Chapter 19: The Dagger is Drawn, Raising the Banner to Recruit! Dugu Bo: All In! All In is a Kind of Wisdom!
Yu Jingcheng let out a light sigh, a perfectly measured look of difficulty and inner conflict appearing on his face.
"Senior Dugu, Brother Dugu, to be perfectly honest..."
He slowly reined in his smile, his tone becoming somewhat heavy:
"This detoxification method is My Master's unique, secret transmission.
When I formally became his disciple, My Master established a strict rule: the school's core teachings are absolutely not to be transmitted to outsiders.
If My Master were to learn that I privately passed on such a secret art to outsiders..."
At this point, Yu Jingcheng shook his head with a bitter smile, not continuing further, but the implication was crystal clear.
Although I wish to help you, I am powerless to do so. A master's command is difficult to defy."
Hearing this, Dugu Xin, who had been filled with hope, instantly paled, the light in his eyes dimming.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo frowned deeply, his expression shifting uncertainly.
He took a deep look at Yu Jingcheng, not doubting the truthfulness of these words in his heart.
On the contrary, it only made him more certain of the existence of that "Titled Douluo" behind Yu Jingcheng.
The more powerful a Soul Master, the more importance they placed on their Legacy.
Not transmitting unique secret arts to outsiders was an unwritten rule in the Soul Master World.
If Yu Jingcheng had agreed casually, that would have made Dugu Bo suspicious of some trickery.
"This..."
Dugu Bo, hands clasped behind his back, began pacing back and forth in the hall, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
What if he forced this kid to hand over the detoxification method?
No.
Forget that the kid himself was a Prodigy with a ten-thousand-year fourth Spirit Ring.
Just the unknown depths of that Titled Douluo teacher behind him was absolutely not someone the current Dugu Bo could afford to offend.
No matter how arrogant Dugu Bo was, he wouldn't dare gamble the lives of his entire Family on the wrath of a Titled Douluo.
But, if they didn't detoxify...
Looking at his son's ashen face beside him, Dugu Bo's heart ached.
Was he to just watch Xin'er follow in his footsteps, even dying young?
"Little Friend Yu."
Dugu Bo stopped pacing, took a deep breath, a note of earnestness entering his tone:
"This old man also knows rules cannot be broken.
But saving a life surpasses building a seven-story pagoda. Moreover, this poison has penetrated deep into the marrow of my son and me. Without a proper remedy, I fear our days are numbered.
I wonder... is there any other, more flexible approach?"
"As long as it can save our lives, no matter the price, this old man will not utter a single word of refusal!"
Watching Dugu Bo's anxious appearance, Yu Jingcheng chuckled inwardly. The timing was just about right.
He deliberately fell into a thoughtful silence for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, producing a rhythmic sound.
Each tap seemed to strike the hearts of the Dugu father and son.
A long while later.
Yu Jingcheng finally slowly raised his head, a flash of resolve in his eyes:
"Senior Dugu is right. Saving lives is paramount."
"Although My Master is strict, he is not by nature rigid or someone who would stand by and watch others die.
If he knew of Senior Dugu and Brother Dugu's situation, I believe he would make an exception."
Hearing this, hope rekindled in the eyes of Dugu Bo and his son.
"However..."
Yu Jingcheng's tone shifted, his expression turning serious:
"Rules are rules after all. If I make an exception without any proper reason, I cannot justify it to My Master.
Ultimately, we need a legitimate, proper justification."
"Justification?"
Dugu Bo was taken aback, then tentatively asked:
"Little friend, you mean..."
Yu Jingcheng smiled slightly, his gaze locking onto Dugu Bo's eyes as he spoke word by word:
"Since it cannot be transmitted to outsiders, then as long as the two of you are not 'outsiders,' wouldn't that solve the problem?"
"How about this: I invite Senior Dugu and Brother Dugu to join the force I am establishing.
That way, we become one Family.
Transmitting a detoxification secret art to members of one's own Sect—even if My Master came, he couldn't find any fault with that."
As these words fell, the hall instantly fell silent.
Join a force?
Dugu Bo frowned slightly. He had lived his life as a lone wolf, disliking constraints the most. Otherwise, he would have long since joined the Spirit Hall or one of the two Empires.
But now, circumstances forced his hand. For his son's life, what was a little freedom?
Moreover, if he could connect to a Titled Douluo through this kid, joining his force wouldn't exactly be a disgrace.
Beside him, Dugu Xin had far fewer reservations, his curiosity piqued more than anything.
Looking at this youth several years younger than himself, he couldn't help but ask:
"Brother Yu... no, Sect Master."
Dugu Xin changed his address quickly, his eyes sparkling with surprise:
"I never imagined Brother Yu, despite his youth, has already founded a Sect and established his own force?
Might I ask the name of your esteemed Sect?
What is its current scale?
With Brother Yu and your esteemed Master presiding, the Sect must be filled with powerful experts, right?"
Facing Dugu Xin's barrage of questions, the smile on Yu Jingcheng's face grew even brighter.
He waved his hand, saying with an utterly candid expression:
"Brother Dugu misunderstands."
"Currently, this force has not been formally established yet."
"Huh?"
The expression on Dugu Xin's face instantly froze, his mouth agape in utter bewilderment.
Even Dugu Bo's lips twitched slightly, looking at Yu Jingcheng with a strange expression.
Not established yet?
What did that mean?
An empty promise?
Watching the father and son's Wonderful (wonderfully expressive) faces, Yu Jingcheng felt not the slightest bit awkward. Instead, he laughed with righteous confidence:
"Not having it now doesn't mean not having it in the future."
"My ambitions are vast. In the future, I am destined to establish a force of my own, standing at the pinnacle of the Continent."
"Right now, it's merely about settling the affiliation in advance."
Saying this, Yu Jingcheng stood up, radiating a powerful self-assurance:
"As long as the two of you agree today, you will be the founding elders of my Sect in the future."
"When My Master asks about it later, I can justify it by saying the two of you are pillars of talent I recruited for my future Sect.
That way, the matter of detoxification becomes perfectly logical and justified."
"What do the two of you think?"
Yu Jingcheng's future plans definitely involved establishing a force.
As for his previous thoughts about returning to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect...
Yu Jingcheng had also pondered it in his heart.
Worried about being exposed, it was better not to return.
Rather than risking exposure by joining the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, he might as well join the Spirit Hall!
In the Spirit Hall, if your talent was strong, your Aptitude exceptional, they would truly nurture you!
Develop himself in the early stages, then establish a force once he grew powerful later.
That way, even if he later became a god and ascended to the God Realm...
He would still have a force left behind on the Douluo Continent.
As for what kind of force to establish?
Or rather, what would the positioning of the established force be?
Yu Jingcheng hadn't formally decided yet.
There were still thirty years until the main plot began.
Too many things were uncertain.
He could discuss it later when the time was ripe.
Dugu Bo and Dugu Xin exchanged a glance.
Although Dugu Bo loved freedom...
Compared to the 'Beryl Serpent Poison' problem affecting himself, his son, and his entire Family...
This was a mere trifle!
Moreover, the Sect wasn't even established yet.
They would be joining now.
When the Sect was founded in the future, they would be founding elders. No matter how you calculated it, they wouldn't lose!
Furthermore.
In Dugu Bo's view, Yu Jingcheng's Aptitude was the strongest among the younger generation.
Breaking through to Titled Douluo in the future would be a breeze.
Now, while Yu Jingcheng was still young and weak...
Investing and partnering up directly—wasn't that wonderful?!
Dugu Bo made up his mind internally:
All in!
All in is a kind of wisdom.