Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well (I)

He looked down at his hands and gave a wry smile, "My cultivation level is too low right now, and my meridians are damaged. I need to recover to at least the Soul Elder realm before I can unleash enough Chaos Soul Power to guide it. I estimate... at the earliest, it will take four months to complete the entire guidance and refining process. The success rate... is 60%."

60%.

For Dugu Bo, this was already an enormous number.

He spent his whole life searching for solutions, but they always yielded zero, one, or at most thirty percent success, and all at the cost of damaging the foundation.

To have a 60% chance of success and then turn the poison into one's own is simply a fantasy.

He stared intently at Lin Chen, as if trying to see right through him.

"You little brat, are you kidding me?"

"This junior wouldn't dare," Lin Chen met his gaze calmly. "Senior is Grandmaster of poisons; the principles behind this technique are clear to you upon careful consideration. This junior would never risk his own life to deceive you with such a thing."

Dugu Bo fell silent.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing as he rehearsed the path to this method.

The poison is sealed into the Soul Bone, nurtured with Soul Power, and transformed into its own use...

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, because he had personally witnessed the effects of Lin Chen's special Soul Power yesterday.

He himself was a master of poisons, and he knew immediately that this method was not unfounded. The principle made sense, the logic was sound, and most importantly, it perfectly matched the venom properties of his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.

If it really works...

His own poison has seeped into his bones, which might allow him to live for another ten years or so; Yanyan's poison might be completely cured, so they won't have to follow the same path as the Dugu Family for generations.

This is not just a 60% chance; this is an opportunity that the Dugu Family has been waiting for for generations!

He suddenly opened his eyes, and the way he looked at Lin Chen changed.

It's no longer about looking at a promising junior, but about seeing a hope that can break the family's destiny.

"Good."

He uttered only one word, but his voice carried an unprecedented solemnity.

I'll trust you this once.

He paused for a moment, then said directly, "From today onwards, this will be your second home. You can use as many of the Immortal Herb here as you like, and you can use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well however you wish. Moreover, I will personally help you find a suitable Soul Ring to aid in restoring your cultivation. I will personally procure any materials you need."

These conditions are undeniably generous.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is Dugu Bo's lifeblood; not even his own granddaughter can touch it casually, let alone outsiders. And now he's saying he can use it freely.

Lin Chen was overjoyed and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you for your trust, senior. I will do my best."

"Don't keep calling me 'senior'," Dugu Bo waved his hand, his tone softening considerably. "You lad, your temperament and abilities are just to my liking. If this really works out, I'll owe you a favor."

As dusk deepened, the flickering light from the ice and fire in the valley cast shadows on the faces of the three people.

Xiao Wu hugged Lin Chen and watched him reach an agreement with Dugu Bo. Finally, a weight was lifted from her heart.

She looked down at the boy in her arms. His face was still pale, but his eyes were still bright, as if nothing could trouble him.

Lin Chen noticed her gaze, turned his head, and smiled slightly at her.

Xiao Wu blushed and quickly turned her face away, but hugged him even tighter.

The late autumn frost covered the cliffs of the valley, shimmering with fine, silvery-white light. The mist in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Fire was tinged with pale gold by the morning light, rising gently and enveloping the two figures leaning against the cliff in a hazy glow.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, surrounded by a faint gray aura.

After a night of recuperation, the effects of the Soul Gathering Pill gradually dissipated, and wisps of Soul Power finally began to flow through Sisi depleted meridians. The solitary purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath his feet also solidified somewhat, and his Soul Power stabilized at level sixteen. Although still weak, he was much better than when he had just woken up last night.

Xiao Wu sat beside him, holding a clean handkerchief in her hand, wiping the thin layer of sweat from his forehead from time to time.

She barely slept all night, her eyes showing faint dark circles, yet she showed no signs of sleepiness, her eyes fixed on him as if afraid that if she blinked, he would faint again.

Dugu Bo emerged from behind the rock, a dark green cloak draped over his shoulders. He glanced at Lin Chen, his brows relaxing almost imperceptibly. "I'm going to the academy to ask for leave for both of you. Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't do anything rash."

"Don't worry, senior, I'll keep a close eye on Brother Lin Chen." Xiao Wu nodded quickly.

Dugu Bo snorted, his figure flickered, and he transformed into a green shadow, disappearing from the valley in the blink of an eye.

In the council chamber of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the three council members were discussing the winter training program around a table.

Suddenly, the hall door was pushed open with a "bang".

A chilling pressure rushed in first, and a turquoise poisonous mist seeped in through the cracks in the door, causing even the heater in the hall to seem to cool down instantly.

The three education commissioners looked up abruptly and saw Dugu Bo standing at the door with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering in the wind, his emerald eyes sweeping over them with his usual arrogance and coldness.

"Senior... Senior Dugu?"

Zhi Lin quickly stood up, and the other two followed suit, their faces showing a hint of caution.

Who is Poison Douluo? He's a formidable figure who ranks among the top in the entire Heaven Dou Empire. Not to mention the three education committee members, even if the dean himself came, he would have to give him some face.

"I've come to tell you something," Dugu Bo said, walking into the hall without sitting down. "Lin Chen and Xiao Wu will be in seclusion here with me for at least four months. When they return is up to me."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Four months?" Zhi Lin was taken aback, then subconsciously said, "But senior, Lin Chen is now the team captain, and the competition in the Great Soul Arena..."

"Is the competition more important than my personal instruction?" Dugu Bo glanced at him, his imposing aura intensifying. "What, does your academy have a problem with this?"

"No, no!" Zhi Lin quickly waved his hand, his face beaming. "This is a blessing for the children, and an honor for our academy! Senior, rest assured, the academy will handle everything perfectly. We'll explain to everyone that Lin Chen and Xiao Wu have gained your favor and are accompanying you on your training journey. The team competition will be temporarily suspended; it's alright."

He dared not utter the slightest objection.

Putting aside Dugu Bo's identity, Lin Chen was already the academy's darling. Now that he had become a disciple of the Poison Douluo, his future achievements were limitless, and the academy was eager to benefit from his success. They would gladly grant him a four-month leave, or even a year's leave of absence.

"Hmm." Dugu Bo nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

The oppressive atmosphere in the hall dissipated, and the three education committee members finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"My God... Poison Douluo is actually personally teaching Lin Chen and Xiao Wu?" Bai Baoshan's voice was still filled with shock. "These two kids are incredibly fortunate!"