Dugu Bo: You Know About My Herbs? Tuoba Xi: Even Dugu Bo Himself Was Poisoned?

Tuoba Xi smiled calmly and raised his wine cup.

"Your Highness worried too much.

Mr. Dugu showed admirable restraint when he yielded at the auction today. I understood that perfectly well."

Dugu Bo snorted and drained his cup.

"I simply couldn't match your wealth. How was that yielding?

Besides, that Earth Dragon King Spirit Bone wasn't a perfect fit for my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. Buying it at any cost would have been a waste."

Just then, Yin Changqing rose of his own accord. He lifted his cup toward Dugu Bo, his expression composed.

"Mr. Dugu spoke plainly.

At today's auction, we each pursued what we needed. I am Yin Changqing, and I offer you this toast on behalf of the Holy Dragon Sect.

As my grandfather said, the Holy Dragon Sect bears you no ill will.

If there is ever an opportunity to work together on herbs or poisons, the Holy Dragon Sect will trade with you on equal terms. We won't let you lose out."

Dugu Bo narrowed his green eyes and studied the twelve-year-old boy before him, whose bearing was remarkable for his age.

He had sensed the vast Soul Power lying dormant within Yin Changqing. Though startled, he only gave a cold laugh.

"Work together?

I've always worked alone. Aside from poison, I have nothing the Holy Dragon Sect would want to get its hands on."

A glint flashed through Prince Xue Xing's eyes. He watched over his wine cup without interrupting, plainly assessing Yin Changqing's standing in the Holy Dragon Sect.

Yin Changqing smiled faintly. Rather than retreating in the face of Dugu Bo's coldness, he turned his gaze to Dugu Yan.

"Miss Dugu looks well, but on closer inspection, there's a faint bluish tinge at the corners of her eyes.

My Martial Soul is the Light Sacred Dragon. I'm exceptionally sensitive to the aura of poisons and the fluctuations of Light Purification.

When I stood near her earlier, I seemed to sense a trace of poison stirring within her."

Dugu Yan flinched and stared at Yin Changqing in disbelief.

"What nonsense are you talking about?

My grandfather is the Poison Douluo. How could I be poisoned?"

Dugu Bo's expression changed abruptly. His green robes stirred though there was no wind, and his gaze turned icy as he fixed it on Yin Changqing.

"Boy, do you know what you're saying?"

The Dugu Family's Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison turning against its own wielders was Dugu Bo's deepest pain and most closely guarded secret. He had never imagined this boy could detect it through his Martial Soul alone!

"There's no need to be angry, Mr. Dugu."

Yin Changqing remained unruffled and said evenly,

"All things have their natural counterparts.

Wherever a deadly poison is found, a rare herb that counters it is often close by.

All I mean is that the Holy Dragon Sect has spent recent years searching the continent for Heavenly Treasures and rare medicinal herbs.

If you need anything, the Holy Dragon Sect's resources are at your disposal.

And if you have rare medicinal plants of great age or unusual properties, the Holy Dragon Sect would gladly offer a generous sum or treasures of equal value in exchange."

Dugu Bo forced down his shock, his eyes flickering.

He did, in fact, possess a precious Medicine Garden filled with countless Immortal Herbs and rare medicines.

But had the boy mentioned herbs by chance, or had he discerned the source of the Snake Poison Backlash afflicting him?

"Hmph. You talk big, boy."

Suppressing his urge to kill, Dugu Bo slowly reined in the fluctuations of his Soul Power and said coldly,

"My family affairs are no concern of the Holy Dragon Sect.

As for herbs... I do have a few rare specimens, but I doubt the Holy Dragon Sect has anything I'd consider worth trading for!"

"Name your price, and there's nothing the Holy Dragon Sect can't obtain."

Yin Changqing drained his cup, turned it upside down to show it was empty, and smiled knowingly.

"I'll be ready to share that drink with you whenever you wish."

Prince Xue Xing had watched the entire exchange, and turmoil surged through his heart.

In just a few sentences, the twelve-year-old young master of the Holy Dragon Sect had not only dispelled the awkwardness left by the auction but seized the initiative and put the Poison Douluo on the defensive!

Prince Xue Xing laughed and raised his cup.

"Excellent!

The younger generation is formidable!

For Young Master Yin to have such boldness at his age—the Holy Dragon Sect's future is boundless!

Mr. Dugu, since Young Master Yin has made such a sincere offer, it would be a fine thing for your two sides to stay in touch."

Dugu Bo gave Yin Changqing a long look. He did not contradict Prince Xue Xing, merely took a small sip from his cup and said in a low voice,

"Boy, I'll remember what you said."

The evening banquet gradually drew to a close, with everyone harboring thoughts of their own.

Dugu Bo was the first to rise and take his leave with Dugu Yan. Before departing, the Poison Douluo cast Yin Changqing another meaningful look but said nothing.

Once Dugu Bo and his granddaughter had gone, Prince Xue Xing personally escorted Tuoba Xi and Yin Changqing to the gates of his residence, smiling broadly.

"Sect Master Tuoba, my dear nephew Yin, I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation today.

The next time you come to Heaven Dou City, you must visit me."

Tuoba Xi replied courteously,

"Please, Your Highness, there's no need to see us farther. Thank you for your hospitality today. The young master and I won't impose any longer."

Yin Changqing bowed slightly and took his leave of Prince Xue Xing.

Once they were inside the carriage and out of sight, Tuoba Xi could no longer hold back. He lowered his voice and asked,

"Changqing, could you really tell at the banquet that Dugu Yan had been poisoned?

Old Poison's face changed in an instant."

Yin Changqing leaned against the carriage's cushioned seat and smiled calmly.

"Grandfather, the Poison Douluo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor is among the most venomous Martial Souls in the world, but neither he nor his granddaughter is fully immune to its poison.

The two of them—or rather, generations of Soul Masters in the Dugu Family—have been suffering from the poison of their own Martial Soul turning against them."

Tuoba Xi drew a sharp breath, his expression shaken.

"Turning against them?

A mighty Titled Douluo, afflicted by his own poison?"

"That's right."

A glint flashed in Yin Changqing's eyes.

"Dugu Bo has searched everywhere for rare medicines. He even settled in a peculiar place, all to suppress the serpent poison.

I exposed his secret today and brought up rare herbs. There's no way he can sit still.

We now hold the initiative."

Realization dawned on Tuoba Xi, and he slapped his thigh approvingly.

"You clever boy! No wonder you dared bring it up in front of that old fox Xue Xing!

When do you think he'll make a move?"

"There's no hurry."

Yin Changqing analyzed the situation calmly.

"He's suspicious by nature. Right now, he's surely investigating the Holy Dragon Sect in secret.

Once we return to the sect, he'll find a chance to test us."

Tuoba Xi nodded and said gravely,

"That makes sense.

We'll rest tonight, then set off for the sect first thing tomorrow morning!"

"All right."

Yin Changqing closed his eyes to rest, feeling the abundant Soul Power flowing smoothly through his body.

After absorbing so much Whale Rubber, his physical strength had long surpassed that of others at his level.

Ordinary century-old and Millennium Whale Rubber were now of no use to him.

But this piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber was different.

Yin Changqing took out the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, summoned his Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul, and softened the rubber with Lightfire.

Then he tore off pieces one by one, put them in his mouth, and chewed and refined them.