Poison Outbreak

Even in this state, Dugu Yan still forced a smile.

"No wonder you're a genius with a thousand-year soul ring as your second ring. My poison couldn't even corrode your vines, but..."

Dugu Yan did not choose to give up. Instead, she began desperately driving her Soul Power.

The poisonous mist grew increasingly darker. Tang San could feel that the Soul Power in his body was already struggling to continue suppressing the poison.

"Then let's see whether you succumb to my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison first, or I pass out from being strangled by your vines first."

Tang San frowned. This was indeed a problem.

The two of them were now both in a state where movement was difficult. He was paralyzed by the poison, while Dugu Yan was bound by the vines.

If this continued, Dugu Yan, who was clearly of a higher rank and older, would have a better chance of winning.

But he did not want to lose this spar so easily.

"Then there's only one way."

Tang San's second soul ring lit up once more.

The vines wrapped around Dugu Yan suddenly began to tremble soundlessly. An almost imperceptible vibration spread from the vines.

Tang San's second soul ring came from a twelve-hundred-year Ironwood Ancient Tree.

The Ironwood Ancient Tree's bark was incomparably tough, as hard as steel, but it lacked offensive ability. When faced with Soul Beast disturbances, it could only resist passively and could not attack proactively.

Thus, through countless years of natural evolution, the Ironwood Ancient Tree learned to resonate its hard bark through vibrations, releasing invisible sound waves to interfere with the Soul Power of Soul Beasts and drive them away.

Tang San's second soul skill had naturally inherited this vibrational force that interfered with the circulation of Soul Power.

"Buzz!"

The sound waves silently invaded Dugu Yan's body.

Because Tang San's vines were tightly wrapped around Dugu Yan, the disruptive vibrations had an especially pronounced effect.

Dugu Yan's pupils suddenly contracted. She felt the Soul Power within her instantly slip out of control, and she could no longer control the poisonous mist around her.

Immediately afterward, an agonizing pain exploded inside her body without warning.

"Aah—!"

Dugu Yan let out a miserable cry. Her face instantly turned a bluish purple as she spat out a mouthful of black blood. Her entire body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, curling into a ball in pain.

"Yan Yan!"

Ye Lingling's expression changed drastically. She rushed forward in a single stride as the Nine-Hearted Begonia Martial Soul blossomed in her palm. White begonia petals, carrying a gentle healing light, enveloped Dugu Yan.

Yet this healing light, which had always cured every ailment, had no effect whatsoever on Dugu Yan this time.

"How could this be..."

Ye Lingling's hands trembled.

At that moment, a figure crouched down beside her.

As the poisonous mist gradually dispersed, Tang San barely regained the ability to move.

He quickly tapped several points on his own body, then came to Dugu Yan's side and struck her wrist with his finger.

"This poison!"

Tang San's expression was unusually grave.

With a flick of his right hand, a set of silver needles appeared in his palm.

Tang San had found these silver needles, forged from heavy silver, among the batch of ores Flender had given him as compensation.

"Don't panic. Let me handle it," Tang San said in a low voice.

The instant the words fell, Tang San picked up the silver needles and swiftly inserted them into several vital acupoints on Dugu Yan's wrist, shoulder, and chest.

Next, a gentle stream of Soul Power flowed through the needles and into Dugu Yan's body, guiding the rampant poison slowly downward along her meridians.

The entire process was smooth and fluid, without the slightest hesitation.

Ye Lingling stared blankly at the scene, forgetting how to speak for a moment.

She was the inheritor of the Nine-Hearted Begonia and had been immersed in the art of healing since before she was born.

Yet this eight-year-old child before her possessed techniques countless times greater than hers!

"All right. I've suppressed it for now."

Tang San withdrew his hand. Looking down at the unconscious Dugu Yan, then at the bluish-purple hue beneath her skin that had yet to fully fade, he frowned slightly.

"The poison in her body has been there for years. If it isn't controlled, I'm afraid Senior Dugu Yan won't live past twenty-five."

"What?!"

Ye Lingling cried out in shock.

Tang San did not explain immediately. He rose to his feet and looked toward the Education Committee hall in the distance. "This matter is too serious. I need to report it to Teacher immediately."

Education Committee Hall.

Xu Linjiu was discussing the details of enrollment with the three Education Committee members, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin.

Suddenly, the hall doors were shoved open.

Tang San strode inside, his expression grave.

"Teacher, three Education Committee members."

He took a deep breath and reported everything that had just happened in the Mimicry Training Ground without leaving out a single detail.

"I have temporarily suppressed the poison, but that is only an expedient measure. The poison inside Senior Dugu Yan has accumulated for years; it was by no means formed overnight. In my humble opinion, the poison in her body may have been caused by her Martial Soul."

"Because of her Martial Soul?"

Bai Baoshan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The snake venom of the Jade Phosphorous Lineage is extremely potent, and it is a Beast Martial Soul."

Tang San said gravely, "Whenever Senior Dugu Yan fights and undergoes Martial Soul Possession, the poison hidden within the Jade Phosphorous Serpent and her soul rings invades her body. Over time, this terrifying poison naturally accumulates inside her."

He paused, then added, "And I suspect that Senior Poison Douluo Dugu Bo is also deeply troubled by the poison within his body."

Over the past two years, Xu Linjiu had taught Tang San and the others about the continent's renowned experts and powers. Thus, when Tang San saw Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, he naturally recognized who stood behind her.

"What?!"

Zhi Lin abruptly rose to his feet. "Tang San, do you know what you're saying? Senior Poison Douluo is a Titled Douluo and an honored guest of the imperial family. You are only a child; do not speak recklessly!"

"I would not dare speak carelessly."

Tang San raised his head and met the gazes of the three Education Committee members. "I was fortunate enough to read an ancient book and know a little about poison. Moreover, when I was suppressing the poison in Senior Dugu Yan's body just now, it was identical to the poison she released during our spar."

"If a Soul Grandmaster like Senior can be afflicted this way, then Senior Poison Douluo, a Titled Douluo, would be even more so."

The hall once again fell into dead silence.

Meng Shenji slowly closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again. His gaze settled on Xu Linjiu. "Linjiu, what do you think?"

Xu Linjiu remained calm. "Education Committee members, this matter can neither be concealed nor avoided. The granddaughter of Senior Dugu Bo has suffered an incident at our academy. Rather than wait for him to come and demand answers, we should invite him here ourselves and speak openly."

"Since my student can suppress this poison, it means he understands it. And someone who understands poison..."

Xu Linjiu paused before saying meaningfully, "Naturally, he can cure poison as well."

Meng Shenji's eyes shifted slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Poison Douluo's son died young. It was very likely because of this Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. I imagine Poison Douluo would not wish to experience the tragedy of a white-haired man burying his black-haired son a second time."

Xu Linjiu spoke unhurriedly. "If we can give him a sliver of hope..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone present was shrewd enough to understand what he meant.

Meng Shenji pondered for a long time before finally nodding heavily and ordering in a deep voice, "This matter is of great importance. Bai Baoshan, make the trip yourself and invite Senior Poison Douluo here for a discussion!"

"And Linjiu, go escort Dugu Yan here first."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"