Dugu Bo: Loyalty!

As the medicinal fragrance grew stronger, Dugu Bo's eyes became completely clear.

If he had still resented losing ownership of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well before, he now wished he could drop to his knees and sing "Conquest."

His status as a Titled Douluo was nothing but a passing cloud.

How could status matter more than his life, or more than resolving the hidden danger in the Dugu Family's Martial Soul?

The Jade Phosphorus Snake was only a rare Martial Soul, and the most crucial reason was that its venom prevented the Dugu Family from bringing out its full power.

Once that problem was solved, the Jade Phosphorus Snake could absolutely join the ranks of the top Martial Souls!

Before long, Jiang Nian reduced the mixture over high heat and condensed the medicine into pills.

Qian Renxue, who had been watching from the side, gaped.

A single batch had produced ten pills, all of them top-grade. Only someone who had refined pills before could know just how much control over the flame and medicinal properties that required.

"Xue'er, why are you watching your master instead of cultivating?"

Qian Renxue stood and pointed at Ah Yin, who was sitting cross-legged nearby. "Master, shouldn't you take a look at junior sister Ah Yin? Her hair keeps growing. It's almost ten meters long!"

Dugu Bo looked where she pointed, and his heart shook violently.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?!

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was actually this senior's disciple?!

How did he resist taking her Soul Ring? And why didn't I notice at first?

Jiang Nian glanced at Ah Yin and reassured Qian Renxue, "It's fine. Now that your junior sister Ah Yin is here, she'll cultivate much faster, and her vitality will grow stronger too. It's normal for her hair to grow."

"While you have the chance, Xue'er, go cultivate in the Yin Yang Well. It can temper your physique. Once you reach level twenty, perhaps you can try for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."

Level twenty? A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?

Was he kidding?!

Dugu Bo no longer knew how to describe what he was feeling.

A child who looked so young had not only acquired her First Soul Ring, but that First Soul Ring was also a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

And now he was saying her Second Soul Ring should be ten thousand years old?

Dugu Bo looked at Jiang Nian with growing curiosity.

Just then, Jiang Nian put the pills away, flicking only one into Dugu Bo's hand. "Take it. This pill will increase your body's resistance. From now on, the snake venom will only be your weapon; it won't harm your body."

Dugu Bo caught the pill without the slightest doubt about Jiang Nian's words.

But with the pill in his hand, he could already feel the poison spreading over his hand receding.

He tipped his head back and swallowed the pill, then immediately sat cross-legged to refine its medicinal properties.

"A decisive fellow, at least." Jiang Nian paid him no further attention and began guarding Qian Renxue as he sent her into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The springs contained the power of the origins of water and fire, enough to let Qian Renxue temper her body all the way to the Titled Douluo level, but that also showed just how dangerous they were.

If Qian Renxue went in alone, Jiang Nian would never feel at ease.

Qian Renxue entered the fire spring, and her skin immediately turned bright red. She could not help letting out a muffled groan.

Jiang Nian hurriedly sent Dou Qi into her to regulate her meridians and warned her, "Xue'er, relax your mind and circulate the Flame Mantra. Don't resist that power. The clash between the two forces will hurt you!"

Only after Qian Renxue had the Flame Mantra circulating smoothly did Jiang Nian slowly withdraw his Dou Qi, leaving her to temper her body on her own.

Much later, Dugu Bo finished refining the pill's effects, and his Soul Power even rose a full level!

For a Titled Douluo, gaining a level was no ordinary matter.

He bowed to Jiang Nian. "Dugu Bo thanks you for bestowing this medicine, Senior!"

Jiang Nian was focused on his two disciples and gave Dugu Bo a somewhat perfunctory reply. "No need to thank me. It was only a transaction."

Dugu Bo hesitated for a moment before saying, "Senior, what would this junior have to do to trade for your remaining pills?"

"What do you think you can do for me?" Jiang Nian asked in return. "Aside from this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, there doesn't seem to be anything about you worthy of my attention."

Dugu Bo was eager to make progress.

If he had obtained such miraculous medicine earlier, he would surely have been above level ninety-three by now. It was precisely because of the Jade Phosphorus Snake venom that he had not dared advance too quickly. Otherwise, he would certainly die the moment the venom reached his heart.

But he still had a son, and his son would have children of his own.

If they could keep obtaining pills like this, how could the Dugu Family fail to prosper?!

He gritted his teeth and dropped to one knee. "Senior, I, Dugu Bo, am willing to follow you. I ask only that you bestow medicine to cure the hidden affliction in my Dugu Family's Martial Soul!"

That made Jiang Nian take a few more looks at him.

Dugu Bo was talented, or rather, the Titled Douluos in Douluo I all had a certain degree of talent.

Dugu Bo was actually among the outstanding ones. After all, he had cultivated to the Titled Douluo level while contending with Jade Phosphorus Snake venom. An ordinary person might not have managed it.

If this fellow followed him, he could help Jiang Nian deal with some troubles in which it would be inconvenient for him to intervene personally.

Jiang Nian did not hesitate. He tossed the pills to Dugu Bo. "Take them."

Dugu Bo had not expected to get the pills so easily. He had even been prepared to swear a deadly oath to prove his loyalty. "Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word, Senior?"

Jiang Nian was unconcerned. "If you take what's mine and dare to go back on your word, believe me, it will be a nightmare for you."

Dugu Bo's throat bobbed. "Senior... this junior dares to ask, just how powerful are you?"

Jiang Nian smiled, and with a thought, Emperor Flame appeared beside him, accompanied by nine-colored Soul Rings.

The pressure immediately drove Dugu Bo flat on the ground, not daring to move.

Jiang Nian knew when to stop and withdrew his oppressive pressure. "Dugu Bo, you've chosen the fastest path to advancement. Follow me, and I won't treat you poorly. But if you harbor disloyal thoughts, I'll make you feel that death is a release."

How could Dugu Bo dare entertain any other thoughts? Of those strange nine-colored Soul Rings, the only one he recognized was the ninth, a pure-black Soul Ring.

Yet even that pure-black Soul Ring was different from his own Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Jiang Nian's black Soul Ring gave off a feeling that it could devour all things. It was far beyond anything a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring could compare to.

Dugu Bo was indeed worthy of being a Titled Douluo and had a discerning eye. At a glance, he saw the true nature of Jiang Nian's ninth ring: Nihility Devouring Flame.

Unfortunately, the only one Jiang Nian could use now was the Bone Spirit Cold Flame from the Yao Chen Template. When he would unlock the ninth ring depended on whether his disciples could live up to expectations.

Dugu Bo had a feeling that meeting the senior before him would be the opportunity for his Dugu Family to rise.

Then he heard Jiang Nian say, "I hear you're also a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"

Dugu Bo hurriedly cupped his fists. "This junior will go back and resign from that position at once!"

"Oh? Would the Heaven Dou Imperial Family be willing to let you go?"

"You jest, Senior. Though this junior's light is no more than a grain of rice before you, if I want to leave the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, none of them would dare stop me!"

Jiang Nian nodded. "There's no need to resign. Perhaps you can occasionally pass on messages for me while you're with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Besides, if you resign, I'll have nowhere to settle your family."

Listening to that, Dugu Bo could not help feeling that he was being regarded with disdain as a burden.

He gave a wry smile inwardly. Perhaps only the senior before him would disdain the loyalty of a Titled Douluo.

Jiang Nian brushed off his sleeves. "All right, go outside and reinforce the poison array. With your body as it is now, making the array capable of restraining an ordinary Titled Douluo shouldn't be a problem. My disciples and I will be staying here for some time, and I don't want anyone disturbing us."

Dugu Bo cupped his fists, slipping into his role quickly. "Your subordinate obeys!"

Hearing him call himself a subordinate amused Jiang Nian. It seemed Dugu Bo truly was desperate to make progress.