A Face Full of Disdain, a Complete Reversal

When Dugu Bo heard the child beside Ning Fengzhi speak, he turned his gaze on Mo An. The presence and killing intent of a Titled Douluo surged toward him.

"And if I say no?"

When Dugu Bo looked his way, Mo An felt as though a venomous snake had fixed its eyes on him. Looking back, he seemed to see a great emerald serpent nearly a hundred meters long looming over him, poised to strike and swallow him whole.

Just then, a sword rang out. The presence and killing intent Dugu Bo had unleashed vanished without a trace.

Sword Douluo took half a step forward, and the Seven Kill Sword appeared in his hand. He had locked onto Dugu Bo, ready to strike at any moment.

Dugu Bo, so menacing a moment ago, very "bravely" withdrew all his pressure once Sword Douluo locked onto him. The two stared at each other for a long while before he turned to Ning Fengzhi, unwillingness in his eyes. "I can give him a chance."

Sword Douluo alone was more than he could handle, let alone with the Douluo Continent's foremost support-type Soul Master standing there. If a fight broke out, he had no chance of winning.

Besides, he was curious what a brat without even a Soul Ring wanted with him.

"Senior Dugu, I'll show you some information. If you're not interested after reading it, we'll turn around and leave."

Once Dugu Bo agreed to talk, Mo An took a sheet of paper from his Storage Soul Tool, wrapped it in Soul Power, and hurled it toward him with all his strength.

"Confident little brat. Let's see what information could possibly—"

Dugu Bo raised a hand and drew the paper through the air before it hit the ground. The moment his eyes fell on it, his voice cut off. Shock spread across the corpse-like face that had not changed expression since his arrival.

Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.

A soft, downy Immortal Herb that trembled with a vivid red hue. Its red leaves rose to a crest like a rooster's comb, threaded with scarlet-gold veins.

A potent pure-yang herb. It could greatly increase the user's Soul Power and the fire attack power of a fire-attribute Martial Soul. It had some chance of evolving a fire-type Martial Soul and a small chance of slightly evolving a phoenix-type Martial Soul.

Blood Swan Kiss.

A snow-white Immortal Herb. Each long, curved leaf looked as though it might drip with water, its shape resembling a swan's neck.

Mo An had chosen to show Dugu Bo the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower because it was of no use to him. Even if Dugu Bo knew its name and effects, he could not use it.

As for the Blood Swan Kiss, that was the Immortal Herb Mo An intended to give him. There was no harm in letting him see it beforehand.

"This... this..."

Dugu Bo had occupied the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for years. The descriptions on the paper alone were enough for him to recognize the two herbs.

The description of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was accurate in every detail. Dugu Bo did not know its precise effects, but the Immortal Herb did carry the aura of flame and a faint phoenix presence. As a Titled Douluo, he could judge that much.

Until now, though, he had not known what the herb was for, nor had he been willing to experiment with such a precious plant when there was only one.

What left him itching with frustration was that the second Immortal Herb had only its appearance and name described, with no mention of its actual effects.

Cut off at the most tantalizing point, Dugu Bo looked at Mo An in frustration. The boy was watching him confidently, waiting for an answer. Fortunately, Dugu Bo was not one to stand on ceremony. He had always done whatever came to mind.

"What you've shown me does interest me. Brat, shall we find somewhere to talk properly?"

"No problem." Having expected this, Mo An nodded. "Uncle Ning, I'll have a talk with Senior Dugu. Sorry for the trouble, but could you and Grandpa Jian wait here for me a while?"

"Go ahead. Uncle Jian and I will wait here."

Dugu Bo's attitude surprised Ning Fengzhi. He had never seen him behave this way. After a moment's thought, he did not stop Mo An from speaking with Dugu Bo. He merely stressed aloud that he and Sword Douluo would wait there, putting pressure on Dugu Bo and giving Mo An confidence.

Sword Douluo said nothing. He formed a small sword large enough to carry a person and sent Mo An over to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo took Mo An from the small sword. Sensing the hostility it carried, he assured Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo, "Rest easy. I won't hurt the brat."

With that promise made, Dugu Bo brought Mo An down onto a nearby hilltop, making sure Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo could still see him.

Dugu Bo was reclusive, not stupid. He knew Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo would never allow him to take the child out of their sight.

So he chose a safe place where they could see the two of them but could not hear them speak.

"All right, brat. Tell me what that information you showed me is about."

As soon as they landed, Dugu Bo questioned Mo An eagerly. He wanted an answer, and he wanted to know what the herbs deep in the valley could do.

"Senior Dugu, do you remember how, many years ago, the Azure Bamboo and Breaking Clan joined forces with several families under the Clear Sky Sect to search the Douluo Continent for rare treasures called Immortal Herbs? They even came here and fought you, though they failed to win."

Mo An said this both to explain where he came from and why he knew about Immortal Herbs.

"Which clan are you descended from?"

Thanks to the Breaking Clan's terrifying strength in a head-on fight, Dugu Bo quickly recalled that memorable battle. If he had not had a few tricks up his sleeve and poisoned those fighters into losing their ability to fight, he might truly have lost to a Soul Douluo.

The child's account also told him that those miraculous herbs were called Immortal Herbs.

"I am Mo An, a descendant of the Azure Bamboo."

Mo An cupped his hands and gave Dugu Bo his name and background.

Having had no dealings with the clan, Dugu Bo had never heard of it. All he remembered were a few Soul Masters with bamboo Martial Souls who had played a supporting role beside the Breaking Clan that year.

After a little thought, Dugu Bo decided to steer the conversation back to Immortal Herbs. He had no interest whatsoever in the Azure Bamboo.

"So you know the names and effects of the Immortal Herbs in there?"

Mo An pointed toward the valley shrouded in poisonous mist and explained.

"That place is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. At its center lies a pool of red and blue water formed by the Extreme Cold Yin Spring and the Scorching Yang Spring. Herbs planted there grow much faster than normal. Thanks to its unique environment, many precious herbs rarely seen in the outside world grow there."