Chapter 37: Dugu Bo
Dugu Bo's body immediately stiffened.
As a Titled Douluo, he had met Bibi Dong before and knew exactly how ruthless the Pope of Spirit Hall could be.
His expression shifted quickly into a sycophantic smile. "I did not know Your Holiness was gracing this humble place. My apologies for not welcoming you sooner."
Bibi Dong ignored his flattery, her tone cold. "You said this is your garden?"
"No, no, of course not! I merely stumbled upon this place and… decided to tend to it as an herbal garden."
Dugu Bo waved his hands repeatedly, not daring to sound arrogant.
Ruo Ling, standing beside Bibi Dong, let out a faint chuckle.
Though soft, the sound echoed in the Icefire Yin Yang Well—impossible to miss for two Titled Douluo.
"And what amuses the young friend?" Dugu Bo asked through clenched teeth. He was irritated but dared not show it.
Ruo Ling stood calmly beside Bibi Dong, obviously someone dear to her.
"I was just thinking," Ruo Ling said lightly, "that Elder should not have turned this place merely into a herb garden."
Dugu Bo froze and stared at him nervously. "What do you mean by that, young man?"
"This place is the Icefire Yin Yang Well—a treasure formed by the union of heaven and earth's essences. The extreme yin and yang energies here double the growth speed of all plants."
"Moreover, the coexistence of searing heat and bone-chilling cold perfectly balances the toxic powers that gather here."
"You're residing here not because of the herbs—but to suppress the poison in your body, aren't you?"
Ruo Ling's tone was casual, but to Dugu Bo, every word sounded like thunder.
His face darkened. "Suppress poison? You jest, boy. How could a poison-attribute Titled Douluo like me be poisoned?"
"Is that so?" Ruo Ling smiled faintly, his tone filled with meaning.
"Tell me, Elder—on rainy days, do you not feel a numbing itch spreading from both sides of your ribs, growing worse with each minute? At noon and midnight, the pain strikes again, each episode lasting no less than an hour."
"And late at night, around the third watch, isn't it true that stabbing pain assaults your skull and heart, leaving you convulsing for half an hour?"
Dugu Bo's face went pale. Ruo Ling's words were terrifyingly accurate.
No one—not even his beloved granddaughter—knew such details.
Bibi Dong listened with shock. Even for her, it was unbelievable that a poison-wielding Titled Douluo had fallen victim to his own art.
"It seems the only reason you've survived this long without dying from poison backlash is precisely because of this Icefire Yin Yang Well," Ruo Ling continued.
"And if I'm not mistaken, your very breakthrough to Titled Douluo must have been aided by it as well."
Ruo Ling's steady tone made Dugu Bo shiver inside.
"At this point, young friend…" Dugu Bo said nervously, "can you… perhaps cure my poison?"
Ruo Ling didn't answer immediately. He simply regarded the man with faint amusement.
After a long pause, he replied, "What benefit would I get from curing you?"
At that, Bibi Dong's eyes brightened.
Years ago, Spirit Hall had tried to recruit Dugu Bo but failed. If Ruo Ling could really cure him, then bringing the poison Douluo into Spirit Hall would happen naturally.
Although Dugu Bo was only rank 91 and among the weaker Titled Douluo, his poison-based abilities were invaluable in warfare.
For Spirit Hall—whose future goal was continental unification—having a poison-attribute Titled Douluo would be a major advantage.
"What would you like in return?" Dugu Bo asked anxiously.
Ruo Ling didn't answer. Instead, he turned and looked toward Bibi Dong.
"Join Spirit Hall," she said immediately, raising her Pope's scepter.
Dugu Bo fell silent, weighing his choices carefully.
He had no desire to serve Spirit Hall, especially given his old grudge with Chrysanthemum Douluo. But the situation forced him to think twice.
"If this old man were to join Spirit Hall," Dugu Bo asked cautiously, "what sort of treatment would I receive?"
"You'd become an elder of Spirit Hall," Bibi Dong replied seriously.
"I… once had some history with Ju Hua Guan—Chrysanthemum Douluo…" Dugu Bo began, but his words were cut short.
"Who are you calling Ju Hua Guan?!"
A furious voice boomed from above.
Golden petals rained down from the sky like blades, slicing toward him.
Startled, Dugu Bo quickly activated his martial spirit transformation and dodged aside.
"Ju Hua Guan! Have you lost your mind?!" he roared.
"You old poison!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shouted back. "Don't you dare call me that!"
The two clashed midair in an instant, hatred blazing between them.
Bibi Dong sighed, looking exasperated. She knew they disliked each other, but this was… immediate violence.
Her sharp voice cut through the chaos: "Enough, both of you!"
The combat ceased at once.
"Hmph! Since the Pope herself said so, I'll let you off today," Dugu Bo grumbled, withdrawing his spirit.
"You better thank Her Holiness," Chrysanthemum Douluo shot back arrogantly. "Otherwise, I'd have beaten the poison out of your rotten hide!"
Bibi Dong rubbed her forehead, helpless. She then glanced at Ruo Ling. "Xiao Ling, can you really cure him?"
Dugu Bo's eyes lit with hope.
"The old poison's really infected?" Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered, then laughed mockingly. "A poison expert who poisons himself—truly amusing."
"You know nothing!" Dugu Bo snapped furiously.
"I'm guessing," Ruo Ling said calmly, "that Elder's condition is hereditary."
"Correct. My poison is inherited from the Jade Phosphor Serpent bloodline," Dugu Bo admitted. Since his secret was revealed, there was no point hiding it.
"The toxins from the Martial Spirit and your spirit rings weren't fully fused, gradually corroding your body from within, right?"
"You understand well, young man. So—can it be cured?" Dugu Bo asked urgently.
Ruo Ling raised three fingers.
"I have three methods—low, middle, and high."
"Three methods?" Dugu Bo widened his eyes in disbelief.
What had haunted him for decades, the boy claimed to have three solutions for!
"Please, tell me everything! If you can truly cure me, I'll join Spirit Hall without hesitation!" Dugu Bo said earnestly.
Seeing Bibi Dong's approving nod, Ruo Ling turned back to Dugu Bo.
"In that case, I'll start with the lowest method," he said calmly.
Pointing to two glowing herbs near the edge of the Icefire Well, he continued, "Those two plants are called the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass and the Blazing Apricot of Inferno. Separately, they are deadly poisons—but taken together, they refine the body through ice and fire, purging all toxins completely."
As Ruo Ling spoke, Dugu Bo's gaze burned with wild excitement.
Beside them, Chrysanthemum Douluo trembled uncontrollably. Only now did he notice the countless sacred herbs sprouting around the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
(END CHAPTER)
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