Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Plot to Break the Clan

“Ding, congratulations to the host for completing a Gold-level mission: occupying the Yin-Yang Ice and Fire Spring and obtaining immortal herbs, intercepting the greatest opportunity for the Shrek Seven to ascend to godhood. The host is rewarded with a Gold-level Summon Card and 1,500 diamonds.”

“Hahaha!!”

Just as Xiao Yu was calculating the system rewards, Dugu Bo’s hearty laughter echoed from nearby. Xiao Yu immediately exited the settlement page and closed the system. Dugu Bo was already standing before him.

With Dugu Bo’s cultivation and status, acquiring a ten-thousand-year soul bone was hardly a difficult feat.

During this period, Xiao Yu had used herbs from the Yin-Yang Ice and Fire Spring to prepare antidotes that eased Dugu Bo’s toxicity.

The results were immediate; in just half a month, not only had the toxins in Dugu Bo’s body weakened significantly, but even his soul power, which had stagnated for years, showed signs of breaking through. It wouldn’t be long before he could reach level ninety-two.

“Hahaha, Brother Xiao, I don’t even know how to thank you!”

The long-standing illness was dispelled in a single stroke, and Dugu Bo was overjoyed, patting Xiao Yu’s shoulder as he laughed heartily, “From now on, little brother, whatever you need, I will assist you with all my strength!”

“You’re too kind, Senior Dugu!”

Xiao Yu smiled slightly. Compared to the treasure land of the Yin-Yang Ice and Fire Spring he had been given, curing Dugu Bo was a minor favor.

“Brother Xiao, when will you be able to treat my granddaughter?”

Seeing his own improvement, Dugu Bo naturally wanted his granddaughter to rid herself of that damned poison as soon as possible.

“The conditions aren’t ready yet,” Xiao Yu shook his head. “Senior Dugu, I would like you to accompany me on a journey to prepare for your granddaughter’s detoxification.”

During these days, aside from harvesting select herbs to configure antidotes for Dugu Bo, Xiao Yu had not picked any of the famed immortal herbs.

It was exceedingly difficult for these heavenly treasures to grow to their current state; even in the Yin-Yang Ice and Fire Spring, it would take centuries for them to regrow. Xiao Yu was determined to maximize the value of this land. If an immortal herb is picked, only one person can use it, which would be a waste.

Moreover, for Dugu Yan’s martial soul to advance, Xiao Yu calculated that a single immortal herb would not suffice; multiple herbs would need to complement one another. Dugu Bo’s strength would allow him to withstand impurities in the combined herbs, but Dugu Yan, having only just reached the Soul Master realm, lacked the physical resilience. Direct consumption could cause irreparable harm.

Thus, alchemy was the best solution. Much like how Huo Yuhao in the sequel crafted the Heaven and Earth Creation Pill, blending the properties of various treasures, extracting their essence and discarding their dross, then harmonizing the refined essences into a single pill.

The pills were not only for Dugu Yan, but after careful deliberation for the sect’s future, Xiao Yu decided this was the optimal path.

First among those who needed this was Lou Gao, the Divine Craftsman. With his talent in manufacturing, reaching seventh-rank Soul Engineer was only a matter of time, but advancing further was nearly impossible, as eighth-rank Soul Engineers required Soul Douluo-level cultivation, and Lou Gao was only a Soul Sage. For him to break through solely through cultivation was unlikely; the best method was to use pills. In the Sun and Moon Empire, nearly all ninth-rank Soul Engineers became Title Douluo through pills.

Although pill-created Title Douluo lack the combat prowess of those who cultivated their own talent, Lou Gao didn’t mind—his focus was on crafting, not battle. His disciples were in similar situations; not everyone could be like Huo Yuhao, who mastered both soul tools and martial soul cultivation. Others could only rely on pills to break their bottlenecks.

Additionally, pills could be supplied to sect disciples, and batches of lesser-effect but still nourishing pills could be sold for profit.

In the sequel, the Xuanming Sect where Xu Sanshi belonged developed the Xuan Shui Pill, which fetched a fortune per pill—a lucrative revenue stream.

As for alchemy, Xiao Yu was competent but only passable. To maintain a vast supply, he naturally thought of the Po clan, renowned for their pharmaceutical skills in the original story.

Xiao Yu shared his plans for Dugu Yan’s martial soul evolution and the recruitment of the Po clan with Dugu Bo, who pondered and agreed, though with some concern: “The Po clan was once one of the Four Single-Attribute Families allied with the Clear Sky Sect, famous for their pharmaceutical skills even then. But eight years ago, a conflict erupted between Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall, forcing Clear Sky to seal its gates under Spirit Hall’s pressure, abandoning the Four Families. The Po clan was hit hardest: their chief, Yang Invincible, lost his only son, and his brother Yang Unmatched was captured by Spirit Hall. Recruiting the Po clan now will be difficult—Yang Invincible’s temperament and their misfortune make it unlikely.”

“Rest assured, Senior Dugu, I never act without confidence.”

Xiao Yu smiled. Dugu Bo’s worries were valid, but with his knowledge from the original story, he held a trump card. Yang Invincible, besides cultivation, had only one passion: pharmaceutical arts passed down in his clan. Like Lou Gao’s obsession with forging, Yang Invincible was fanatical about crafting medicines, sometimes working for days without rest. Thus, medicine was his sole weakness. In the original, Tang San used a single Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb to win Yang Invincible over to the Tang Sect, and now, that very immortal herb bloomed nearby.

It was a pale pink flower, large and leafless, with a three-foot stem and a blossom nearly a foot in diameter. Each petal gleamed like crystal, and the stamens were pale purple, resembling clusters of amethyst.

Xiao Yu walked to the immortal herb and carefully dug it up.

“Senior Dugu, do you have a soul tool that can store living things? If this immortal herb is exposed to air for too long, it will gradually wither.”

Xiao Yu looked up and asked Dugu Bo. He remembered in the original story, Dugu Bo gifted Tang San a soul tool, the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, which could store living things. Tang San used it not only for herbs, but also to hide his wife. Xiao Yu didn’t have a soul tool for living storage, so he shamelessly asked Dugu Bo for one.

“I happen to have a soul tool I acquired by chance—a Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, made for storing living things. I originally meant to give it to my granddaughter, but she’s not interested in herbs, so it’d be wasted. Take it!”

Dugu Bo pulled out a blue leather pouch from nowhere and tossed it to Xiao Yu. To him, Xiao Yu curing his chronic illness and preserving the Dugu bloodline was an immense favor; a soul tool was trivial in comparison.

Curious, Dugu Bo asked, “Weren’t you going to recruit the Po clan? Why suddenly pick herbs? Is this herb special?”

“It’s all to prepare for recruiting the Po clan,” Xiao Yu replied confidently. “This immortal herb is called the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb, famed as the nemesis of all poisons. It neutralizes toxins—not exactly an antidote, but a poison counter. Yang Invincible is obsessed with crafting medicines, and all medicines are somewhat toxic. With the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb, he needn’t fear poisoning himself during alchemy, and can attempt to craft even highly toxic medicines. For Yang Invincible, this is the perfect gift. I’ll also sketch a few more immortal herbs from the Yin-Yang Ice and Fire Spring—Yang Invincible won’t be able to resist!”

Dugu Bo’s lips twitched. This kid was already plotting against Yang Invincible before even meeting him, knowing his preferences inside out and striking right at his soft spot. Yang Invincible would hardly resist such sweet temptation.

Unconsciously, Dugu Bo thought of Ning Fengzhi. This young man’s shrewd planning rivaled the second master of the world, and unlike Ning Fengzhi, he had no martial soul defect and would likely become a Title Douluo. With two Title Douluo as escorts, the Nine Star Hall probably had more Title Douluo than expected. Perhaps it could truly challenge Spirit Hall’s dominance in the soul master world. Maybe he should consider Xiao Yu’s second proposal after all?