Detoxification!

"Spirit Bones..."

Dugu Bo murmured to himself. A faint yet stubborn flame rekindled in his originally lifeless dark-green eyes.

He stared fixedly at Ling Xuqing, as though he had grasped his last lifeline.

"Force the poison into Spirit Bones... That is indeed a method. But..."

Dugu Bo's tone was filled with deep worry and struggle. "What about afterward? What if I use poison again and suffer another backlash? Spirit Bones aren't foolproof either! If they can't withstand it and the toxins backlash again, won't I have to endure that living hell all over again?"

Dugu Bo's concerns were not without reason.

Spirit Bones were ultimately external objects. They could only serve as containers to temporarily store the toxins.

As long as he continued cultivating and using the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison arts, toxins would continue to accumulate without end.

"You see things quite clearly." Ling Xuqing gave him an approving glance, then a mysterious curve lifted at the corner of his mouth. "That is why what I just mentioned was merely the first method—a treatment of the symptoms."

"A treatment of the symptoms?" Dugu Bo froze.

"That's right." Ling Xuqing nodded, his gaze turning deep and fervent. "The second method is the ultimate solution—the true, once-and-for-all way to completely resolve your Martial Soul's flaw!"

Dugu Bo's breathing instantly became heavy, and his whole body trembled with excitement.

"The second method?! What is it?!"

"Soul Core Condensation!"

"Soul Core?!" Dugu Bo cried out in shock, his face filled with bewilderment and disbelief.

He had lived on Douluo Continent for more than seventy years and spent most of his life researching poisons and cultivating, yet he had never heard of the concept of a Soul Core.

"What is a Soul Core? This old man has never heard of it!"

"A Soul Core is formed by compressing and fusing the Soul Power and toxins within your body to the utmost limit in the dantian's sea of qi, ultimately condensing them into a tangible energy crystal. That crystal will become the source of your power."

"And what you must do is guide every trace of Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison in your body into the Soul Core during its formation! Make the poison part of the Soul Core itself!"

"Once you succeed, your Martial Soul's flaw will disappear completely. Not only will you no longer suffer poison backlash, you will be able to freely command the toxins within your Soul Core. Your poison arts will undergo an unprecedented qualitative transformation!"

"Condense a Soul Core... guide the poison into it..."

Dugu Bo's mind raced.

As a Titled Douluo who had devoted his entire life to the path of poison, he immediately understood the brilliance and terror of this method.

This was simply an idea pushed to the height of madness!

Condensing a Soul Core within the dantian's sea of qi—even the slightest mistake could result in his body exploding to death.

And he had to introduce lethal poison into it as well. The risks were beyond imagination.

But... if he succeeded, Dugu Bo would completely break free from the curse of Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison and become a true emperor among poisons!

"Good!"

Dugu Bo suddenly slapped his thigh, a flash of determination and madness crossing his eyes. "This old man has lived for over seventy years and has long had enough of this damned poison! For Yanyan, for the future of the Dugu Clan, this old man is willing to gamble!"

He abruptly raised his head and looked straight at Ling Xuqing, his voice filled with unprecedented resolve.

"Young Master! This old man is willing to pledge loyalty to you!"

"So long as you can help this old man condense a Soul Core and cure both my and Yanyan's poison, this old man's life will be yours from this day onward!"

"Very good." Ling Xuqing nodded in satisfaction.

"Since you have made your choice, I naturally will not disappoint you."

With that, Ling Xuqing turned and walked toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He lightly grasped at the air with both hands, drawing out two streams of incomparably pure Golden Dragon King origin power.

"Sit cross-legged and guard your mind!"

Ling Xuqing gave a low shout and thrust both palms forward.

Two brilliant dark-golden rays, like twin golden dragons, instantly poured into Dugu Bo's body.

Boom—!

The Golden Dragon King's supremely rigid, supremely yang origin power rampaged through Dugu Bo's body, forcibly driving away and compressing the cold, sticky Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison.

"Aah—!!!"

Dugu Bo let out a heart-rending scream.

It felt as if someone were frantically stirring his internal organs with red-hot branding irons.

Countless droplets of dark-green poisonous blood instantly seeped from his skin, reeking horribly.

"Hold on! Compress every trace of poison into your dantian's sea of qi!" Ling Xuqing's voice exploded in Dugu Bo's mind.

Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and desperately held on to his final shred of clarity.

Following Ling Xuqing's guidance, he frantically directed the toxins and Soul Power within his body, making them collide and fuse wildly at his dantian.

Time passed second by second.

The temperature within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well suddenly rose, and thick steam rolled violently across its surface.

After an unknown amount of time, a muffled hum suddenly sounded from within Dugu Bo's body.

Immediately afterward, an incomparably terrifying and violent aura erupted from him!

Boom—!

The barrier of ninety-first rank Soul Power instantly crumbled beneath the impact of that terrifying force!

Ninety-second rank!

Ninety-third rank!

The moment his aura fully stabilized, Dugu Bo slowly opened his eyes.

His originally dark-green eyes had now returned to normal, clear black and white.

His green robes were drenched in sweat and poisonous blood, but his aura was more than twice as powerful as before!

"I... I broke through?!"

Feeling the vast, ocean-like power within his body and meridians no longer carrying even a trace of backlash pain, Dugu Bo trembled with excitement.

"Thank you, Young Master, for saving my life! This old man will never forget this kindness!" Dugu Bo dropped to his knees and heavily kowtowed to Ling Xuqing.

"Get up," Ling Xuqing said calmly.

"Remember your promise. Go and bring your granddaughter here."

"Yes! This old man will go at once!"

Heaven Dou City, the Dugu Clan residence.

The night was deep, and the residence was completely silent.

In a secluded courtyard in the rear compound, Dugu Yan sat on a stone bench, staring sorrowfully at her hands.

An unhealthy dark-green tint could faintly be seen on the backs of her hands.

"Yanyan, don't worry. Grandfather will surely find a way."

Sitting beside her, Ye Lingling gently held Dugu Yan's hand and softly comforted her.

As the inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia, she understood better than anyone just how terrifying the poison within Dugu Yan was.

"Lingling, thank you." Dugu Yan forced out a faint smile, but her eyes were filled with despair.

"But Grandfather has searched for so many years without finding a solution... I may truly not live past thirty."

Just as the two girls were sinking into sorrow—

Boom—!!!

A violent sonic boom suddenly rang out from the sky!

Immediately afterward, a green figure crashed like a meteor into the Dugu Clan's courtyard, smashing a massive crater into the ground.

"Grandfather?!"

Startled by the sudden commotion, Dugu Yan focused her eyes and immediately cried out in shock.

Dugu Bo stood there in a wretched state, his clothes stained with foul poisonous blood. Yet his eyes shone frighteningly bright, and his entire body radiated unprecedented fervor and excitement.

"Yanyan! Quick! Come with me immediately!"

Dugu Bo grabbed Dugu Yan's hand and shouted anxiously.

Dugu Yan was frightened by her grandfather's appearance. Struggling, she asked.

"Grandfather, what are you doing? Where are we going?"

"There's no time to explain! Yanyan, your poison can be cured! Come with me now!"

Dugu Bo shouted incoherently, dragging Dugu Yan as he prepared to rush outside.

Dugu Yan was stunned. Looking at her grandfather's frantic appearance, then at the utterly confused Ye Lingling beside her, she stammered.

"But... but Lingling, Lingling is still here! If we leave her here alone..."

"Time is of the essence. She's coming too!"

Dugu Bo waved a hand, not giving Dugu Yan any chance to refuse, and grabbed Ye Lingling as well.

"Ah?!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling cried out in alarm at the same time.

Before they could react, Dugu Bo had already activated his Soul Power, shielding the two girls behind him. He transformed into a green gale, blasted straight through the roof of the Dugu Clan residence, and vanished into the vast night.