Chapter 54: Dugu Bo's Submission
The moment the Snake Lance Martial Soul appeared, Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply, and the wounds across his body throbbed in pain.
"That's him… the Titled Douluo I met at the Crown Prince's mansion a few days ago?"
Realization dawned, and a chill ran down his spine.
"No wonder that little Heaven Dou prince could instantly detect Yan'er's poisoning—it wasn't his ability at all. He's been working with the Spirit Hall!"
A trace of lingering fear flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes. Thankfully, these people had come to recruit him. Otherwise, a few days ago, he might not have survived their "visit."
But his situation now was equally dangerous. He'd accidentally learned the Spirit Hall's secret—would they really let him live if he refused to submit?
Death itself didn't scare him. After all, he'd suffered from his own serpent poison all his life; dying might even be a release.
But what about his granddaughter, Dugu Yan? Without him to protect her, how long could she possibly survive in this world?
That thought alone crushed the last of his resistance. He clasped his fists and asked the gaunt old man before him respectfully,
"Honored Douluo, may I ask—do you have a way to cure the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison within me?"
The old man, She Long, noticed the shift in Dugu Bo's tone. He withdrew his Martial Soul and turned toward his young miss for guidance.
At that moment, Qi Tian, still disguised as Xue Qinghe, stepped forward.
"Senior Dugu," he said calmly, "your poison can only be completely dissolved by Her Holiness, the Pope herself."
"The Pope…?"
Dugu Bo turned his gaze toward the golden-robed woman standing at the center of the group. Her every gesture radiated authority and divine beauty—Bibi Dong.
Her voice was cold but majestic.
"Dugu Bo, you have only one chance."
A soft hum resonated through the courtyard as she released a sliver of her soul power pressure.
Instantly, Dugu Bo felt his chest tighten.
An invisible force pressed down on him like a mountain. Instinctively, he almost unleashed his Martial Soul in defense—but quickly froze.
"How… How can this be? So young, yet already a Titled Douluo? And her strength… it even surpasses that lance-wielding one!"
Sweat gathered at his temples. There was only one possible answer.
"Your Holiness," Dugu Bo said hurriedly, dropping to one knee, "This humble one is willing to serve the Spirit Hall!"
He didn't dare show even a hint of defiance before the Pope. Better to be pointed at and ordered around than to be dead—and besides, there was his granddaughter's poison to think of.
And if the Pope could truly purge the serpent toxin from his body… perhaps he might even break through to Rank 90—a true Titled Douluo realm!
As soon as his words fell, Bibi Dong withdrew her oppressive aura. Dugu Bo exhaled in relief, feeling as though a massive boulder had been lifted from his chest.
Bibi Dong took several jade bottles from her soul tool and tossed them toward him.
"These pills will neutralize the toxins within you."
"After you join the Spirit Hall, you will serve under Xue Qinghe—for now."
Her reasoning was simple. Dugu Bo was a Heaven Dou native; having him work beside the prince would arouse no suspicion and would even bolster Qian Renxue's power base for the future.
"Many thanks, Your Holiness!"
He bowed deeply, clutching the bottles with trembling hands.
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod, turned, and led her entourage out of the residence.
Now only Xue Qinghe (Qi Tian), Ci Xue, and She Long remained.
"Senior Dugu," Qi Tian said suddenly, "I suggest you don't purge the poison from your body completely."
Dugu Bo blinked.
"Oh? Does Your Highness have some advice?"
He didn't dare underestimate this youth—after all, it was Qi Tian who had first detected Dugu Yan's poisoning.
Qi Tian spoke plainly,
"If you cleanse all the toxins from your system, not only will your body struggle to adapt, but your combat strength will also decline."
Dugu Bo frowned slightly.
Qi Tian continued, "After activating your Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor True Form, you can release serpent venom even without soul skills. That's because your body is saturated with toxins. If you purge it all, you'll lose that natural advantage and have to rely solely on soul skills to use your poison again."
Understanding dawned on Dugu Bo's face.
"Then, Your Highness, what do you suggest I do?"
Qi Tian didn't hide the solution.
"You can transfer the Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison into one of your soul bones. Soul bones are unique—some even contain venom of their own. If you store your poison within them, it won't harm your body, and your strength will remain intact."
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up in realization.
He did, in fact, possess a Medusa Serpent soul bone—one that was naturally infused with poison. Now, with Qi Tian's guidance, everything suddenly made sense.
"Many thanks for your guidance, Your Highness," Dugu Bo said respectfully, "but… how exactly should I channel the serpent venom into my soul bone?"
On the current Douluo Continent, the study of meridians was shallow at best. Cultivation mainly relied on meditation, and most soul masters focused entirely on using their martial souls in battle.
Few ever circulated soul power through their meridians.
But Dugu Bo's strength had long since surpassed the ordinary. At his level, not only were his Eight Extraordinary Meridians open, but even the Twelve Principal Meridians flowed smoothly.
If he guided his soul power along those pathways, he could gradually direct the toxins within his body into his soul bone.
Qi Tian offered only a hint, and Dugu Bo instantly understood the method.
"Many thanks for your wise instruction, Your Highness!"
At this moment, Dugu Bo felt not even a shred of resistance toward serving under Qi Tian.
"Good," Qi Tian said, nodding. "You can begin detoxifying here. Ci Xue, stay and protect him during the process."
Ci Xue's martial soul naturally restrained poison, making him the perfect person to guard—and monitor—Dugu Bo.
"Understood, Your Highness!"
As Qi Tian and She Long departed, Dugu Bo felt the oppressive tension in the air lift.
He let out a long breath.
Against those Titled Douluo, even as a Soul Douluo, he could barely breathe.
Reaching into his robe, he pulled out one of the jade bottles Bibi Dong had given him and swallowed a pill without hesitation.
Almost immediately, he frowned.
"Hmm? This flavor… it feels oddly familiar."
He couldn't recall exactly where he'd encountered it before, but as an expert in poisons and antidotes himself, the taste alone gave him confidence—he could probably replicate it later.
Moments after taking the pill, he felt a subtle transformation within. The long-accumulated Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison began to fade away, thread by thread.
"It's working!" he murmured in disbelief.
"To think that the Pope, still so young, possesses such mastery not only in cultivation but also in the art of poison and antidotes!"
Dugu Bo stored away two bottles of the antidote for himself and set one aside for his granddaughter.
If this medicine could dissolve even the venom in his body, it would easily neutralize the far lighter poison afflicting Dugu Yan.
Ci Xue cast him a glance but said nothing, finding a quiet room nearby to meditate.
Dugu Bo then made his way to his granddaughter's chamber.
Inside, Dugu Yan wasn't cultivating—she was sitting quietly, staring at a jade pendant in her hands, lost in thought.
"Yan'er?" he called softly.
She looked up in surprise, her eyes lighting up in relief when she saw him.
"Grandfather, it's so late—why are you here? Are your wounds healed already?"
Dugu Bo chuckled and shook his head.
"Healed? Not quite. But they'll mend soon enough."
"Then why do you look so happy, Grandfather? Did something good happen?"
He nodded, taking out a small jade bottle and handing it to her.
"This," he said with a faint smile, "is the antidote for the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison. Once you take it, you'll no longer need to fear any backlash."
Dugu Yan's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Grandfather, where did you get this?"
For a brief moment, Dugu Bo almost blurted out that it came from the Pope herself—but then he remembered.
From now on, he was to serve under Xue Qinghe. It would be unwise to reveal his connection with the Spirit Hall.
"It was given by His Highness, the Crown Prince."
Her expression brightened instantly.
"I knew it! I knew His Highness would find a way!"
Dugu Bo sighed quietly, watching the joy on her face. How could he not understand what that look meant?
"Sins of fate…" he thought bitterly.
"They've only known each other for less than a month, yet my granddaughter's already fallen so deeply for him."
He shook his head helplessly, torn between amusement and worry.
—
End of Chapter