"The Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison isn't a flaw—it's because the martial soul is too powerful?"
Dugu Bo looked visibly surprised.
It was the first time he'd heard such an idea.
Whether it was true or not… it sure sounded good.
"Among all the poisonous martial souls in the world, the Jade Phosphor Serpent ranks in the top three. Its venom is second to none. When cultivated to a high level, it can even poison another martial soul directly."
"Its contagion, its destructive power—both are unmatched."
"The scariest part is that the venom is so potent, it can actually backfire and harm the host. That level of toxicity is extremely rare."
"Indeed…" Dugu Bo was still grinning smugly when a dark realization struck him, and his expression immediately soured.
"…And yet this Lin Xiao brat is immune to my poison!"
Ye Qingxian countered calmly:
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent's venom is exceptional, yes. But Lin Xiao's evil fire is no less strange. Remember—he possesses innate full soul power. Every soul master born with that kind of gift, even if it seems like they have a simple Blue Silver Grass, must have some extraordinary bloodline hidden beneath."
"Besides, Lin Xiao's evil fire is still evolving. Can you really find another one like him in the entire world?"
Dugu Bo hesitated… then slowly shook his head.
Lin Xiao, meanwhile, recalled another name from his past.
"Speaking of the Evil Fire Phoenix… I wonder how Ma Hongjun is doing now."
They had parted ways due to irreconcilable paths.
Still, Lin Xiao had never looked down on Ma Hongjun's choices. He had no right to judge others—only to live according to his own principles.
At the side, Ye Qingxian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"If all I wanted to do was neutralize the venom attacking your body," she said, "I wouldn't need to use immortal herbs. A few thousand- or ten-thousand-year spirit herbs would be enough to balance your system."
"But the reason I've selected immortal herbs is not to cure you—"
"—It's to enhance your poison. I want your martial soul to evolve into the true King of All Poisons!"
Dugu Bo's heart skipped a beat.
"Enhance the venom? My Jade Phosphor Serpent's toxin is already terrifying. I can barely control it with my status as a Titled Douluo and the special magnetic field of this place."
"If it grows stronger… I won't be able to contain it!"
He was starting to panic.
What is she thinking!?
Why not just use detoxifying herbs to purge the poison? That would solve everything! Strengthening it—
—is like splitting open someone's skull with an axe to treat a headache!
Had he wronged her somehow? Was she trying to get revenge?
But Ye Qingxian, ever respectful of personal fate, offered three clear options:
"Poison Douluo, you have three choices."
"First: Regularly use spirit herbs to flush the toxins from your system. The venom will gradually weaken, like Lin Xiao's evil fire. It won't threaten your life—but your poison will also lose much of its edge. The safest route, but with the least growth."
"Second: Take an immortal herb to cleanse the venom entirely. Your Jade Phosphor Serpent will remain, but its poison will be completely neutralized. You'll never suffer from toxin backlash again—but your soul skills will lose their potency. Against opponents of your level, you'd be the weakest."
"Third: Consume a serpent-type immortal herb that triggers martial soul evolution. If successful, your venom will reach a new level of strength. But during the process, there's a serious risk that the existing poison in your body will erupt. Yan Yan's poison is minimal, so she's safe—but you are not."
Dugu Bo listened in silence.
The first option? Too troublesome. Too slow.
The second? No way. If he wasn't using poison, what was the point of living?
The third… dangerous. But tempting.
After a long pause, Dugu Bo suddenly chuckled.
"I once swore that I feared neither death nor pain. The only reason I clung to life was because of Yan Yan."
"But now that she's free of danger, I have nothing left to fear."
"My life has been devoted to poison. I've always said that if I die, let it be from some rare, exotic toxin. Only then would my death be meaningful."
"Now I have a chance to go further—why hesitate?"
"Lady Ye, I choose the third option! I want to see what my Jade Phosphor Serpent becomes when it evolves!"
As soon as Dugu Bo declared his choice, Ye Qingxian handed him a pen and paper.
Dugu Bo: "…"
His brain stalled. What was she doing?
Lin Xiao leaned over and whispered, "Senior Dugu, I think Auntie Ye is asking you to write a will."
"If this fails, you probably won't even have time to leave your last words. Might as well settle your affairs early."
Dugu Bo's beard bristled.
"I haven't even started and you're already cursing me?"
"I'm not writing a will! If I die—just dig a hole and bury me!"
"You brought a hoe and a shovel, didn't you? Use those."
"And for the tombstone—write:
'Here lies Dugu Bo, the Greatest Poison Master Under Heaven.'"
Lin Xiao paused for a moment.
"Senior… If you die, that title probably goes to Yan Yan. Maybe write 'second greatest' instead?"
Dugu Bo: "…"
Furious, he growled:
"I brought you to this sacred place! If I die, you're responsible for taking care of Yan Yan. If not, I'll come back and haunt you!"
Ye Qingxian quietly took back the pen and paper.
He had spoken as if he were fearless—but from his hesitation, she had sensed the struggle in his heart.
She had offered the will as a way to help him let go. A safety net.
Who would've thought Lin Xiao's offhand jokes would actually work better?
They made Dugu Bo so exasperated, he ended up letting go of his fears entirely.
And that peace of mind would serve him well in the martial soul evolution to come.
Suddenly, Lin Xiao asked:
"By the way, Senior Dugu—don't you have a soul core?"
"During your evolution, you should keep an eye on it."
Dugu Bo looked surprised, then spat out a bright green bead from his mouth.
"This is the soul core condensed from my Jade Phosphor Serpent after it evolved into the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. My entire lifetime of poison cultivation is stored in here—it holds at least half my total power."
"But how do you know about it?"
Lin Xiao just smiled.
"You guess. I'll tell you if you survive."
"In any case—if it appeared after your first evolution…"
"…then the clue to your next evolution is likely within it."
Dugu Bo laughed.
He didn't bother wondering whether Lin Xiao had heard about it from Yan Yan or somewhere else.
What did it matter?
"Thanks for the reminder!"