Dugu Bo: You Know About My Herbs? Tuoba Xi Stunned: Even Dugu Bo Is Poisoned?

Tuoba Xi smiled calmly and raised his wine cup.

"Your Highness worries too much.

Mr. Dugu showed great integrity by choosing to yield at the auction today. I know that full well."

Dugu Bo snorted and drained his cup.

"I yielded because I couldn't match your money. What's so noble about that?

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."

At that moment, Yin Changqing stood and raised his cup to Dugu Bo, his expression composed.

"Mr. Dugu speaks frankly.

At today's auction, we were simply after different things. I'm Yin Changqing, and I'd like to offer you a toast on behalf of the Holy Dragon Sect.

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

If an opportunity arises to work together on herbs or poisons, the Holy Dragon Sect would be happy to trade with you on equal terms. We won't let you lose out."

Dugu Bo narrowed his green eyes, studying the twelve-year-old boy whose bearing belied 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'm used to going my own way. Apart from poison, I have nothing the Holy Dragon Sect would want."

A sharp glint flashed through Prince Xue Xing's eyes. He watched quietly over his cup without interrupting, evidently gauging Yin Changqing's standing in the Holy Dragon Sect.

Yin Changqing smiled faintly. Rather than retreat from Dugu Bo's cold response, he turned his gaze to Dugu Yan.

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

My martial soul is the Light Saint Dragon. I'm highly sensitive to the aura of poisons and the fluctuations of Light Purification.

When we were close just now, I seemed to sense a faint poison stirring within her."

Dugu Yan trembled slightly 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 robe stirred though there was no wind, and his eyes turned icy as he fixed them on Yin Changqing.

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

The backlash from the Dugu family's Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison was Dugu Bo's deepest pain and greatest 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 as he spoke.

"All things in the world counterbalance one another.

Where there is a deadly poison, a rare herb that counters it can often be found within a hundred paces.

I only meant to say that the Holy Dragon Sect has spent recent years searching the continent for all manner of Heavenly Treasures and rare herbs.

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

Likewise, if you possess any rare medicinal plants of great age or unusual properties, the Holy Dragon Sect would gladly exchange a generous sum or treasures of equal value for them."

Dugu Bo forced down his shock, his gaze flickering.

He did have a precious herb garden, a remarkable place filled with countless rare medicinal plants.

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

"Hmph. Bold words, boy."

Dugu Bo suppressed his urge to kill and slowly drew in the fluctuations of his Soul Power. His voice was cold.

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

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

"Name your price, sir. There's little in this world the Holy Dragon Sect cannot obtain."

Yin Changqing drained his cup and tipped it downward to show it was empty. His smile held a deeper meaning.

"I'll be ready to share a drink whenever you come to me."

Prince Xue Xing took it all in, inwardly reeling.

In a few sentences, this twelve-year-old young master of the Holy Dragon Sect had not only smoothed over the awkwardness from the auction, but turned the tables and seized the upper hand against the Poison Douluo!

Prince Xue Xing laughed and raised his cup.

"Excellent!

The younger generation is formidable!

Young Master Yin has such resolve at his age. The Holy Dragon Sect's future is boundless!

Mr. Dugu, since Young Master Yin is sincere, it would do both sides good to keep 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 banquet gradually drew to a close, with everyone lost in their own thoughts.

Dugu Bo was the first to leave, taking Dugu Yan with him. Before he went, the Poison Douluo gave Yin Changqing another meaningful look but said nothing.

After the grandfather and granddaughter had gone, Prince Xue Xing personally saw Tuoba Xi and Yin Changqing to the gates of his residence, smiling broadly.

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

If you come to Heaven Dou City again, you must visit me."

Tuoba Xi replied courteously.

"Please don't see us out any farther, Your Highness. Thank you for your hospitality. The young master and I won't trouble you any longer."

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

Once they were inside the Carriage, out of sight of those outside, Tuoba Xi could no longer hold back. He lowered his voice.

"Changqing, did you really see that Dugu Yan was poisoned at the banquet?

That Old Poison Dugu Bo's face changed in an instant."

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

"Grandfather, the Poison Douluo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor is deadly poisonous, but neither he nor his granddaughter is fully immune to its poison.

Both of them—or rather, generations of soul masters in the Dugu Family—have suffered backlash from the poison of their own Martial Soul."

Tuoba Xi drew a sharp breath, shaken.

"Backlash?

A Titled Douluo, tormented by his own poison?"

"That's right."

A sharp glint flashed through Yin Changqing's eyes.

"Dugu Bo has searched everywhere for rare medicines and even settled in a remarkable place, all to suppress that serpent poison.

Now that I've exposed his secret and mentioned rare herbs, he won't be able to sit still.

We have the initiative."

Realization dawned on Tuoba Xi. 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 Dugu Bo will make his move?"

"There's no rush."

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, his voice deep.

"That makes sense.

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

"All right."

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

After absorbing so much Whale Rubber, Yin Changqing's physical strength had long since surpassed that of others at his level.

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

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

Yin Changqing took it out and summoned his Light Saint Dragon martial soul, using Lightfire to soften it.

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