The Yin-Yang Eyes of a Reversed World! Did the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul Have an Innate Flaw?!
"Oh? What do you have in mind? Let's hear it."
"You've been poisoned for a long time, and the toxins have already spread throughout your body. Dugu Yan is different, though, so I'd like to start by treating her with some medicine."
Lan Yu spoke evenly, keeping his emotions in check.
"Besides that, I need you to prepare a Soul Bone. The first requirement is that it has a poison attribute; the higher its age, the better.
"Are you planning to force the toxins into the Soul Bone?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, immediately catching on.
"Exactly."
"Would an ordinary Soul Bone not work?"
"No."
Lan Yu shook his head, his tone solemn. "We need a poison-attributed Soul Bone because it can convert the stored toxins into a Soul Skill with the help of Soul Power, letting you release them.
"If the toxins are only stored and never released, even the strongest Soul Bone has its limit. Sooner or later, it'll burst.
"As for why it needs to be old, that's to extend how long it can store the toxins. That way, you won't have to release them every time a little builds up and cause yourself unnecessary trouble."
Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
As a Titled Douluo, he naturally understood the reasoning.
Though Soul Bones were known as the "Blood River Treasures" of the Soul Master World, something most people never saw even once in their lives, he was Dugu Bo, a mighty Titled Douluo. High-age poison-attributed Soul Bones might be hard to get, but a few low-age ones were no problem.
Besides, Lan Yu had said that age only affected the storage period. If necessary, he could simply absorb several Soul Bones. The results would be much the same.
Only after Dugu Bo agreed did Lan Yu turn his gaze back to the black-and-white Yin Yang Spring before him.
Though it was worlds apart from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the original story, the two pools of spring water, one black and one white, still stirred his heart. Their cold and heat complemented each other, and several strangely shaped Immortal Herbs grew along the banks.
In the original story, Tang San had taken the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, then used his own blood as a medicinal catalyst. That was how Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had managed to expel the toxins in their bodies into their Soul Bones.
After all, their bodies had been eroded by the toxins of their Martial Souls for years and had long since adapted to them. If they simply expelled all the toxins, it would inevitably cause their bodies further harm.
Now, those two top-tier Immortal Herbs had changed their appearance, and he had no idea whether they would work the same way. He could only pair them with a few other mild herbs, and work things out gradually with Xiao Shan.
"Little friend, don't stand by the spring too long. Be careful the black-and-white water doesn't muddle your mind!"
Seeing him standing lost in thought by the spring for so long, Dugu Bo hurried over, patted his shoulder, and warned him.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior."
"'Senior' my foot."
Dugu Bo waved a hand dismissively and gave Lan Yu's shoulder another hearty pat, his tone teasing. "You're even younger than Yanyan. Why not just call me Grandpa?"
At that, Lan Yu couldn't help cursing inwardly: You old fox, Dugu Bo. I'm treating you, and you're trying to take advantage of me?!
Seeing his expression, Dugu Bo didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed. If anything, he got even more carried away. "You really won't consider becoming my granddaughter's husband? My granddaughter, Dugu Yan, is fair-skinned and beautiful, with long legs. She's kindhearted and talented, too!"
Lan Yu nearly choked on his words. He coughed twice, then said seriously, "Senior Dugu, there's too great an age gap between me and Senior Dugu Yan. It wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, I'm not thinking about that sort of thing right now."
"What does a few years matter? A wife three years older gives you a golden brick to hold. Yanyan's only seven years older than you. Older women know how to treat a man right."
Dugu Bo had been blustering, but then he suddenly changed tack and glanced sideways at Tang Shan beside them. "And you say you're not interested? You were holding your little girlfriend so tightly just now."
At those words, Tang Shan, who had been glaring at Dugu Bo with puffed-up cheeks, turned bright red. She lowered her head, clutched the hem of her clothes, and couldn't say a word.
"Oh, I get it. Is your little girlfriend holding you back? That won't do! What powerful man doesn't have three wives and four concubines?" Dugu Bo thought he'd hit on the real issue and hurriedly advised Lan Yu in the tone of a man speaking from experience.
"Look at that old Ning Rongxin. He's only a Soul Douluo, yet he still has two Titled Douluos by his side.
"You should learn from him."
Seeing that Dugu Bo was getting more and more outrageous, Lan Yu quickly cut him off. "That's enough, Old Poison. What are you going on about? Aren't you here to have your poison cured?"
"Old Poison?! That's a fine name. I like it. From now on, you can call me Old Poison, and I'll call you Little Monster. How's that?"
Dugu Bo threw back his head and laughed. This was more like it. All that "Senior" business was far too stiff. Old Poison had a much better ring to it.
"Old Poison, could I pick a few of the Immortal Herbs growing by the spring?"
Lan Yu glanced over the herbs he recognized, then turned to Dugu Bo.
"Why wouldn't you be able to?"
Dugu Bo waved his hand grandly, unconcerned. "As long as you can cure the damn snake poison in Yanyan and me, I'd give you this entire garden, let alone a few Immortal Herbs. It's no big deal."
In Dugu Bo's eyes, having a treasure trove and not knowing how to use it was no different from squandering a priceless gift.
Since Dugu Bo had put it that way, Lan Yu wasn't the sort to take things for granted. He turned and walked to a medicinal fungus that was deep purple all over, its cap marked with nine golden lines. Crouching down, he gently plucked it.
The instant he picked it, a fresh medicinal fragrance wafted up, soothing and invigorating.
"Old Poison, this Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma might be able to solve the snake poison that's been troubling you for so long." Lan Yu stood up and said with a faint smile.
"Really?!" Dugu Bo was both startled and delighted. He hurried over, carefully took the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma from Lan Yu's hand, and examined it closely.
"Indeed."
Lan Yu patiently explained, "The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma has a mild, balanced medicinal nature. It's best at strengthening the body and replenishing congenital deficiencies. It works especially well for Soul Masters with flawed Martial Souls and low Innate Soul Power.
"The poison of your Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul turns back on your own bodies. In the end, that comes down to an innate flaw in your Martial Soul."
Dugu Bo had been examining the medicinal fungus in his hands. At Lan Yu's words, his body suddenly stiffened, and a hint of embarrassment flickered across his face.
In the original story, Yu Xiaogang had broken through to level twenty-nine before he was even fifty. The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma had carried him all the way there, and after Tang San ascended to the Divine Realm, he had even touched the threshold of becoming a Titled Douluo.
"Old Poison, let me give you a heads-up. The weaker a Soul Master's constitution and the more stubborn their bottleneck, the more obvious the effects of the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma. It can even cause Martial Soul Evolution.
"On the other hand, it'll have only a limited effect on high-level Soul Masters with a solid foundation."
At that, Dugu Bo froze. The delight on his face faded, replaced by a hint of disappointment. Then he let out a wry laugh and accepted it. "So be it. I'll leave it for Yanyan to defy fate and change her lot. I've lived my life as I have. That's enough for me."
"It won't come to that. I have my own plans for Dugu Yan.
"You can take it without worry. The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma might not evolve your Martial Soul, but it should be more than enough to stop the snake poison from turning back on you."
Dugu Bo: Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier?!
"Um... Little Monster, could my granddaughter Yanyan take an Immortal Herb too and make up for the flaw in her Martial Soul?"
Dugu Bo turned his gaze back to Lan Yu, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Make up for the flaw?"
Lan Yu looked at the Dragon Blood Grass and Earth Dragon Golden Melon growing beside the spring. Perhaps he could try to help Dugu Yan and Tang Shan achieve Martial Soul Evolution.
"Martial Soul Evolution?!"
Dugu Bo was so shocked that his expression stiffened. He stood there dumbfounded for a long moment before finally coming back to himself. Then he blurted out his words, his voice full of barely restrained excitement.
"Good heavens, Little Monster! You've given this old man the surprise of a lifetime!"
He knew the Immortal Herbs were precious, but he had no idea what they could do. If Lan Yu wanted to keep their uses to himself, there was nothing Dugu Bo could do about it.
But now, Lan Yu had not only found an Immortal Herb that could make up for the flaw in his Martial Soul, he had also agreed to help Yanyan achieve Martial Soul Evolution.
No matter how cold and heartless Dugu Bo was, he couldn't help feeling deeply moved. He even felt a little guilty about testing Lan Yu just moments ago.