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Inside the enormous ice cage, Dugu Bo's face was ashen, and his whole body trembled violently.
It wasn't just the biting cold, but also the deep-seated horror and despair within me.
He exerted all his strength to unleash his soul power, and the phantom of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent King twisted and thrashed wildly within the ice.
But the ice, which was harder than refined gold, only trembled slightly. The cracks that appeared were instantly repaired by the deeper chill, making it impossible to break through.
Jiang Zhen stepped forward and stood before the ice coffin, calmly watching Dugu Bo struggle inside.
"Dugu Bo, although you discovered this treasure land first..."
Jiang Zhen spoke, his voice clear and distinct, standing out clearly in the cold, desolate valley.
"But isn't it a bit too domineering to strike with deadly force right from the start?"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's struggles lessened slightly. He stared intently at Jiang Zhen through the ice, his eyes filled with anger, resentment, and a hint of surprise.
His voice was hoarse as he roared with difficulty, "Junior...don't...fake it!"
Jiang Zhen shook his head slightly, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through the ice and see through everything about him. "Dugu Bo, instead of thinking about killing us to silence us, you should worry about yourself first."
"How much time do you... have left to live?"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo froze, his anger quickly replaced by shock.
"What...what did you say?!"
You know best what I'm saying.
Jiang Zhen spoke calmly, yet every word was piercing: "The Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul is indeed incredibly powerful and awe-inspiring."
"But the accompanying poison is extremely deadly when it backfires. You've only managed to suppress the toxins in your body until now thanks to the extreme environment of this Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."
"But I'm afraid this is like drinking poison to quench thirst; the toxins have already seeped into your bones, becoming entangled with your soul power and even your very soul, haven't they?"
He paused, looking at Dugu Bo's suddenly contracted pupils, and continued slowly, "Every time you use your martial spirit, every time you cultivate, the poison intensifies."
"Not only you, but your family, your closest blood relatives, have probably all suffered greatly. If I'm not mistaken, your son and daughter-in-law probably couldn't escape this fatal poison and died young, right?"
"How...how did you know?!"
Dugu Bo's voice completely changed, filled with disbelief and horror.
This is his deepest pain and secret!
The flaws in his family's martial spirit and the successive deaths of his loved ones have always been an unspeakable nightmare for him!
"I also know that you probably only have one granddaughter left now."
Jiang Zhen's gaze was sharp as a knife, precisely piercing Dugu Bo's most vulnerable spot.
"And she, from the moment she was born, was probably already corrupted by the poison of the martial soul passed down through generations."
"At such a young age, she has to endure inhuman suffering, and... who knows, one day she might end up like her parents..."
"Shut up! Don't say another word!"
Dugu Bo suddenly erupted, frantically slamming against the ice coffin, his voice shrill and desperate.
Jiang Zhen's words were like a cold file, scraping away all his pretense and strength, revealing his bloody heart.
He thought of Dugu Yan's pale face and her figure curled up in pain during an attack...
That was the only warmth and attachment he had left in this world.
Bing Di raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at the emotionally distraught Dugu Bo, and then at the calm Jiang Zhen, seemingly finding the scene rather amusing.
Jiang Zhen paused his speech at the right moment, giving Dugu Bo time to process this huge shock.
Only Dugu Bo's heavy, painful breathing and the faint crackling of the ice remained in the valley.
After a long while, Dugu Bo seemed to have all his strength drained away, collapsing limply in the ice coffin, his anger and killing intent long since replaced by immense sorrow and fear.
He asked hoarsely, "What...what exactly do you want?"
"I don't want anything."
Jiang Zhen softened his tone, "I just want to tell you that the tragedy that befell you and your granddaughter might have been avoided."
Dugu Bo suddenly looked up, a last glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes: "You have a way to cure this Martial Soul Poison?!"
But then he became wary again, "Impossible! I've dedicated my entire life to this... and you, a mere Soul Sect brat, what makes you think you can?"
"Because I can see through your symptoms at a glance, because I can stand here and talk to you, because of the person next to me..."
Jiang Zhen turned to the side, gesturing to Bing Di , who was idly playing with the ends of his hair.
"She can easily suppress you. Isn't that enough?"
Dugu Bo fell silent.
Yes, this boy is strange in every way, and the strength of the girl in the green dress beside him is unfathomable, far beyond his comprehension.
Perhaps... they really do have some incredible methods?
What are your conditions?
Dugu Bo wasn't stupid; there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"It's very simple."
Jiang Zhen looked directly into his eyes.
"Submit to me. Serve me. And you will need to continue to look after this Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, as she and I cannot stay here indefinitely."
"Surrender?!"
A hint of humiliation and struggle flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes.
How could a titled Douluo like him easily bow down to a mere Soul Master?
But... thinking of Yan Yan... thinking of the tragic future she might face...
I'm just an old man, so it's no big deal if I die, but Yan Yan is still so young...
The internal struggle between heaven and man was extremely intense.
Dignity and kinship, pride and blood ties, were tearing him apart.
Finally, he closed his eyes in despair, and when he opened them again, all that remained was bitterness and resolute determination:
"Alright... I promise you! As long as you can cure the backlash poison of my Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor clan's martial soul and save my granddaughter Yan Yan."
"I, Dugu Bo, am willing to serve you as my master, and will obey your commands for the rest of my life without any disloyalty! If I disobey, may I be punished by both heaven and man!"
The vow was heavy, echoing through the valley.
Jiang Zhen smiled faintly: "A wise choice."
A thought flashed through his mind, and he looked at Bing Di .
Bing Di pursed his lips, seemingly finding it boring, but still waved his hand casually.
The massive ice coffin that had trapped Dugu Bo instantly collapsed, turning into the purest ice elements and dissipating into the air.
Dugu Bo escaped and landed on the ground, staggering a few steps before regaining his balance.
He coughed violently a few times; the toxins in his body were still disordered, but he was more concerned about finding a way to detoxify.
"So, what... good plan do you have?" Dugu Bo asked with difficulty, his tone complicated.
Jiang Zhen did not answer immediately, but instead took out several fragrant herbs from his storage ring and handed them over:
"Take these first to stabilize the toxins in your body. I have two methods; you can choose whichever you prefer."
Dugu Bo took the herbs and drank them as instructed. A cool sensation spread through him, and he indeed felt that the pain in his body had lessened considerably. He couldn't help but believe it more and listened intently.
"Firstly, a combination of dredging and blocking should be adopted."
Jiang Zhen slowly said, "I observe that the spiritual power in your skull is extraordinary, with faint, strange fluctuations. You must possess a soul bone!"
Dugu Bo was shocked once again. The other party even knew that he possessed the Medusa skull?!
He nodded subconsciously: "Yes... there is a ten-thousand-year-old Medusa skull."
"Very good." Jiang Zhen nodded. "This method will gradually force the toxins accumulated in your body into this skull and soul bone."
"The soul bone can serve as a container to store these toxins. You can draw upon them when you need them, and it might even enhance your poison techniques. But..."
He then changed the subject: "There is a limit to the storage of soul bones. This method can solve your immediate problem, keep your life safe, and even increase your strength in a short period of time."
"But it is ultimately a temporary measure. As your cultivation deepens, the poison will become more and more potent. One day, even your soul bone will be unable to withstand it, and there is a risk that your soul bone will backfire on you."
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's newly risen hope was dampened. The method sounded feasible, but the potential consequences were considerable.
"Then... what's the second plan?"
...
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