At those words, Lin Feng closed the jade box and slowly stood. He looked at the green-robed old man before him without denying it.
"I did leave the webs outside."
"As for how I got in, naturally, it was thanks to my Martial Soul."
While gathering the herbs earlier, he had temporarily released his Martial Soul Possession to conserve Soul Power. Now, as his words fell, a jade-green light immediately surged out of his body.
"Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, possess!"
Lin Feng's eyes instantly turned jade green, and his arms transformed into sharp spider legs. The phantom of an enormous green spider materialized behind him.
Yellow, purple, purple-three Soul Rings slowly rose.
"Soul Devouring Spider Emperor?"
At the sight, Dugu Bo's gaze sharpened. Naturally, he recognized this top-tier spider Martial Soul. Lin Feng's Soul Ring Configuration of one yellow and two purple rings, in particular, made him take a second look.
"My webs can absorb toxins. Although the poisonous mist outside is formidable, it isn't entirely impossible to pass through."
Lin Feng did not explain the process in much detail. His gaze swept over the surrounding herbs as he continued:
"I came here for these immortal herbs. Since you're back, Senior, why don't we make a trade?"
At those words, Dugu Bo froze briefly, then actually burst out laughing.
"A trade?"
He sized Lin Feng up, but the amusement in his eyes grew colder and colder.
"A mere Soul Elder in your thirties, barging into my herb garden all alone, and you want to negotiate a trade with me? What gives you the right?"
As the final word fell, a formidable surge of Soul Power erupted from Dugu Bo.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black-a full nine Soul Rings rose in succession from beneath his feet.
Those five deep-black Soul Rings pulsed slowly, and the force already weighing on Lin Feng suddenly intensified.
Lin Feng's expression changed. He found his legs seemingly nailed to the ground, his chest weighed down as though by a massive boulder. Even breathing became difficult.
The phantom of the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor behind him wavered slightly.
He hurriedly circulated his Soul Power, barely managing to steady himself and avoid dropping to his knees on the spot.
During his earlier fight with Yan, he had still been able to bridge the gap with Soul Skills. But facing Dugu Bo now, he could not even lift his spider legs.
Watching cold sweat bead on his forehead, Dugu Bo said coldly, "You do have some ability, getting through my poison formation."
"Unfortunately, you came to the wrong place."
He took a step forward.
"Since you've come today, prepare to stay here forever!"
Lin Feng did not retreat.
Not because he did not want to, but because he could not retreat at all.
Seeing Dugu Bo slowly raise his hand, he immediately spoke. "I can cure the poison in your body!"
At those words, Dugu Bo's movement stopped. His raised hand hung in midair, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
A moment later, however, he scoffed. "Cure the poison in my body? Boy, do you know why I took Poison as my title?"
"I've spent so many years studying poison arts. Since when did I need a Soul Elder to cure my poison?"
Despite saying this, Dugu Bo did not continue his attack.
Lin Feng sensed the force pressing down on him ease slightly and finally managed to draw a breath. He raised his head and met Dugu Bo's gaze.
"Does knowing how to use poison mean you can never be poisoned?"
The smile gradually faded from Dugu Bo's face.
"You'd better think carefully before you speak. I don't have the patience to listen to your nonsense here."
Rather than argue, Lin Feng directly recited the immortal herb redemption code. "Senior, whenever it's rainy and overcast, both sides of your rib cage become numb and itchy, don't they?"
Dugu Bo's eyes changed slightly.
Lin Feng took in his reaction and continued:
"Twice a day, once at noon and once at midnight. It's bearable at first, but then it gets worse and worse. Often, it won't necessarily stop even after two hours."
This time, not a trace of a smile remained on Dugu Bo's face.
But Lin Feng was not finished.
"Around midnight, your entire body also goes into spasms. The worst pain is at the crown of your head and the soles of your feet, as though fine needles are constantly piercing them."
"You have to endure this torment for at least an hour."
"Senior, am I right?"
The valley suddenly fell silent.
Dugu Bo stared fixedly at the youth before him. Even the Soul Power surging around him fluctuated for an instant.
Had he only named one symptom correctly, it could have been dismissed as a guess.
But Lin Feng had not only described where the attacks occurred; he had also stated their timing and duration so clearly. Dugu Bo had never told anyone these things!
Whenever an attack struck, Dugu Bo would avoid everyone and endure it alone. Even his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, did not know the details.
How could this youth, whom he was meeting for the first time, possibly know?
"How did you know?!" Dugu Bo abruptly stepped forward, his voice even lower than before.
Forcing himself to endure his physical discomfort, Lin Feng slowly said:
"Senior, your snake venom turned against you long ago and invaded your bone marrow. You've always thought you could still hold on, but the poison attacks over these years haven't been pleasant, have they?"
Dugu Bo did not answer.
Yet the hand hanging at his side unconsciously clenched.
Meanwhile.
Behind the rocks on the other side of the valley, two figures concealed their presence as they watched.
They were none other than Yue Guan and Gui Mei.
When Dugu Bo released his Soul Rings, Yue Guan had already raised his hand. A faint strand of golden light appeared at his fingertips, but it never flew out.
"This little fellow actually knows that old poisoner is poisoned?" Watching the sudden change in Dugu Bo's expression, Yue Guan's eyes filled with surprise.
He had dealt with Dugu Bo plenty of times, and their relationship could hardly be called good, yet he had never heard that the man suffered such torment.
Gui Mei said quietly:
"Judging by Dugu Bo's reaction, he probably got it all right."
Yue Guan nodded, his gaze returning to Lin Feng.
That pressure just now had indeed made the little fellow suffer, but Dugu Bo had not truly tried to kill him yet.
And Lin Feng had not lost his ability to respond, either.
Before they departed, the Supreme Pontiff had already instructed them to let Lin Feng handle things himself as long as his life was not in danger. They were not to intervene at will.
If they revealed themselves now, this trial would turn into two Titled Douluo asking for herbs on his behalf.
"Let's watch a little longer."
Though Yue Guan said this, the Soul Power at his fingertips did not disperse.
Gui Mei also retreated half a step into the rocks' shadows. If Dugu Bo truly dared to try to kill Lin Feng, they could act at any moment.
Before the herb garden.
Feeling the pressure gradually ease, Lin Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Naturally, he had not said all this merely to prove how much he knew.
To get Dugu Bo to sit down and talk, he first had to make him understand that he truly possessed something Dugu Bo needed.
Dugu Bo sized Lin Feng up anew. Looking again at this youth who had broken into his herb garden, he now felt that the boy might not be as simple as he had thought.
"Being able to describe the symptoms doesn't mean you can necessarily cure the poison." Dugu Bo stared at him, enunciating each word.
Lin Feng slowly exhaled and smiled. "So, Senior, are you now willing to hear what I intend to offer you in trade?"