Gaining Trust

Seeing Dugu Bo look at him with suspicion, Ning Bei had no choice but to bring out his trump card.

"Senior, as for my identity, I'm from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Hearing Ning Bei announce his affiliation, Dugu Bo's expression shifted slightly.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? What's your relationship with Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo, Sword and Bone?"

Seeing that Dugu Bo had grown wary, Ning Bei immediately straightened his back.

"Ning Fengzhi is my father, while the two Titled Douluo, Sword and Bone, are my grandfathers."

Ning Bei was quite adept at borrowing someone else's prestige. However, Dugu Bo's next words nearly made him stumble.

"Oh? No wonder there are two Soul Saint bodyguards outside. Then tell me, what is the purpose of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Ning Bei looked at Dugu Bo speechlessly, thinking, Does this old fellow have persecutory delusions or something?

As for the two Soul Saint bodyguards he had mentioned, Ning Bei wasn't surprised. It would have been truly strange if Ning Fengzhi had felt comfortable letting him run around alone.

"Senior, must I necessarily have some ulterior motive? Can't I sincerely regard Yanzi as a friend?"

"Taking a step back, as the son of the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, there's nothing wrong with befriending a powerful Soul Master like you, right?"

Dugu Bo's expression did improve considerably after hearing this. Ning Bei was right. As the gathering place of the world's best support Soul Masters, it was understandable for the son of the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to make friends with powerful Battle Soul Masters.

Then Dugu Bo's expression grew tense again.

"Then tell me, what method do you have to solve Yanyan's poison problem?"

Dugu Yan, who was beside him, also looked at Ning Bei expectantly.

Seeing their gazes converge on him, Ning Bei cleared his throat twice. It was time for him to show off.

"Ahem, ahem. Senior Dugu, I've thought of three methods in total."

"Oh? What three methods?"

Before Ning Bei could continue, Dugu Bo interrupted him directly. Ning Bei immediately looked at him speechlessly.

Dugu Bo rarely blushed.

"Well... go on. I won't interrupt you again."

"The first method is to eliminate the poison in Yanzi's Martial Soul while her cultivation is still low and the poison hasn't penetrated too deeply. However, after losing the poison, Yanzi's Martial Soul would become mediocre."

After saying this, Ning Bei looked at Dugu Bo and waited for his response.

Dugu Yan also looked at her grandfather hesitantly. She found this method extremely difficult to choose.

After thinking for a while, Dugu Bo looked at Ning Bei.

"To be honest, if the poison in Yanyan's body grows worse and I still can't find a solution, I was prepared to do exactly that. At least it would preserve her life. I've already lost my son and Daughter-in-law. I can't lose—"

He stopped there and looked at Dugu Yan in silence.

"Grandfather."

Seeing that the two of them were about to put on a moving display of grandfather-granddaughter affection, Ning Bei hurriedly interrupted them.

"Um, if that doesn't work, isn't there still a second method? The poison in Yanzi's Martial Soul can be condensed into a Poison Pill. That way, she can use the poison without activating her Martial Soul."

Dugu Bo gave Ning Bei a deep look.

"Kid, you have quite a high level of attainments when it comes to using poison. I happen to use the Poison Pill method myself. However, this method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Condensing a Poison Pill can't completely eliminate the poison in the body. Over time, Yanyan would still face the danger of the poison rebounding."

"Moreover, if the Poison Pill were to erupt, it would be even more dangerous than usual."

Hearing Dugu Bo's praise, Ning Bei scratched his head awkwardly. What the hell do I know about using poison? I only know this because I've read the original novel.

"Then there's only the third method. Find a suitable Spirit Bone for Yanzi and force the poison into it. She can release it again during battle. This would both eliminate the poison's harm to her body and preserve her Martial Soul's power."

Dugu Bo's eyes lit up when he heard Ning Bei's third method.

"Exactly! How did I not think of such a simple method? This really is feasible." As he spoke, he excitedly looked at Dugu Yan. "Yanyan, you're saved—and your Martial Soul won't have to lose its poison."

Dugu Yan also nodded excitedly from the side, but her expression soon dimmed.

"Spirit Bones are so precious. Where are we supposed to find one?"

Dugu Bo waved his hand indifferently.

"Your Grandfather is a Titled Douluo. A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone is difficult to find, but obtaining a Thousand Year Soul Bone is still within my reach. Even if I had to slaughter every spirit beast in the Sunset Forest, your Grandfather would get you a suitable Spirit Bone."

"But Grandfather... wouldn't that be going too far?"

Listening to Dugu Bo, Ning Bei felt a cold sweat for the spirit beasts of the Sunset Forest.

"Senior Dugu, don't get worked up yet. Hear me out first. A Thousand Year Soul Bone is indeed sufficient for Yanzi right now, but as her cultivation improves, there's a risk that the increasingly potent poison will burst the Thousand Year Soul Bone."

"So I suggest using a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone directly. It must also be from one of the four limbs. Don't consider a spine or Head Soul Bone."

Dugu Bo understood the benefits of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone as well, but such things were encounters that could not be forced. After all, with his current cultivation at Rank 91, he had obtained only one Spirit Bone—a Medusa Head Soul Bone.

The grandfather and granddaughter exchanged a glance, then fell silent again.

Seeing this, Ning Bei knew it was time to show off again. He cleared his throat twice, drawing their attention.

"Ahem, ahem... Have you forgotten my identity? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can still produce a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone."

Dugu Yan's heart leaped with joy at this, but Dugu Bo interrupted her from beside him.

"Kid, I know the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones. After all, your family is powerful and wealthy. But why would you give a Spirit Bone to Yanzi? The reason of befriending a powerful person alone doesn't hold up, does it?"

Ning Bei thought to himself, As expected of an old fox. His thinking is truly meticulous.

"Senior Dugu, I heard that you have a medicinal garden. I have some knowledge of medicinal herbs as well, and I'd like to take a few. I wonder if you'd be willing to part with them."

When Dugu Bo heard that Ning Bei wanted something from him, he immediately became happy. It was easy to deal with someone who had a request. He was only afraid of owing a favor he couldn't repay. After all, free things were the most expensive. He immediately waved his hand magnanimously.

"That's simple. Come with me."

As he spoke, his Soul Power lifted Ning Bei and carried him toward the depths of the Sunset Forest, leaving Dugu Yan alone, standing angrily where she was.

"Hmph, stinky Grandfather. How dare you leave me behind. Just wait until you get back—I won't even talk to you."

The two Soul Saint guards outside exchanged a glance. One of them nodded and ran into the distance, heading straight for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The forest flashed past Ning Bei's eyes. Before long, the two arrived deep within the Sunset Forest and saw a valley shrouded in green poisonous fog.

Dugu Bo spat out a Poison Pill and handed it to Ning Bei.

"Hold this in your mouth. It will keep you from being corroded by the poison."

Ning Bei looked at the Poison Pill Dugu Bo had spat out. His stomach churned. You've already held it in your mouth, and now you want me to do the same? Absolutely not.

"No need, Senior Dugu."

As he spoke, he summoned the Pill Pagoda. Alchemy Fragrance instantly wrapped around his body. He took two steps into the poisonous fog, and when the fog encountered the halo formed by the Alchemy Fragrance, it seemed to have met its natural enemy and parted to either side.