I Want the Entire Dugu Clan

"Little one, I'm afraid the Herb Garden isn't the only thing you have your eye on, is it?"

Qian Daoliu stood beneath the statue of the Six-Winged Angel, his gaze resting on Qian Renyuan.

A Herb Garden capable of triggering Martial Soul Evolution was indeed worth Spirit Hall making a move for.

But he knew his grandson. If it were merely for a few herbs, Qian Renyuan would never have rushed to leave again after returning to Spirit City for only a day.

"No matter how valuable the Herb Garden is, it's still just a dead thing."

Qian Renyuan did not deny it. He turned to look at Qian Daoliu.

"What I want is Dugu Bo, and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan."

Qian Daoliu's brow lifted slightly. "The entire Dugu Clan?"

"That's right." Qian Renyuan spoke calmly, as though they were already his for the taking.

Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly threw back his head and laughed.

"You certainly have a big appetite. Though Dugu Bo is only a level ninety-one Titled Douluo and not among the very strongest, the poison of his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor is famously troublesome."

Qian Daoliu watched his grandson and said slowly, "A man like him has an eccentric temperament and cannot be swayed by either kindness or force. Over the years, both the Heaven Dou Empire and our Spirit Hall have extended olive branches to him, yet neither has ever won his true loyalty. If he were so easily subdued, he would not have remained alone all these years."

"What do you intend to use to move him?"

"His life."

Qian Renyuan slowly spoke those four words.

The smile on Qian Daoliu's face faded slightly. "What do you mean?"

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul is famed for its deadly poison. The deeper the Dugu Clan's soul masters cultivate, the more toxins accumulate in their bodies."

Qian Renyuan walked to one side of the hall and casually brushed his hand across a stone pillar carved with Angel patterns.

"They can control those toxins to attack their enemies, but they cannot make their own bodies completely immune to them."

"For Dugu Bo to have cultivated to the rank of Titled Douluo, the toxins accumulated within him have long reached a point where they cannot be suppressed."

Qian Daoliu's eyes narrowed slightly. Martial Soul Backlash was not uncommon among soul masters.

Certain excessively powerful or flawed Martial Souls could indeed harm their owners. Yet Dugu Bo had always appeared overwhelmingly strong before others, and there had never been any rumor that his body was afflicted.

Qian Renyuan continued, "All these years, he has relied on the Herb Garden in Sunset Forest to suppress the toxins, but the poison in his body has never disappeared."

The hall fell quiet, and Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renyuan with greater seriousness.

If all of this was true, then Dugu Bo truly possessed a fatal weakness.

"What about his granddaughter?"

"Dugu Yan inherited the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, so naturally she also inherited the same flaw."

The corners of Qian Renyuan's lips rose slightly, revealing a smile of complete confidence.

"She is still young, and the toxins in her body are far less severe than Dugu Bo's. But as her Soul Power rises, the backlash from those toxins will only grow more serious."

"Dugu Bo may not care about his own life, but he would never stand by and watch his only bloodline die before his eyes."

Dugu Bo had an eccentric personality. He poisoned and killed outsiders at the slightest provocation, yet he treasured this granddaughter more than his own life.

As long as they could resolve the poison within Dugu Yan's body, they would be gripping Dugu Bo's greatest weakness.

Qian Daoliu naturally understood this as well. Stroking his long beard, he went over the entire matter in his mind.

"You've certainly arranged this family's fate quite thoroughly."

"They have no reason to refuse."

Qian Daoliu looked at him for a long while, the satisfaction in his eyes nearly overflowing.

However, Qian Daoliu did not immediately let excitement cloud his judgment.

"Where did you learn this information?"

Dugu Bo's Herb Garden was hidden deep within Sunset Forest. Even Spirit Hall's intelligence contained only vague records of it, and the specific symptoms of toxin backlash were even less likely to be leaked so easily.

"I naturally have my own intelligence network."

Qian Renyuan met Qian Daoliu's scrutinizing gaze without changing expression. "Grandfather only needs to know that this information is absolutely accurate."

Qian Daoliu gazed at him for a moment before finally smiling in relief and choosing not to press the issue. He knew well that everyone had their own trump cards. As long as Qian Renyuan's heart remained with Spirit Hall, the more unfathomable his methods were, the more secure Spirit Hall's future would be.

"Dugu Bo's direct combat strength may not be among the very best, but if he is truly driven into a corner and releases his poison, he will still be a major problem." Qian Daoliu clasped his hands behind his back and walked down the steps. "I'll have Qian Jun and Jiangmo Douluo accompany you to Sunset Forest."

"No need." Qian Renyuan decisively shook his head. "Elder Jiang Mo alone will suffice."

"Bringing too many people will only make Dugu Bo think Spirit Hall intends to surround and kill him. By then, before negotiations even begin, he will destroy the Herb Garden first."

Qian Daoliu considered it for a moment and did not insist.

Qian Jun and Jiang Mo joining forces could certainly suppress Dugu Bo with ease, but Qian Renyuan's purpose in going to Sunset Forest this time was not to kill anyone.

"Then let Jiang Mo accompany you."

"He has already gone to Notting City with you, so he knows how to cooperate with you."

At this point, Qian Daoliu's tone grew solemn.

"But remember this: a Titled Douluo driven into a desperate situation is capable of anything. If something goes wrong, have Jiang Mo take you away at once. No matter how good the Herb Garden is, it is not worth even a fraction of your life!"

Hearing the deep concern in the old man's words, Qian Renyuan nodded slightly. "Rest assured, Grandfather. I never fight an unprepared battle."

Qian Daoliu patted his shoulder. "Go on. As for your mother, figure out yourself how to fool her."

Qian Renyuan's expression stiffened for a rare moment. He had only returned to the city for one day, and before he had even settled in, he was about to head for the Soul Beast Forest again. Given how fiercely protective Bibi Dong was now, she probably would not let him go so easily.

"Alright."

Qian Renyuan took his leave of Qian Daoliu and turned toward the exit of Worship Hall.

The moment he stepped out of the hall, the familiar system voice rang out in his mind.

[Ding! A brand-new main quest has begun!]

[Quest One: Enter the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and seize the Immortal Herb opportunities that originally belonged to the Child of Destiny!]

[Quest Two: Change the predetermined fates of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan!]

[This quest's rewards will be calculated according to the host's final completion rate!]

After hearing the system prompts, the corners of Qian Renyuan's lips slowly curved upward.

The Immortal Herbs within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well should originally have been taken by Tang San. With those herbs, Tang San not only greatly increased the strength of everyone in Shrek, but also gained Dugu Bo's friendship.

Unfortunately, this time, those Immortal Herbs—and Dugu Bo as well—would belong to him.

After leaving Worship Hall, Qian Renyuan headed straight for Pope Palace.

Sure enough, the moment Bibi Dong learned that he was leaving again, her delicate brows immediately shot up.

Qian Renyuan spent quite some effort persuading her and repeatedly guaranteed that Jiangmo Douluo would not leave his side for even a step before she reluctantly agreed. Before his departure, Bibi Dong still repeatedly warned him not to put himself in danger and never to approach that Old Poison alone.

By the time Qian Renyuan had finished dealing with his mother and returned to the Holy Son's Palace, the sky had already grown dark.

Xiao Wu was sitting by the window. Hearing the door open, she sprang to her feet like a startled rabbit.

Ever since arriving in Spirit City, she had not dared to move about freely. Powerful soul masters were everywhere here, and even an aura occasionally passing through the distance would make her body instinctively tense.

"I heard... you're leaving again tomorrow?"

Xiao Wu glanced at the attendants outside the door, who were busy checking and packing the travel supplies. Biting her pale lips, she could not help asking.

"Mm." Qian Renyuan walked to the rosewood table and sat down, pouring himself a cup of clear tea. "We leave at dawn tomorrow."

Xiao Wu's fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes as she asked tentatively, "Then... am I coming with you too?"