Chapter 27: Detoxification (Part 2)

Dugu Bo was pleased to see Li Luochen and Dugu Yan reconcile. He had already been considering making Li Luochen his grandson-in-law. He began planning, thinking that for the sake of his granddaughter's future, even if it was a fait accompli, he would be content. Moreover, he observed that Li Luochen wasn't a bad person and surmised that his motivation for helping was likely self-preservation.

Dugu Bo thought to himself, sooner or later, powerful forces would try to win over someone like Li Luochen. Li Luochen probably realized this long ago and was seeking protection.

Just as Dugu Bo had guessed, Li Luochen was indeed eager to find protection from a powerful individual, knowing that without it, he would likely be targeted by other forces.

Soon after, Dugu Bo decided to head to the Sunset Forest to hunt soul beasts and obtain soul bones. Aware of Dugu Bo's intentions, Li Luochen offered a suggestion.

"Senior Dugu, there's a way to increase the chances of obtaining a soul bone. You could slaughter soul beasts to significantly heighten their resentment, which might increase the chance of a drop. However, this should be done sparingly."

Li Luochen wanted to express that this method went against the natural order but held back. The cultivation system of the Douluo Continent was founded on hunting soul beasts, inherently designed to suppress them, as dictated by the rules of the God Realm. Even if Dugu Bo killed mercilessly, it seemed nothing would happen; some gods might even approve.

Dugu Bo soon departed, setting his sights on a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast in the Sunset Forest. He remembered an injured Infinite Poison Python in a swamp from a previous encounter and thought he might try his luck, testing if Li Luochen's method worked.

Li Luochen wasn't concerned about Dugu Bo's safety, knowing that the most powerful beast in the Sunset Forest was a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, which posed no threat to Dugu Bo. However, it would be a different story in the Star Dou Great Forest, where truly powerful soul beasts resided, capable of endangering even a level 99 Ultimate Douluo. Hunting there for soul bones by killing beasts would be unwise.

With Dugu Bo gone, the focus shifted to Li Luochen and Dugu Yan. Without a third wheel, the two began talking more, understanding each other better, and sharing their life stories.

Dugu Yan became Li Luochen's first friend of the opposite sex in the Douluo Continent. He hadn't thought much of it initially, but as they grew closer, he found that Dugu Yan was not only beautiful but also had a personality he liked. Moreover, Dugu Yan hadn't yet gone to Tiandou Royal Academy, so Yu Tianheng wasn't in the picture yet. Li Luochen was Dugu Yan's first friend, and she valued him deeply. Her loneliness since childhood had made her impulsive, but it was merely a facade for her isolation.

As they spent more time together, their relationship grew closer, and they started holding hands. Dugu Yan was someone who dared to love and hate openly, and when she liked someone, she was straightforward about it.

Li Luochen was the same way. He believed in pursuing the one he liked, rather than silently admiring them, which he viewed as servile behavior. When he liked someone, he expressed it openly and was very loyal in relationships. His heart had room for only one person. He didn't need a harem or multiple wives like an emperor or aristocrat; he believed in the value of monogamy.

After developing feelings for Dugu Yan, Li Luochen took the initiative to hold her hand. Dugu Yan didn't resist, indicating their mutual understanding.

Li Luochen and Dugu Yan shared a common bond: both had only their grandfathers as their remaining family. This commonality strengthened their relationship and deepened their empathy for each other.

Meanwhile, Dugu Bo was wandering in the Sunset Forest, searching for the 70,000-year-old Poisonous Python. This python was one of the dominant soul beasts in the Sunset Forest but had been severely injured by the White-eyed Demon Tiger King and the Demon-eyed Demon Fox some time ago.

During that battle, Dugu Bo had been nearby, hoping to benefit from the beasts' mutual destruction, but when the fight ended, he had to retreat quickly to the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire to suppress his poison. 

Now, Dugu Bo aimed to kill the Infinite Poison Python, hoping for a soul bone drop. The higher the level of the soul beast, the greater the likelihood of obtaining a soul bone, and combined with Li Luochen's method, it might just work.

Dugu Bo soon arrived at a swamp and released his mental power to locate the Infinite Poison Python. Dugu Bo already had a soul bone, specifically the second most precious one: a 50,000-year-old Medusa skull with the additional skill, Medusa's Gaze.

Though not the strongest in combat among the Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo had formidable mental strength, allowing him to suppress his poison with sheer willpower, a critical aid in his survival.

Dugu Bo quickly spotted the python, a 28-meter-long creature as thick as a barrel, coiled in the swamp. It was black with several tiger claw marks, particularly severe on its head.

"Haha, I found you. Seventh Soul Skill, Jade Phosphorus Snake King True Form."

Dugu Bo activated his martial soul's true form. A 70,000-year-old soul beast is generally powerful enough to become a Titled Douluo's ninth soul ring, and Dugu Bo's ninth soul ring was over 80,000 years old.

Sensing the approaching danger, the Infinite Poison Python quickly rose, assuming a defensive posture. It recognized the giant Green Phosphorus Snake King as a powerful human. Having encountered this human before, it knew how dangerous he was, especially in its weakened state.

"First Soul Skill, Green Phosphorus Poison Mist."

Dugu Bo released his first soul skill. Though it was his first skill, in his martial soul's true form, it was as potent as a Soul Saint's attack. He used it primarily to introduce his venom into the python's body, knowing that in its injured state, it wouldn't withstand the Green Phosphorus Snake King's poison and would slowly perish.

The Infinite Poison Python, terrified of the green poison mist, tried to escape, using all its strength to let its innate poison coat its body in an attempt to resist Dugu Bo's venom.

"Haha, trying to escape? Not that easy! Eighth Soul Skill, Time Freeze!"

Dugu Bo's eighth soul skill, inherited from Medusa, the queen of 50,000-year-old snakes, was particularly well-suited for snake martial souls, though it consumed a lot of soul power. Dugu Bo minimized the energy expenditure by focusing the skill's area around the Infinite Poison Python.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Corrosive Poison!"

Dugu Bo then used his fourth soul skill, which combined corrosive poison with his own venom to ensure a slow, painful death for the Infinite Poison Python. Immobilized, the python could only watch as the green venom and purple corrosive poison invaded its body, causing it unbearable pain. It could do nothing but stare at Dugu Bo with eyes full of hatred and resentment.

A quarter of an hour later, the Infinite Poison Python had been corroded to nothing, leaving only a dark green soul bone behind.