Dugu Bo Comes Calling

Upon hearing Dugu Bo's words, Dugu Yan collapsed into her chair the moment he finished speaking. Although she had prepared herself earlier, hearing Dugu Bo admit it outright was still more than she could bear.

She thought of all those years she had spent cultivating, only for it to end like this. So this was her fate: she would be unable to absorb the Fifth Soul Ring, her Poison Skill would be crippled, and she would become a useless person incapable of using her Martial Soul.

Seeing Dugu Yan like this, Dugu Bo's heart ached terribly. This was his granddaughter. She could originally have grown up happily for a few more years before facing this problem. Though she would have had to face it eventually, she could at least have enjoyed a few more happy years. Watching this scene, Dugu Bo was filled with fury. He believed it was all the fault of the person who had told Dugu Yan everything.

Dugu Bo was preparing 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 about this."

"He said that when he was young, he saw an Ancient Book that recorded how Poison Martial Soul Spirit Masters all suffered from such problems, so after seeing me, he came to..."

Before she could say the words "tell me," Dugu Yan suddenly thought of something. Since Jin Hao had learned of the drawbacks of Poison Martial Soul Spirit Masters from an Ancient Book, could that book possibly contain a way to solve the problem?

Though Dugu Yan felt that the chance was probably slim, this was the only possibility she could think of.

The next moment, the previously despondent Dugu Yan stood up and said to Dugu Bo, who had already learned who had given Dugu Yan the information and was preparing to settle the score:

"Grandfather, if Xue Qinghe saw our condition in an Ancient Book, could there be a way to solve this problem?"

Dugu Bo had originally been thinking about how to deal with Jin Hao. After all, Dugu Bo's status was special now—Jin Hao was the empire's only prince. If he truly killed him and the Heaven Dou Empire began retaliating, Dugu Bo himself would be fine as a Title Douluo, but his granddaughter Dugu Yan might not be. Therefore, Dugu Bo had decided that he would merely break Jin Hao's legs and teach him a lesson, enough to make him understand pain.

After all, the Healing Spirit Masters of the Imperial Palace could heal Jin Hao afterward without leaving any lasting effects. That way, Xue Ye would not dare come looking for trouble.

As Dugu Bo was thinking about this, he heard Dugu Yan's words, and a sliver of hope rose in his heart. He had met so many people before, yet not one of them had been able to identify the flaw in his family's Martial Soul. Yet Jin Hao had recognized it just by seeing Yanyan's Soul Power falter on a rainy day. What if that Ancient Book truly had a solution?

Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance was enough.

So Dugu Bo said to Dugu Yan:

"Good, Yanyan. We will go find Xue Qinghe right now. If he truly has a way to solve your problem, I would be willing to serve the Heaven Dou Empire like an ox or horse. But if he does not, I will teach that loose-tongued Xue Qinghe a lesson."

After saying that, Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan, who still held a trace of hope in her heart, and flew away from Dugu Residence toward Jin Hao's Prince's Residence.

After returning to the Prince's Residence, Jin Hao first had Pufferfish, Snake Spear, Jin Yi, and Jin Er conceal themselves 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 those words and concealed themselves around the main hall.

Jin Hao then sat in the main hall of the Prince's Residence and waited.

Not long after, Jin Hao felt a gust of wind sweep through. He then saw two figures standing in the courtyard outside the hall. Naturally, they were Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

Seeing them, Jin Hao said:

"Poison Douluo, Miss Dugu Yan, your visit to the Prince's Residence brings great honor to this humble place."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo had no time for pleasantries with Jin Hao and immediately asked:

"Which Ancient Book did you read about Yanyan's Martial Soul toxins harming her body? Is there any way to resolve it?"

Dugu Yan also stepped before Jin Hao, looking at him with hope as she asked:

"Your Highness, is there a way? I don't want to become a useless person in the future."

Jin Hao was ecstatic inside. Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, here I come.

But outwardly, Jin Hao put on an extremely surprised expression and said:

"Poison Douluo, I regarded Miss Dugu Yan as a friend, which was why I reminded her. I originally thought you would have a solution. Don't tell me that even you have no way?"

Upon hearing this, grandfather and granddaughter both thought that Jin Hao had no solution either. Dugu Bo's heart sank completely, and he mocked himself inwardly. Indeed, he had searched for so many years without finding a solution, yet now he was fantasizing that a fourteen-year-old might have one.

Dugu Yan, who still refused to give up after hearing this, asked:

"Your Highness, did the Ancient Book you read not record any way to solve this problem?"

Hearing that, Jin Hao knew the groundwork was sufficient. 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 actually did contain a solution, but..."

At this point, Jin Hao pretended to be deeply troubled and stopped speaking.

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 fear the backlash from their Martial Soul toxins.

Seeing Jin Hao's troubled expression, Dugu Bo assumed Jin Hao was waiting to name his price, so he said:

"Prince Qinghe, as long as you help us solve our Martial Soul problem, I, Dugu Bo, swear that I will serve the Heaven Dou Empire for the rest of my life and never betray it."

Dugu Yan also said:

"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 withhold a solution if I had one?"

"There is a method, but it requires something called an Immortal Herb. Ever since I finished reading that Ancient Book, I have searched all across Douluo Continent for it. I have been looking for five or six years without the slightest lead. I am beginning to suspect that the Immortal Herb does not exist at all."

"That is why I did not know how to tell you."