As a Titled Douluo famous for his poison throughout the world, Dugu Bo felt he was more proficient than his peers at restraining his aura and concealing his tracks. Yet, having been so easily spotted by a youngster, he was somewhat curious about where he had slipped up.
Yun Ming responded calmly.
"Actually, it's quite simple. Although Senior Dugu controls your soul power fluctuations, mental fluctuations, body's blood energy, aura, and sound perfectly, there is one point where you fall short."
Hearing Yun Ming say he had a shortcoming, Dugu Bo felt his interest piqued.
"Oh?"
"Which point?"
Yun Ming caught the heavy, fishy scent on Dugu Bo, as if he had been pickled in poison, and after lighting an incense stick, he said faintly.
"Senior's integration with the heavens and earth is poor. Or rather, because the uncontrolled toxins in your body are too dense, they have reached a level where you can no longer harmonize with nature."
"In the six minutes you spent outside the window observing me, I never once sensed the life aura of birds or insects."
"It is just like a black spot appearing in the middle of a colorful landscape painting."
"Senior is completely out of place with the world outside; it is too abrupt!"
Hearing Yun Ming say his toxins were out of control, Dugu Bo said coldly.
"I am seventy-eight years old this year. On the Douluo Continent, among poison-attribute soul masters, no one has ever been stronger than me. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't even need to move a finger; I could simply let you die of poisoning. You actually dare to question my ability to control poison."
Hearing Dugu Bo's self-aggrandizement, Yun Ming smiled.
"Senior, you think too highly of yourself. You are not the number one poison soul master in the world. Furthermore, you said you could kill me without moving, but you cannot do that either."
Yun Ming's tone was not high-pitched or agitated; rather, it was extremely calm, yet also extremely confident.
Hearing Yun Ming say that someone was better at using poison than him and questioning his level of expertise, the good impression Dugu Bo previously had of Yun Ming shattered and plummeted. Confidence in a youngster is a good thing, but arrogance and ignorance are not. Dugu Bo let out a cold laugh and said.
"Hmph!"
"Arrogant brat!"
"In that case, why don't we put it to the test?"
"As long as you can name someone better at using poison than me, and let me poison you without you dying."
"I will spare your life; otherwise, this time next year will be your death anniversary!"
Hearing that Dugu Bo wanted a contest, Yun Ming proposed his conditions.
"A contest is fine, but if I lose, I lose my life. What if I win?"
Dugu Bo spoke domineeringly.
"You have no choice, you must accept!"
Seeing that Dugu Bo had no demeanor of a senior expert, Yun Ming gained some understanding of his personality: he was uninhibited and did not care about so-called face. It didn't matter, though; Yun Ming had ways to make Dugu Bo cooperate obediently. Yun Ming said.
"Fine then!"
"Let's start with someone better at using poison than you: that person is the current Pope of the Martial Soul Hall, Bibi Dong!"
"Her Death Spider Emperor Spirit has a toxicity far greater than your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, and Bibi Dong's cultivation is higher than yours, yet she can control her poison. Can you do the same, Senior?"
Hearing that the person Yun Ming mentioned was Bibi Dong, Dugu Bo thought of that terrifying woman and was silenced immediately.
The reason no one in the Soul Master World mentioned Bibi Dong when discussing powerful poison soul masters was that the identity of the Pope of the Martial Soul Hall was not suitable to be categorized among poison soul masters, not because Bibi Dong was not strong enough. Now that Bibi Dong had been brought up by Yun Ming, Dugu Bo truly dared not claim he was better at using poison than her.
Yun Ming's calm gaze toward Dugu Bo made the latter feel his face burning; he could no longer handle it. Thus, Dugu Bo chose to initiate the poisoning trial. He flicked his sleeve, and a colorless, odorless Poison Wind surged toward Yun Ming.
Fortunately, having understood a bit of Dugu Bo's temperament earlier, Yun Ming was prepared; otherwise, he might have actually fallen for this shameless sneak attack. Yun Ming's Atlas Divine Spear appeared in his hand, and a Yellow Soul Ring emerged beneath his feet, lighting up.
Yun Ming's First Soul Skill, 'Source of Void', was activated.
This time, Yun Ming did not use any Voidification or Teleportation derivative skills. Voidification was not suitable, as his duration for it was only a few seconds; as for Teleporting away, he feared Dugu Bo would not accept defeat.
This time, Yun Ming simply used space energy to condense a Space Energy Barrier that isolated the air inside from the outside. Unless the opponent used soul power, the poison alone could not corrode space.
Sensing the circle of Space Energy Barrier around Yun Ming, Dugu Bo frowned deeply. He had not expected Yun Ming to possess a Space Element spirit, and it appeared the level of his space attribute was extremely high. Dugu Bo was truly in a bind now.
Even Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison could not break through space if it were not infused with soul power. Seeing that losing the contest was a foregone conclusion, Dugu Bo dispelled the Poison Wind and said frankly.
"I lost!"
Seeing Dugu Bo being so honest this time, Yun Ming withdrew the Space Energy Barrier. He had learned a bit more about Dugu Bo; he still had some integrity regarding his promises.
Yun Ming did not mock Dugu Bo's poison, as the space ability was simply too great a counter to toxins.
Although Dugu Bo lost the contest, he acknowledged Yun Ming's ability. Since the other party had already identified the problem with the Dugu Family, Dugu Bo spoke directly.
"Brat, can you cure the poison of my granddaughter, Yan-yan?"
Seeing Dugu Bo finally get to the point, Yun Ming nodded.
"I can. Not just your granddaughter, I can also resolve your poison."
Dugu Bo continued to press.
"How do you cure it?"
Looking at Dugu Bo, who wanted a freebie, Yun Ming did not mind; he would give him half the method. In any case, Yun Ming had other, better plans.
"The first method, the lowest level, is to transfer your toxins into a Spirit Bone. You are poisoned because your body cannot withstand the toxins; since that is the case, then replace it with a carrier that can, such as a Spirit Bone."
"However, this method has a major flaw: unless you find an External Spirit Bone, the toxins will accumulate too much and exceed the limit of what your spirit bones can withstand, which is equally dangerous."
Dugu Bo pondered the feasibility of the plan. It was indeed a method, but it came with a prerequisite. Dugu Bo asked with some urgency.
"Then how do you force out the toxins hidden in the flesh and blood? And what are your other methods?"
Since there was a lowest-tier one, there must be other, better ones.
Hearing Dugu Bo's question, Yun Ming smiled but said nothing.
Seeing the brat's attitude, Dugu Bo wanted to use his old tricks again. Dugu Bo threatened Yun Ming in a cold voice.
"Brat, if you don't want to die, answer my questions honestly, otherwise I will make you wish you were dead."
Hearing Dugu Bo's threat, this time Yun Ming did not indulge him anymore. Yun Ming said indifferently.
"Is that so? Then let your granddaughter wait for death! You were able to survive by relying on a fortuitous encounter, but she cannot!"
Dugu Yan was born carrying even more potent toxins, so compared to her grandfather and parents, her toxin outbreaks would occur much earlier. Once the toxins erupted, if her cultivation had not yet reached the level to withstand the aura of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then the fate of her parents would be a cautionary tale.
Dugu Yan's parents died back then because their toxins erupted too early and their Soul Power cultivation was insufficient to borrow the ice and fire aura for suppression. Otherwise, with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well present, why wouldn't they have replicated Dugu Bo's method of suppression?
This was the judgment Yun Ming had made over the past two days by analyzing the experiences of Dugu Bo and his family, which had been collected by Yang Wutian.
Hearing that Yun Ming dared to threaten him with the Life of Dugu Yan, murderous intent surged in Dugu Bo's eyes, his cold killing intent seemingly ready to Penetrate Yun Ming.
"Brat, you are courting death!"
'BOOM!'
A silent collision echoed in the ears of Yun Ming and Dugu Bo.
Feeling the killing intent released by Dugu Bo, Yun Ming also unleashed his peerless, majestic aura. The two auras clashed, and in the end, it was actually Yun Ming's aura that suppressed Dugu Bo's killing intent.
Discovering that his killing intent had been suppressed, a stormy sea surged in Dugu Bo's heart. Yun Ming ignored Dugu Bo's emotions and said coldly.
"This is the second time; I will not tolerate a third!"
Hearing the seriousness in Yun Ming's tone and feeling the invincible conviction within Yun Ming's aura, Dugu Bo knew that the other party had made up his mind. Although this made Dugu Bo somewhat unhappy, for the sake of his granddaughter's life, he had no choice.
Yun Ming had already proposed a highly feasible plan, which caused the hope that had long been extinguished in Dugu Bo's heart to finally reignite. Dugu Bo also understood what Yun Ming meant. He looked at Yun Ming and said in a deep voice.
"As long as you can completely cure my granddaughter's poison, I, Dugu Bo, promise to do three things for you. Three things that do not violate my bottom line."
Hearing the conditions offered by Dugu Bo, Yun Ming smiled slightly. It was a deal!
What Yun Ming wanted was not just the things in Dugu Bo's possession, but also for Dugu Bo to do things for him. Otherwise, Yun Ming could have just gone to retrieve those items himself; it wasn't as if he didn't know the general location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Yun Ming agreed.
"Deal!"
ps: Seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader