Fang Ling, My Good Disciple
After Du Gu Bo set off, he didn't head straight to Xingluo but went to Snow Star first.
According to his disciple Fang Ling, this former affiliated clan of the Clear Sky Sect was a dirt-poor family.
If that was the case, who knew which remote corner they were hiding in now?
It was better to rely on the Heaven Dou Empire's intelligence network.
Once he discovered the Min Clan's current location, he immediately departed.
For a high-level soul master, borders were essentially meaningless.
Du Gu Bo didn't need to inform anyone. He crossed mountains and rivers alone, heading straight for a small city.
Five days later, atop a small hill, Du Gu Bo looked down at the unremarkable city ahead. His expression was complicated, tinged with emotion.
In a city like this, the most powerful individual was likely no stronger than a Soul Sect.
Once one of the four great affiliated clans of the Clear Sky Sect,families that had Soul Saints,had now fallen into such a pitiful state. It truly echoed the saying: the weak are doomed.
Recalling the intel from Snow Star, Du Gu Bo's spirit lifted.
Completely useless and still clinging to a baseless sense of pride,what a joke.
But that was good.
A clan this weak could never resist his pressure.
Immortal herb, Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng,here I come!
He leapt into the city and quietly approached a rather grand-looking mansion, which appeared heavily guarded.
But Du Gu Bo soon realized that although the mansion looked impressive on the outside, it was shockingly impoverished inside.
Even poorer than Fang Ling used to be.
That was the only comparison Du Gu Bo could think of.
Lingling was the only daughter of the Ye family, and Yan Yan was his own granddaughter as a Titled Douluo. Neither lacked money.
Fang Ling had a poor background, but even on his own, he had earned at least fifty to sixty thousand gold soul coins at the Great Soul Arena.
The Bai family's Sharp-Tailed Swift martial soul,aside from speed,was utterly useless.
Speed...
Du Gu Bo pondered for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly.
What if the clan leader refused to hand over the immortal herb and escaped, abandoning his people?
A pure agility-type Soul Saint was not easy to catch.
If the clan members also scattered, then he'd lose all leverage.
If the herb slipped through his fingers, Du Gu Bo absolutely couldn't accept that.
So,he had to make sure no one could escape.
Fortunately, this was something he excelled at.
Without appearing at the front gate, and faced with a completely unthreatening clan, Du Gu Bo didn't bother with appearances. As a Titled Douluo, he poisoned them first.
A colorless, odorless sleeping mist quietly spread through the air.
Moments later, as all the lower-level soul masters of the Min Clan passed out, only the higher-level ones in the center of the mansion realized something was wrong.
"Who used poison? Who did this?!"
Despite their fear, they cried out in alarm.
They tried using their clan's antidote powders, but to no avail.
If it weren't for the fact that everyone's faces looked peaceful and their breathing remained steady,like they were simply asleep,these people would have gone into a panic.
Not that it would have made much difference.
"I did it."
Du Gu Bo shouted loudly, flashing down in front of the clan's main hall, where the high-level soul masters had gathered.
Wearing a faint smile, he entered as if it were his own home.
He sat in the seat of honor without invitation and declared arrogantly:
"Everyone, this is our first meeting. My name is Du Gu Bo."
"Poison Douluo!"
The moment that name was spoken, everyone's pupils shrank.
Why would the Heaven Dou Empire's guest Titled Douluo appear in Xingluo?
No wonder the Min Clan's antidote didn't work,this was the legendary Poison Douluo.
"Du Gu Bo, you,!" One elder, radiating the aura of a Soul Saint, flared his soul power in rage, assuming they faced certain death.
"Silence!"
A tall, thin elder quickly stopped him and scolded the reckless one.
This new speaker had snow-white hair, a ruddy complexion, and the highest cultivation among them.
"Your Excellency, I apologize for my clansman's rudeness. Please forgive us."
Though inwardly humiliated, Bai He still led everyone in respectfully bowing.
"How interesting. You're their clan leader, Bai He?" Du Gu Bo crossed his legs and poured himself some tea.
This one had good sense.
Bai He respectfully replied, "Yes. With your abilities, senior, you could easily destroy us. Since you only used sleeping poison and harmed no one, you must have come for a reason."
"Haha, you're smarter than the rest. No wonder the weak Min Clan has survived until now. You stay,everyone else, leave."
Du Gu Bo waved his hand.
Seeing this fly-swatting gesture, the others burned with silent anger.
But no one dared to show it. They quietly retreated.
Du Gu Bo stared at Bai He for two seconds, then said calmly:
"I heard you have a rare herb of great use to me. Name your price."
"You came only for the herb?" Bai He was startled. "We will do everything we can to please you, senior. There's no need to…"
Du Gu Bo sneered, releasing a surge of soul power. The burst of killing intent made Bai He break into a cold sweat.
"Don't try to fool me with substitutes. I want the blood-red ginseng with dragon-shaped patterns!"
He had lived for so many years,what hadn't he seen?
People like this never give up their treasures easily. Even if they didn't know it was an immortal herb, they could see its value. Of course, they would deny it.
So he stated it plainly.
Bai He trembled and couldn't speak.
Ever since he had accidentally acquired the herb, he hadn't shown it to anyone,not even the other elders,though he could tell it was precious.
How did Du Gu Bo know about it?
Bai He was confused and fearful, unable to make sense of it.
"Don't want to give it up? Then go ahead and run."
Du Gu Bo released his killing intent again, stood up, and pointed outside.
"You're fast. I won't chase you."
Those words struck terror into Bai He's heart. The meaning was crystal clear.
If he dared run, everyone unconscious in the mansion would die.
Fearing Du Gu Bo would misunderstand, Bai He hurriedly said, "Please don't misunderstand, senior,I was just considering the price."
"How about ten thousand gold soul coins?" he asked cautiously.
Du Gu Bo gave him a cold glance.
This was an immortal herb, not garbage. How could he be so clueless?
Bai He misunderstood the look and quickly panicked. He pulled out a pure white jade box made from the finest mutton-fat jade.
"This is a gift for you, senior. Please, spare my clan."
Du Gu Bo took the exquisite box and gently opened it. Instantly, a pure, refreshing fragrance filled the room.
Inside lay a blood-red ginseng about a foot long. Strange textures covered its surface, and the raised patterns cleverly formed a lifelike dragon.
Feeling his body's desire and his martial soul's tremble, Du Gu Bo couldn't help but reveal a genuine smile.
Fang Ling, my good disciple!
It was worth giving Yan Yan to you.
Your future is bright and limitless.
"I'll give you one hundred thousand." Suppressing his excitement, Du Gu Bo quickly closed the box and stored it safely in his soul tool.
That amount was nothing compared to the herb's value, but for the Min Clan, it was an unimaginable fortune.
They only dared to ask for ten thousand,tsk.
Shaking his head, Du Gu Bo tossed Bai He a bank card commonly used across the continent.
He also left a bottle of antidote.
"One sniff will wake them. Or just wait half an hour, and they'll wake up naturally."
Before the words had even faded, Du Gu Bo's figure had disappeared.
He just wanted to return quickly.
He was eager to go back and consume the immortal herb!