"I have a Poison Core Method that can draw poison with poison, gathering what is scattered into a core. Once the core is formed, you can freely release its poison to attack."
Before parting, Yang Xingchen had specifically sought out the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings to work through it for him, giving this Poison Core Method a chance of succeeding in practice.
The Poison Core Method?!
Hearing that name, Dugu Bo first thought of the innate poison bead he had condensed.
It was a life-saving trump card Dugu Bo had condensed at the cost of half his cultivation when his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor evolved.
"It seems Poison Douluo doesn't quite believe what I'm saying. Then let me briefly explain how to cultivate the Poison Core Method."
Noticing a trace of hesitation on Dugu Bo's face, Yang Xingchen hurriedly continued laying down bargaining chips to draw Dugu Bo into the game.
"To cultivate the Poison Core Method, you must first seal your heart meridians and head with Soul Power to prevent the toxins from surging upward during the subsequent condensation process."
"Next, use an external object capable of containing the toxins as the poison core's nucleus, and send it into your dantian so the toxins in your body can envelop it."
"Finally, compress it with Soul Power to form a true poison core within your dantian. The poison core will actively absorb the toxins in its host's body."
Yang Xingchen spoke vaguely, but Dugu Bo tried working through it as he listened and discovered that this Poison Core Method really did seem capable of resolving his toxin problem.
If the poison core could truly control the release of toxins, Dugu Bo was even confident he could poison a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo into collapse.
When an ordinary Titled Douluo came into contact with the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison in Dugu Bo's body, a mild case would erode some of their Soul Power, while a severe case would corrode away the part that touched it.
Having suffered from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison for decades, Dugu Bo had the greatest right to speak on this matter.
Every time the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison flared up, Dugu Bo suffered a fate worse than death.
Had his Martial Soul not been the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor itself, Dugu Bo feared the poison would long since have corroded his internal organs and killed him.
"If this Poison Core Method is truly as miraculous as you say, never mind giving you this treasured land-even having this old man follow you would be acceptable!"
Having made up his mind, Dugu Bo agreed to Yang Xingchen's deal outright. Rather than sitting uselessly on a mountain of gold, he might as well exchange it for something useful.
"All right, then I'll teach you the complete cultivation method for the poison core right now!"
Seeing how forthright Dugu Bo was, Yang Xingchen naturally did not dawdle either and immediately taught him the Poison Core Method.
As for whether Dugu Bo would go back on his word after learning the Poison Core Method, Yang Xingchen had considered that long ago.
When he had absorbed the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings' Soul Bones earlier, he had also undone the Snow Empress's fourth seal along the way.
The Snow Empress, now able to wield two hundred thousand years of cultivation, was no freeloader. With Dugu Bo's rank ninety-two cultivation, she could suppress him with a lift of her hand.
After receiving Yang Xingchen's Poison Core Method, Dugu Bo hurriedly asked something he had wanted to ask earlier.
"Well, young friend, what exactly is this external object you mentioned that can contain the toxins?"
"This old man has lived for so many years, yet I've never encountered anything that could contain the toxins in my body."
The strength of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison changed with Dugu Bo's cultivation. Now that he had become a Titled Douluo, the toxins in his body were naturally no ordinary poison.
If something capable of containing Titled Douluo-level toxins were easy to find, Dugu Bo would not have had to endure decades of misery.
Hearing this, Yang Xingchen slapped his forehead in vexation. He really had forgotten to tell Dugu Bo about this.
According to the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King's deductions, the most suitable nucleus for Dugu Bo's poison core was the Snow Swan Kiss.
As the Immortal Herb Tang San had used to destroy Slaughter City in the original story, the Snow Swan Kiss's toxicity was beyond question.
The only thing to watch out for was that the Snow Swan Kiss would strengthen any toxins it touched.
If Dugu Bo was not extra careful when consuming the Snow Swan Kiss later, it could very well cause the toxins in his body to erupt completely.
At that point, unless Yang Xingchen possessed a Soul Skill that could resurrect Soul Masters, even a Titled Douluo with the Nine Heart Begonia could not save him.
"Wait here. I'll go get you something."
Watching Yang Xingchen's departing figure, Dugu Bo had no idea what he intended to do.
Still, Dugu Bo kept feeling that something about what Yang Xingchen had just said was a little odd, as though Yang Xingchen had taken advantage of him.
With the help of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, Yang Xingchen found the Snow Swan Kiss in just a few minutes.
Looking at the entirely snow-white Snow Swan Kiss before him, its long, slender leaves curving like a swan's neck, Yang Xingchen cast out his fishhook without another word and bound it.
Without the cheat that was the Mysterious Jade Hand to help him, Yang Xingchen naturally did not dare touch the Snow Swan Kiss directly with his hands.
The Snow Swan Kiss could make toxins or viruses multiply hundreds or thousands of times over. That effect was simply too overbearing.
Seeing Yang Xingchen return with a medicinal herb dangling from his fishing rod, Dugu Bo once again realized just how much he had wasted this treasured land before.
"This herb is called the Snow Swan Kiss. Its medicinal effect strengthens any toxins present in the part that touches it by more than a hundredfold."
"In a moment, wrap it in Soul Power and swallow it. Before it detonates the toxins in your body, refine it into the nucleus of your poison core."
The moment Dugu Bo learned of the Snow Swan Kiss's medicinal effect, rather than fearing that it would detonate his toxins, he was eager to try it.
Dugu Bo wanted to analyze how the Snow Swan Kiss strengthened toxins by consuming it. If he could figure it out, every poison he made in the future could become several times stronger!
"All right, this old man will protect his heart meridians and sea of consciousness with Soul Power right now."
At this point, Dugu Bo also understood why cultivating the Poison Core Method required sealing the heart meridians and sea of consciousness first.
If he did not defend those two places with Soul Power, even the slightest mishap while refining the Snow Swan Kiss later would most likely cause him to die of poisoning.
Once Dugu Bo had sealed his heart meridians and sea of consciousness with Soul Power, Yang Xingchen handed him the Snow Swan Kiss.
Dugu Bo circulated his Soul Power to envelop the entire Snow Swan Kiss and placed it in his mouth.
Even wrapped in Soul Power, the Snow Swan Kiss began increasing the toxins in Dugu Bo's body the instant it entered him.
Ten breaths. Dugu Bo had only ten breaths.
After ten breaths, if Dugu Bo still had not managed to send the Snow Swan Kiss into his dantian, the rate at which the toxins increased would exceed his control.
"Xingchen, do you think this Titled Douluo can succeed?"
The Snow Empress studied Dugu Bo with some curiosity. She could tell that he had spent many years becoming a Titled Douluo.
The Poison Core Method had been perfected using the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King's experience of condensing their dragon pearls, and condensing a dragon pearl was no easy matter even among dragons.
Thus, if Dugu Bo lacked sufficient talent, even with the help of an Immortal Herb like the Snow Swan Kiss, all his previous efforts might still come to nothing.
"Anyone who can cultivate to become a Titled Douluo already has more talent than over ninety percent of the people in this world."
"What's more, between life and death, people can unleash unbelievable potential. So have faith, Snow Empress. Dugu Bo will succeed!"
Yang Xingchen certainly knew how difficult the Poison Core Method was, but was cultivating to become a Titled Douluo through one's own efforts not just as difficult?
With a Mutated Martial Soul, Dugu Bo had cultivated his way from obscurity to become the respected Poison Douluo he was today. Only he knew the hardships involved.
"When did you learn to dish out chicken soup? That doesn't quite suit your personality."
Hearing Yang Xingchen's words, the Snow Empress looked him over a few times in disbelief.
"Erm, ever since Cangyuan started calling me Dad, I suppose. I have to show a child something beautiful, don't I?"
When he first heard Cangyuan call him Dad, Yang Xingchen had been utterly stunned. After all, not everyone could accept suddenly having a child the moment they opened their eyes.
But since Cangyuan had already called him that, he certainly had to shoulder his responsibilities as a father!
"Mmm, our great philosopher."