Fang Yuan nodded and reached out to rub Tang San’s head:
“Little San, remember this: when facing enemies, we naturally must pull out all the stops and use every means necessary to win the victory.
However, if you decide to rescue others, you must show the benevolent heart of a healer and do your utmost to save them.
“The method you proposed of absorbing toxins into the Soul Bone is indeed very good, but it also has its flaws.
At times like this, we cannot conceal those flaws; instead, we must clearly explain the pros and cons to the person in need of help and leave the final choice in their hands.”
Feeling his head being stroked by his teacher’s warm, large hand, Tang San was slightly stunned.
This was the first time an elder was gently teaching him principles of how to conduct himself in life.
Enveloped by a warm current in his heart, Tang San loudly agreed, “I understand, Teacher.”
Having an elder earnestly instruct him in such principles for the very first time in his life, Tang San would naturally keep it in his heart for the rest of his life.
Fang Yuan nodded, extremely satisfied with Tang San’s performance.
With a calm smile, he continued to ask, “Do you have any other methods?”
Having learned principles of conduct from his teacher, Tang San naturally no longer held anything back.
He continued saying to Dugu Bo:
“I have another method, which is to simultaneously consume the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass growing near the Yin Spring and the Infernal Delicate Apricot near the Yang Spring.
These two poisonous herbs restrain each other with ice and fire, complementing one another.
Consuming them can neutralize all poisons under heaven.
“However, this method also has its flaw, which is that your entire body’s venom cultivation will be completely dissolved.”
After finishing, Tang San returned to Fang Yuan’s side and stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, signaling that he had finished explaining his method.
After listening, Dugu Bo’s eyes flickered slightly as he began to ponder the method mentioned by this child.
“Consuming two herbs at the same time to completely dissolve the backlash toxins and one’s venom cultivation—the price of this method is far too tragic; it can only be considered a last-resort method to save one’s life before things become irrecoverable.
“As for forcing the toxins into a Soul Bone, although it treats the symptoms rather than the root cause, the impact is at least a bit smaller.
With my strength as a Titled Douluo, getting a Soul Bone for Yanzi is not a difficult task, but future generations of the Green Phosphorus Snake lineage might not necessarily have a Soul Bone to save their lives every single generation.”
For a moment, the pros and cons of the two methods were repeatedly weighed in Dugu Bo’s heart.
As for himself, he leaned more towards the second method.
For no other reason than that this method would not consume his strength.
He, Dugu Bo, held the title of Poison and had run rampant across the continent for many years; his enemies could be said to be countless.
If his venom cultivation were completely dissolved, would he still have enough strength to protect his own beloved granddaughter?
Dugu Bo’s thoughts spun like lightning.
Just as he was about to make up his mind and let Fang Yuan use this method to detoxify him, he heard Fang Yuan speak with a smile.
“Senior Dugu, my Disciple is young after all.
Of his two methods, one will greatly damage your strength, and the other treats the symptoms but not the root cause.
“However, I have another method here that can solve the problem once and for all and even cause your strength to increase instead of decrease.
I wonder if you are interested in hearing it?”
“What?”
Dugu Bo widened his eyes.
For a moment, he was still doubting whether he had misheard Fang Yuan’s words.
Solve it once and for all, and even make his strength increase instead of decrease?
Even just listening to it sounded far too fantastical.
This was no different from a goddess suddenly descending from the heavens to ask whether you wanted inexhaustible wealth or a lifetime of happiness and longevity for your beloved.
And then, while you were racking your brains to choose, the goddess suddenly smiled slyly and granted both wishes at once.
This wasn’t a dream, was it?
Dugu Bo’s eyes stared round at Fang Yuan, his voice even trembling slightly: “Kid Fang, you aren’t tricking me, are you?”
Dugu Bo’s state of mind at this moment was just like suddenly being confessed to by the goddess he had a crush on in class, filled with pleasant surprise mixed with disbelief.
It would be fine if it were true, but if the goddess later told him that this was merely the master’s mission, his Dao Heart would probably shatter on the spot.
Seeing Dugu Bo staring at him eagerly, Fang Yuan let out an amused chuckle: “Naturally, it is true.”
Dugu Bo asked impatiently: “Hurry up and tell me, what method is it?”
Fang Yuan slowly said: “The matter of you being backlashed by your own toxins ultimately boils down to a flaw in the Green Phosphorus Snake Martial Soul.
There are quite a few venom-bearing Martial Souls in the world, but not every single one affects its host.
“Since it is a flaw in your Martial Soul, finding a way to change your Martial Soul can solve the problem once and for all.”
As he spoke, his Soul Power fluctuated, and a purple Soul Ring emerged.
Dugu Bo’s expression instantly tightened.
He still remembered that the Little Monster before him had relied on three Soul Rings—one yellow and two purple—to erupt with combat power exceeding the level of a Titled Douluo.
However, Fang Yuan did not intend to have a rematch with Dugu Bo.
His Soul Ring lit up, and a beam of light shone toward a medicinal herb on the ground.
Amidst the light, that medicinal herb swayed slightly, and then its entire body underwent a Mutation.
From a medicinal herb with leaves as thin as cicada wings and emerald stems, it slowly transformed into a twisted and Binding, densely thorn-covered vine-like plant.
“This, this is…”
The scene unfolding before his eyes made Dugu Bo’s jaw drop in shock.
Fang Yuan smiled and said: “This is my third Soul skills, Mutation.
As you can see, its ability allows affected objects to undergo a certain degree of Mutation.
However, this Mutation has its limits; it won’t cause a blade of grass to mutate into a powerful animal Spirit Beast.”
Dugu Bo swallowed a mouthful of saliva, looking at Fang Yuan with a weird gaze: “Can you control this Mutation?
You surely aren’t planning to mutate me and my granddaughter into some kind of monsters, are you?”
Fang Yuan’s mouth twitched: “What are you thinking?
If I wanted to turn you into a monster, I would have done so during our previous fight.
I cannot completely control this Mutation; the result of the Mutation could be better, but it could also become worse.
“However, if we refine the herbs here into a Medicinal Pill, we can influence the general direction of the Martial Soul’s Mutation, evolving it in a good direction.”
After pondering for a long while, Dugu Bo opened his mouth and asked: “Most of the medicinal herbs here weren’t planted by me; they existed here beforehand.
The medicinal properties of these herbs are somewhat eccentric, and even I can do nothing about them.
Do you have a way to refine them?”
Fang Yuan nodded slightly: “Refining Dao?
I can only say I know a little.”
After a brief hesitation, Dugu Bo finally made up his mind and nodded heavily: “Alright!
Kid Fang, if you can make the Martial Souls of my granddaughter and me undergo Mutation and completely resolve the problem of the toxin backlash, then you will be the great benefactor of me, Dugu Bo!”
“Although with your strength, there shouldn’t be anything in this world that can be called tricky, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can feel free to come find me!”
Fang Yuan laughed heartily: “To be able to obtain a promise from Senior Dugu, this Junior is also deeply honored.
Since Senior has already made a decision, I will begin refining the Medicinal Pill right now, preparing to first resolve the issue of the toxin backlash on your body.”