Bai Wen's arrival

"If that's the case, let him come and try. Let's see whether he can withstand a thrust of my spear."

Lan Changsheng curled his right hand around empty air, and the Blue Silver Emperor Spear appeared. At the sight of the life force condensed to its utmost on the spearhead, both Dragon Kings shrank back.

They understood that the man before them truly had the ability to scatter their souls into oblivion.

"All right, we'll do as you say." The Fire Dragon King swallowed the life divine power before him in one gulp and gave a comfortable shudder.

The Ice Dragon King followed closely behind.

After this baptism, the two consciousnesses were noticeably more vigorous.

A short while earlier, beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo had already awakened. The first thing he saw was the clear, azure sky. The familiar softness beneath him told him that Ah Yin had dragged him back again.

The hollow feeling inside his body had eased considerably. Although moving still hurt, he no longer felt as though he was "going to die."

"Back, huh..." Dugu Bo let out a dry yet smiling sigh. It was unclear whether he meant himself or someone else.

He had just started turning onto his side to push himself upright when Ah Yin poked him. "Brother Dugu, don't move yet. My brother's divine power and the essences of these immortal herbs are repairing your depleted reserves. It'll take about two or three days."

"Three days? That's not bad. I thought I'd be lying here for ten days or half a month." Dugu Bo obediently lay back down. "Where's your brother?"

"He went to find those two Dragon Kings-the two figures that released that pressure at the end of the battle." Ah Yin then briefly explained to Dugu Bo how the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had formed.

Dugu Bo gave a bitter laugh. "Who would've thought? I only wanted somewhere to grow some herbs and test my poisons, and I actually found a place like this... Right, where's Demon Subduing Douluo? The one who can make things soft."

"Him? I've bundled him up like a rice dumpling. He's still dumped outside." Ah Yin pointed outside.

"He's still alive? He was poisoned by my Jade Phosphorus Snake venom, and he's survived this long without an antidote..." Dugu Bo sounded somewhat incredulous. "He's only bound with blue silver grass. Won't he break out?"

"Don't worry. My brother reinforced it just now. No matter how much it's softened, blue silver grass is still blue silver grass. It won't lose any of the toughness it's supposed to have. He can't escape.

"My brother told me to ask how you want to deal with him. Kill him or let him go?"

While Dugu Bo was still wrestling with that question, an unfamiliar voice rang out. "Bai Wen, cardinal of Spirit Hall, has come on the Pope's orders to pay his respects to Poison Douluo!"

"Spirit Hall's here already? I'll go get my brother."

"Don't rush," Dugu Bo said softly. "First, sense how many of them have come."

"Just one."

"Then it's all right this time. They should be here to negotiate. Your brother had better stay out of sight for now, or things might spiral out of control. He's already here anyway. If there's a problem, he can come over at any time.

"Come, help me up."

Outside the valley, Cardinal Bai Wen had arrived alone. With his hands clasped behind his back and a composed expression, he waited quietly.

Dugu Bo walked slowly out of the valley. Although he lacked energy, the faint flush already returning to his face secretly surprised Bai Wen.

"Did Bibi Dong send you to collect corpses or serve yourself up on a platter? There's only one corpse to collect. You couldn't haul that many back." Dugu Bo eyed Bai Wen sidelong, toying with a poisonous fruit he had just picked.

"You jest, Poison Douluo." Bai Wen cupped his hands and said, neither servile nor overbearing, "I've come on the Pope's orders to negotiate with you."

"Negotiate?" Standing amid the poisonous plants, Dugu Bo looked down at him from above. "You just sent four Titled Douluos to capture me, and now you've sent someone to flap his lips? Do you really think I'm that easy to push around?"

"Those four Titled Douluos were indeed rash, and the Pope deeply regrets this matter. But now that things have come to this, continuing this feud will benefit neither side. Why don't we each take a step back?" Bai Wen's next words went straight to the point:

"The Pope is determined to obtain that extraordinary poison of yours that can strip away martial souls. If you're willing to hand over the formula, Spirit Hall promises never to encroach upon Sunset Forest, and may even provide protection. We also hope you will release our captured personnel." He spoke like a merchant conducting business.

Dugu Bo sneered. "Heh. You want to get a rank ninety-six Titled Douluo back with nothing but a verbal promise never to attack? Even someone trying to snare a white wolf barehanded wouldn't go that far. As for protection, you're the only ones with the guts to come onto my territory."

"That's precisely why I've been sent to negotiate with you. How about this?" Bai Wen spread his hands to show that he meant no harm. "Demon Subduing Douluo is one of Spirit Hall's core combatants. If you release him, along with the other surviving Spirit Hall Soul Masters, Spirit Hall promises never to encroach upon Sunset Forest again, with a handwritten letter from the Pope attached. We'll also offer a batch of resources you need. You may decide what kinds."

Considering Bai Wen's words, Dugu Bo found a large rock and leaned against it, slowly rolling the poisonous fruit between his fingers.

"Go on."

Bai Wen cupped his fists in acknowledgment, but as he lowered his head, an almost imperceptible gleam flashed through his eyes. "In addition, Spirit Hall is prepared to offer one soul bone. For those under twenty thousand years old, you may choose any part; for those between twenty and fifty thousand years old, you may choose any part except the head or thigh. Spirit Hall can also help you hunt soul beasts five times. As long as you can find them, we'll even help with hundred-thousand-year ones. All you need to do is hand that extraordinary poison's formula over to Spirit Hall."

Bai Wen looked at Dugu Bo, certainty of success in his eyes. These offers were entirely tailored to Dugu Yan. Who didn't know that Dugu Bo cared most about his granddaughter? Who besides Spirit Hall could fulfill the terms he had offered?

This way, Spirit Hall would also have a hand in Dugu Yan's growth. When she grew up, even if she refused to join Spirit Hall because of what had happened to her parents, it would still lessen her hatred for Spirit Hall. This was killing two birds with one-

"If that's all, there's nothing to discuss. Go outside and wait to collect the corpse."

Those words extinguished the victorious gleam in Bai Wen's eyes, and a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.

Dugu Bo sneered. Of course he understood Bai Wen's aim. Wasn't he simply trying to control him indirectly through his granddaughter? Before meeting Lan Changsheng, he might have been tempted, but now, I need your help? My Brother Lan can take on ten by himself!

Not to mention that he didn't even know how this poison was made.

"We can still discuss this, Poison Douluo. Whatever terms you have, just name them. Negotiating means talking things over."

But Dugu Bo simply wore an expression that said he had Bai Wen firmly in his grasp. He toyed with the poisonous fruit in his hand, ignoring everything Bai Wen said, and even began humming a song.

Bai Wen was now a scholar up against a soldier. After all that calculating in his own mind, the other party had simply refused to communicate!

Until a ripple of energy came from the spring...