Chapter 82 The Secret Price
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"Trade? What else are you thinking?" Dugu Bo asked with interest.
He was hoping Amon would give him some more inspiration.
Amon shook his head. "What I want to trade this time isn't an idea, but a soul bone. Are you ready to give your granddaughter a soul bone?"
Mentioning this, Dugu Bo frowned. Soul bones weren't so easy to obtain, even for a Titled Douluo like him.
Moreover, for Dugu Yan's future, it would be best to get her a ten-thousand-year soul bone, which would be even more difficult.
"Soul bone… do you have one?" Dugu Bo asked without much expectation.
"No," Amon answered directly. "But I can get one. Senior Dugu, you should know that the champion prize for this Soul Master Competition is three ten-thousand-year soul bones, right?
"I'm confident in winning the championship. I'll use one of the soul bones to exchange for a medicinal herb, how about it?"
"You? A Soul Elder?" Dugu Bo's face carried a hint of mockery.
Just now, Amon had deliberately revealed a trace of soul power fluctuation, although his clone was only level thirty, and even lower after splitting off the Worm of Time.
But the first soul ring could release the stored soul power's 'expressiveness' at the right time, creating an illusion for others.
"Well… my team is very strong. Senior, give me a medicinal herb first, and after I win the championship, I'll give you the soul bone. To ensure that I fulfill my promise,
"You can poison me with a deadly poison that will take effect in two years, and I'll die without the antidote."
Amon's tone was calm, but his eyes deliberately revealed a hint of madness that only a gambler would have.
He paused slightly, then continued:
"Take a gamble. I'll use my life to bet that my team can win the championship, and Senior will use a medicinal herb paid now to bet on the future harvest of a soul bone."
In the eyes of people who don't know the true value of immortal herbs, they are obviously far less precious than soul bones.
"Which academy are you from?"
"Northern Advanced Soul Master Academy."
Hearing this unheard-of academy, Dugu Bo originally wanted to refuse, he knew how powerful the Spirit Hall's "Golden Generation" was, but after a second thought, he agreed.
Agreeing to this transaction would allow him to justifiably poison this kid. If he's controlled by me, he won't easily reveal the secrets of the herb garden…
With this thought in mind, a smile appeared on Dugu Bo's face:
"Alright, you said it yourself, I will poison you… If you can't give me the soul bone, I don't want your life, I just need you to assist me in researching poisons afterwards."
He took out a green pill and handed it to Amon. "This is the Seven Insect Seven Star Grass, refined from a mixture of seven poisonous insects and seven poisonous herbs. You need to take an antidote once a year to delay the onset."
Amon didn't hesitate, took the pill and swallowed it directly… As an Amon clone, he was "willing" to sacrifice for Amon as a whole.
"Very good." Dugu Bo nodded with a smile, and handed Amon another red pill:
"This is the antidote. Take it when the poison flares up in a year, and it will delay it for another year. In two years, you must come here to find me, otherwise you will die…
"Also, after you go out, you must not reveal anything you saw in my herb garden to anyone, otherwise, don't even think about getting the antidote."
The key to this transaction was not the soul bone, but that Amon needed to give a reason for himself to be controlled by Dugu Bo, so that Dugu Bo could safely let him leave and bring the immortal herbs back to the main body.
As for the antidote or not…
I'm just a clone, would I care about this? And whether I can exist for a year is a problem… Amon's clone muttered to himself.
"You can go choose a medicinal herb, and leave immediately after you choose it, don't disturb my research on detoxification methods." Dugu Bo waved his hand with some disgust.
Amon walked to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and used materialized soul power to transform into a pair of hands, and picked the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, which was prepared for Yan Jin.
In fact, among the "Blazing Apricot Passion", "Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower", and "Earth Dragon Golden Melon", "Blazing Apricot Passion" was the most suitable for Yan Jin.
The violent and fierce fire poison that was for ordinary people was an excellent tonic for Yan Jin, who possessed a magma spirit.
Among the latter two, the "Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower" had too mild medicinal properties, and was not as thick and fierce as the "Earth Dragon Golden Melon".
Yan Jin's fighting style had a tendency to create miracles with great strength, and the "Earth Dragon Golden Melon" was more in line with it.
As for why not take the "Blazing Apricot Passion" for her, it was naturally because it was to be left for Tang San.
In "Lord of the Mysteries", Amon's godhood ascension ritual required him to replace that person's position in someone else's godhood ascension ritual.
Although Amon was not sure whether he would have such ability in the future, and whether this method was suitable in Douluo, it did not prevent him from planning ahead and making such preparations now.
There were currently three targets to choose from, namely Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Tang San.
Among them, Bibi Dong had already grown up, and was the current Pope of the Spirit Hall, a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse, whose level was likely close to level 99, and was not a target that could be easily planned for.
Qian Renxue was disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, with two Titled Douluos, Thorn Blood and She Long, guarding her side, and many soul masters under her command. Behind her was Qian Daoliu, a near-god powerhouse, who was not a good choice either.
Only Tang San in the early stage had a clear growth trajectory and was weak himself. Although there was Tang Hao guarding him, Tang Hao was only one person after all, and could not stare at him all the time, making him the easiest to control.
Moreover, as long as he obtained the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, he would be able to delay or promote his godhood ascension progress.
Overall, Tang San was Amon's most ideal ritual material.
[T/N: Eh? He needs to steal apotheosis ritual here too?]
Amon could not let the ready-made materials go unused, and instead take the trouble to cultivate them himself.
Therefore, it was necessary to try to keep Tang San on the growth trajectory in the original work as much as possible.
In case something went wrong in any link, causing him to be unable to obtain the inheritance of the Sea God's position, it would definitely be a troublesome thing for Amon.
However, Amon would also appropriately control Tang San's growth progress. If he felt that he was growing too fast and was too strong, he would take action to suppress him.
If he grew too slowly, he would give him a certain "motivation", including but not limited to a lover being seriously injured and dying, being chased and killed, friends being killed, etc… as well as some "opportunities" that could improve his strength.
The current Tang San was only around level thirty, and Amon did not need to be vigilant and suppress him.
Of course, focusing on Tang San did not mean completely giving up the other two options. There was a possibility of miscalculation in the plan, and there was a possibility of failure in the ritual. Naturally, the more opportunities to try, the better.
Amon covered the Earth Dragon Golden Melon with a soul power shield to prevent the fragrance of the medicine from attracting soul beasts. Then, he wrapped the big melon with a piece of cloth and threw it behind his shoulder.
"Senior Dugu, then I'll leave first." Amon informed him.
"Go, go, don't bother me."
Amon raised his hand, stroked his monocle, and left the valley hoppingly, with a satisfied smile on his face, stepping on the soul power stepping stones condensed in the air.
Before leaving, he turned back and stared at the valley for a moment. "Heh, calculating the time, it should be coming soon… You must accept this gift of fate well."
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