Beside him, Dugu Yan noticed the faces around them turning pale.
She instantly realized Dugu Bo had made a move and hurriedly leaned close to his ear to warn him.
"Grandpa, don't act rashly! He's the famous teacher from Suotuo City. He even uses the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Little Princess as a maid. We can't afford to provoke him!"
Dugu Bo froze. After examining the crowd carefully, he spotted a girl with her head tucked down and her face covered, a collar around her neck.
Even more alarming, the soul of the girl clinging to a boy's arm was a rabbit.
In one hundredth of a second, the words "transformed soul beast" flashed through Dugu Bo's mind.
Xiao Wu was still laughing and chatting with Tang San. When she noticed Dugu Bo's gaze, she not only showed no fear but even puffed out her chest.
Utterly brazen!
There was nothing for it. After hearing in Suotuo City that Li Sen had fought a Titled Douluo, she had instantly realized her identity was exposed and been overwhelmed with sorrow.
Convinced she could not escape, she had gone dejectedly to Li Sen, confessed her identity, and asked to sacrifice herself to Tang San.
Who could have guessed that Li Sen would tease her, saying he had known she was a transformed soul beast the first time they met?
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring—things nearly every Soul Master on the Douluo Continent sought—had been brushed aside by Li Sen with a simple "not suitable" and "depends on what my disciple wants."
Xiao Wu just wanted to say, who could understand how speechless she was that a three-ring Soul Master had recognized her transformed identity at their first meeting???
Who could understand a mere Six-Ring Soul Emperor's disdain for a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring???
From then on, whenever Li Sen was present, Xiao Wu no longer feared her identity being exposed. Even her steps seemed to stir the wind.
Dugu Bo involuntarily clenched his fists.
He coveted the transformed hundred-thousand-year soul beast, but the sight of Ning Rongrong instantly deflated his imposing aura.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Little Princess represented the sect's dignity. Would they ignore her being made into a maid?
Anyone who dared do that was either outrageously formidable or had a background towering to the heavens.
Now Dugu Bo suspected Li Sen had both. He withdrew his martial soul, his expression turning friendly.
"Brother, what do you want to trade?"
Li Sen said bluntly, "You and your granddaughter are poisoned. I can cure you. I want your medicinal garden in Sunset Forest."
Bzz—
With his lifeline brought up, Dugu Bo instinctively wanted to fight to the death, and his martial soul possessed him again.
The next moment... he dejectedly withdrew his martial soul once more.
Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had backed down. What could he do? He might as well hope the man really could cure him.
Beside him, Dugu Yan rolled her eyes, still refusing to believe she was poisoned.
She merely felt that Li Sen wanted her grandfather's possessions, no different from robbery.
After all, in Heaven Dou City, noble Soul Masters robbing commoners was all too common. Strength decided everything.
Who would have thought...
With a hint of hope, Dugu Bo asked, "Can you really cure the poison in Yanyan and me?"
Dugu Yan was dumbfounded. Looking at her grandfather's reaction, she understood at once.
She really was poisoned!
Li Sen nodded with a smile. "Your girl just said I'm the famous teacher from Suotuo City. Clearly, you've also heard of my reputation for martial soul evolution theory."
"When it comes to martial soul problems, I can resolve at least eighty percent of them."
"And as for you... poisoning from a Jade Phosphor Serpent-type martial soul? I have at least nine solutions!!!"
Reputation was sometimes utterly useless, and sometimes it made things move very quickly.
Li Sen was not only widely renowned and personally powerful, but could even make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Little Princess serve as a maid. That convinced Dugu Bo.
Unlike in the original story, he did not demand that Tang San prove his ability to neutralize poison.
He picked up Dugu Yan and said, "Follow me."
Dugu Yan's face was deathly pale.
Dugu Bo's reaction,
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo no longer hesitated. He picked up Dugu Yan and took flight, saying, "Follow me."
Sunset Forest, at the heart of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Purple poison gas shrouded the sky. The red-and-blue Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well came into view, and energy that greatly nourished plants suffused the surroundings.
Both Tang San and Li Sen felt their bodies relax.
Beyond that, the power of extreme ice and fire constantly ate away at everyone.
Dugu Bo and Li Sen showed little reaction.
The other youngsters all frowned slightly. Only Tang San ignored his physical discomfort, his gaze constantly sweeping their surroundings.
On his expressionless face, his eyes grew unfocused, brimming with longing.
This treasure trove held an abundance of medicinal ingredients, enough for him to make Yama's Invitation, one of the highest-ranked Tang Sect Hidden Weapons!
Watching Li Sen and the others examine his medicinal garden, Dugu Bo thought of how this precious land would no longer belong to him, and his spirits sank.
He spoke softly, his voice hoarse and weary.
"Cure the poison in Yanyan and me. This land will be yours from now on."
He did not bargain. Against someone who did not even fear the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he was already immensely fortunate that his exposed medicinal garden had not simply been seized.
He only hoped the poison in his body really could be cured. Otherwise...
A trace of madness flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.
If he and his granddaughter could not survive, then no matter how formidable Li Sen's background or strength, any friends and relatives he had below the rank of Titled Douluo could forget about living!
Li Sen was still lost in emotion.
He had been thinking about immortal herbs ever since transmigrating, for twenty-six years straight.
Now that they were finally within easy reach, he could not help feeling dazed.
Only when Dugu Bo spoke did he come back to his senses.
He waved a hand. "Don't rush. I'll find you some medicine."
"There's only one reason your martial soul poisons you. Unlike other poison Soul Masters' martial souls, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor cannot contain the toxins, yet your cultivation depends on them."
"If I simply remove the poison, your granddaughter will, at most, lose a little strength and cultivate more slowly."
"But you... will most likely drop from Titled Douluo to Soul Douluo."
Dugu Bo's expression darkened.
He had lived nearly a hundred years and become a Titled Douluo. There was no telling how many enemies he had.
If his strength fell to Soul Douluo, his enemies would kill him within days, and he would not even be able to protect his granddaughter.
Dugu Bo's expression shifted repeatedly. Looking at Li Sen, who was still admiring the immortal herbs, he asked gravely.
"Is there no way to preserve our cultivation and cultivation talent while removing the harm the toxins do to our bodies?"
Standing nearby, Tang San shifted his attention from the immortal herbs to Li Sen and watched him curiously.
After teaching him for over six years, Li Sen had proven himself capable in every respect: he understood theory, possessed immense strength and a tough body, and could casually develop self-created soul skills.
How would his ability to neutralize poison measure up?
In response to Dugu Bo's question, Li Sen teased, "Our earlier deal only said I would remove your poison."
"Why should I help cure your poisoning?"
Dugu Bo fell silent.
With the medicinal garden handed over, he had no bargaining chips left.
Thinking this, Dugu Bo recalled the many women around Li Sen and could not help looking at Dugu Yan.
This brat is lustful. If my granddaughter is willing, we should be able to make a deal.
But... his granddaughter was his life. He would not force her into such a difficult choice.
Dugu Yan's face grew even paler.
The instant Li Sen made his demand, she felt she was doomed.
The scene of Li Sen enjoying himself in the private room was crystal clear in her mind.
Noticing her grandfather's gaze, Dugu Yan shook her head repeatedly and pleaded, "Grandpa, you absolutely can't make me go with him!"
Dugu Bo sighed and looked at Li Sen. "Anything except my granddaughter. Name whatever you want, and I'll agree."
Li Sen smiled.
He already had plenty of women and had no interest in adding Dugu Yan.
For figure, Zhu Zhuqing was more than enough.
For ways to play, the twins were plenty.
For beauty, Ning Rongrong was top-tier.
He was lustful, but lust was not the only thing in his eyes.
Becoming a god was his primary goal.
To become a god, setting aside the passive option of being chosen by a god, faith was the only path.
Founding an academy was imperative. Ning Fengzhi could handle both the site and the buildings, but not the high-level teachers.
If he wanted faith, the academy needed to be strong. A Titled Douluo teacher was essential.
And in Douluo I, there were not many Titled Douluo. Dugu Bo was one of the rare unaffiliated ones!
Li Sen said seriously, "Your Poisonous Excellency, I intend to establish an academy, and I'm currently very short of teachers."
"As long as you're willing to serve as a teacher and carry out the tasks I assign, I'll not only resolve your poisoning but also greatly increase your strength and let you continue cultivating and growing stronger."
"Even your granddaughter—if she can endure the hardships of training, I can take her as my disciple and guarantee she'll at least become a Limit Douluo, perhaps even glimpse the realm of gods."
"Of course, even if your granddaughter is merely an ordinary student, I can still make her a Super Douluo."
Before you continue