Earth Dragon Golden Melon

At those words, Dugu Bo stiffened. Disbelief filled his gaunt face, and even the poisonous mist around him froze for an instant.

The Dugu family's Martial Soul, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, carried a poison that turned on its wielder. Generation after generation had been ravaged by it, their lifespans cut short. Now only he and Yan'er remained.

He had survived this long only because his Martial Soul had fortuitously evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, allowing him to become a Titled Douluo. But its flaw had weighed on him for decades.

He stared hard at Li Xun, an almost imperceptible tremor in his voice. "You... what did you say? You can really cure the flaw in my family's Martial Soul?"

Beside them, Tang Hao put away his Clear Sky Hammer, and his soul rings slowly faded. He could not help glancing over; he had never expected Dugu Bo's Martial Soul to have a flaw.

Tang San looked surprised too. He had not expected Brother Xun to strike at the heart of the matter with his first words.

"Of course. I have two methods: one treats the symptoms, and the other cures the cause." Li Xun nodded without hesitation.

He paused, then looked at Dugu Bo gravely. "If you agree to one condition, Senior Dugu, I'll tell you the complete solution."

Dugu Bo's breath caught. At last, there was hope of fixing his Martial Soul. All the hostility from their confrontation had vanished. "Tell me, young friend. If it's within my power, I'll agree."

"Good. My request is simple: please give me this treasured land." Li Xun stated his condition outright.

Dugu Bo's face stiffened. He was reluctant to part with it. This valley was his refuge, filled with rare medicinal plants. Even if he did not know their names, he knew they were treasures hard to find anywhere else. Its unique environment also barely kept the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison in his body at bay.

But on second thought, he let go of his reluctance. If the flaws in his and his granddaughter Dugu Yan's Martial Souls could be removed for good, this land would no longer matter. Besides, he knew nothing about the plants. Keeping them would only waste them.

After weighing his options, Dugu Bo nodded. "Fine! If you can cure the flaws in my and Yan'er's Martial Souls, the land is yours."

"It's a deal." Li Xun nodded solemnly.

Watching them settle the bargain, Tang San could barely contain his excitement. Brother Xun had made a fortune from this deal.

Dugu Bo had cast aside every reservation. He looked at Li Xun eagerly. "Now that we have an agreement, young friend, tell me about these two methods."

Li Xun calmly began with the first.

"The method that treats the symptoms is to draw out all the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison that has built up in your body and seal it inside one of your Soul Bones."

"Keep the poison locked in the Soul Bone so it cannot reach your organs or damage your meridians, and it will no longer torment you. When you fight, release the stored poison against your opponent."

Li Xun paused before explaining the drawback.

"But this is only a stopgap. It treats the symptoms, not the cause. A Soul Bone can hold only so much. Once it is full, the poison your body continues to produce will turn on you again. This method can keep you alive for a time, but it cannot remove the danger."

When he first heard that the poison could be sealed inside a Soul Bone, Dugu Bo's eyes had lit up. He cursed himself for never thinking of something so simple after decades studying poison.

But when Li Xun explained that the poison would turn on him again once the Soul Bone was full, his newfound hope dimmed. He shook his head, disappointed. "That would only buy me time. It wouldn't cure the flaw in my Martial Soul. Young friend, tell me the method that treats the cause."

Li Xun nodded and turned to Tang San. "Little San, dig up the Earth Dragon Golden Melons."

Tang San paused, then understood. "All right."

He swiftly recalled the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record's description of how the Earth Dragon Golden Melon grew. Sweeping his gaze across the garden of medicinal plants, he soon spotted something out of place.

Herbs flourished throughout the vast Ice and Fire Medicine Garden, except for one bare patch. Its exposed soil stood out sharply against the surrounding growth.

Tang San hurried over and took a small refined-iron trowel from his storage ring. Crouching down, he carefully cleared away the topsoil. Before long, he unearthed two golden, sweet-potato-shaped fruits, one large and one small. A faint golden light shimmered over their skins. They were Earth Dragon Golden Melons.

Tang San hurried back with the two gleaming Earth Dragon Golden Melons in his hands. Faint scale patterns marked their skins, and a deep, powerful draconic presence stirred within them. As he approached, the mist drifting through the valley drew back.

Li Xun took the melons and held them out to Dugu Bo, his expression solemn.

"These are the key to curing the cause: Earth Dragon Golden Melons."

"Each Immortal Herb contains a trace of pure true-dragon essence. The Dugu family's Jade Phosphorous Serpent is already a top-tier serpent Martial Soul. If you and Dugu Yan each eat one, that essence will cleanse the foundations of your Martial Souls."

"It will not only end the poison's backlash and eradicate the flaw that has plagued your family for generations, but also drive Martial Soul Evolution. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent can become a Jade Phosphorous Dragon, while your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor may become a Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor."

"When that happens, the poison will no longer harm you. Your evolved Martial Souls will also raise the limits of what you can achieve."

Dugu Bo jolted. His gaunt hands trembled despite his efforts to steady them.

Curing the poison would have been an enormous gift on its own. But his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor could evolve too!

Martial Soul Evolution was something countless Soul Masters dreamed of. In all his years, he had never dared hope for it.

He stared at the two golden Earth Dragon Golden Melons, his breathing growing heavy.

"My Martial Soul... can it really evolve into the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor?" Dugu Bo murmured, scarcely able to believe it.

"You can rest assured, Senior Dugu. Find somewhere quiet to absorb them, and you'll see for yourself," Li Xun said with a smile.

Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "Good! I'll begin at once. And you needn't call me senior anymore, young friend. If you'll indulge an old man, call me Grandpa Dugu from now on. As for this land, do as you please with it."

With Dugu Bo so eager to claim him as a junior, Li Xun could hardly refuse. "Then thank you, Grandpa Dugu."

"It's a small thing. No need to thank me."

Dugu Bo was delighted. Having the future Asura God call him grandpa felt incredible.

With a loud laugh, he turned and strode toward his Seclusion Cave Abode. There, he took out the larger Earth Dragon Golden Melon and began absorbing this extraordinary gift.