Transferring Poison into a Spirit Bone? A Stopgap, Not a Cure! The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well

Could it completely cure Yan Yan's Snake Poison Backlash and even take the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor a step further?

Both promises struck Dugu Bo's deepest vulnerability and greatest desire!

"Boy... do you have any idea what you're saying?!"

Dugu Bo's breathing grew noticeably heavier, his voice hoarse.

"My Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom has been eating into my bones for decades. No one in this world can cure it!

What gives you the nerve to make such a claim?"

"Because I know exactly where your poison came from, sir."

Yin Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm.

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor is among the most venomous creatures in the world. You forced its venom to merge with your flesh and Soul Power. It made you formidable, but every moment, you suffer as though ten thousand poisons are eating away at your heart.

On rainy nights, the spots beneath your ribs itch so badly you can hardly bear it. At midnight, the top of your head and the soles of your feet stab with pain as if pierced by needles. Am I right?"

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted. He took an involuntary step back, horror filling his eyes.

Those symptoms were his deepest secret. Even Dugu Yan knew nothing about them!

Yet the young man before him had described them exactly!

"If you don't believe me, sir, I can tell you how to treat the root of the problem right now."

Yin Changqing held up two fingers and began to explain.

"First, the poison in your body has long since become part of your blood and bones. Forcing it out would destroy your cultivation.

The solution is to transfer it.

Find a Spirit Bone of suitable quality and force the poison throughout your body into it, refining it into a Poison Core.

As long as the Spirit Bone remains intact, the poison won't harm you. Instead, it could become your strongest trump card."

Yin Changqing knew, of course, that a Soul Core was the real solution. Storing the poison in a Spirit Bone would treat the symptoms, not the cause.

But the method for forming a Soul Core was secret. He could only teach Dugu Bo once the man had joined the Sect and proven himself.

"Second, Dugu Yan is still young. The poison hasn't reached her bones yet. She only needs a regimen of specific herbs.

Combined with a Spirit Bone to draw out the poison, that will eliminate the danger for good. Snake venom will never trouble her again."

Not only Dugu Bo but also Tuoba Xi and Yin Yu, who stood guard nearby, looked startled.

Transfer the poison into a Spirit Bone?

Refine a Poison Core?

The idea was extraordinary, yet its logic was sound!

After all, Dugu Bo already had a Poison Core within his own body.

It held half of his poisonous power and had greatly reduced the harm he suffered from Snake Poison Backlash.

Dugu Bo stood frozen, his thoughts roaring like thunder.

He was a master of poisons himself. With that little hint from Yin Changqing, he instantly grasped the key.

It could work!

This method could absolutely work!

It might even untie the knot I've spent decades trying to unravel!

"Hah... hah..."

Dugu Bo drew several ragged breaths. The wariness in his eyes vanished.

Before, he had merely been testing them. Now his heart was in turmoil!

"Good... what a brilliant way to transfer it!"

Dugu Bo took a deep breath, suppressing his elation and shock. He looked at Yin Changqing gravely.

"Boy, I admit it. You truly are a genius the likes of which the world rarely sees!

Since you've put such an offer on the table, I'll lay my cards out too."

Dugu Bo raised his head and glanced at Tuoba Xi and Yin Yu before speaking in a deep voice.

"If you can cure Yan Yan and help me resolve this Snake Poison Backlash:

First, every herb in my garden deep in Sunset Forest will be yours for the Holy Dragon Sect to use!

Second, I'll serve as a guest elder of the Holy Dragon Sect. So long as it doesn't violate my principles, I won't stand by if the Sect is in danger!"

A ruthless resolve flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.

"But let me make one thing clear. If you try any tricks and harm Yan Yan in the process, I'll drag the Holy Dragon Sect down with me, even if it costs me my life!"

Tuoba Xi laughed heartily and stepped forward.

"You jest, Mr. Dugu.

The Holy Dragon Sect conducts itself honorably. Changqing proposed this exchange; he would never gamble with Miss Dugu's life."

Yin Yu gave a slight nod and said coolly:

"The Sect Master and I are here. We will honor our promise."

"Good!

I'll trust you this once!"

Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and looked at Yin Changqing.

"Boy, when do we start?"

Yin Changqing smiled faintly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

"There's no rush.

First, please take me to your herb garden, sir.

If that precious place has all the essential ingredients for the treatment, so much the better."

Yin Changqing added calmly:

"Once I've gathered what I need from the garden, I'll personally purge the poison from Miss Dugu Yan and help you refine a Spirit Bone Poison Core."

"Good! I'll take you there now!"

Dugu Bo agreed without hesitation.

Dugu Bo led the way, with Yin Yu accompanying them as protection.

The three traveled swiftly, reaching the depths of Sunset Forest's inner region in less than half an hour.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"This is it."

Dugu Bo folded his arms and gestured at the rare herbs covering the ground, pride in his voice.

"You won't find another place like this anywhere in the world!"

Yin Changqing looked at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his eyes lighting up.

Without wasting a word, he brushed a hand over his Storage Bracelet and brought out dozens of specially prepared jade boxes and golden spades.

Intricate runes were carved into the boxes to preserve the herbs' potency and keep their spiritual energy from escaping.

"You're generous, sir. Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Yin Changqing moved nimbly among the rare plants, choosing each one with precision.

Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone...

Every Immortal Herb he recognized was swiftly harvested with practiced care and placed in a specially made jade box.

Dugu Bo's mouth twitched violently at the sight. His heart ached so badly his eyes stung.

"Boy... wait!"

Dugu Bo could not hold back a shout. He pointed at the jade boxes overflowing in Yin Changqing's hands.

"Are you gathering herbs or stocking a shop?!

I spent years tending those treasures, and you've emptied more than half my garden in no time!

Do you even know what you're taking?!"

Though Dugu Bo did not know what those Immortal Herbs did, he knew they were no ordinary plants.

"Please be patient, Mr. Dugu."

Yin Changqing calmly placed another Immortal Herb in a box and smiled.

"Letting such treasures go to waste would be the greatest waste of all.

In your hands, these herbs are little more than pretty plants. You can hardly even put their poisons to use.

In mine, they can become trump cards powerful enough to reshape the continent—and cure you and Yan Yan of the poison for good."