The next morning, at the dining table.
A Rou sat quietly eating. Her beautiful face wore an unmistakable look of joy and satisfaction. The already powerful spirit power fluctuations around her were now smooth and condensed, firmly stabilized at Rank 96! The two deep and special sessions of Dual Cultivation last night had not only helped her Breakthrough her Bottleneck in one go but also established an incredibly solid Foundation under the Soul Power Compression Method.
However, every time her gaze inadvertently swept over Yu Qing, scenes of last night's blushing but highly effective Cultivation would involuntarily surface in her mind. She immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, silently picking at the food in her bowl as a faint blush crept onto the tips of her ears.
Yu Qing took in her reaction, finding it both amusing and endearing. He thought to himself, "A Rou has reached Rank 96 now. It's time to pass on the Dual Soul Core Condensing Method and the Jade Rabbit Scripture to her."
The dual soul cores would greatly enhance her potential and sustained combat capability, while the Jade Rabbit Scripture could guide her Spirit to evolve to a higher level.
His gaze shifted out the window, as if he could see through the distance to the old man busy in the poisonous herb garden. "And that old fellow Dugu Bo..." Yu Qing frowned slightly. "Soaking in those highly toxic things all day, isn't he afraid the temporarily suppressed Spirit backlash will erupt again? Besides, as the vice sect master of my Yin Yang Sect, his Rank 91 spirit power is indeed a bit lacking."
Only by completely solving the backlash issue of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul can Dugu Bo truly let go and focus on his Cultivation and improvement. In the future, he can then become one of the true pillars of the Yin Yang Sect.
However, as for which specific solution to choose, he still needed to consult Dugu Bo's own opinion. After all, some methods only treated the symptoms and not the root cause, while others required a huge price, even giving up the poison arts he was so proud of.
After breakfast, Yu Qing checked the Cultivation progress of the sisters Ling Xin and Ling Mou as usual, offering some guidance. Afterward, he took the two little girls who followed him like little tails—Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan—to play in the valley, enjoying some leisurely family time.
In the following days, life remained peaceful and orderly. When Yu Qing felt the time was right, he gave the Jade Rabbit Scripture to A Rou.
That night, after deep Cultivation and during a moment of intimacy.
Holding A Rou, Yu Qing asked softly, "A Rou, regarding dual soul cores, there are two mainstream choices. One is the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores, which is extremely powerful and offers a qualitative leap in combat power, but the condensation process is fraught with danger, a narrow escape from death. The other is the relatively stable Isomorphic Resonance Dual Soul Core. Although the enhancement isn't as exaggerated as the former, it is safe and reliable. Which one... do you want to choose?"
Without the slightest hesitation, A Rou looked up with her pink eyes, her gaze fixed firmly on Yu Qing. "I choose the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores!"
A flash of surprise crossed Yu Qing's eyes. "You should be well aware of the dangers I faced when condensing the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores; it's definitely not something an ordinary person can endure. Are you... really sure you want to choose this path?"
"I'm sure." A Rou's answer didn't waver in the slightest. She hugged Yu Qing tightly, pressing her face against his chest, her voice soft but full of strength. "Only by becoming stronger can I better stand by your side and help share the burden, instead of always being protected by you. No matter how dangerous it is, I'm willing to try."
Feeling his wife's unwavering determination, Yu Qing felt a deep sense of emotion and pride. He stopped trying to persuade her and nodded solemnly. "Good! Since you've decided, I will do my best to help you!"
With that, he pressed his forehead against A Rou's again, passing on all his experience, insights, details, and every key node to watch out for when condensing the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores without reservation. The value contained within was enough to drive any Spirit Master crazy.
As the massive flow of information poured into her mind, A Rou carefully sensed the dangers and mysteries of every step. Her gratitude and love for Yu Qing almost overflowed. She took the initiative to offer a sweet kiss, her voice soft and affectionate. "Husband... you're so good to me..."
Yu Qing responded to her passion, leading her once again into the depths of Dual Cultivation, supporting her choice with practical action... The next day, A Rou found Fox Consort, who was quietly meditating in her room, her gait slightly awkward.
Fox Consort looked at her slightly inconvenienced way of walking, a hint of playfulness flashing in her long, beautiful eyes as she teased, "Oh? Here to show off your battle results again? Looking like this today... did you 'Cultivate' too hard last night?"
A Rou's cheeks turned slightly red, but she wasn't as shy as usual. Instead, she sat down beside her and asked seriously, "Fox Consort, when do you plan to fulfill our previous bet?"
Hearing this, Fox Consort's beautiful face instantly turned bright red. Her eyes flickered as she tried to remain calm. "I... I'm not ready yet... Wait... wait a bit longer..."
A look of helplessness appeared in A Rou's eyes. She knew her old friend's proud and awkward personality well. With a thought, spirit power circulated around her, and nine spirit rings—purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red, red—rose from beneath her feet.
When that seventh spirit ring appeared, Fox Consort's gaze instantly froze! The color of that spirit ring was so deep it was almost pitch black, and the energy fluctuations it emitted were vast beyond measure. It had actually reached a terrifying age of nearly ninety thousand years!
"Look," A Rou pointed at her seventh spirit ring, her tone calm but persuasive. "The effects of Dual Cultivation are far better than you imagine. It's not just about love; it's a shortcut to greater power. Husband... he's really amazing."
Looking at that nearly black seventh spirit ring and sensing A Rou's aura, which was even more powerful than her own peak, the last of the hesitation and defenses in Fox Consort's heart were completely shattered. Her rejection of human men and her fear of the unknown seemed so insignificant in the face of absolute power enhancement.
She bit her full lower lip as if she had made a decision, then looked up and stared straight at A Rou. "Fine! I, Fox Consort, admit defeat! Within three days... within three days, I will go to Yu Qing and complete... the Dual Cultivation you mentioned."
Hearing this, a flash of joy from a successful scheme crossed A Rou's eyes. With Fox Consort joining, not only could she share Yu Qing's overly vigorous "firepower," but it would also greatly enhance the future strength of the Yin Yang Sect. She could already see a beautiful future where she easily enjoyed the benefits of Yin-Yang Harmonization without being "tossed around" so much that she couldn't get out of bed every time... Meanwhile, Yu Qing arrived at Dugu Bo's small courtyard.
Just as he entered the yard, he saw Dugu Bo still fully concentrated, squatting among his precious poisonous herbs, tending to them carefully as if those highly toxic things were his relatives.
Yu Qing couldn't help but sigh and said, "Old Poison, are you really that unafraid of death? Spending all day with these things, aren't you afraid the Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison backlash will erupt early?"
Dugu Bo didn't even look up, his tone quite nonchalant. "What's there to fear? Isn't Madman Ye here? If the sky falls, you'll be there to prop it up. Naturally, I have no worries."
"Stop fiddling with your treasures," Yu Qing's tone became unusually serious. "I've come to see you for something important."
Dugu Bo heard the seriousness in his voice, so he put down his tools, wiped the dirt off his hands, and followed Yu Qing into the house.
"What is it? Why so serious?" Dugu Bo asked with some confusion.
Yu Qing looked him straight in the eye and got straight to the point. "Do you want to completely solve the poison backlash issue of your Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul?"
Hearing this, Dugu Bo's green pupils suddenly contracted, and his breathing quickened. "Yes! Of course, I do! I want to every single moment! Although you helped me suppress it before, I know it's only temporary. I estimate that in two years at most, the backlash will return, and each time it will be more violent than the last." His tone carried a hint of subtle exhaustion and helplessness.
After speaking, he suddenly looked up, a strong light of hope erupting in his eyes as he stared intently at Yu Qing. "What? You... have a way to completely solve it?!"
Yu Qing nodded, but his expression wasn't light. "There are a few ways. But... each has its pros and cons, and some even have significant hidden dangers."
Dugu Bo urged impatiently, "Quick, tell me! What are the ways? As long as I can get rid of this damn backlash, I'm willing to consider any price!"
Yu Qing pondered for a moment and said slowly, "The first method is to find a Spirit Bone that is at least ten thousand years old, with a pure attribute and no special attributes. Gradually channel the accumulated poison in your body into this Spirit Bone."
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. "This method sounds feasible!"
But Yu Qing poured cold water on him. "Let me finish. This method seems feasible, but it has endless future troubles. First, that Spirit Bone will be completely ruined as a result, unable to provide any Spirit Ability or attribute bonus; instead, it will become a pure poison sac. Second, and most importantly, this method only 'transfers' the poison rather than 'neutralizing' it. Once the poison contained in this Spirit Bone reaches its limit, or if you Cultivate even more powerful poison yourself, the backlash will erupt instantly in an even more violent and uncontrollable way... By then, death will be certain."
The joy on Dugu Bo's face instantly vanished, and he frowned deeply. "...Drinking poison to quench thirst. What else?"
"The second method," Yu Qing continued, "is for me to continuously use the Power of Life to purify the toxins in your body, forcibly keeping your poison level below a relatively safe threshold."
"This method sounds pretty good!" Dugu Bo said.
"But the price is," Yu Qing looked at him, "your spirit power Cultivation speed will become extremely slow, and it might even stagnate for a long time. Because your Spirit Origin is one with the poison, suppressing the poison is equivalent to suppressing the growth potential of your Spirit."
Dugu Bo fell silent. For a Spirit Master, especially a Titled Douluo like him who had once stood at the pinnacle of the continent, being unable to advance or even regressing was undoubtedly unacceptable. He slowly shook his head.
Yu Qing mentioned the third method: "Discard your poison arts, cripple your current Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul Cultivation, and start over with another Cultivation Technique. Of course, given your age and Foundation, your re-cultivation speed would be much faster, but whether you can return to the Titled Douluo realm is unknown."
"No way!" Dugu Bo immediately refused, his tone resolute. Making him give up the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul that had accompanied him all his life and the poison arts he was famous for was harder than killing him.
"It seems... I can only choose the first method." Dugu Bo sighed deeply, his tone filled with helplessness and a hint of sorrow. At least he could last a bit longer; perhaps he could find a better way in the meantime, and he could spend more time with Yan Yan.
Yu Qing shook his head. "Don't be in a hurry. I still have two trump card methods, but... these two methods either come at a huge price or are not yet perfected."
Dugu Bo felt as if he had caught a life-saving straw and said hurriedly, "But what? Quick, tell me!"
"The fourth method," Yu Qing's gaze swept toward the herb garden outside. "Consume the only earth dragon golden gourd in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. This immortal herb can greatly stimulate the Dragon Clan Bloodline, with a high probability of guiding your Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul to evolve to a higher level, thereby transforming the fatal poison backlash into your absolute control over poison, solving the root problem."
"The earth dragon golden gourd?!" Dugu Bo naturally knew of that treasure, and a look of wild joy instantly erupted in his eyes. "This... this is practically tailor-made for me! Fantastic!"
But Yu Qing's next words made his heart sink instantly. "However, there is only one earth dragon golden gourd. If you take it, Yan Yan will... only be able to choose from the first three methods in the future. Moreover, Spirit evolution also carries risks; it's not a hundred percent successful."
The wild joy on Dugu Bo's face instantly froze. Without the slightest hesitation, he shook his head repeatedly. "No! Absolutely not! Yan Yan's future is more important than my life! What's the last method?" He couldn't imagine building his own survival on the sacrifice of his granddaughter's future.
Yu Qing looked at him and slowly stated the final method: "The Poison Pill Method. This is a concept I've deduced based on some theories. The principle is to continuously compress and condense all the toxins in your body, including the Spirit's Origin poison, and eventually form a 'Poison Pill' within your body. Using this pill as the core, you can command all poisons and release or retract them at will. Naturally, there would be no more worries about backlash."
He paused, his tone becoming grave. "However, this method is currently just a theoretical concept. How to compress? How to condense? How to control the terrifying energy during the condensation process? How to maintain balance after successful condensation? These are all huge unknowns and risks. For it to succeed, I need to... experiment on you."
"Experiment?" Dugu Bo chewed on these words, his eyes flashing. This meant he would likely become the "test subject" for Yu Qing's concept. Success would mean a vast new world, but failure... he might die even faster than the backlash would have killed him.
After a long silence, Dugu Bo suddenly gritted his teeth, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "I've lived so many years; I've had my fill! Rather than lingering on or sacrificing Yan Yan's future, I'd rather take a gamble! I choose your Poison Pill Method! If... if this method ultimately proves unfeasible, then I'll switch to the first method and use a Spirit Bone to contain the poison. That way, I can still spend a few more years with Yan Yan!"
Yu Qing nodded solemnly. "Good! Since you choose to trust me, I will do my utmost. Rest assured, no matter the outcome, I will treat Yan Yan as my own and put all my effort into nurturing her. I will definitely find a perfect solution for her Spirit backlash!"
Dugu Bo didn't say anything more, just nodded heavily. Everything was understood without being said.
Yu Qing stood up to leave. When he reached the door, he stopped. Without looking back, he added, "Until I deduce a perfected Poison Pill Method and solve the backlash for you, try to touch those poisonous flowers and herbs as little as possible in the future. Their toxicity will continuously worsen the accumulation of poison in your body, increasing the difficulty and risk of condensing the Poison Pill later on."
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's old face immediately wrinkled into a bitter gourd expression, and he muttered unwillingly, "Then... can't I at least fertilize or weed them occasionally? Watching them fend for themselves makes my heart itch..."
Yu Qing then turned around and gave him a meaningful smile. "Old Man Dugu, if you really feel your life is too long, you can pretend you didn't hear my suggestion. Anyway, when the poison breaks out and you die, it won't be me who's in pain. It's just a pity for Little Yan Yan, to lose her only relative at such a young age, left all alone and helpless. How pitiful~"
After saying that, he ignored Dugu Bo's face, which had instantly become incredibly conflicted and animated, laughed heartily, and walked away quickly, disappearing outside the courtyard gate.
Leaving Dugu Bo standing there alone, looking at his carefully nurtured poisonous herbs, then thinking about Yu Qing's words and his little granddaughter's cute face, his heart fell into an unprecedented internal struggle...
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