here holding you back? That won't do. Look at any powerhouse—which one of them doesn't have multiple wives and concubines?" Dugu Bo felt he had hit on the crux of the matter and quickly advised Lan Yu with the tone of an experienced man.

"Look at that old fellow Ning Rongxin. He's merely a Spirit Douluo, yet he has two Title Douluos by his side. You, kid, should learn a thing or two."

Seeing him becoming increasingly outrageous, Lan Yu quickly interrupted. "Enough, Old Poison. Where are you drifting off to? Aren't we here to cure your poison?"

"Old Poison?! That's a good name! This old man likes it. From now on, you call me Old Poison, and I'll call you Little Monster. How about that?"

Dugu Bo threw his head back and laughed. This was the feeling—none of that "Senior" formality, which was far too stifling. "Old Poison" felt much more satisfying.

"Old Poison, I would like to pick a few of the immortal herbs growing by the spring. Is that permissible?"

Lan Yu scanned the herbs he recognized and turned to look at Dugu Bo.

"What's there to forbid!"

Dugu Bo waved his hand, completely unconcerned. "As long as you can help me and Yanyan resolve this damned snake venom, never mind a few immortal herbs—even if you wanted this entire medicinal garden, it wouldn't be a big deal."

In Dugu Bo's eyes, sitting on a mountain of treasure without knowing how to use it was no different from squandering heaven's gifts.

Since Dugu Bo had said as much, Lan Yu was not one to take things for granted. He turned toward a deep purple medicinal ganoderma with nine golden veins on its cap, knelt down, and plucked it gently.

The moment he picked it, a crisp, medicinal fragrance wafted over, refreshing his spirit.

"Old Poison, this Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma might be able to resolve the snake venom that has plagued you for so long." Lan Yu stood up and said with a faint smile.

"Really?!" Dugu Bo was both surprised and delighted. He stepped forward quickly, took the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma from Lan Yu's hand, and examined it carefully.

"Truly."

Lan Yu explained patiently, "The medicinal properties of the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma are balanced and neutral. It is best at strengthening the foundation and replenishing innate deficiencies. It is especially effective for spirit masters whose martial souls are flawed or who have low innate soul power."

"The reason the toxins of your Jade Phosphorous Serpent martial soul backfire on you is, at its core, a congenital defect in the martial soul itself."

Dugu Bo, who had been holding the medicinal fungus and examining it closely, stiffened abruptly at these words, a flicker of imperceptible embarrassment crossing his face.

In the original work, Yu Xiaogang, who had broken through to level 29 before the age of fifty, was carried all the way up by the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, even touching the threshold of a Title Douluo after Tang Shan ascended to the God Realm.

"Old Poison, let me give you a heads-up: the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma has a more pronounced effect on soul masters with weaker constitutions and more stubborn bottlenecks; it can even trigger a Martial Soul Evolution.

Conversely, for high-level soul masters with a solid foundation, its utility is limited."

Dugu Bo was taken aback. The joy on his face faded, replaced by a trace of regret, before he let out a resigned, bitter laugh. "Forget it, then. I'll leave it for Yanyan to defy her fate. My life has been what it is, and it's been worth it."

"It doesn't have to be that way. I have my own arrangements for Dugu Yan.

You can take it with peace of mind. The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma might not be able to evolve your martial soul, but it will certainly have no trouble resolving the backlash from your snake venom."

Dugu Bo: Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier?!

"That... Little Monster, my granddaughter Yanyan, could she also take an immortal herb to make up for the flaws in her martial soul?"

Dugu Bo shifted his gaze back to Lan Yu, his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

"Make up for the flaws?"

Lan Yu looked toward the Dragon Blood Grass and Earth Dragon Golden Melon by the spring; perhaps he could try to help Dugu Yan and Tang Shan achieve a Martial Soul Evolution.

"Martial Soul Evolution!"

Dugu Bo's expression went stiff with shock for a moment. He remained stunned for a long while before snapping back to reality, speaking in rapid succession, his tone brimming with irrepressible excitement.

"Oh my, Little Monster! You've truly given this old man a massive surprise today!"

Although he knew these immortal herbs were precious, he had no idea what their specific uses were. If Lan Yu had intended to keep them hidden, there would have been nothing he could do.

But now, the boy had first found him an immortal herb that could mend his martial soul's flaws, and was now even volunteering to help Yanyan with her Martial Soul Evolution.

Even as cold-blooded and callous as Dugu Bo could be, he couldn't help but be deeply moved, even feeling a pang of guilt for having tested Lan Yu just moments before.