Dugu Bo stepped out of the courtyard and happened to lock eyes with the waiting Dugu Yan. She didn't look at Dugu Bo but instead craned her neck to peer behind him.
Finding no sign of Gu Xuan, Dugu Yan glared at Dugu Bo and said in a tender voice. "Grandpa, where is Xiao Xuan?"
Instead of receiving the concern of his precious granddaughter, Dugu Bo heard those words and felt as if his heart had stopped. His face turned bitter. 'Truly, once a girl grows up, she doesn't belong to her grandfather anymore!'
Dugu Bo explained the three tests he had set for Gu Xuan to Dugu Yan; otherwise, who knew what kind of trouble this girl might cause?
The first two conditions were manageable. Gu Xuan had told her about his alchemy skills, so there shouldn't be any problems.
However, upon hearing the third condition, Dugu Yan immediately lost her cool. She stared at Dugu Bo in disbelief. "Grandpa, that's the Nine Point Jade Snake! Are you trying to kill Gu Xuan?"
The Nine Point Jade Snake was a highly toxic serpent. It was small and entirely emerald green. If it were an ordinary person, merely touching a trace of its toxin would result in an irreversible death.
Even a soul master couldn't withstand the intense poison of the Nine Point Jade Snake. Dugu Bo's snake had already reached the hundred-year level; it was no longer a common snake, but a soul beast.
Even a Soul Ancestor-level soul master without poison resistance would absolutely not survive past a single hour after being bitten.
Gu Xuan was only at Rank 33. If he were bitten by the Nine Point Jade Snake, wouldn't they have to start preparing his funeral feast on the spot?
Dugu Bo looked at Dugu Yan, who was like a bristling kitten for the sake of Gu Xuan, and felt a hint of jealousy. He explained softly. "Yan Yan, Grandpa is not someone without a sense of proportion. The reason I'm testing the boy like this is to gauge his ability. If his skills aren't up to the task, how can I comfortably hand you over to him for treatment?"
"The serpent poison of our Dugu Family is exceptionally overbearing. The slightest mistake could lead to a backlash. I'm doing this for your own good."
Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Dugu Yan felt warmth in her heart. She naturally knew her grandfather was doing this for her, but she was still deeply worried about Gu Xuan. "But... but Gu Xuan is only Rank 33. If he can't resolve the toxin of the Nine Point Jade Snake, then... then won't he..."
Seeing Dugu Yan's worried expression, Dugu Bo felt a bit more sourness in his heart, but he explained. "Don't worry. This kid agreed without a hint of hesitation. Although we only spent a short time together, I can tell he's not the type of mediocre person to make empty boasts. He wouldn't do something he wasn't sure of."
"Besides, isn't your grandpa right here? Even in the worst-case scenario, if he really doesn't have the ability, I will still protect his life."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan gradually calmed down. Dugu Bo was right; Gu Xuan never did anything he wasn't sure of. She was simply worrying too much.
...
After Dugu Bo left, Gu Xuan went to the flower bed in the courtyard. 'Martial Soul Possession!' His second soul ring flickered as his hands transformed into dark gold bone claws, and he began to harvest the poisons.
His bone claws actually possessed a certain degree of resistance. Since they were entirely skeletal, they could withstand lower-level toxins.
After using his second soul skill—which originated from a Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear—this skill could completely withstand most toxins. Unless it was a highly corrosive poison, Gu Xuan had nothing to fear.
Refining a poison capable of taking down a Soul Elder was not difficult for the current Gu Xuan. As long as the materials were sufficient, he could refine it in minutes.
After harvesting the herbs, he went directly to the room Dugu Bo usually used for compounding medicines. He took out his own alchemy furnace and began to prepare the formula.
In less than thirty minutes, Gu Xuan had already refined the poison. Without stopping, he pulled more herbs from his soul tool and refined an antidote pill.
He often kept various medicinal herbs in his soul tool for daily use or to sharpen his alchemy techniques.
In just one hour—which was half a double-hour session—Gu Xuan had completed the poison and the antidote for the first and second tests.
Gu Xuan didn't wait for Dugu Bo to return; he walked straight out to find him. Just as he stepped outside the courtyard, he saw Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo. The moment Dugu Yan saw Gu Xuan, she ran over, looking him up and down.
"How is it? Are you alright?" Dugu Yan asked with concern.
Gu Xuan shook his head and smiled. "I'm fine. The items have been refined."
As he spoke, Gu Xuan took out two porcelain bottles and stepped forward to hand them to Dugu Bo. "Senior, please inspect them."
Dugu Bo took the bottles, opened them, and sniffed lightly. Subsequently, the look in his eyes became brilliant and full of life. He couldn't help but praise him. "Not bad. To refine both a poison and an antidote in half a session... at such an age, to have such accomplishments in alchemy, I recognize your ability."
But then, Dugu Bo's tone shifted. "However, the hardest part is the third test. I will warn you one last time: I hope you've thought this through."
Hearing this, Gu Xuan smiled slightly. The treasure light of his soul tool flashed, and with a flick of his wrist, he handed over another porcelain bottle.
"Senior, this is an antidote I refined myself. As long as the venom does not exceed that of a Rank 50 serpent-type soul master, it can be cured. I imagine it should be sufficient." Gu Xuan said with a faint smile.
Dugu Bo was slightly surprised. He took the bottle and sniffed it, and his heart immediately trembled.
"Hundred-Flower Jade Dew Pill? Truly, the young generation produces heroes." Dugu Bo marveled.
"Fine, there's no need to test it. With this Hundred-Flower Jade Dew Pill, letting my Nine Point Jade Snake bite you would just be a waste of its venom." Dugu Bo said, shaking his head slightly.
He hadn't expected this kid to be someone with true talent and learning. Dugu Bo remembered Dugu Yan telling him that Gu Xuan was only fifteen. To have such achievements at a young age meant his future was boundless.
Before Gu Xuan could celebrate, Dugu Yan gave a cheeky smile from the side. "Grandpa, I told you, Xiao Xuan has real talent."
Having had his skills verified, Dugu Bo no longer harbored any contempt for Gu Xuan. In alchemy, much like in a soul master's cultivation of soul power, the one who is more advanced takes precedence. Given Gu Xuan's current mastery of alchemy, he was worthy of respect.
"Yes, yes, Yan Yan is right. It was your grandpa who was blind." Dugu Bo smiled at Dugu Yan.
Then he spoke softly to Gu Xuan. "Xiao Xuan, I can call you that, right?"
Gu Xuan nodded and smiled. "You are Yanzi's grandfather; naturally, you may. It is also my honor."
Hearing Gu Xuan's reply, Dugu Bo laughed. "Xiao Xuan, I was mistaken before. But it was all for Yan Yan's sake; I hope you won't take it to heart."
Gu Xuan was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo to become so friendly in an instant. Even for Dugu Yan's sake, there was no need for this, right?
But Gu Xuan didn't know that Dugu Bo was already quite satisfied in his heart. Now that Gu Xuan's strength was recognized, Dugu Bo welcomed him with a smile. After all, this brat was his future grandson-in-law.
Dugu Bo was just like that—once he truly accepted and recognized someone, he had no airs at all.
(End of Chapter)
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