Upon hearing Dugu Bo's words, Dugu Yan collapsed into her chair the instant he finished speaking. Although she had been prepared for it, hearing Dugu Bo admit it aloud was still more than she could bear.
She thought of all the years she had worked so hard to cultivate, only for it to end like this. In the end, she would be unable to absorb her Fifth Soul Ring, her Poison Skill would be crippled, and she would become a useless person unable to use her Martial Soul.
Seeing Dugu Yan like this broke Dugu Bo's heart. She was his granddaughter. She should have been able to grow up happily for several more years before facing this problem. Though she would have had to face it eventually, at least she could have enjoyed those extra years. Watching this scene filled Dugu Bo with fury. He believed it was the fault of whoever had told Dugu Yan everything.
Dugu Bo was ready to settle the score with that person.
Thus, Dugu Bo asked the still-stunned Dugu Yan:
"Yanyan, can you tell me who told you about this?"
Dugu Yan's heart was practically dead, so she did not hide anything from Dugu Bo.
"The Heaven Dou Empire's prince, Xue Qinghe, told me."
"He said that when he was young, he saw an Ancient Book that recorded how Soul Masters with Poison Martial Souls all suffered from this problem, so after seeing me, he came to..."
Before she could say the words "tell me," Dugu Yan suddenly realized something. Since Jin Hao had learned of the drawbacks of Poison Martial Soul users from an Ancient Book, perhaps that book also contained a way to solve the problem.
Though Dugu Yan felt that the chances were slim, it was the only possibility she could think of.
The next second, the previously dispirited Dugu Yan stood up and spoke to Dugu Bo, who had already learned who had told her and was preparing to settle the score.
"Grandpa, since Xue Qinghe saw people like us described in an Ancient Book, could there be a way to solve this problem?"
Dugu Bo had been considering how to deal with Jin Hao. His current status was rather special: he was the Empire's only prince. If Dugu Bo truly killed him and the Heaven Dou Empire retaliated, Dugu Bo himself would be fine as a Titled Douluo, but his granddaughter Dugu Yan might not be. So Dugu Bo decided that he would merely break Jin Hao's legs and teach him a lesson, enough to make him understand pain.
The Healing Spirit Masters of the Imperial Palace could heal Jin Hao afterward anyway, leaving no lasting effects. That way, Xue Ye would not dare come looking for trouble with him.
As Dugu Bo was still thinking about this, he heard Dugu Yan's words and a sliver of hope emerged in his heart. He had encountered so many people before, yet none had been able to identify the flaws in his family's Martial Soul. Yet Jin Hao had noticed Yanyan's Soul Power faltering on rainy days after just one look. What if that Ancient Book truly contained a solution?
Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance would do.
So Dugu Bo said to Dugu Yan:
"Good. Yanyan, we'll go find Xue Qinghe right away. If he really has a way to solve your problem, then I, Dugu Bo, would be willing to serve the Heaven Dou Empire like a beast of burden for the rest of my life. If he has no solution, I'll teach that loose-tongued Xue Qinghe a lesson."
After saying that, Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan, who still held a faint thread of hope, and flew away from Dugu Manor toward Jin Hao's Prince's Residence.
After returning to the Prince's Residence, Jin Hao first had Pufferfish, Snake Lance, Jin Yi, and Jin Er hide around the main hall.
"If Dugu Bo tries to attack me later, all of you attack together and kill him. If he has no intention of killing me, stay hidden."
The four nodded at his words and concealed themselves around the hall.
Jin Hao then sat in the main hall of the Prince's Residence and waited.
Not long afterward, Jin Hao felt a gust of wind sweep past him. He then saw two people standing in the courtyard outside the hall: Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, naturally.
Seeing them, Jin Hao spoke.
"Poison Douluo, Miss Dugu Yan, your visit to the Prince's Residence brings great honor to this humble place."
Dugu Bo had no time for pleasantries upon hearing this, so he asked directly:
"Which Ancient Book did you read about the poison in Yanyan's Martial Soul harming her body? Does it mention a solution?"
At this moment, Dugu Yan stepped before Jin Hao. Looking at him with hope in her eyes, she asked:
"Your Highness, is there a way? I don't want to become a useless person."
Jin Hao was overjoyed inside. Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, here I come.
Yet Jin Hao still put on a deeply surprised expression and said:
"Poison Douluo, I had always considered Miss Dugu Yan a friend, which was why I went to warn her. I thought you would have a solution. Don't you have one either?"
Hearing this, grandfather and granddaughter both assumed that Jin Hao had no solution. Dugu Bo's heart sank completely, and he mocked himself inwardly. Of course. He had searched for so many years without finding a way, yet now he had actually imagined that a fourteen-year-old could have one.
Dugu Yan, who heard the same words, was still unwilling to give up and asked:
"Your Highness, did the Ancient Book you read truly not record any way to solve this problem?"
Upon hearing that, Jin Hao knew he had laid enough groundwork. It was time to begin planning for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, so he said:
"Poison Douluo, Miss Dugu Yan, that Ancient Book does have a solution, but..."
At that point, Jin Hao put on an extremely troubled expression and fell silent.
Hearing this, Dugu Bo could no longer remain calm. There was a solution. There was a solution! Then neither he nor Yanyan would need to worry about the poison from their Martial Souls harming them.
Seeing Jin Hao's troubled expression, Dugu Bo assumed Jin Hao was waiting to name his price, so he said:
"Prince Qinghe, if you help us solve the problem with our Martial Souls, I, Dugu Bo, swear that I will serve the Heaven Dou Empire for the rest of my life and never betray it."
Dugu Yan spoke as well.
"Your Highness, so will I!"
Hearing this, Jin Hao still wore a helpless expression before saying:
"Poison Douluo, you are my senior, and Miss Dugu Yan is my friend. I would be delighted if I could help you. Why would I keep a solution from you?"
"There is a method, but it requires something called an Immortal Herb. Ever since reading that Ancient Book, I have searched across Douluo Continent for five or six years, yet I still have no leads at all. I am beginning to suspect that Immortal Herb does not exist."
"That is why I did not know how to tell you."
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