The Furious Dugu Bo and the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower

"Of course."

"Then tell me the symptoms of my poisoning."

"If you don't believe me, forget it."

Qin Yu tossed out the reply.

He only knew how to treat it. How could he remember the symptoms in detail? At best, he had a vague idea.

"..." Dugu Bo's mouth twitched. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

If Ling Yuan Douluo hadn't been there, he would have slapped Qin Yu dead. The brat was infuriating.

He was a Titled Douluo, yet Qin Yu showed him no respect at all.

"Fine. I believe you!"

Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and stared at Qin Yu. "Tell me. How do I get rid of the poison?"

"You expect a cure without paying anything? Dream on." Qin Yu looked at him in disbelief.

Dugu Bo glared at him and said coldly, "I've already handed over my Medicine Garden. You must have taken plenty of medicinal plants, too. Isn't that enough?"

Qin Yu ignored him and turned to Ling Yuan Douluo. "This old poisoner isn't sincere. Let's go."

Ling Yuan Douluo caught on at once. She channeled her Soul Power and made as if to leave.

"Wait!"

Just as expected, Dugu Bo stopped them again. Resignation filled his face. "Brat, you win."

"Tell me. What else do you want?"

Of all the young people Dugu Bo had encountered over the years, Qin Yu was the hardest to deal with.

Worse, Qin Yu had found his weak spot, leaving him no choice but to negotiate politely with this young junior.

For his granddaughter's future, he was willing to swallow his pride even for the slimmest hope.

"I'll be going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy in a while. We can discuss it there," Qin Yu said.

"Brat, are you playing games with me?!"

Dugu Bo flew into a rage. He had nearly reached his limit.

"Heh." Qin Yu chuckled, utterly calm. "Old poisoner, do you have a choice?"

"You!"

Dugu Bo seethed.

"Catch."

Qin Yu took out a small piece of strange root and tossed it to Dugu Bo. "Judging by the weather and the time, your poison is about to flare up. This will ease it."

"Take that root, and you'll know whether I was telling the truth."

"Of course, if you're afraid I poisoned it and don't dare take it, you can go back to your Medicine Garden and keep enduring the poison's backlash."

With that, Qin Yu gave Ling Yuan Douluo a look.

She understood immediately and flew off with him. Before long, their auras vanished from Dugu Bo's senses.

"What an insufferable brat!" Dugu Bo's face darkened completely.

He swore he wanted to give Qin Yu a thorough beating even more than he wanted to kill him.

"Hmph. This thing is supposed to help?"

Dugu Bo looked at the root in his hand and almost threw it away. But Qin Yu's words made him hesitate. That brat mentioned the weather and the time. He clearly knows the symptoms of my poisoning.

Looks like he really does know a thing or two.

Fine. I'll keep the root for now. It might come in handy.

Muttering to himself, Dugu Bo entered the valley to prepare for the coming backlash.

But the moment he stepped inside, he froze.

A long while later...

"Brat! You and I are enemies for life!"

His furious roar shook the air, sending Soul Beasts within miles fleeing in every direction.

Meanwhile...

The city closest to Sunset Forest was called Silvers.

After leaving Sunset Forest, Qin Yu and Ling Yuan Douluo stopped at a hotel there. They booked a room and took a short rest.

"Your Highness, if you can cure Dugu Bo, why put it off?" Ling Yuan Douluo asked, puzzled.

"I'm the one in charge of this, not him."

Qin Yu smiled faintly.

He intended to bring Dugu Bo over to his side. Before that, though, he needed to temper Poison Douluo's attitude.

Dugu Bo had no one else to pin his hopes on for now, so Qin Yu was in no hurry.

Once he had taken the Immortal Herbs, advanced to Soul Ancestor, and obtained his Fourth Soul Ring, he would go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and gradually bring Dugu Bo under his control.

He had plenty of time.

"Then that thing you gave Dugu Bo just now, Your Highness..."

"The root of a medicinal plant. It's good for the body and can ease the poison's backlash, but it can't cure him."

After that brief explanation, Qin Yu took out an Immortal Herb and tossed it to Ling Yuan Douluo. "Now, let's get to the important part."

"Your Highness, this is..."

Ling Yuan Douluo caught it by reflex. She studied the unusual herb in her hand. She had a guess, but she couldn't be sure.

"A Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower."

Qin Yu smiled. "It's the Immortal Herb best suited to you. Not only can it improve your talent for cultivation, it might even trigger Martial Soul Evolution."

Ling Yuan Douluo's eyes lit up, her heart burning with excitement.

She believed Qin Yu without question.

If he said so, it had to be true. This herb had to be extraordinarily precious.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Ling Yuan Douluo held it out with both hands. "Your Highness, I've nearly reached my limit. Giving me a treasure like this would be a waste."

"You should take it. That would make the best use of it."

She knew this must be the "opportunity" Qin Yu had mentioned before.

Of course she wanted it.

But Qin Yu was more talented. With a treasure like this, he could go much further and help secure Spirit Hall's position as the continent's dominant power.

"You were there when we found it. You deserve a share."

"And you're one of us. I made you a promise, and I won't go back on it."

Qin Yu pushed the herb back toward her.

Ling Yuan Douluo glanced down at the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower in her hands, then looked up at Qin Yu. Her eyes trembled.

She would have been lying if she said she wasn't moved.

"Your Highness..."

Ling Yuan Douluo started to speak, but Qin Yu raised a hand to stop her. With a slight smile, he said, "Most of the plants in Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden are poisonous. There are only nine Immortal Herbs that can be taken."

"I've already taken two to strengthen my body. Counting this Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, that leaves only six."

"So make the most of it. Don't let it go to waste."

A peculiar look flashed through Qin Yu's eyes as he spoke.

Only six Immortal Herbs left?

Of course not. That was merely what he had chosen to tell her.

For one thing, he didn't like revealing everything.

For another, he wanted Ling Yuan Douluo to understand how precious the herb was. It was a small way to win her loyalty.

Sure enough, his words moved Ling Yuan Douluo deeply.

"Remember, don't chew it. Swallow it whole," Qin Yu instructed. "Gather your Soul Power and guide the medicinal energy. No matter how much it hurts, you must endure it, or all your effort will be wasted."

"I understand, Your Highness."

Ling Yuan Douluo nodded firmly and swallowed it in front of Qin Yu. Then she gathered her Soul Power to guide the medicinal energy.

She had assumed the "pain" Qin Yu mentioned would be nothing to a Titled Douluo.

Only when she felt it did she realize how agonizing that burning sensation truly was.

But she endured it.

Gradually, Ling Yuan Douluo's aura grew stronger. The barrier that had held her at the peak of level ninety-four began to loosen.