Gaining Trust

Seeing Dugu Bo scrutinizing him with suspicion, Ning Bei had no choice but to reveal his backing.

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

Dugu Bo's expression shifted slightly when Ning Bei declared his origins.

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

Seeing Dugu Bo become wary, Ning Bei immediately straightened his back.

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

Ning Bei was quite adept at borrowing the tiger's might, but Dugu Bo's next words nearly made him stumble.

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

Ning Bei looked at Dugu Bo speechlessly. Did this old man have some kind of persecution complex or what?

He was not surprised by the two Soul Saint guards Dugu Bo had mentioned. It would have been far stranger if Ning Fengzhi had let him wander around alone without protection.

"Senior, must I necessarily have some ulterior motive? Can't I simply treat Yanzi as a sincere friend?"

"Even taking a step back, as the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master, isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to make connections with a powerful Soul Master like you?"

Dugu Bo's expression did indeed ease considerably. Ning Bei was right. As a gathering place for the World's Best Support Soul Masters, it was understandable for the Sect Master's son to build relationships with powerful Battle Soul Masters.

Then Dugu Bo's expression turned tense again.

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

Dugu Yan, standing beside him, also looked at Ning Bei with anticipation.

Seeing both of them focus their gazes on him, Ning Bei gave two light coughs. It was time for him to show off.

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

"Oh? Which three?"

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

For once, Dugu Bo's old face reddened.

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

"The first method is to disperse the poison in Yanzi's Martial Soul now, while her cultivation is still low and the poisoning has not yet gone too deep. However, once her Martial Soul loses its poison, it will become mediocre."

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

Dugu Yan also looked at her grandfather in conflict. This method was an extremely difficult choice for her.

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

"To be honest, if Yanyan's toxins deepen further and I still cannot find a solution, I was prepared to do exactly that. At least it would preserve her life. I have already lost my son and daughter-in-law. I cannot lose..."

He stopped there, staring at Dugu Yan in silence.

"Grandfather."

Seeing the two about to put on a touching grandfather-granddaughter scene, Ning Bei hurriedly interrupted them.

"Uh, well, if that won't work, isn't there still the second method? You can condense the poison in Yanzi's Martial Soul into a Poison Pill. That way, she can use poison without undergoing Martial Soul Possession."

Dugu Bo gave Ning Bei a long look.

"Kid, you have quite a high level of attainment in poison techniques. I use the Poison Pill method myself, but it still treats the symptoms rather than the root cause. Condensing a Poison Pill cannot completely eliminate the toxins in the body. Over time, Yanyan would still face the danger of a toxin backlash."

"Furthermore, if the Poison Pill erupts, it would be even more dangerous than usual."

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

"Then we can only use the third method: find a Spirit Bone suitable for Yanzi and force the poison into it. She can release it again in battle. This would not only eliminate the harm the poison causes to her body, but also preserve the power of her Martial Soul."

Dugu Bo's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing Ning Bei's third method.

"That's right! How did I not think of such a simple method? It really could work." He looked excitedly at Dugu Yan. "Yanyan, you can be saved, and your Martial Soul won't have to lose its toxicity."

Dugu Yan nodded excitedly at the side, but her expression soon darkened again.

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

Dugu Bo waved his hand dismissively.

"As a Titled Douluo, your grandfather may not be able to easily find a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, but a Thousand Year Soul Bone would be easy enough to obtain. Even if I have to kill every soul beast in Sunset Forest, I will get you a suitable Spirit Bone."

"But grandfather... wouldn't that be too much?"

Hearing Dugu Bo's words from the side, Ning Bei silently broke out in a cold sweat for the soul beasts of Sunset Forest.

"Senior Dugu, don't rush. Listen to me first. A Thousand Year Soul Bone may indeed be sufficient for Yanzi at present, but as her cultivation rises, there is a risk that the increasingly powerful poison will burst it apart."

"So I suggest obtaining a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone directly. And it must be one from the limbs. Don't consider the spine or Head Soul Bones."

Dugu Bo also understood the benefits of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, but such things could only be encountered by chance. Even with his current cultivation at level ninety-one, he had only acquired a Medusa Head Soul Bone.

Grandfather and granddaughter exchanged a glance before once again falling silent.

Seeing this, Ning Bei knew it was time to show off again. He coughed twice to draw their attention.

"Ahem... Have you forgotten who I am? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can still produce a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone."

Dugu Yan was delighted upon hearing this, but Dugu Bo beside her interrupted.

"Kid, I know the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones. Your family has vast wealth and resources, after all. But why would you give a Spirit Bone to Yanzi? The excuse of befriending a strong person alone doesn't hold up, does it?"

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

"Senior Dugu, I heard that you have a medicinal garden. I have some knowledge of herbs myself and would like to take a few. Would you be willing to part with them?"

The moment Dugu Bo heard that Ning Bei wanted something, he was immediately pleased. As long as he had a request, it would be easy to settle things. What he feared most was owing an unpayable favor; after all, free things were the most expensive. He promptly waved his hand magnanimously.

"That's simple. Come with me."

As he spoke, he used Soul Power to lift Ning Bei and flew toward the depths of Sunset Forest, leaving Dugu Yan standing there alone in a huff.

"Hmph, stinky grandfather! You actually left me here alone. Let's see if I'll still talk to you when you come back."

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

The forest flashed rapidly past Ning Bei's eyes. Before long, the two reached the depths of Sunset Forest and came upon a valley filled with green Poison Mist.

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

"Keep it in your mouth. It will keep the toxins from corroding you."

Ning Bei looked at the Poison Pill Dugu Bo had just spat out and felt a wave of disgust. You put it in your mouth, then I put it in mine? Absolutely not.

"No need, Senior Dugu."

As he spoke, he summoned the Pill Pagoda. Alchemical fragrance instantly wrapped around his body. He stepped two paces into the Poison Mist, and when the mist encountered the halo formed by the alchemical fragrance, it seemed to have met its nemesis and parted to either side.