Testing the Waters

Jiang Baiyu was searching the Library for a special Soul Beast that matched what he had in mind. Ideally, it would be an Essence of the Five Grains. Only then could it fully reveal the Shennong Cauldron's true nature.

He turned page after page, reading about the habits and traits of countless Soul Beasts, but found nothing. Then hurried footsteps approached, strikingly loud in the quiet Library.

He looked up to see Yu Tianheng rush in, apparently searching for someone. Anxiety showed on his face, but his eyes lit up when he spotted Jiang Baiyu.

Yu Tianheng went straight to him and lowered his voice, careful not to disturb the other students. "Baiyu, the Jade Phosphorous Douluo is here. He's waiting for you in your courtyard."

"Your Eminence Dugu has a difficult temper, and you never know what he'll do. With his poison skills, I'm worried he might decide to make an example of you because you're unusual."

The room was quiet, and nearby students cast curious glances their way, wondering what the former Imperial Fighting Team captain had said to Jiang Baiyu.

After that match, Jiang Baiyu had agreed to join the Imperial Fighting Team as a reserve. Yu Tianheng, however, had insisted that he become captain.

"Thanks." Jiang Baiyu stood, returned his book to the shelf, and headed straight for his courtyard.

A Titled Douluo had arrived there. No wonder the atmosphere was tense.

Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo had already entered the courtyard.

"Grandpa, are you listening? Jiang Baiyu is still young, but he really did dissolve the poison in my body. Be polite! No poisonous insects, and absolutely no poison skills! Do you hear me? Be polite!" Dugu Yan kept talking, afraid that her proud, reclusive grandfather would hurt Jiang Baiyu and offend him.

"All right, all right. I heard you. When the boy gets back, I'll be polite." After Dugu Yan showed him the unusual wine, Dugu Bo had come straight to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

His voice sounded young, and the man himself was far from decrepit. Soul Power had nourished him since he became a Titled Douluo, leaving him remarkably youthful. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, the Douluo titled Poison, had pale skin, a delicate face, and cold jade-green eyes. A faint pressure lingered around him. Simply standing there, he radiated an unsettling sense of menace.

Zhu Zhuqing brought over a pot of Jade Tea. She looked nervous as she served the Titled Douluo whose eccentric temper was the stuff of rumor.

Dugu Yan accepted it and thanked her.

Meanwhile, Dugu Bo surveyed the courtyard.

There were quite a few Spirit Herbs growing there. Though relatively common, they were flourishing.

Clusters of herbs grew freely, their leaves bright and lustrous. They swayed gently in the breeze, showing an uncommon vitality.

Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back. His fingers stirred, releasing a thread of Soul Power to probe the surrounding plants.

He had a vast Medicine Garden of his own and had seen countless rare flowers and herbs. The plants here were different, and he noticed it at once.

"Not bad," Dugu Bo said, surprise flickering in his eyes. "These plants have even more vitality than the herbs I've carefully raised in my Medicine Garden. I'd almost like to take the boy back as my herb apprentice."

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan protested.

"All right, all right. I know." His Soul Power continued deeper into the courtyard. Suddenly, he sensed a faint aura: rich with life, ancient, and capable of calming the mind. It drifted at the edge of his perception.

There's another remarkable plant hidden here. He raised an eyebrow and committed the aura to memory.

After observing for a while, Dugu Bo sat down. His gaze continued to search the courtyard for that extraordinary plant.

Then a voice came from outside.

"Sorry I wasn't here to welcome you, Your Eminence Dugu," Jiang Baiyu called.

Zhu Zhuqing rose, her eyes brightening. Being around a Titled Douluo had put her under enormous pressure.

Dugu Bo also looked toward the gate.

A handsome boy hurried over in plain robes. His eyes were dark, his black hair tied high, and his posture straight. He gave off a gentle impression.

He stepped quickly through the courtyard gate.

From his seat at the stone table, Dugu Bo took in Jiang Baiyu's appearance, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Yan'er had told him the boy was young, but he had not expected him to be quite this young.

Yu Tianheng arrived right behind him. At the sight of Dugu Bo, he hurriedly bowed. "Your Eminence Dugu."

"That's enough. Get up." Dugu Bo had little patience for the boy who had won his granddaughter's heart. If Yu Tianheng's grandfather were not that old dragon, and if Yu Tianheng himself were not fairly talented, Dugu Bo would never have let Yan'er be with him.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment. Dugu Bo glanced at Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng, then waved a hand. His tone left no room for argument. "Yan'er, you and Yu Tianheng go outside. I have something to discuss with Baiyu alone."

Dugu Yan wanted to object, but when she met Dugu Bo's eyes, she swallowed her words and nodded. She took the worried Yu Tianheng by the hand, and the two left.

Jiang Baiyu said, "Zhuqing, wait outside too. This concerns Senior Dugu."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and left, closing the courtyard gate behind her.

Only Jiang Baiyu and the oppressive Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, Dugu Bo, remained in the spacious courtyard.

Steam still rose from the tea on the stone table. The scents of tea and Spirit Herbs mingled in the air.

Dugu Bo lifted his cup, a finger resting on its rim. He gave Jiang Baiyu a faint smile. "So young, yet you have such an extraordinary Martial Soul. You even neutralized the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in Yan'er's body with ease. Quite the young talent. Tell me, who is your teacher?"

He got straight to the point. He wanted to know who was really behind this attempt to approach his family. Dugu Bo did not believe Jiang Baiyu was acting on his own.

Jiang Baiyu smiled faintly. "My teacher is Su Wu."

Dugu Bo's demeanor changed instantly. "Boy, do you think a few good words from Yan'er put you beyond suspicion? You're using a dead man's name to fool me. Do you think I'm that gullible?"

Only then did Jiang Baiyu remember that, as far as the Soul Master world knew, Su Wu was dead. He remained composed. "You can ask the Three Education Committee Members whether it's true. I don't know where my grandfather has gone this time. And would this serve as proof of my identity?" He raised the Soul Tool on his wrist.

"That's..." Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes. "The Medicine King Bracelet?"

"Fine. I'll believe you this once. So, you intend to use my Dugu family to make a name for yourself?" Dugu Bo asked coldly.

It sounded like a threat, but he was trying to draw more out of Jiang Baiyu.

Jiang Baiyu did not dodge the question. He looked Dugu Bo straight in the eye and spoke calmly and clearly. "Senior, compared to the serpent poison in Miss Yan'er's body, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's venom that has plagued you for years and seeped into your meridians and bones is the greater danger. In time, it will kill you. I suspect members of the Dugu family carry the poison of your Martial Soul from birth."

The moment he finished speaking, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze.

The trace of a smile on Dugu Bo's face vanished.

His expression darkened, his gaze turned sharp, and a poisonous aura quietly surged around him. The pressure he gave off, tolerable a moment ago, became fierce and threatening.

The poison that tormented his family was the pain of his life. Since his son's death, no one else had known the truth. Yet a boy not even ten years old had seen through the venom afflicting him and the secret behind his family's decline.

Dugu Bo set down his teacup. Porcelain tapped stone with a crisp clink.

He fixed Jiang Baiyu with a dark stare, his face grim. "How do you know?"

The atmosphere in the courtyard turned icy.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's venom in his body was his deepest secret. As he studied the boy, killing intent rose alongside his urge to test him.

"Your hair and eyes weren't always that color, were they? The same goes for Sister Yanzi. That's why she chose the Control System instead of following you into the Power Attack System, isn't it?" Jiang Baiyu said evenly. "I asked Sister Yanzi to bring you here because—I can cure you!"

Confidence filled the boy's eyes.