A Natural Next Step: To the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

A full two hours passed.

Only then did Dugu Bo, seated cross-legged, finally force every trace of the mixed Cyanide and Arsine poison from his body.

Fine sweat covered his forehead, and fatigue lingered in his expression.

The contrast between their attempts to neutralize the poison could not have been clearer:

One had struggled for hours and emerged weak.

The other had remained calm and neutralized it in an instant.

By now, Qin Yun had reached a conclusion about Cyanide.

The Titled Douluo of Douluo Continent—

Despite their extraordinary soul skills, Martial Souls, and Soul Power, their bodies had not transcended mortal limits.

Before becoming gods, they were merely far tougher than ordinary people. Their bodies had neither become indestructible nor gained the power to regenerate.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, at rank ninety-seven, stood at the pinnacle of mortal strength on the continent.

Yet even he could not regrow a severed arm.

That was proof enough that a Titled Douluo's might relied entirely on Martial Souls, soul skills, and immense Soul Power. Their flesh still had a fatal weakness.

If struck by a chemical poison that attacked their cells and the very source of their blood—

Even a top Titled Douluo had to respond with utmost care. The slightest mistake could leave them gravely injured.

Qin Yun watched Dugu Bo finish regulating his breath and slowly rise.

"Senior, how did you find my mixed poison?" he asked.

That simple question struck Dugu Bo right where it hurt.

He was Poison Douluo, a master who had dominated the path of poison for decades.

Yet a poison concocted by a junior barely above rank forty had trapped him for two whole hours. The boy had seen him at his most wretched. His pride was in tatters.

Dugu Bo seethed with frustration, but he forced down his embarrassment.

"I held back on purpose just now," he said, his voice low.

"Now I'll show you the true venom of my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor!"

Dugu Bo held nothing back this time.

Soul Power surged around him. Nine distinct Soul Rings rose one after another beneath his feet and circled his body.

Two yellow, two purple, and five black—the standard Soul Ring configuration of a Titled Douluo.

Wave upon wave of Soul Power pressure swept across the area.

Before the pressure faded, a wisp of eerie green venom gathered at Dugu Bo's fingertip.

With a light touch, he cut through the skin of Qin Yun's forearm.

Blood welled from the wound. Potent Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor venom raced upward through the meridians in his arm.

His meridians grew faintly numb in its wake, and his Soul Power stirred restlessly.

Faced with such fierce venom invading his body—

Qin Yun stood motionless, his expression calm.

His Martial Soul quietly activated. He unleashed Microscopic Analysis at full strength, pinpointing every trace of venom.

In less than a minute, every trace of snake venom ravaging his body had been broken down, purified, and eradicated. Not a single sign of poisoning remained.

He had made it look effortless.

Watching it happen, Dugu Bo went utterly still, stunned and bewildered.

The innate snake venom he had spent half his life cultivating, the source of his greatest pride, had entered the boy's body.

Yet it still posed no threat to him.

It had not even made him blink.

Qin Yun lowered his eyes with a faint smile as he looked at the dazed Dugu Bo.

Then he changed tack and offered something tempting.

"Senior, I can not only neutralize my own poison. I can also cure the backlash from your innate venom that has plagued you for years."

"And I can lift the poison curse in Dugu Yan's bloodline while I'm at it."

"What do you say?"

The words jolted Dugu Bo out of his daze.

The backlash from his own venom had tormented him for years.

His granddaughter Dugu Yan had been gravely affected too, with no hope of ever escaping it.

Hearing Qin Yun's claim, he nearly lost his composure.

He had seen Qin Yun's astonishing ability to neutralize and break down poison firsthand.

Having also seen that the boy's mastery of poison far surpassed his own, Dugu Bo already half believed him.

Hope slipped into his voice despite himself.

"You... you really can cure both my granddaughter and me?"

"I can."

"But to eradicate the poison and restore your meridians, I'll need a great many rare medicinal herbs."

Dugu Bo nodded at once, without hesitation.

"That's easy! I know a place with plenty of medicinal herbs. It should have everything you need!"

A trace of amusement flashed deep in Qin Yun's eyes.

"In that case, sorry for the trouble, Senior, but please take me there."

Dugu Bo paused, then asked instinctively,

"Don't you need to examine us first and determine how deeply the poison has taken hold?"

"You're going straight to gathering herbs?"

Qin Yun answered calmly, with absolute confidence.

"Your condition is caused by the accumulated backlash of the venom from your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul. Its source is clear. I could see it at a glance."

"A little snake venom won't stump me."

"Let's go!"

Dugu Bo stopped. His expression grew stranger, and he frowned.

"You're coming with me just like that?"

"The herb garden isn't in Heaven Dou City!"

"Ning Fengzhi won't let you wander off with me."

"Don't worry, Senior." Qin Yun smiled faintly.

"Before I came to Heaven Dou Academy, I told Uncle Ning."

"I explained that I'd be working with my teammates at the academy and going on field trips to train and study. He has no reason to worry."

At Qin Yun's words,

Dugu Bo's brow tightened. Something about this felt strangely off.

He had come to demand an explanation. They had competed in poison arts. Then the boy had found his weakness, and somehow Dugu Bo had agreed to take him to his hidden herb garden.

He felt as though he were being led by the nose.

Yet however carefully he thought it through, he could not say what was wrong.

He could only set aside his doubts, turn, and lead the way.

The deserted mountain path wound through deep woods. Wind rustled through the trees.

Dugu Bo's expression remained conflicted.

Qin Yun followed at an unhurried pace, entirely at ease.

Together, they crossed mountains and forests toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

At last, Dugu Bo could no longer suppress his questions. He glanced back as they walked.

"Boy, you're far too calculating to be reckless."

"You offered to rid my granddaughter and me of the poison that's plagued us for years, yet you haven't mentioned payment or named a single condition. That's hardly normal."

Qin Yun kept walking as he answered.

"No need to be suspicious, Senior."

"I'm with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect now. The sect's fortunes are closely tied to the Heaven Dou Empire, and you serve the empire as a guest Titled Douluo. We're on the same side. Helping each other is only natural."

"Besides, I've never liked making empty promises or setting terms before I've done anything."

"I'd rather get the job done first."

"Once I've rid you both of the poison curse and its backlash, we can discuss what comes next."

Dugu Bo slowed for a moment. After a brief silence, he made his position clear.

"Let me tell you this now."

"I've always lived as I please. I'm used to my freedom, and I have no desire to be bound to a sect or any other faction."

"Even if you cure Yan'er and me, I will never join or pledge myself to any faction, much less become someone else's hired muscle."

"So don't waste your efforts on that."