Two Roads: Allegiance or Annihilation—Qian Renxue's Simple and Brutal Recruitment Pitch

Subduing a Titled Douluo?

A storm of shock surged through Qian Renxue's heart. She lowered her head and gazed deeply at the boy in her arms.

If anyone else had dared to say such nonsense about subduing Dugu Bo before her, she would have dismissed it without hesitation as the ravings of a lunatic.

But She Xian was different.

This disciple of hers, usually full of clever tricks and seemingly unserious yet resourceful, had such certainty in his eyes that she instinctively placed blind trust in him.

Qian Renxue, who had lacked familial affection and recognition throughout her life and was deeply mired in darkness, revenge, and grand schemes, found herself somewhat swayed by his words.

As she looked at the boy before her, who trusted her wholeheartedly and even wanted to take a Titled Douluo under his wing for her,

a thread of warmth mixed with greed involuntarily swept through the depths of her heart.

Since he possessed such grand ambitions, what was the harm in gambling on this with him?

"Fine." Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she gave She Xian the stage to perform. "Teacher believes in you."

Having received Qian Renxue's permission, She Xian leisurely stepped out of her soft, warm embrace.

With an utterly swaggering gait, he strode up to Dugu Bo.

She Long's heart clenched at the sight. "Xian'er! Get back! It's dangerous!"

The Violet-Cyan Serpent Spear in his hand nearly thrust out on instinct.

That was his precious grandson.

And he actually dared to swagger toward that poison-covered madman, Dugu Bo?

If he got poisoned, this grandfather of his would be heartbroken to death.

Ci Xue was equally baffled.

He had no idea what this little ancestor was trying to do.

Yet She Xian did not retreat. Instead, he stopped only a few steps away from Dugu Bo.

Then, with eyes of utter clarity, he looked at Dugu Bo. "You're poisoned, aren't you?"

One stone stirred a thousand waves!

The moment those words left his mouth, She Long and Ci Xue froze.

Even Dugu Bo himself widened his eyes.

"Ha ha ha!"

A few seconds later, Dugu Bo threw back his head and laughed as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Absurd!"

"What an utter joke!"

His laughter was filled with icy killing intent and disdain.

"You snot-nosed brat, not even fully grown, and you dare spout such arrogant bullshit before me?"

"I have played with poison my entire life. I achieved the Titled rank through poison. And you claim that I am deeply poisoned?"

"You don't know the first thing!"

Though his words were mocking, the way he looked at She Xian was full of murderous intent.

Faced with the violent killing intent of a Titled Douluo, She Xian did not even blink.

"Bullshit?" He raised his chin slightly, his gaze sharpening like a blade. "Dugu Bo, then let me ask you."

"Whenever there is a rainy night, do you suffer unbearable pain three inches beneath your ribs?"

"When cold yin seeps into your marrow, do all two hundred and six bones in your body ache as though countless ants are gnawing at them, leaving you unable to live or die?!"

"On every full-moon night, do you have to expend a tremendous amount of Soul Power to forcibly resist the backlash of your poison?"

"Whenever your Soul Power reaches the Dazhui acupoint on your spine, does an icy chill rush straight to your head?"

She Xian's voice was not loud, yet every word struck Dugu Bo's heart like a heavy hammer!

Dugu Bo's arrogant laughter came to an abrupt halt.

The mockery on his stiff old face froze completely.

In its place came an unprecedented, violent tremor!

On rainy nights, his marrow felt as though ten thousand ants were gnawing at it!

On full-moon nights, cold poison surged straight toward his Dazhui acupoint!

Th-these symptoms were his deepest secret!

How could this boy, barely more than ten years old, know them with such perfect accuracy?

Seeing Dugu Bo's ghost-stricken expression, She Xian's heart shook.

He knew that the old poison freak's psychological defenses had begun to crumble.

He took another step forward and threw out the ultimate bombshell, one capable of destroying all of Dugu Bo's pride.

"What? Did I hit the mark?"

"Dugu Bo, this terrifying poison has long seeped into your marrow and fused with your bloodline."

"Most importantly, it is hereditary!"

"Your son, your daughter, and all your descendants will not live past thirty!"

Boom!!!

Those words were like thunder from the nine heavens.

Dugu Bo's emerald snake pupils violently contracted in an instant, narrowing into needle-thin slits,

and his mind went blank.

It felt as if an invisible hand had clamped down hard around his heart, stopping even his breath!

"Yan Yan... Yan Yan..."

Dugu Bo began to tremble violently.

The dignity of the once-unrivaled Titled Douluo crumbled in an instant.

His son was dead.

That was the deepest, most painful scar of his life!

Now, his only emotional anchor in this world was his beloved granddaughter, Dugu Yan.

Not only had this boy seen through his hidden affliction, he had also pierced his final reverse scale.

"Th-this is true?!"

At the side, Snake Lance Douluo She Long sucked in a sharp breath.

Dugu Bo's reaction was right before their eyes. Could everything Xian'er said really be true?

Ci Xue was even more shocked as he transmitted his voice to him. "Old Snakehead, that old poison freak's descendants really did all die young. Only one granddaughter remains... Your boy got every word right!"

"Could that old poison freak really have suffered a backlash from his own poison?"

Ci Xue's face was filled with horror as he looked at She Xian as though he were a monster.

"My heavens! What kind of freak is this little ancestor? He can see even that?"

Qian Renxue, standing behind them, had a strange brilliance flickering repeatedly in her beautiful eyes.

This was her disciple!

With his own strength and only a few words, he had shattered the state of mind of a lofty Titled Douluo.

This ability to control the entire situation and toy with people's hearts in the palm of his hand suited her taste perfectly.

"Y-you... who exactly are you?"

"Why do you know these things?"

"What exactly do you want?!"

Dugu Bo's voice trembled violently, hoarse with endless agitation and panic.

At that moment,

he no longer possessed the pride of a Titled Douluo.

All that remained was a despairing old man who knew he was bound to lose his last remaining loved one.

"Who I am is not important."

She Xian clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze cold and confident. Though small in stature, he exuded an overwhelming aura of control over life and death.

"What matters is that no one in the world except me can save you."

"You can cure the poison?!"

Dugu Bo abruptly raised his head, and fanatical greed burst from his once-despairing eyes!

So long as Yan Yan could be saved, so long as the Dugu Clan's bloodline could be preserved, he was willing to pay any price.

"This old man..."

Dugu Bo was just about to beg for help when Qian Renxue, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, stepped forward at precisely the right moment.

"Dugu Bo."

Qian Renxue's voice was as cold as frost, carrying the weight of lofty judgment.

"There are only two paths left for you."

"First, swear a Martial Soul oath and pledge allegiance to me."

"Second..."

Qian Renxue's gaze turned cold, and killing intent surged from her like a vast ocean.

"Today, Elder She Long and Elder Ci Xue will personally strike and kill you on the spot!"

"As for your precious granddaughter, Dugu Yan, she will also be eliminated without mercy. Your Dugu Clan will leave behind no descendants!"

Boom! Boom!

The moment her words fell, She Long and Ci Xue instantly understood her intention, both revealing undisguised killing intent.

She Xian silently gave his teacher, Qian Renxue, a thumbs-up.

What he had said at most counted as bluffing. The chances of successfully persuading Dugu Bo were too low.

But it was different with Qian Renxue's words.

She plainly told Dugu Bo that he had only two choices: submit or die.

With She Xian's words as a foundation, there was now room for him to choose.

Dugu Bo's face turned pale as paper, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He finally understood that he had no room to choose at all.

For Yan Yan... for the Dugu Clan not to lose its bloodline!

Thud!

Dugu Bo, the proud and unruly Poison Douluo of his generation, heavily knocked his head to the ground.

"This old man..."

Dugu Bo clenched his teeth. "Today, I swear upon my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul that I am willing to serve you like a dog or horse and pledge my life in loyalty!"

"If I violate this oath, may heaven and earth punish me, and may my Martial Soul shatter as I die!"

The light of the oath flickered and merged into heaven and earth.

Looking at the Poison Douluo kneeling on the ground, a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of She Xian's lips.

The first step—subduing the Poison Douluo—was complete!

Behind him,

Qian Renxue looked at the youth's confident, spirited profile, and strange ripples surged within her beautiful eyes.