Reward: Spirit Bone Age Enhancement Card (100 years)
Option Three: Although Dugu Bo is merely a "gatekeeper" among Titled Douluos, he is the only Titled Douluo who has never joined any faction. Reveal the detoxification method to him and make him agree to three of your requests.
Reward: Enhancement Item (Charcoal)
"Charcoal?"
Yin Zhang immediately opened the item's details.
[Charcoal]: A Fire-type enhancement item from the Pokémon world that has undergone mysterious changes. When equipped, it permanently increases the host's Fire-type skill power by 15%.
Yin Zhang didn't hesitate.
"System, I choose the third option!"
[Congratulations to the host for successfully making a selection. The enhancement item (Charcoal) has been stored in the warehouse. The host may view it via the Personal Attributes interface.]
Dugu Bo carefully sized Yin Zhang up. After sensing the fluctuations of his spirit power, his expression shifted in shock.
"Level thirty?! Kid, how old are you? You're not even twelve, are you? To reach the Spirit Elder rank at such an age…"
Although Dugu Xin looked frail and sickly, he himself had once cultivated to the Spirit King rank. After hearing this, even he couldn't hide his surprise.
"Little brother, you've already reached Spirit Elder?"
Yin Zhang gave a faint smile and released his two spirit rings.
One was a yellow ring tinged faintly with purple, and the other was a deep-purple millennium spirit ring.
"A millennium second ring?! And the first one is already close to a millennium as well!" Dugu Bo exclaimed in disbelief. "What kind of monster genius is this?!"
After a moment, he let out a long sigh.
"Good. I believe you now. If someone like you is truly Senior Golden Crocodile's disciple, then everything makes sense."
Yin Zhang withdrew his spirit with a chuckle and didn't bother explaining his real age. In their eyes, he was probably already assumed to be eleven or twelve.
Just then, a waiter entered the room, immediately sensing that the atmosphere was tense.
Dugu Bo took out several gold soul coins and placed them on the table.
"Is this enough for our meal, including this little brother's? No need for change—the rest is your tip."
The waiter, intimidated by Dugu Bo's presence, quickly scooped up the coins, thanked him repeatedly, and fled.
After watching the waiter leave, Yin Zhang turned to Dugu Bo and Dugu Xin.
"Senior Poison Douluo, from what I overheard earlier, it seems you came to the Star Dou Great Forest this time because of a poison?"
Though Yin Zhang's words were vague, Dugu Bo immediately understood and nodded.
"That's right. We came here after receiving information that a ten-thousand-year Poison Flood Dragon lives in a swamp deep within the forest. Inside its body is a poison pill—something it began nurturing when it reached the thousand-year stage. That pill is an extremely rare treasure for detoxifying and controlling poisons!"
As Dugu Bo spoke, his tone grew excited, and hope shone clearly in Dugu Xin's eyes.
Over the past two years, Dugu Xin could feel his vitality slipping away faster and faster. If he couldn't find a way to suppress the ever-thickening Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison in his body, his death was only a matter of time.
Hearing this, Yin Zhang's heart sank slightly.
This detail had never appeared in the original story.
Which meant Dugu Bo and Dugu Xin only had two possible outcomes.
First, they would find the Poison Flood Dragon and obtain the poison pill—but it would either be useless or only mildly effective, and Dugu Xin would still die.
Second, they would fail to obtain the poison pill altogether, find no solution, and Dugu Xin would still die.
Either way, if the story followed its original trajectory, Dugu Xin was doomed.
Realizing this, Yin Zhang smiled.
"Then I wish Senior Poison Douluo success. May you successfully hunt the Poison Flood Dragon and obtain the poison pill on this trip."
After chatting briefly, Yin Zhang mentioned that he was accompanying the dean of Spirit Hall Academy to hunt spirit beasts, and that after finishing, he would remain in the nearby town for a few days.
Watching Yin Zhang's retreating figure, Dugu Bo sighed and said to Dugu Xin,
"Truly, heroes emerge from the young. Back then, not long after I reached Spirit Elder, I married your mother. As for becoming a Titled Douluo—it was only because of a fortuitous opportunity that I barely managed it."
"And yet he's still so young, but already accomplished this much. It's enviable enough as it is, not to mention that he's Senior Golden Crocodile's disciple. If there's a chance later, I'll take you to meet Senior Golden Crocodile. He's an ancient pillar of the Spirit Master world—maintaining a good relationship with him is worthwhile in every sense."
"Xin'er understands," Dugu Xin replied softly. "After we obtain the poison pill…"
After returning to their lodgings, Yin Zhang recounted his encounter with Dugu Bo to Qiangu Yuan.
Qiangu Yuan was startled at first, then fell silent with a complicated expression.
"Dugu Bo, the Jade Phosphor Douluo… yet he calls himself Poison Douluo. Nearly eighty years old—truly a late bloomer."
"I've heard his temperament is unpredictable. Facing someone like that, no one knows what might happen. You were a bit reckless this time. Luckily, the Second Consecrator and the Dugu family are old acquaintances. Otherwise, eavesdropping like that could've gotten you killed—or worse."
"In the future, keep your eyes open. Don't die halfway before you've even grown up."
Yin Zhang waved his hand with a grin.
"Uncle Qiangu, are you really that worried about me? Relax. As long as I don't go looking for death, with you backing me up, it'd be hard for me to die even if I wanted to."
Qiangu Yuan exhaled heavily, sat down at the desk, and said irritably,
"It's impossible to save someone determined to die. Do whatever you want."
Early the next morning, after breakfast, the two set off toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
The carriage, driver, and horses were left behind in the city, waiting for their return before heading back to Spirit Hall.
On the road to the forest, Yin Zhang summoned his spirit.
With Charizard possessed, he spread his broad, fleshy wings and soared effortlessly into the sky.
Flap—flap—
The sound of wings beating echoed constantly.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Strong winds rushed past his ears, and Yin Zhang thoroughly enjoyed the sensation.
He was nearly a hundred meters above the ground now.
Strangely enough, before transmigrating, Yin Zhang had been severely afraid of heights.
But after arriving in this world, the first time he possessed his spirit and flew into the sky, that fear vanished completely.
As the cool wind washed over him, Yin Zhang felt extraordinarily clear-headed.
"I wonder what my third spirit ability will be. After absorbing it, I'll still need to return to that small town, meet up with Dugu Bo and Dugu Xin, reveal the detoxification method, and collect my three 'requests.' Though they're called requests… once Dugu Bo truly takes a liking to me…"