Chapter 43: The Shield Obtained – Part 1
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"Alright, I, Dugu Bo, swear upon my martial soul. If you can resolve the issues with our family's martial soul, I will serve as the honorary dean of Tian Xing Academy and protect the school. My son will also become your disciple." Dugu Bo said earnestly.
Ye Wen hadn't expected Dugu Bo to be so straightforward—it was no wonder he was considered the number one honest man in Douluo.
Subsequently, Ye Wen led the two into the Blue Silver Forest. Feeling the overwhelming life energy wash over them, both father and son felt a wave of comfort.
Years of unwavering cultivation had made Dugu Bo's willpower incredibly strong. He quickly snapped out of the euphoric sensation and spoke seriously to Ye Wen.
"Boy, this life energy does indeed alleviate our symptoms, but it won't solve the root issue with our martial soul. If this is all you've got, I'll have to back out of our agreement."
"Don't rush, Senior. You don't eat a meal in one bite or solve problems all at once. The reason I brought you here is to show you the depth of my resources. What I'm about to tell you next is the solution to your martial soul problem," Ye Wen said with a smile. He then led them deeper into the Blue Silver Forest.
Upon seeing the towering Blue Silver King, the two fell silent. As a Soul Sage, Dugu Bo naturally possessed sharp insight. It was clear that this tree was an ancient plant-type spirit beast of at least ten thousand years. Its resemblance to the surrounding thousand-year-old Blue Silver Trees suggested that this ancient tree was likely the ten-thousand-year form of Blue Silver Grass.
"Senior Dugu Bo, allow me to introduce you—this is the guardian spirit beast of Tian Xing Academy, the Blue Silver King with eighty-five thousand years of cultivation," Ye Wen said.
The Blue Silver King, ever cooperative, formed its ancient visage and spoke in a deep, muffled voice.
"Greetings, human Soul Sage."
In the understanding of ordinary soul masters, spirit beasts were incapable of speech—even ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. Yet here stood an eighty-five-thousand-year spirit beast speaking fluently, leaving Dugu Bo momentarily stunned.
"A spirit beast… can talk?!" Dugu Xin was the first to voice his astonishment.
Seeing their confusion, Ye Wen kindly explained.
"It's not particularly rare for spirit beasts to speak. Hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts possess intelligence comparable to humans. Whether or not they choose to speak depends on whether they're willing to learn.
According to an ancient text I've read, there's a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast residing in the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest—a snake-bodied, ox-headed creature capable of speech."
With this explanation, the two began to accept the idea, though Dugu Xin, being young and sharp-witted, quickly spotted an inconsistency.
"Teacher Ye, didn't you say only hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts can speak? But this Blue Silver King is only eighty-five thousand years old."
Hearing such a basic misunderstanding, Ye Wen shook his head helplessly and continued his explanation.
"Not all hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts need to live for exactly hundred thousand years to reach that level. Rather, their power reaches a certain threshold, allowing them to survive for so long. That's what makes them hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts.
Though the Blue Silver King has only eighty-five thousand years of cultivation, its species grows very slowly—so slowly that it might even surpass the lifespan of some hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts. Speaking, at its core, is simply the transmission of vibrations. With enough practice, it's not surprising for the Blue Silver King to speak.
Imagine having hundreds of thousands of years to learn a language—even someone clumsy could master it in a hundred years."
After hearing Ye Wen's explanation, though Dugu Xin still didn't fully grasp the concept of "vibrations," he understood the gist.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo found these revelations fascinating. His rigorous cultivation routine had left little room for exploring such mysteries. Deep down, he had always assumed that spirit beasts gained their strength simply because they lived long lives.
"I've learned something new."
"As long as you don't break the rules and fight within the academy, you're free to move around in this Blue Silver Forest."
With that, the Blue Silver King once again fell into slumber. Ye Wen had advised it to keep a low profile and avoid revealing its identity or Ah Yin's.
Dugu Bo now took the Blue Silver King's strength more seriously. Though Blue Silver Grass was inherently weak, any spirit beast that could survive for eighty-five thousand years was no ordinary existence.
Then Ye Wen spoke.
"Now, let me explain how we'll resolve your martial soul issue."
The two immediately focused intently. Finally, they were getting to the main event—it was a matter of life and death for them.
"First, let me ask you this: the soul skills you possess—are they mostly projectile-based? For example, spraying venom or releasing toxic mist? Essentially, you're control-type soul masters who use poison to dominate the battlefield."
Dugu Bo nodded. "Is there a problem? This is how our ancestors have always attached soul rings, and it's why we hold a place in the world of soul masters."
Ye Wen's expression revealed a hint of confirmation. Though he had imagined many reasons why the Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul might poison its wielder, he hadn't expected the simplest explanation.
"There's nothing wrong with your martial soul—it's the soul rings you've attached and the direction of your cultivation that are flawed."
"What?! Impossible!"
Dugu Bo's response was firm. This method of hunting soul rings had been passed down through generations—it couldn't possibly be wrong.
This belief was deeply ingrained in him, a cornerstone of his tradition.
Ye Wen wasn't surprised by Dugu Bo's intense reaction. There was a saying from his past life: you could take away the money or lives of the common people, but you must never shake their faith.
As a once-glorious soul master family, even in decline, they would never denigrate their ancestors' legacy—that would be akin to forgetting one's roots.
"Calm down, Senior Dugu Bo. Let me explain."
After soothing Dugu Bo, Ye Wen continued.
"Senior Dugu Bo, if someone is bitten by a venomous snake and there are no suitable herbs or tools nearby, what's the best way to minimize the effects of the poison?"
A hint of disdain crossed Dugu Bo's face. As an expert on snakes, this was basic knowledge. Without hesitation, he replied,
"First, restrict the blood flow in the affected area, then suck out the venom. This significantly reduces the snake's toxicity and extends the victim's treatment window."
In feudal times, this method was considered quite advanced. Unfortunately for Dugu Bo, he was facing Ye Wen's multidimensional critique.
"Senior Dugu Bo, do you mean sucking the venom with your mouth?"
"Of course! Generally, soul power from different types of soul masters can't be transferred without damaging the meridians. If it's a fellow soul master, they can expel the venom using their own soul power. And since you mentioned no tools, if not the mouth, what else would you use?" Dugu Bo replied confidently.
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