Dugu Bo pointed at the medicinal plants and Immortal Herbs that had turned into Fungus Beasts. "How did they end up like that?"
"You mean them? They're subjects of the Sage Lord of Fungi now. The Sage Lord gave them the ability to move on their own, and they have a new name: Fungus Beasts."
"What exactly is this Sage Lord of Fungi you keep talking about?"
At Dugu Bo's question, Lan Yu suddenly smiled and asked, "Heh. You ate the Detoxifying Mushroom I gave Dugu Yan, didn't you?"
"What if I did?"
"Then let the Sage Lord of Fungi answer you himself."
Before Dugu Bo could make sense of Lan Yu's words, his vision blurred, and he found himself in Bifulong's Illusion Space.
Thanks to the Ice and Fire Dual Yii Well, Bifulong had recovered more of his power. The Illusion Space had grown larger and more magnificent, too.
Within it, Bifulong had also grown enormous, even larger than Zamalan. His sheer size gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"Dugu Bo, don't you want to become one of my subjects?"
"You're the Sage Lord of Fungi?"
"That's right. I am the Sage Lord of Fungi, Demon God Bifulong, the god who grants people their fill."
"Lord Sage, if I become your subject, can you cure the Spirit Poison that has plagued the Dugu clan?"
"Of course. I treat my subjects very well. So long as you believe in me faithfully, I will grant your wishes.
"But if you dare betray me, I will show you what Divine Punishment means."
"I wouldn't dare! I, Dugu Bo, swear that if you cure the Dugu clan's Spirit Poison, I will bring my clan to offer you our faith. We will never betray you."
"Good. Very good. Remember your oath. My sage will resolve your problem."
With that, Dugu Bo was kicked out of the Illusion Space.
When Dugu Bo came to, Lan Yu was still standing before him, smiling.
"Welcome, Dugu Bo. The Sage Lord of Fungi won't mistreat any believer."
"And my Spirit Poison..."
"I have a way. If you only want to suppress it, the Detoxifying Mushroom can do that."
"I want to cure it completely!"
"Don't rush. A complete cure is possible, but it will change your Martial Soul entirely. It will no longer have the poison attribute. Are you sure?"
Dugu Bo fell silent for a long while before finally making up his mind.
"I'm sure! The Spirit Poison has tormented me for far too long. I want to be rid of it completely, and I won't let it poison my descendants."
"Then which attribute do you like? Wind, fire, water, lightning, ice, rock, or grass. Pick one."
That left Dugu Bo dumbfounded.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I'll replace your Martial Soul's poison attribute with one of those seven. Pick whichever you like."
"You can do that?"
Dugu Bo felt as though his entire view of the world had been turned upside down today.
"The power of a god can accomplish many things that seem impossible."
Dugu Bo thought for a while longer before deciding. "I choose lightning! But if my Martial Soul's attribute changes, what happens to my Soul Rings?"
Instead of answering, Lan Yu asked, "What do you think poison is?"
Once again, Dugu Bo was stumped. Though he was Poison Douluo, he had never considered what poison actually meant.
"Don't think of poison so narrowly. When elemental power grows concentrated enough to inflict continuous harm on someone, that's poison too."
Dugu Bo nodded. "Heh. I've spent most of my life studying poison, yet you see it more clearly than I do. How ridiculous."
"All right, let's begin. Eat this first."
Lan Yu tossed Dugu Bo the Green Mushroom. Dugu Bo ate it without hesitation.
The moment he swallowed it, Dugu Bo felt his body grow stronger. The sensation of his body being eaten away by Spirit Poison also faded considerably.
"Good stuff!"
"Now, don't resist."
Fungal Threads began covering Dugu Bo from the feet up. The sensation was strange, even frightening, but he endured it.
Then the Fungal Threads entered his body. Lan Yu activated Decomposition, breaking down the Spirit Poison within him.
Once all the Spirit Poison throughout Dugu Bo's body had been broken down, Lan Yu guided the Fungal Threads deeper, into his Martial Soul.
The Fungal Threads wrapped tightly around Dugu Bo's Martial Soul and forcibly broke down its poison attribute.
At last, the threads coiled around his Martial Soul completed their symbiosis with it, becoming a Rotating Thunder Fungus Beast perched atop the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's head.
With its attribute changed, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor had turned from green to purple. Perhaps it should no longer be called the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. Thunder Phosphor Serpent Emperor suited it better.
Once it was done, Lan Yu withdrew the Fungal Threads.
But when he saw Dugu Bo's new appearance, he couldn't help laughing.
For some reason, all the hair on Dugu Bo's body had turned purple, and his eyes were purple too.
That alone was nothing to laugh at. The trouble was his hair: lightning power leaking from his body had made every strand stand on end.
"Did it work?"
Dugu Bo summoned his Martial Soul. Seeing how completely it had changed, he burst into delighted laughter.
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
"Ahem. Dugu Bo, rein it in. You're a Titled Douluo, after all. Mind your image."
Bifulong was laughing even harder than Lan Yu, though Dugu Bo couldn't hear him.
Only then did Dugu Bo notice his hair. His old face flushed red with embarrassment.
He hurriedly composed himself and controlled his Soul Power. His hair finally settled back down.
"Ahem. Words can't repay a kindness this great. If you ever need me, just say the word."
"No need to thank me. It's all a gift from the Sage Lord of Fungi."
"Yes. Thank you, Lord Sage, and thank you, too, Sage.
"As you know, I have a granddaughter, Yanzi. The Spirit Poison affects her as well, though it's still mild enough that she hasn't noticed. I haven't told her, either.
"I hope you can help Yanzi escape the Spirit Poison completely."
"I can help, but you know the condition."
"I do. I'll have Yanzi become a believer in the Sage Lord of Fungi as well."
"Mm. Go back and persuade Dugu Yan. Once I'm finished here, I'll come find you in Heaven Dou City."
"Good! I'll await you in Heaven Dou City, Sage."
Dugu Bo then left the Ice and Fire Dual Yii Well, while Lan Yu stayed behind to cultivate and nurture the Immortal Herbs.
Lan Yu had already decided: his sixth Soul Ring would be the Hundred Thousand Years Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
Before you continue