Chapter 38: Subduing Dugu Bo
"Strange Velvet Sky-reaching Chrysanthemum, Fragrant Silk Beauty, Golden Threaded Amber Tulip, and that one... the Lovesick Heartbroken Red!" Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice trembled with excitement, his entire body quivering slightly.
Because of his family's martial spirit, his lifelong dream had been to find an immortal herb. He possessed an almost fanatical obsession with rare plants.
Yet here, before his very eyes, were countless immortal herbs—glorious and abundant, each one rarer than legend itself.
How could he not be ecstatic?
Ignoring Chrysanthemum Douluo's barely contained frenzy, Dugu Bo's gaze burned as he stared at the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass and the Blazing Apricot of Inferno near the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
"You mean, if I consume these two plants, the poison in my body will be purged completely?" he asked eagerly.
Ruo Ling nodded, then shook his head. "Yes, taking them together will indeed remove the poison—but I don't recommend it."
Dugu Bo blinked, his heart wrenching at the sudden contradiction.
Ruo Ling explained calmly, "While this combination would cleanse every trace of toxin from your body, it would also strip away all of your poison cultivation—along with the venomous nature of your Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial spirit."
The hope in Dugu Bo's eyes instantly died. His poisonous arts were his foundation, the source of all his strength. To lose them was unthinkable.
"You mentioned three methods—lower, middle, and upper. What are the other two?" he asked quickly.
"The middle method," Ruo Ling said evenly, "requires a soul bone."
"A soul bone?"
"That's right. You can slowly transfer the toxins from your body into a soul bone. Soul bones are lifeless matter—they cannot be poisoned."
"Transferring the poison into a soul bone…" Dugu Bo murmured, his eyes widening brighter the longer he thought.
"How could I not think of such a simple solution before!" he exclaimed, smacking his thigh in realization.
Ruo Ling chuckled softly. Yes, the idea was simple—but not intuitive. Soul bones were far too precious for anyone to risk corruption.
"You should choose a limb bone," he advised, "to absorb the toxins. Then, in battle, you can release them as a deadly trump card."
"Even if the toxin overloads the soul bone, it will only damage your limb—whereas a torso or skull bone backlash could kill you outright."
"Excellent suggestion, young friend!" Dugu Bo nodded repeatedly, admiration flashing in his eyes. But he hadn't forgotten—this was only the middle method.
"You said this was just the middle option. There's an even better way?"
Ruo Ling smiled faintly. "Transferring the poison only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. It doesn't truly neutralize the toxin's buildup. That's why it's merely a partial solution."
"As for the upper method…" He pulled out a thin book from his soul device.
"This is a copy from Spirit Hall's library. It describes a poison cultivation art—one that condenses all toxins within the body into a Poison Core, transforming harmful energy into strength."
Ruo Ling had discovered this text long ago, saving it precisely for this opportunity.
The cultivation method was akin to forming an elemental core—but unlike the traditional soul core, this one didn't require the strength of a Titled Douluo. Even a lower-ranked spirit master could begin training it.
The Spirit Hall's library was full of such hidden treasures, though few ever bothered to read them.
In a world that revered power above all else, few valued theory—and fewer still tested it.
Dugu Bo stared at the book in awe. If not for Bibi Dong and Chrysanthemum Douluo standing nearby, Ruo Ling suspected the old man might have lunged forward and grabbed it outright.
"If I join Spirit Hall," Dugu Bo said gravely, "will that book be mine?"
Ruo Ling looked at Bibi Dong.
"Of course," she said with a nod.
Her interest in Dugu Bo had already waned; instead, she found herself staring at the book in Ruo Ling's hands. For the first time, she realized just how extraordinary the Spirit Hall library truly was.
"Then I'll say my thanks in advance," Dugu Bo declared, having made his decision.
Ruo Ling handed him the book directly. "Then this herb garden now belongs to Spirit Hall."
Dugu Bo nodded reluctantly, eyes sweeping over the countless rare plants one last time before turning back to his newly acquired text.
"Elder, I suggest first finding a soul bone to absorb some of your toxins. Then, once the pressure lessens, you can begin condensing your Poison Core," Ruo Ling advised before walking toward the Icefire Yin Yang Well again.
Bibi Dong followed with a sidelong glance at Dugu Bo.
"Teacher, the matured immortal herbs should be harvested," Ruo Ling said seriously. "We can distribute them among Na'er, the other Spirit Hall elders, and anyone who has achieved great merit."
"Are these herbs really so rare?" Bibi Dong asked, surveying the luminous plants surrounding them. Their aura felt strange but not particularly powerful to her.
"Your Holiness!" Chrysanthemum Douluo interjected before Ruo Ling could answer, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Immortal herbs are called such because they defy heaven itself—they possess the power to reshape destiny!"
"Look there! The Strange Velvet Sky-reaching Chrysanthemum—my martial spirit's perfect counterpart. Consuming it grants a body of diamond, impervious to harm!"
"And that one, Autumn Water Dew, bestows clairvoyant sight and greatly enhances spiritual perception!"
"And over there, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone—it strengthens the body and smooths all energy pathways!"
On and on he went, naming each herb like a child describing legendary treasures.
Bibi Dong's expression grew solemn.
If all of this was true, then these herbs could forge an entire generation of geniuses for Spirit Hall.
The group inspected the perimeter of the Icefire Yin Yang Well carefully before stopping at one particularly resplendent plant.
Ruo Ling stepped forward. Gazing down at the dreamlike bloom, he said quietly, "Teacher, this is the one I told you about—the herb that can turn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Pagoda."
"The Golden Threaded Amber Tulip—a noble among immortals. It absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, the radiance of sun and moon, and can evolve a martial spirit."
Bibi Dong's eyes widened. "Something that can evolve a martial spirit truly exists?"
"The world is vast," Ruo Ling said with a slight shrug. "Some things are born under heaven's own favor."
Of course, he knew it was true—after all, in the original timeline, Ning Rongrong had ascended her spirit through this very herb.
Bibi Dong glanced at him with a soft smile. "Xiao Ling, if you knew of this place, your purpose wasn't merely to recruit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, was it?"
"Teacher truly understands me," Ruo Ling replied with a faint grin. "These herbs do far more than just enhance martial spirits. Many of them can dramatically increase a person's soul power."
"And without any side effects."
As he spoke softly, his eyes glimmered with quiet ambition.
He hadn't traveled here to gift these treasures to anyone.
Intercepting Tang San—and seizing the immortal herbs to strengthen himself—was his true goal all along.
(END CHAPTER)
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