Spirit City, Papal Hall.
Bibi Dong sat upright in the seat of honor, holding an urgent report that had just arrived from Wulan City.
"The Body Sect?"
Bibi Dong's voice was neither loud nor soft, betraying neither pleasure nor anger.
"This Body Tempering Pill is quite a fine thing."
Bibi Dong's gaze fell on the three small, blue-jade-colored bottles beside her.
She had already had them tested-Soul Masters below the Soul Emperor rank experienced a significant strengthening of their bodies after taking a Body Tempering Pill.
This kind of pill was highly valuable.
Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Have Yue Guan and Gui Mei come here."
"Yes!"
An attendant quickly withdrew.
Soon, two figures entered the Papal Hall together.
"Greetings, Your Holiness!"
Yue Guan had delicate, feminine features, golden hair that fell to his shoulders, and a faint, elusive smile on his lips. His voice was somewhat high-pitched, closely resembling a woman's.
Gui Mei's figure was shrouded in a faint black shadow, his features indistinct and his voice hoarse.
"Mm."
Bibi Dong briefly recounted the information sent from Wulan City, her gaze settling on the two of them.
"The Body Sect, a secluded sect we have never heard of, possesses at least two Titled Douluo and has taken the initiative to send pills and propose cooperation."
"There is something suspicious about this."
"The two of you will go to Wulan City and conduct talks on behalf of Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong paused, her voice deepening slightly. "If the Body Sect is not particularly powerful, try to bring them into our fold. If necessary-"
"You may use forceful measures!"
The smile remained on Yue Guan's lips, his expression unchanged. "Understood."
Gui Mei said nothing, merely nodding.
The two turned and left, and silence returned to the Papal Hall.
On the fourth day of Du Busi's seclusion.
Wulan City.
An old man dressed in dark green robes walked along the main street with a beautiful young woman with purple hair and green eyes.
They were Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.
A lean, middle-aged man soon noticed them.
He wore a fitted gray outfit, his aura restrained and his gaze steady-a Soul Douluo expert from the Body Sect named Luo Ming.
Seeing Dugu Bo arrive, Luo Ming hurried forward and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Elder Dugu, my surname is Luo. Elder Jin ordered me to receive you here. Please follow me."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Dugu Bo was very courteous to Luo Ming.
The three left Wulan City and sped northwest.
After traveling for roughly two hours through rolling hills and dense forest, they came upon a steep canyon that formed a natural chasm.
Attendant Luo led the two through a concealed natural passage into the canyon.
"Wow!"
Looking at the sight before her, Dugu Yan could not help letting out a "wow"-
An entirely different world lay within the canyon. Buildings stood along the mountainside, green stone paved the ground, and a stream flowed through the valley. It was far more spacious than the entrance through the natural chasm outside.
Dugu Bo was not particularly surprised and merely looked around.
"It makes sense for a secluded sect to hide somewhere like this."
Attendant Luo led them across the square and into the council chamber in the Main Hall.
Jin Peng was already waiting there, sitting alone in the chair at the head of the room with a dossier spread out before him.
"Elder Dugu, thank you for making the journey."
Jin Peng rose with a smile.
"My name is Jin Peng, my title is Golden Body, and I am a rank ninety-seven Titled Douluo."
"Greetings, Elder Jin!"
Dugu Bo was inwardly startled at his words.
He had not expected Jin Peng to be a rank ninety-seven Titled Douluo.
"No need to stand on ceremony."
Jin Peng smiled and gestured for him to sit. "The sect master told me about your situation before entering seclusion. Since the Body Sect has accepted you as a guest elder, you are one of us."
"With the sect master in seclusion, I am managing the sect's affairs in his place. I will also resolve your problems."
"Thank you, Elder Jin!"
Dugu Bo cupped his hands again.
He then patted his granddaughter's shoulder. "Yanzi, say hello."
Dugu Yan peeked out from behind her grandfather and greeted him quietly. "Hello, Elder Jin."
"Mm."
His gaze gentle, Jin Peng nodded. Without much small talk, he turned, picked up a scroll from the table, and handed it to Dugu Bo.
"The method for taking the Blue Fall Yellow Springs Fruit is written here in great detail."
Dugu Bo took the scroll, opened it for a look, then carefully put it away. He bowed deeply to Jin Peng. "Thank you, Elder Jin. Thank you, Sect Master."
Jin Peng waved a hand.
"Now, let us discuss your situation."
Dugu Bo was about to speak, but Dugu Yan beat him to it.
"Elder Jin, please, you must save my grandfather!"
Before they came, Dugu Bo had already told Dugu Yan about his deadly poison backlash.
Jin Peng was rather fond of the younger generation. He smiled at Dugu Yan and reassured her, "Do not worry. Your grandfather's problem is not difficult to resolve."
Dugu Bo stroked his granddaughter's head, signaling for her to be at ease.
Jin Peng walked up to Dugu Bo. "I need to examine the condition inside your body myself. Relax and do not resist."
"All right!"
Dugu Bo nodded and relaxed his body.
Jin Peng raised his right hand and gently pressed three fingers against Dugu Bo's chest. His Soul Power entered Dugu Bo's body, probing deep along his meridians.
A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his brows lifting slightly.
"There is a Poison Pill inside your body."
Jin Peng's tone was even. "All the poison from your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul has gathered there. After accumulating for years, it has formed a tangible Poison Pill."
Dugu Bo's heart tightened. "Yes, Elder Jin. Is there something wrong with this Poison Pill?"
"No."
Jin Peng shook his head. "This Poison Pill benefits you and does you no harm."
"The way to resolve your deadly poison backlash is also very simple. Turn this Poison Pill into a Soul Core!"
"A Soul Core?"
Dugu Bo froze, clearly hearing of such a thing for the first time.
"This Soul Core you speak of, Elder Jin... what is it? I have cultivated for decades, yet I have never heard of it."
Jin Peng looked at him, understanding dawning in his heart.
The method of condensing a Soul Core first appeared several thousand years later.
In this era, the concept of a Soul Core did not exist at all.
"A Soul Core,"
Jin Peng began slowly, his tone growing more solemn, "is an energy core formed in the dantian by compressing Soul Power from a liquid into a solid."
"Once condensed, the Soul Core will absorb Heaven and Earth Essence on its own. Your Soul Power reserves, recovery speed, and ability to sustain combat will all undergo earth-shaking changes."
Jin Peng paused. Looking at Dugu Bo's solemn expression, he continued:
"The Poison Pill inside you is essentially the product of a large quantity of poison and Soul Power accumulating and condensing together."
"As long as you can refine the Poison Pill into a poison-attribute Soul Core, the poison backlash will be resolved once and for all, and your strength will rise another level."
"Elder Jin."
Dugu Bo's voice was somewhat urgent. "This Soul Core method... may I learn it?"
"Yes!"
Jin Peng nodded. "You are a guest elder of our Body Sect. This method of condensing a Soul Core can be passed on to you."
"That is wonderful!"
Dugu Yan was beside herself with joy. "Grandfather, you will never have to suffer the agony of deadly poison backlash again!"
Dugu Bo was also deeply moved and pleasantly surprised. "Thank you, Elder Jin. Thank you, Sect Master! From this day forward, I, Dugu Bo, swear to serve the Body Sect loyally unto death!"
The Body Sect's generosity had won Dugu Bo's wholehearted allegiance.
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