Time ticked by, second by second.
Shen Yan stood to one side, watching quietly.
About half an hour later.
Dugu Bo suddenly opened his eyes, a burst of green light flaring within them.
He felt the changes inside his body, his face filled with excitement.
"It really works!"
Dugu Bo rose and bowed to Shen Yan once more.
"Senior, I will remember your great kindness until my dying day!"
Shen Yan looked at him in some surprise.
"You condensed it successfully already?"
Dugu Bo shook his head.
"Not yet, Senior, but this method really does work!"
He could clearly feel the poison inside him that had plagued him for decades.
A small portion of it had already been drawn out.
And inside his dantian, there was already a solid substance the size of a speck of earwax.
At this rate, all the poison in his body could be drawn out in less than half a year!
Shen Yan nodded slightly.
"Good, then."
Dugu Bo straightened, the excitement on his face taking a long time to settle.
Shen Yan glanced at him and spoke.
"Everything is settled. You may leave."
But Dugu Bo did not move when he heard this.
He stood where he was, a trace of hesitation appearing on his face.
His lips moved, as though he wanted to say something but felt too embarrassed to speak.
Shen Yan noticed his hesitation and said calmly.
"If you have something to say, say it. No need to hem and haw."
Dugu Bo took a deep breath and cupped his fists toward Shen Yan again, his tone sincere.
"Senior, I have a presumptuous request."
"My granddaughter, she... she has been afflicted with the same poison."
At this point, Dugu Bo's voice trembled slightly.
"All these years, I have tried every means I could think of, but I have never managed to cure her."
"Senior, is there any way you could rid her of the poison as well?"
Having said this, Dugu Bo looked at Shen Yan, filled with apprehension.
Shen Yan thought for a while.
"Your granddaughter's situation is different from yours."
"You suffered a backlash from practicing poison arts later in life, causing the poison to fuse with your body."
"But she has been tainted by poisoned blood since birth. The poison has already become part of her bloodline."
"This method will not work on her."
Dugu Bo's face paled.
"Then... then is there no way to save her?"
Shen Yan shook his head.
"There is a way."
"But first, all the blood in her body must be replaced."
"Her blood, tainted by poisoned blood, must all be replaced with clean blood."
"Finally, have her take an immortal herb, and her condition can improve."
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up.
"A blood exchange!"
"Yes, but her blood is poisonous. An ordinary person cannot exchange blood with her. There is a very high chance both people will die."
Dugu Bo's face paled at these words.
"Then what can we do?"
With a thought from Shen Yan, a crystalline, snow-white orchid appeared in his hand.
It was the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.
Shen Yan handed the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid to Dugu Bo.
"Take this Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid."
"Its medicinal properties are exceptionally gentle and mellow. It strengthens the foundation and replenishes vitality, making it ideal for helping your granddaughter restore her constitution."
"Take it back and have her consume it first, so she can get her body into good condition."
"My disciple will help her with the subsequent treatment."
Dugu Bo reached out and accepted the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted into his nose.
Cradling the immortal herb, he did not know what to say for a moment.
Not only had the senior helped him deal with his poison, but he had also devised a solution for his granddaughter.
He had even brought out the immortal herb Dugu Bo had given him.
This kindness was greater than the heavens!
After a long while, Dugu Bo abruptly dropped to one knee.
He raised his head, his eyes filled with resolve.
"Senior!"
"From now on, this life of mine belongs to you!"
"From this day forward, whatever your command, I will brave boiling water and walk through fire without hesitation!"
Shen Yan reached out and pulled him up.
"Rise."
"My ultimate purpose in coming to this land is to create a Divine Realm."
Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply at these words.
Create a Divine Realm?!
He was utterly shaken.
But someone who could produce a God-bestowed Soul Ring and easily cure the poison in his body.
Creating a Divine Realm might not be impossible for him!
Shen Yan watched his reaction and continued.
"If you are willing to follow me, I promise you a divine seat as the Poison God in the Divine Realm."
"Your poison arts will have a place in the Divine Realm as well."
Dugu Bo trembled all over with excitement at these words.
The Poison God!
Never in his life, not even in his dreams, had he imagined he could become a god!
Much less claim a divine seat as the Poison God, meant specifically for him!
Dugu Bo dropped to one knee again, his voice ringing with strength.
"Your subordinate, Dugu Bo, pays his respects to his master!"
This time, he sincerely acknowledged Shen Yan as his master.
Following this senior, he could not only cure his poison but also become a god!
Only a fool would let such an opportunity slip away!
Shen Yan nodded in satisfaction.
Winning Dugu Bo's allegiance was one step in his plan.
Although this Poison Douluo was a loner, he valued loyalty and affection.
Once he acknowledged a master, he would never betray him.
Moreover, his poison arts could play a tremendous role later on.
Shen Yan spoke.
"My disciple will go to Skywater Academy for practical experience in a month."
"When the time comes, act as my disciple's guardian and take good care of my disciple."
Dugu Bo nodded immediately.
"Rest assured, Master. I will not fail your trust!"
His master was asking him to serve as his disciple's guardian.
What tremendous trust!
Dugu Bo silently swore that he would protect his master's disciple.
After giving him a few more instructions, Shen Yan let Dugu Bo leave.
Dugu Bo bowed deeply to Shen Yan, then turned and stepped into the Void Gate, disappearing from sight.
Shen Yan was left alone in the private room.
He slowly raised his hand and looked at the Conversion Table he held.
"The next item will come in a month. I'll spend the time until then in secluded cultivation."
With his current strength, going out would be of little use.
He might as well use immortal herbs to improve his physique and strive for a ten-thousand-year First Soul Ring!
With a thought, Shen Yan vanished from the private room and returned to the Cultivation Room on the top floor of the Nine Dragon Tower.
"Little Tower, activate tenfold time for me. I'm going into secluded cultivation!"
[Tower Master, the Cultivation Room requires 100 EMC per day. Would you like to activate it?]
"What the hell? Why didn't it cost anything last time?"
[Last time, you used the cultivation time left over by the previous master. It has now been exhausted.]
"Goddammit, activate it anyway!"
In a mountain forest somewhere outside Heaven Dou City.
At the edge of a deep pit, dirt scattered through the air.
A bedraggled figure was climbing out of the hundred-meter-deep hole.
Who else could it have been but Tang San?
He was covered in mud from head to toe, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
After climbing out of the pit, he quickly sprinted toward Shrek Academy.
"I never expected to stumble upon an ice and fire spring by sheer chance. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, one of the three great treasure basins, must be nearby!"
There were sure to be even more good things there!
"I have to hurry back and find Teacher, the dean, and the others!"
"I'll have them safeguard me. I have to find that secret realm!"
The young man's figure soon disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Before long, Dugu Bo appeared and landed on the ground.
Seeing the traces on the ground, he furrowed his brow slightly.
"That brat survived even this? He really does have a tenacious life!"
"Never mind that for now. Finding Yanyan is more important. Why is Master's disciple going to Skywater Academy for practical experience?"
Dugu Bo puzzled over it without finding an answer, but he came up with a plan.
"Why not have Yanyan transfer straight to Skywater Academy?"
Before you continue