NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Recruiting Dugu Bo
Not long after, Dugu Bo recovered and stepped into the cavern, only to see Nan Feihuang already fast asleep. The boy hadn't even begun meditating to restore his soul power, likely because he was utterly drained—both physically and mentally.
Looking at the young, peaceful face before him, Dugu Bo let out a sigh. Removing his robe, he gently draped it over Nan Feihuang. "What a foolish little brat. Did you really think your meager soul power, even if completely exhausted, would be enough to help me?"
The truth was, Nan Feihuang's soul power barely alleviated Dugu Bo's pain for a fleeting three seconds. The real miracle had come from Nan Feihuang's blood—imbued with the essence of the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal and Blazing Delicate Apricot.
It was this blood that had drastically suppressed the poison ravaging his body, cutting his usual torment of an hour or two to less than fifteen minutes.
But what truly moved Dugu Bo was the gesture itself. For years, every time his poison flared up, he had endured it alone, trembling and convulsing in the dark. This was the first time anyone had stood by his side, trying to ease his suffering.
Sitting beside the sleeping boy, Dugu Bo closed his eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
---
Time flew by. It had been a month since Nan Feihuang arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. During this time, all preparations for detoxification had been completed. The antidotes had been meticulously concocted, with Nan Feihuang's blood acting as the key ingredient.
Since consuming the two heavenly herbs, his body had become impervious to extreme heat and cold, and his blood now possessed unparalleled detoxifying properties.
The detoxification process was methodical—starting with treating the symptoms. Like Tang San in the original story, Nan Feihuang used a soul bone as a vessel to transfer and contain the toxins. Fortunately, Dugu Bo had a poisonous Medusa Skull Soul Bone, which was the perfect receptacle for the deadly poisons.
The results were remarkable. The once vivid green of Dugu Bo's hair and beard had begun to fade, turning into a silvery white—a clear sign that the poison within him was diminishing.
What was originally estimated to take half a year now seemed achievable in just four to five months.
---
Beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, two figures—a young boy and an old man—awoke from their meditation. Dugu Bo inhaled deeply, feeling the surging vitality within him. He couldn't help but marvel.
"Little Flying General, who exactly is your master, Zuo Ci? This Taoist Golden Body Art is extraordinary. If mastered, the physical enhancements alone could rival the benefits of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone. And to be immune to all poisons? It's unbelievable."
Nan Feihuang chuckled. "Apologies, Old Poison, but my master strictly instructed me not to reveal anything beyond his name. I dare not disobey him."
Dugu Bo harrumphed but didn't press further. "Hmph. Fine. I don't need to know. Every expert has their secrets. I'm just grateful for the guidance he left behind."
Nan Feihuang's eyes sparkled with a sly grin. "Old Poison, you've already experienced how powerful this partial version of the Golden Body Art is. But what if I told you there's more?"
"Oh?" Dugu Bo's ears perked up, his curiosity piqued.
"I only taught you the portion related to detoxification. The complete version includes techniques that could enhance your poison abilities and physical endurance even further. How about this? You owe me two favors, right? Fulfill one of them by joining my kingdom as an honorary elder. I'll persuade my master to share the full version of the art, and I'll pass it on to you."
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, suspicion mingling with intrigue. "Honorary elder? Does that mean I'll lose my freedom?"
Nan Feihuang raised his hands in mock surrender. "Not at all! You'll be free to go wherever you please. No duties, no obligations. Just your name on our roster. And to sweeten the deal, I'll throw in a gift—something that'll ensure you can crush that Chrysanthemum Douluo the next time he dares to show his face."
Dugu Bo froze, his breath catching. "Are you serious? That flowery bastard has humiliated me more times than I can count. If you can really give me the means to turn the tables…"
"Consider it done." Nan Feihuang's tone was firm. "The gift will also help you break through to the Super Douluo level."
The old man hesitated. On one hand, he valued his independence. On the other, the temptation of such rewards was hard to resist. He had long dreamed of exacting revenge on Chrysanthemum Douluo, and the promise of becoming a Super Douluo was the cherry on top.
"Fine," Dugu Bo said at last. "Let me think about it."
Nan Feihuang nodded, not pushing further. "Take your time, Old Poison. I'll be here for a few more months. But remember—our kingdom's doors will always be open to you. That's my promise as the future king of the Thunderclap Kingdom."
Dugu Bo stared at the boy, his lips twitching into a rare, genuine smile. "Thank you, kid. Truly."
For a man who had spent most of his life as a pariah, those words carried more weight than any soul ring or title.
---
The days passed in tranquil routine. As Dugu Bo grew increasingly fond of Nan Feihuang, he began treating the boy like his own grandson, while Nan Feihuang continued his training and studies.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a treasure trove of rare herbs, many of which could be used in alchemy. Though Nan Feihuang's knowledge of refining pills was rudimentary, he planned to master the craft in the future, seeing it as a valuable asset for building his forces.
However, he decided not to touch the most precious herbs for now. These would be saved for refining top-tier pills to reward his core allies. For now, he focused on harvesting the herbs that could immediately benefit his close companions.
As for the original protagonist, Tang San? Nan Feihuang had no intention of letting him get anywhere near this treasure trove. With Dugu Bo now leaning toward the Thunderclap Kingdom, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would remain firmly under his control.