Chapter 39: Almost Overplayed My Hand

"Indeed! That actually holds some merit!"

Dugu Bo's eyes lit up, and he stared intently at Li Xun. "Why didn't I think of that before?"

*You’re just a foolish victim, that’s why,* Li Xun thought. Hai Bodong was an angel in the world of investment, while you are the ultimate sucker.

Li Xun glanced at the ceiling. "However, this method has its drawbacks. Spirit bones have a storage limit for toxins, and the lower the age of the spirit bone, the less poison it can hold. Once the spirit bone reaches its capacity, the toxins will flare up again."

Dugu Bo stroked his chin and nodded. "That stands to reason."

"But high-age spirit bones are hard to come by. If there’s truly no other way, we might have to settle for a set of lower-age bones for Yan Yan. After all, saving her life is what matters most."

As for where to get those spirit bones... Dugu Bo lowered his head in contemplation, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. A tens-of-thousands-year-old spirit bone was rare, but slightly inferior ones were held by many. He didn't even consider external spirit bones.

"Cough! Please, don't be hasty. If you truly cannot find high-age spirit bones, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would be more than willing to lend a hand." Seeing the icy look in Dugu Bo's eyes, Li Xun realized something was wrong. This old poison master was a man who wouldn't blink at killing. Perhaps he couldn't defeat other Titled Douluo, but for anyone below that rank, killing them to extract their bones was no problem at all.

Li Xun quickly brought up the second method. "Senior Dugu, you know that for these past years, I have been obsessed with the path of medicine, spending a great deal of wealth just to acquire rare texts I hadn't seen before."

"Though some say I am extravagant, it seems that effort has finally paid off."

Dugu Bo looked up at Li Xun, waiting for him to continue. When Yan Yan first brought this boy to meet him, claiming he had questions about medicine, Dugu Bo had offered some guidance, partly because of Yan Yan's pestering and partly out of respect for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. He hadn't expected Li Xun to have such talent; sometimes, the boy's deductions would even stump him. Through these exchanges, they had become quite familiar. Later, he even heard that this kid spent no less than two or three thousand gold soul coins annually on books alone.

"I once flipped through an ancient text that recorded two types of herbs: the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot Essence."

Li Xun dipped his finger in some tea and sketched a rough diagram on the table. "However, these two herbs have extremely harsh growth conditions; they only thrive in zones of extreme cold and extreme heat."

"If we want to find them, we might only be able to do so in places like the Far North or volcanic regions."

Upon hearing that the herbs grew in such extreme environments and seeing Li Xun's sketch, Dugu Bo felt a stir in his heart.

"Little Xun, what are the specific effects of these two herbs?"

Li Xun chuckled and poured himself a fresh cup of tea. "They are incredibly toxic! Even harvesting them requires specific methods. But if we can find them, and combine them with the first method, you and Sister Yan will never have to worry about the toxins again."

"Haha! 'Incredibly toxic,' you say? Are you looking to fight poison with poison?" Dugu Bo was stunned, then laughed. As a master of poisons, his mind immediately went to traditional methods.

"Yes, and no." Li Xun shook his head with a smile. "It is too early to say. Senior Dugu, you should find the herbs first. Otherwise, this is all just empty talk."

Seeing Li Xun withhold half the information, Dugu Bo’s eyes flashed. From the conversation and the sketch, he had already guessed which two herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well were being discussed. However, the effects of those two plants were unknown and incredibly tyrannical; even with his spirit power, he could not stay near them for long. He couldn't imagine how Li Xun intended to use them to detoxify himself and his granddaughter. If this kid weren't Ning Fengzhi's disciple, he would have dragged him off and forced the method out of him.

Dugu Bo frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "Kid, I have a medicinal garden that happens to contain two herbs similar to what you described. But do you truly have the confidence to cure my granddaughter and me?"

"Since I have brought it up, I naturally have confidence." Li Xun’s expression turned serious. "Furthermore, these two herbs cannot be consumed directly by you or Sister Yan. I must consume them first to dilute their potency, then use my own blood as a medicinal medium to prepare the cure."

"You want to consume the medicine yourself?" Dugu Bo was shocked. "Those two herbs—staying near them for a moment is enough to kill a person!"

"This is my way of proving the method is viable." Li Xun looked grave. "If I die from taking the herbs, then there is no need for you to try. But if I am lucky enough to survive, not only will I be able to detoxify you and Sister Yan, but I should also gain some benefits from it."

Because he wanted to recruit Dugu Bo into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Li Xun spoke with seven parts truth and three parts fabrication, appearing extremely sincere. Dugu Bo was stunned; he never expected Li Xun to use himself as a test subject.

Although the boy said there might be benefits, such an unverified guess was undoubtedly gambling with his own life.

"Little Xun, let's forget it. Let's think of other ways. Eating that stuff is almost certain death. If something happens to you, I wouldn't know how to answer to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School." Dugu Bo frowned for a long time, finally sighing. "Just obtaining the first method is already beyond my expectations."

Dugu Bo struggled internally for a long time, but eventually, his sense of gratitude won out, and he didn't want Li Xun to take the risk.

*Wait, no! Did I act too sincere?* Li Xun’s eyes widened. *I should have just said half of it and let him drag me to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.*

"Please, don't worry. I will explain everything to the school. Besides, I have confidence in my knowledge of medicine; I won't die."

Dugu Bo shook his head. "Little Xun, you are a good child, and your talent is even better than Yan Yan's. It's not worth taking such a risk."

Li Xun quickly stood up, walked over to Dugu Bo, and grabbed his arm. "Senior Dugu, even if I don't consume them, I must see those two rare treasures! You should understand the pain of someone obsessed with medicine hearing about such things but never being able to see them."

"Besides, since your garden has these two, who’s to say it doesn't have other herbs that could treat you and Sister Yan?"

Dugu Bo’s eyes lit up. "Indeed, my garden has countless herbs. Who knows? There might be others I haven't identified that could treat us." Dugu Bo was too embarrassed to admit that he barely recognized any of the herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. But since Li Xun knew the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot Essence, he might recognize others that could have the same curative effect.

Li Xun nodded repeatedly. "Yes, exactly!"

"Let’s set off now. I’ll take you to see my garden." Dugu Bo stood up with a smile. The two walked out of the dormitory. Dugu Bo looked back at Li Xun. "Walking is too slow. I’ll fly us there."

Li Xun’s expression stiffened. He suddenly remembered the bone-chilling cold at high altitudes. "Senior Dugu, let me go back and..."

Dugu Bo was too excited to listen. Before Li Xun could finish, he scooped the boy up and took off.