The Imperial Extreme Pill!

"We're here to find a merchant named Lu Chuan."

Xue Qinghe's eyelid twitched.

That crooked merchant hadn't even headed toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect when he left Heavenly Dao City!

How had he gotten involved with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? They'd made contact faster than Xue Qinghe had expected.

"Come with me. He's staying in a Guest Room."

On the way there,

Ning Rongrong filled him in on what had happened, leaving him with a few questions.

Who exactly was Tang San?

The Immortal Herb Illustrated Catalog sounded anything but ordinary. How could a commoner like Tang San know about it?

And why was that crooked merchant so sure Tang San knew?

He would have to ask Uncle She to investigate Tang San later.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but nothing showed on his face as he continued ahead with the others.

Outside the Guest Room at the Crown Prince's Residence, Dugu Bo crouched dejectedly beside the door, resentment written all over his face.

At the sight of the group approaching, he sprang up, clasped his hands behind his back, and assumed the dignified air befitting a Titled Douluo.

Ning Fengzhi asked, puzzled,

"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, what are you doing here?"

Dugu Bo forced himself to remain composed.

"I'm clearing my head. The air's better out here. What, is that a problem?"

They exchanged baffled looks. There was only a wall between the two places. How much worse could the air inside be?

"Your Excellency certainly takes good care of your health. I'm impressed. We'll go in and see young friend Lu Chuan, then..."

As they moved to open the door, Dugu Bo stepped in front of them.

"Wait! You can't go in yet! Stay right there!"

Before anyone could react, he shoved the door open, darted inside, and slammed it shut behind him with a click.

Ning Fengzhi and the others understood now.

Poison Douluo had been guarding the door.

What could be going on inside that required a Titled Douluo to stand guard?

They were curious, but everyone remained outside. No one ventured forward to knock.

In the courtyard, Lu Chuan was guiding Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling through their Dou Technique training, showing them each movement by hand.

Just then, Dugu Bo flashed into the courtyard and leaned close to Lu Chuan, speaking softly.

"Young friend, Xue Qinghe is outside with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Will you see them?"

Lu Chuan withdrew his hand and gave him a suspicious look.

Why do I get the feeling this old geezer is insulting me? Am I imagining it?

"Let them in."

Dugu Bo nodded and vanished again.

A few minutes later,

he returned with the group.

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes at Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling.

Their auras feel different. What good stuff has that crooked merchant given them now?

Sword Douluo, meanwhile, marveled at the young women's Soul Power. Neither looked old, yet one had reached Soul Elder and the other Soul Ancestor.

Did that Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid raise their levels?

Ning Fengzhi stepped forward with a warm smile.

"Young friend Lu Chuan, I'm Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I believe you've met my daughter."

Ning Rongrong peeked out from behind him and waved.

"Here we are again! I had Dad bring the Spirit Bones as soon as I got back to the sect. Since I was so quick about it, can I have a discount?"

Lu Chuan's answer was blunt.

"No."

Ning Rongrong's face fell, her cheeks puffing out slightly.

"Stingy..."

Ning Fengzhi did not seem surprised.

With a turn of his wrist, he produced a wooden box.

"Young friend, here is the thirty-thousand-year right leg bone Rongrong promised, along with a left leg bone of around forty thousand years."

Lu Chuan accepted them with satisfaction and placed them in the System Space.

He then took out a Dou Technique manual recorded by Ye Lingling and twenty bottles of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid, setting them on the table.

"As agreed, every type of Self-Created Soul Skill I currently have is recorded in this manual. Take your pick."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. She hurried forward and reached for the manual.

But Ning Fengzhi picked it up first, his expression turning serious.

He lowered his gaze and rapidly scanned page after page.

The manual listed all kinds of Self-Created Soul Skills: defensive skills, offensive skills, and a few movement techniques suited to agility-attack types. Every category was clearly marked.

Ning Rongrong stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to stare at the manual.

"Dad, pick a good one for me!"

Sword Douluo opened a bottle of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid and held it to his nose. His eyes brightened.

"What a rich medicinal fragrance. Young friend, do you have any Medicinal Pills that work on a Titled Douluo?"

"I do. The Imperial Extreme Pill can raise a Titled Douluo by one or two levels regardless of their current level, but each person can only take one in their lifetime.

"In other words, even a level ninety-eight Titled Douluo could reach level ninety-nine instantly by taking one."

The courtyard fell silent.

Ning Fengzhi's hand paused on the manual, shock filling his face.

Every level a Titled Douluo gained demanded an unimaginable amount of time and resources. The higher their level, the harder it became.

Beyond level ninety-five, talent alone was not enough. One also needed insight and a strong foundation built early on.

He did not know what it took to go from level ninety-eight to ninety-nine, but the requirements could not be low. Otherwise, the entire Douluo Continent would have more than three Limit Douluos.

Yet this pill could bypass those requirements entirely. It defied all reason!

Even Dugu Bo's breathing grew heavy. He stared at Lu Chuan, overjoyed.

I've found someone powerful to rely on! Hahaha!

If the Young Master gives me a little something, couldn't I become a Limit Douluo too?!

Young Master! I'm loyal to you! Ask anything of me!

Xue Qinghe's pupils contracted slightly. But he knew the crooked merchant's way of doing business, and after a brief moment of shock, he quickly calmed down.

For a treasure like that, he'll demand at least a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Otherwise, there's no way he'll agree.

If he doesn't, I'll write Qian Renxue backward!

Sure enough, Lu Chuan spoke calmly.

"Don't celebrate yet. The pill is excellent, but I doubt you can afford it. One Imperial Extreme Pill costs one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."

The mood in the courtyard froze.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin fell silent. Gaining a level or two was tempting, but a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was far too precious.

A level ninety-eight Titled Douluo might take that gamble, but for him, it was not worth it.

Dugu Bo clicked his tongue, his head suddenly clear. A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was worth more than his life. He could hardly afford one.

Xue Qinghe, meanwhile, looked as though he had expected this.

For an ordinary Titled Douluo, the price of the Imperial Extreme Pill was wildly disproportionate to its benefit.

But Grandpa Golden Crocodile could try it.

He had been stuck at level ninety-eight for a long time. Accumulating Soul Power alone would not get him to level ninety-nine, and even absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone would not be enough.

Trading such a bone for an Imperial Extreme Pill was therefore the better choice.

Besides, two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts still lived in the Star Dou Forest. They could kill them and take their bones!

One pill for Grandpa Golden Crocodile, and the other bone can become an heirloom passed down through the family!