Chapter 21: Flame Approaching the Extreme, Dugu Trusts

"No, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well must be surrounded by top-grade poisonous grass and enveloped in a thick poisonous miasma. Even an old man like me cannot fully enter without consequences. Even if you knew where it was, what could you possibly do?"

Dugu Bo's words struck like a cold wind, dousing the brief spark of hope that had flared up within him. In the blink of an eye, his emotions plummeted from exhilaration to deep despair, leaving him in a haze of disappointment.

Just then, Lin Xiao's calm voice broke the silence.

"Senior Dugu, my evil fire seems to be immune to poison."

Dugu Bo's sharp eyes immediately gleamed with interest. "You said your evil fire can resist poison? I'd like to test that claim."

Without hesitation, Dugu Bo waved his hand, releasing a sweet, fishy green mist that curled through the air like a living serpent—an unmistakable sign of his infamous Jade Phosphorus Snake venom, one of the most lethal toxins on the continent.

Compared to Dugu Yan's fledgling control, Dugu Bo's venom was in a league of its own, ferocious and overwhelming.

The poisonous mist surged toward Lin Xiao's face, the air thickening around him with danger.

"You seem confident," Dugu Bo sneered coldly. "Perhaps you've faced Yanyan's weak venom before. But don't be mistaken—my cultivation is far deeper than hers. My venom is the apex of the Jade Phosphorus lineage."

To Dugu Bo's surprise, Lin Xiao barely flinched. His eyes remained steady as the mist enveloped him. Though dizziness clouded his mind for a moment, no symptoms of poisoning appeared.

Curious, Dugu Bo grasped Lin Xiao's wrist and probed with his soul power. What he discovered astonished him—Lin Xiao's internal temperature was alarmingly high, and an evil fire pulsed through his meridians like a living beast. Even Dugu Bo's soul power was devoured shortly after making contact.

"You really are immune to poison," Dugu Bo murmured. "Is this your so-called evil fire at work?"

But confusion soon replaced his intrigue. "No, with such a destructive flame raging inside you, it should be far deadlier than any poison… So why are you still standing?"

Lin Xiao, equally perplexed, answered honestly. "It seems my evil fire is close to the level of an ultimate fire, but not quite there yet. Still, its immunity is enough for now—though I suspect a stronger dose of your venom might still affect me."

Dugu Bo's expression darkened. "You little brat! Do you realize how many people in this world would die instantly if exposed to even a whiff of my venom? And yet here you are, still dissatisfied?"

Lin Xiao grinned awkwardly. "Senior Dugu, even without using your soul power, you could still crush me with your strength alone. I'm not foolish enough to challenge you."

Despite himself, Dugu Bo felt a strange mixture of frustration and admiration for the boy's composure.

"Tell me, do you truly think you can survive inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"

"Why not?" Lin Xiao asked. "Unless a Titled Douluo goes out of their way to capture me and inject poison directly into my veins, I don't see how I could be poisoned. Besides, the miasma won't actively seek me out, and I won't be foolish enough to stuff poisonous herbs into my mouth."

Dugu Bo paused, his curiosity deepening. "You're not wrong. And yet, that place is dangerous even for me."

Lin Xiao smiled knowingly. "So, Senior Dugu, you really do know where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is. No wonder you've survived despite the defects in your martial spirit."

Dugu Bo's expression darkened as memories surfaced. "I rely on my Titled Douluo strength and the unique magnetic field of that place just to suppress the poison in my body. It's a pity… If you had come to me sooner, perhaps my son wouldn't have died young."

Lin Xiao's heart softened at the sudden vulnerability in Dugu Bo's voice. For the first time, the fearsome Poison Douluo no longer seemed like an untouchable legend but simply a lonely old man burdened with loss and regret.

"Senior Dugu, you and Miss Yanyan won't have to suffer the same fate. The hidden pain of the Dugu family ends with you."

Dugu Bo, though moved, remained skeptical. "You really think you can solve our martial spirit defects?"

"If I can't," Lin Xiao said with unwavering resolve, "you can test the limits of my poison immunity yourself."

The corners of Dugu Bo's mouth twitched. "You're either brave or utterly foolish."

Lin Xiao didn't flinch under the threat. Instead, he looked Dugu Bo straight in the eyes. "Senior Dugu, I have faith. In myself—and in our cooperation."

For the first time in years, Dugu Bo's cold heart wavered. He saw in Lin Xiao not just courage, but determination and sincerity—qualities he hadn't encountered in a long time.

Just as their silent agreement solidified, a familiar voice echoed from outside the courtyard gate.

"Lin Xiao! Grandfather! Are you there? I heard from the servants that Grandfather has returned!"

It was Dugu Yan's voice, filled with joy and hope.

Dugu Bo looked at Lin Xiao thoughtfully before muttering, "You better not disappoint me, boy."

Lin Xiao's confident smile remained unbroken. "I won't. I promise."