"A fatal flaw?"
The moment Dugu Bo uttered those words, Yu Yuanzhen's expression became serious.
Any weakness related to a Spirit was an extremely sensitive matter.
For Spirit Master families, such flaws were often guarded more closely than their most precious treasures. Most clans would rather carry those secrets to the grave than reveal them to outsiders.
After all, a Spirit's weakness could become a family's greatest vulnerability.
Unless the flaw was impossible to conceal—like the famous limitation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—no family would willingly expose such information.
For Dugu Bo to bring it up himself could only mean one thing.
The situation had already reached a point where he had no other choice.
Taking a deep breath, Dugu Bo slowly began to explain.
"The toxicity of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Spirit possessed by the Dugu Family can be considered the strongest poison-type Spirit on the Douluo Continent today."
A trace of pride appeared on his weathered face.
Even Yu Yuanzhen couldn't deny that statement.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent was famous throughout the continent.
Among poison-type Spirits, it stood at the very peak.
Countless Spirit Masters feared its venom.
Being the strongest in any particular field was a source of honor.
Yet the pride on Dugu Bo's face quickly faded and was replaced by bitterness.
"However, that same poison which terrifies our enemies is also the source of our greatest suffering."
He lowered his head slightly.
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent does not only poison others."
"It poisons its owner as well."
The room instantly fell silent.
Yu Xiaogang frowned.
"That shouldn't be possible."
"Poison-type Spirit Masters are naturally resistant to their own toxins."
"Throughout history, I've never heard of a poison Spirit Master being harmed by their own poison."
Dugu Bo smiled bitterly.
"Under normal circumstances, that would be true."
"But our Dugu Family is different."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Every time we cultivate, our spirit power gradually transforms into poison."
"The stronger our cultivation becomes, the more poison accumulates within our bodies."
"The higher our Spirit Rank, the greater the toxicity."
"And eventually..."
His voice grew heavier.
"The poison begins attacking its owner."
"The very power that grants us strength becomes the thing that slowly kills us."
Yu Yuanzhen's pupils contracted slightly.
Such a situation was truly bizarre.
A hereditary poison that grew stronger alongside cultivation?
No wonder the Dugu Family had never prospered despite possessing such a powerful Spirit.
Dugu Bo continued.
"To be honest, Sect Master, Young Sect Master..."
"When my son Dugu Xin fought the Young Sect Master earlier, the reason he appeared so restrained wasn't because of fear."
His eyes reddened slightly.
"It was because the poison inside his body had already reached a dangerous level."
"He was fighting while carrying a burden that threatened his life."
As he spoke, his voice began to tremble.
The pain of a father was impossible to conceal.
Yu Xiaogang finally understood.
Earlier, he had indeed felt that Dugu Xin seemed unusually suppressed during their battle.
Now the reason was obvious.
How could someone fight freely when they were constantly worried about whether they might die from the poison in their own body?
Silence filled the room for several moments.
Finally, Yu Xiaogang spoke.
"So Elder Dugu wishes to find a way to resolve the poison accumulating inside your body?"
Dugu Bo nodded.
Then he unexpectedly shook his head.
His expression became conflicted.
"That is exactly what troubles me."
Yu Xiaogang raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Dugu Bo sighed deeply.
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent Spirit relies entirely on poison."
"Our family's strength comes from poison."
"Our combat methods come from poison."
"Our reputation comes from poison."
"If all the poison within our bodies were completely neutralized..."
He forced a bitter smile.
"Then the Dugu Family would lose its foundation."
Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly.
He understood immediately.
This was the dilemma of specialized Spirit Masters.
A Spirit Master who focused entirely on one attribute often became extremely powerful within that field.
But losing that attribute meant losing almost everything.
Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would suffer greatly if deprived of its lightning attribute.
The effect would be even more devastating for poison-type Spirit Masters.
Dugu Bo continued.
"If my poison disappears, ninety percent of my combat power disappears with it."
"At that point, I might not even be able to defeat Spirit Masters one major rank below me."
The room fell silent again.
His concerns were reasonable.
For someone who had spent an entire lifetime cultivating poison, abandoning it would be equivalent to abandoning everything.
Yu Xiaogang rested his chin on his hand and began thinking carefully.
"So your ideal solution is not eliminating the poison."
"It's retaining your poison abilities while preventing the toxins from harming yourself."
Dugu Bo immediately nodded.
"Exactly."
A trace of hope appeared in his eyes.
This was the answer he had been searching for all these years.
If anyone could find a solution, perhaps it was the astonishingly knowledgeable Yu Xiaogang.
Meanwhile, inside the Black World projection—
At the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well within Sunset Forest.
The future Dugu Bo stood among countless immortal herbs.
His gaze remained fixed on the heavenly screen.
His expression was filled with anticipation.
Only now did he realize how fortunate he truly was.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The hidden Spirit Bone cave.
Both were priceless treasures.
Yet he had remained ignorant of their value for decades.
Thinking of it now, Dugu Bo almost wanted to laugh at himself.
Heaven had practically delivered opportunities directly into his hands.
And yet he had failed to recognize them.
Then his expression darkened.
A sharp pain pierced his heart.
His son.
Dugu Xin.
The memory resurfaced once more.
If he had possessed more knowledge...
If he had understood these treasures earlier...
Would his son still have died so young?
The regret was overwhelming.
But after a moment, Dugu Bo clenched his fists.
"No."
"It's not too late."
"I still have Yanyan."
No matter what happened, he would never allow his granddaughter to walk the same tragic path.
Never.
---
Back within the projection, Yu Xiaogang continued examining the immortal herbs surrounding them.
One by one, he analyzed their effects.
One by one, he rejected them.
Most herbs could solve part of Dugu Bo's problem.
But none could perfectly satisfy all his requirements.
After several minutes, Yu Xiaogang finally stopped in front of a particular immortal herb.
His eyes brightened.
"This one."
Everyone immediately followed his gaze.
Before them stood a peculiar golden plant.
Its shape resembled a coiled dragon.
Golden scales covered its surface, while powerful earth-attributed energy emanated from its body.
Yu Xiaogang pointed at it.
"This immortal herb is called the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd."
Dugu Bo's attention immediately focused on the plant.
Yu Xiaogang continued his explanation.
"It is an earth-attribute immortal herb."
"After consuming it, your Spirit may gain earth-element characteristics."
"In addition, it greatly strengthens physical fitness."
"It can increase defense."
"It can increase vitality."
"It can increase strength."
His eyes flashed with excitement.
"And if the effects are exceptional enough..."
"There is even a possibility that your Jade Phosphor Serpent Spirit could evolve."
"From a serpent."
"Into a flood dragon."
The words instantly shocked everyone.
Even Dugu Bo stared in disbelief.
A Spirit evolution?
That was an opportunity countless Spirit Masters could only dream about.
However, Yu Xiaogang quickly raised a finger.
"There is one problem."
The excitement on Dugu Bo's face faded slightly.
"What problem?"
Yu Xiaogang replied honestly.
"This method requires changing your cultivation path."
"The Earth Dragon Golden Gourd would gradually replace poison with earth attributes."
"In other words..."
"You would eventually abandon poison cultivation."
The atmosphere immediately became heavy.
Everyone understood what that meant.
A complete transformation.
The old Dugu Family would disappear.
A new Dugu Family would emerge.
Everything accumulated by countless generations would become meaningless.
All cultivation techniques.
All combat experience.
All inherited knowledge.
They would lose their value.
Dugu Bo fell silent.
The temptation was enormous.
But so was the cost.
After a long time, he finally spoke.
"Even so..."
His eyes softened.
"Being alive is more important."
If his descendants continued dying young, what value did those family legacies truly possess?
Without descendants, there would be no future.
Without a future, there would be no family.
The answer seemed obvious.
Still, Dugu Bo quickly made another decision in his heart.
If someone had to take this path...
It would not be him.
It would be Dugu Xin.
Or perhaps future descendants.
As for himself?
He had already walked too far down the path of poison.
Giving up now would be impossible.
Seeing the determination forming in Dugu Bo's eyes, Yu Xiaogang shook his head.
"Elder Dugu."
"Don't rush to decide."
Dugu Bo blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly.
"I only said this was the most direct solution."
"I never said it was the only solution."
The moment those words fell, Dugu Bo's eyes widened.
Hope exploded within his heart.
Yu Xiaogang slowly approached him.
After thinking for a moment, he finally spoke.
"Elder Dugu."
"If possible..."
"May I personally examine your condition?"
The room instantly fell silent.
Everyone understood what that question meant.
Yu Xiaogang might have discovered another path.
A path that could preserve the Dugu Family's poison while eliminating the threat hidden within it.
And perhaps...
A path capable of completely changing the fate of the Jade Phosphor Serpent lineage forever.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)