Chapter 26: Detoxification (Part One)

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Not long after, the spring began to show signs of change. Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo focused their gaze intently.

Li Luochen shot out of the water, his bare body climbing onto the shore. He quickly grabbed the clothes he had left behind and dressed himself.

Seeing this, Dugu Yan immediately covered her eyes—but the gaps between her fingers betrayed her curiosity.

Li Luochen's physique was robust, with clearly defined chest muscles and a chiseled eight-pack. His facial features, delicate yet handsome, now carried an air of determination. His black hair, styled in a wolf-tail, now bore streaks of red and blue that shimmered faintly.

Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed crimson at the sight. This was the first time she had seen a man's bare body, and she couldn't help but feel a strange new emotion stirring within her toward Li Luochen.

"Phew... Lord Dugu, I've completed the process, but I need some time to recover. In the meantime, you should prepare some pills to suppress your toxins. Once your condition is stabilized, we can move on to hunting for soul bones."

"Alright."

Dugu Bo was not one to waste time. He quickly gathered the materials needed to refine the pills. Over the years, he had tried countless methods to suppress the toxins in his body, though their effectiveness had gradually diminished.

As Dugu Bo went off to gather herbs and refine the pills, Li Luochen wandered through the medicinal garden. He soon came across the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum—a massive purple flower. Its petals were soft and fuzzy, giving it an adorable appearance, yet it emitted no fragrance. The pistil stood half a foot above the petals, its tip glowing faintly with a golden light.

This neutral-grade immortal herb could invigorate the limbs, circulate blood through the eight meridians, and aid in cultivating an indestructible body. It was perfect for Li Luochen—or any battle soul master, really. A versatile treasure.

Continuing his stroll, he spotted a section of bamboo—likely Ink Jade Divine Bamboo—which could enhance the resilience of a martial soul. It would be ideal for his Dragon Pattern Staff.

Speaking of which, he suddenly remembered that his martial soul had evolved during the process, but he hadn't yet examined it.

He extended his hand, and his staff materialized. The black metal caps at both ends remained unchanged, but the shaft had transformed. What was once a solid crimson now displayed a harmonious blend of red and blue—not split evenly but seamlessly fused together. The dragon patterns on the staff had also changed, becoming more pronounced and intricate, resembling a coiled dragon even more closely.

But unlike the Spirit Hall's Coiling Dragon Staff, his weapon now featured two dragons—one red, one blue—entwined along its length.

His martial soul had reached the level of a top-tier weapon, comparable to the Hao Tian Hammer or the Seven Kill Sword. Li Luochen decided to name it the Coiling Dragon Staff, distinguishing it slightly from the other Dragon Pattern Staff.

He sensed that his second and third soul skills had undergone qualitative improvements, though now wasn't the time to test them.

After finishing his tour of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Li Luochen had examined many immortal-grade herbs. While he could make educated guesses about some, he still didn't know how to harvest or consume most of them—a frustrating situation.

Deciding to avoid temptation, he returned to Dugu Bo's side. Along the way, he gained new insights into his martial soul.

Li Luochen felt that acquiring his fourth soul ring would bring another transformative leap. By gathering the elements of wind, fire, water, and earth—the four foundational elements of the material world—he could lay the groundwork for something truly ambitious. 

"One tool to break ten thousand techniques." He aspired to create his own ultimate divine weapon—the Coiling Dragon Dual Element Staff. Only a weapon perfectly suited to him could unleash its full potential.

Though he had ideas about many of the immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Dual Eye, his ignorance of how to harvest or use them left him frustrated. Out of sight, out of mind—it was easier that way.

Still, there was one pleasant surprise: two golden melons, both fully ripe. Li Luochen guessed they were Earth Dragon Golden Melons. He hadn't expected to find two of them here.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, being the burial ground of the Dragon King, naturally nurtured dragon-attribute herbs exceptionally well. Dugu Bo and his granddaughter were fortunate. With access to the Herb Record, they could consume these herbs and evolve their martial souls.

But why hadn't Tang San been utilized by Dugu Bo in the original story? Likely due to a lack of trust and Dugu Bo's greed—always seeking maximum benefit at minimal cost.

Li Luochen, however, had other plans. He wanted Dugu Bo to become his protector. Sooner or later, his existence would be discovered by major powers—his information might already be sitting on the desks of influential sect leaders.

He urgently needed a strong protector, and Dugu Bo fit the bill. Though currently at level 91, detoxifying him would allow him to break through to level 92 effortlessly.

Consuming the Earth Dragon Golden Melons would further evolve Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorous Emperor Snake, granting it the ability to perform the Earth Dragon Reversal. This would significantly boost Dugu Bo's strength, potentially allowing him to reach Super Douluo status within just a few years.

Proper use of medicinal herbs was key. Resources should be swiftly converted into power.

Before long, Dugu Bo's pills were ready. Li Luochen added a drop of his blood to the mixture. Just a single drop was enough to alleviate the pain caused by the toxins.

After consuming the newly refined pill and absorbing its effects, Dugu Bo felt much lighter. The method worked. He looked at Li Luochen with softened eyes. For so many years, he had poured endless effort into dealing with the poison. Now, finally, he was free.

"Friend, words cannot express my gratitude. If you ever need anything in the future, do not hesitate to seek me out. Though I, Dugu Bo, am no saint, my word is my bond."

"Does anyone doubt Lord Dugu's integrity? Your reputation for keeping promises precedes you."

Li Luochen's words were no flattery. Dugu Bo was indeed a man of honor, as evidenced by his actions in the original story when he helped Tang San.

Dugu Yan, after a moment of contemplation, bowed deeply to Li Luochen.

"Thank you, Li Luochen. Without you, our family would have been doomed. I apologize for my earlier arrogance and rudeness. Please forgive me."

Dugu Yan's apology was sincere. Though headstrong, she knew the importance of repaying kindness. She had provoked him earlier, yet he bore no grudge and even saved her family. She felt ashamed of her past behavior.

"No apology necessary. As they say, 'No fight, no friendship.' Allow me to reintroduce myself: Li Luochen, twelve years old. My surname is Li, my given name is Luochen. My martial soul is the Coiling Dragon Staff, and I am a level 37 Battle Spirit Elder."

Li Luochen extended his hand with a smile. Dugu Yan chuckled softly and reached out to shake it.

"Dugu Yan, fourteen years old. My martial soul is the Jade Phosphorous Snake, and I am a level 28 Battle Spirit Master."

Thus, a tentative bond formed between the two.

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(A/N: The name of the martial soul is tentatively set as the Coiling Dragon Dual Element Staff, though it's a bit long. For simplicity, it will be shortened to Coiling Dragon Staff. Fellow readers, please crowdsource suggestions for the next evolution of the martial soul's name!)

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