The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's Hidden Immortal Herbs, Another Visit to the Poison Douluo

Morning light filtered through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows across the bluestone floor. The faint lingering fragrance of Mind-Calming Incense lent the study an air of tranquility.

Qian Daoliu held a wisp of pale golden Soul Power between his fingertips. Its light flowed like a living thing as he looked at the confusion in Golden Crocodile's eyes and slowly spoke:

"Dugu Bo. Martial Soul: Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. Title: Jade Phosphorous."

Golden Crocodile froze at those words. His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the jade pendant at his waist as long-buried memories surged back like a tide.

"Dugu Bo... I do remember him."

He pondered for a moment, his clouded eyes gradually brightening.

"That was a few years ago. Dugu Bo had just broken through to rank ninety-two and came to Spirit Hall to register his title, as required. He registered the name 'Jade Phosphorous.'

"I was the one in charge of conferring his title."

Golden Crocodile ran his fingertips along the grain of the wooden desk, as though touching the memories of that year.

"The fellow was tall and thin, dressed in dark green robes with snake-scale patterns embroidered on the cuffs. There was a wildness in his eyes-like a venomous snake that had just shed its skin, wary and defiant."

He paused, recalling the details, and a faint smile curved his lips.

"When he released his Martial Soul, the phantom of a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appeared behind him. Its purplish-black poisonous mist nearly ate pits into the floor tiles of the Enfeoffment Hall. I conferred the title 'Jade Phosphorous' upon him, but he merely sneered. He didn't even offer a word of thanks."

Qian Daoliu gestured for him to continue. The Soul Power at his fingertips rippled gently, tracing an illusory serpent in the air.

As Golden Crocodile recalled the scene, a complicated smile tugged at his lips.

"But as a matter of custom, we always ask exceptionally gifted Titled Douluo whether they would like to join Spirit Hall. I asked him the same question, and he turned me down without a second thought."

"What did he say?"

Qian Daoliu pressed him, and the serpent phantom at his fingertips raised its head slightly.

"He said, 'Spirit Hall has too many rules. It's far too restrictive. I like living free and unfettered. I can't stand those shackles of yours.'"

Golden Crocodile imitated Dugu Bo's tone, adding a touch of unruly defiance.

"With that attitude, he might as well have carved the word 'disdain' across his face."

Guang Ling and Jiang Mo happened to enter the study just then. Hearing this, they could not help exchanging a glance.

Dugu Bo certainly had some courage to reject Spirit Hall's invitation so brazenly.

"The Supreme Pontiff felt utterly humiliated at the time, so he sent Yue Guan and Gui Mei to 'teach him a lesson.'"

Golden Crocodile continued, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"We called it a hunt, but the real intention was to force him to yield, preferably making him submit of his own accord. After all, a lone Titled Douluo left roaming free would always be a potential threat."

"And what happened?"

Jiang Mo asked curiously, his Coiling Dragon Staff resting on his shoulder.

"The fellow turned out to be slippery as an eel."

Golden Crocodile snorted.

"Yue Guan's singular velvet sky chrysanthemum could purify toxins, while Gui Mei's Ghost Shadow Following excelled at concealment. They should have been more than capable of handling a Titled Douluo who had only just broken through. But Dugu Bo was far too uncanny. After entering Sunset Forest, he laid down colorless, odorless poison formations. They pursued him for three days and nights without gaining the slightest advantage. Instead, his poisonous mist left them restless and unsettled."

"The crucial turning point came on the fourth day. Yue Guan was about to use 'Chrysanthemums Wither, Wounds Cover the Ground' to force Dugu Bo out of hiding when Prince Xue Xing of the Heaven Dou Empire suddenly appeared with a squad of Royal Soul Masters and forcibly protected him."

Golden Crocodile spread his hands.

"Prince Xue Xing said Dugu Bo had once saved his son's life, so he owed him a favor. Yue Guan and Gui Mei were like men afraid to strike a rat for fear of breaking the vase. Worried about provoking a conflict between Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire, they had no choice but to withdraw."

"After that, Dugu Bo became a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Empire. He spent most of his time at his secluded residence in Sunset Forest and rarely appeared in public."

Golden Crocodile looked at Qian Daoliu, his eyes full of puzzlement.

"Why bring him up all of a sudden, eldest brother? Are you planning to trouble him again?"

"Trouble him?"

Qian Daoliu chuckled, and the serpent phantom at his fingertips abruptly dispersed.

"For the medicinal ingredients we need, we may have no choice but to ask him for a favor."

"Ask him for a favor?"

Golden Crocodile was even more confused.

"That fellow is terribly unsociable and still bears a grudge against Spirit Hall. How could he possibly help us? Besides, even Spirit Hall is at a loss over these ingredients. What could a poison wielder like him do?"

Not only Golden Crocodile, but Guang Ling and Jiang Mo also looked perplexed.

Dugu Bo was renowned for his poison. Everyone on the continent knew how overwhelmingly potent his jade phosphorous serpent poison was, but they had never heard that he knew how to cultivate medicinal herbs.

Qian Daoliu walked to the window and gazed at the distant mountains wreathed in mist. His voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable certainty.

"Because he has a secret— a Medicine Garden hidden deep within Sunset Forest."

"A Medicine Garden?"

Golden Crocodile sprang to his feet, the chair legs scraping shrilly across the floor.

"Eldest brother, are you saying Dugu Bo also knows how to cultivate medicinal herbs?"

"He does know a little. His Medicine Garden contains many rare varieties that even Spirit Hall's Medicine Garden lacks."

Qian Daoliu turned around, wisdom gleaming in his golden eyes.

"When Dugu Bo broke through to rank ninety-one, he spent almost all his time in Sunset Forest. Poisons and medicines both nurture and counteract one another, so I suspect he has a medicinal garden there."

Quick-witted Guang Ling instantly understood Qian Daoliu's intention.

"Eldest brother, are you saying his Medicine Garden might contain vanished medicinal ingredients like the Icefire Dragon Saliva Grass and the Netherworld Ghost Vine?"

"It's very possible."

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"Dugu Bo's poison cultivation forms a school of its own. He needs large quantities of rare medicinal ingredients to support his cultivation. Ordinary poisonous herbs simply cannot meet his needs, so he must cultivate them himself. And among the herbs he grows, there may happen to be a few that the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring Pill Formula requires."

Golden Crocodile still hesitated.

"But that fellow is deeply hostile toward Spirit Hall. Even if he has the ingredients, he might not sell them to us."

"That's why we can't simply seize them. We need to employ a little strategy."

A meaningful smile curved Qian Daoliu's lips.

"Dugu Bo may be unsociable, but his cultivation has a fatal weakness. Despite his considerable talent, he has been stuck at rank ninety-two for years, unable to break through. We can start there."

Jiang Mo scratched his head, still failing to understand.

"Offer him benefits? But the Heaven Dou Empire can give him the same resources as Spirit Hall."

"They cannot give him this."

Qian Daoliu turned around, an unusual light gleaming in his golden eyes.

"All the Heaven Dou Imperial Family can offer him is freedom and prestige. We can offer those too, but we can give him much more: a chance to bring his poison arts to their very pinnacle-for instance, eliminating the backlash from his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul."

Golden Crocodile abruptly raised his head, his pupils contracting. "You mean..."

"The Dugu Family's Martial Soul is powerful, but it has a fatal flaw."

Qian Daoliu spoke slowly.

"Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor in particular has toxins that turn against their host. Every time he uses his Martial Soul, the poison's corrosion of his own body deepens. That Dugu Bo survived to reach rank ninety-one is already a miracle. He may not speak of it, but he must be searching for a solution."

He took a pill from the system space. It was lustrous white all over, with a faint halo flowing across its surface-the form Qian Daoliu had asked the system to give the [Curse-Breaking Card] he had obtained through the lucky draw.

"This pill can remove curses or negative restrictions imposed by a Martial Soul."

Golden Crocodile looked at the pill, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"If it can remove a Martial Soul's curses and negative effects..."

He suddenly realized something.

"Curses? Then wouldn't this also work on the nine heart begonia..."

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"Exactly. This pill works on the nine heart begonia. That is why I have kept it all this time."

Golden Crocodile drew a deep breath, his tone solemn.

"If this pill can solve the problem with the nine heart begonia Martial Soul, they will certainly join Spirit Hall. But as for Dugu Bo..."

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"Exactly. This pill works on the nine heart begonia. That is why I have kept it all this time."

Golden Crocodile drew a deep breath, his tone solemn.

"If this pill can solve the problem with the nine heart begonia Martial Soul, they will certainly join Spirit Hall. But as for Dugu Bo..."

Golden Crocodile spoke in a deep voice.

"Once we solve the problem with Dugu Bo's Martial Soul, we'll make him hand over his medicinal garden."

"He need not necessarily hand over the Medicine Garden."

Qian Daoliu put the pill away. His tone was measured, yet carried an unquestionable air of command.

"We can work with him. He supplies the medicinal ingredients, and we help him eliminate the backlash."

"And that is not all."

Qian Daoliu's gaze deepened, as though he could see through the clouds to Sunset Forest.

"My true objective is to recruit him into Spirit Hall."

"Recruit him?"

Guang Ling looked somewhat surprised, his featherlike brows drawing together slightly.

"Didn't he say he couldn't stand our rules?"

"Times have changed."

Qian Daoliu said calmly.

"He rejected us back then because he thought being free and unfettered was better. But now he has poured enormous effort into cultivating medicinal herbs. He must want his research to bear fruit. We can provide him with the best possible environment to continue cultivating his herbs, and even help him establish a dedicated Toxicology Research Laboratory. As long as he does not violate Spirit Hall's core principles, he can do whatever he wishes."

Those words cleared away the confusion clouding Golden Crocodile and the others' minds.

Indeed, for someone as obsessed with toxicology and medicinal herbs as Dugu Bo, an undisturbed research environment with ample resources would be far more appealing than so-called freedom.

"Moreover, Dugu Bo's poison arts are among the finest on the continent. With him here, dealing with those Fallen Ones will be much easier."

Qian Daoliu added.

"His Medicine Garden can resolve our ingredient shortage, and his poison arts can strengthen us. We absolutely cannot let such a talent slip away."

Golden Crocodile slapped his thigh hard.

"Eldest brother is right! Leave this to me! I'll make the preparations right away, and we'll head to Sunset Forest to find that old poison master!"

"There's no rush."