Chapter 273: Dugu Bo Captured, Su Yun's Concerns
"If you refuse, don't blame us for taking action," Tang Xiao and the others felt irritated as Dugu Bo continued to reject their requests.
Despite the threat, Dugu Bo remained calm and said, "I've prepared the herbs here long ago. Without my antidote, the herbs you take will still carry the poison I set. If you don't want any accidents, you can take them and try."
Dugu Bo's words made Tang Xiao and the others pause and turn back, their expressions turning sour.
It was clear that they realized he was telling the truth.
"Damn old poison..."
"I said, you won't be leaving with any herbs today."
The three knew they couldn't persuade Poison Douluo with words alone. They reluctantly put down the herbs they had taken. Initially, they wanted to use force to coerce him, but if they pushed him too far and he poisoned the herbs further, Tang San's condition could worsen, which was not worth the risk.
After careful consideration, Tang San's group finally decided to leave without causing any more trouble for Dugu Bo.
"Little San, are we just going to leave like this?"
Tang Xiao looked at Tang San's changing expression, worriedly saying, "Your injuries don't look good. The poison Bibi Dong left in you seems to be getting stronger."
Tang San could feel the poison inside him and inwardly cursed his misfortune.
Bibi Dong, the strongest in the Spirit Empire, had poisoned him despite his Titled Douluo strength, and he was powerless against it.
"If my Blue Silver Grass could evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor, and with the theory my teacher mentioned about absorbing poison attribute spirit rings, Bibi Dong's poison might be nothing to me," Tang San thought, growing more resentful of Su Yun and the Spirit Hall.
If not for them, his second martial spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer, could have been cultivated later, avoiding the consequences of forced progress.
Unfortunately, one wrong step led to another, and now he had to find a way to detoxify himself.
"Uncle, Uncle Ning, Elder Yuanzhen, this place is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it's..." On the way back, Tang San patiently explained the wonders of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to the three elders.
As expected, after hearing Tang San's explanation, their expressions changed instantly.
"Such a miraculous place?! Little San, why didn't you say earlier?" Tang Xiao paused, "If we had known the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had such benefits, we would have occupied it by any means necessary!"
A place that could infinitely cultivate rare herbs and significantly promote the cultivation of spirit masters.
Such a treasure should not be wasted on Dugu Bo alone. They couldn't let Dugu Bo's attitude make them give up on their last hope of winning.
The three elders, who initially planned to leave, immediately decided to temporarily take over the place after hearing about its wonders.
"But Dugu Bo also said he had poisoned these herbs..." Ning Fengzhi suddenly recalled Dugu Bo's earlier words.
Tang San waved his hand and smiled, "Uncle Ning, don't worry. I can neutralize such minor poisons."
Reassured by Tang San, the three immediately turned back.
Dugu Bo had anticipated their return and had already activated his array, ready for battle.
"Dugu Bo, don't be stubborn. The Spirit Empire is destined to fail. We just want to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well temporarily. If you insist on opposing us, don't blame us for being ruthless," Ning Fengzhi warned.
"Hahaha, Ning Fengzhi, we are all smart people. No need for veiled threats. If you have the ability, come at me."
"If you can defeat me today, I will give you this forest!" Dugu Bo no longer wanted to waste words with them. Poisonous mist spewed from the Nine-Colored Snake Emperor behind him, forming a massive toxic field.
In a battlefield, such a domain would greatly suppress the enemy.
However, in a spirit master's battlefield, poison's effectiveness would greatly diminish if countered.
Sure enough, with the support of Ning Fengzhi's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Yu Yuanzhen alone used his lightning power to swiftly break Dugu Bo's poison array!
Following that, Tang Xiao didn't give Dugu Bo a chance to retaliate and severely injured him with the Clear Sky Hammer.
Fortunately, he held back at the last moment, or Dugu Bo would have been killed.
"Let's take Dugu Bo back and persuade him to switch sides to our Heaven Dou Empire," Tang Xiao's suggestion was met with nods from the others.
They naturally hoped Dugu Bo would see reason.
Then, under Tang San's guidance, they cleared the poison from the Sunset Forest and took over the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
However, they noticed that Dugu Yan was missing.
"Little San, Dugu Bo's granddaughter Dugu Yan is missing. Dugu Bo must have anticipated his defeat and sent her away." Tang Xiao looked worried.
If Dugu Yan found Su Yun and informed the Spirit Hall about Dugu Bo's capture, they would likely take action.
"Once the bow is drawn, it cannot be turned back. We need to act quickly."
Tang San immediately instructed the agile members of the Clear Sky Clan to track Dugu Yan, while he began using the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to help cleanse the poison from his body.
...
Dugu Yan felt uneasy after being sent away by her grandfather.
She understood his intentions; although her grandfather was strong, his soul power was only at level ninety-two.
Tang Xiao and Yu Yuanzhen were top-tier experts with soul powers above level ninety-five.
With Ning Fengzhi's support, their combined combat power could only be matched by Bibi Dong or Qian Daoliu.
"I must find Su Yun and his group as soon as possible," Dugu Yan thought while hurrying towards the border to enter the Spirit Empire.
The war between the Spirit Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire had made the border heavily guarded, with only soldiers allowed to pass freely.
Soul masters needed special permission to cross, and with the Heaven Dou royalty allied with Tang San, her name was likely already on the border watchlist.
As she pondered her next move, she suddenly sensed a group of soul powers rapidly approaching from behind.
Dugu Yan's face changed.
Had her whereabouts been discovered?
Despite dispersing her tracks, she was still being followed.
Dugu Yan quickened her pace, but the agility of the Clear Sky Clan's members outmatched her.
In no time, she was surrounded.
Seeing who had encircled her, Dugu Yan's eyes narrowed, "Bai Chenxiang?"
Leading the group was Bai Chenxiang, who had previously saved Dugu Yan from Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Bai Chenxiang's expression was also somber upon seeing Dugu Yan.
She explained, "Sister Yan, please stop."
"We won't harm you."
"If you go to the Spirit Empire, it will mean that your Dugu family has completely betrayed our country."
Dugu Yan looked at the agile clan members around her and sneered, "Chenxiang, a drop of water's kindness should be repaid with a spring. No matter who Su Yun is, he once saved my and my grandfather's lives, and we must repay that kindness."
"Moreover, my grandfather has greatly restrained himself for the sake of the common people and soldiers of the two empires. Even the Spirit Empire doesn't allow him to go to the battlefield."
"But now, you people of the Upper Three Sects have taken action against him and seized his territory."
Dugu Yan clenched her fists and looked at Bai Chenxiang and her companions, questioning, "Is this what you call justice?"
One of Bai Chenxiang's team members suddenly spoke, "Dugu Bo, as a person of the Heaven Dou Empire, should be punished for not helping his own country and instead aiding the Spirit Empire."
Bai Chenxiang's face changed immediately upon hearing this and she reprimanded, "Shut up!"
Dugu Yan sneered at his words, "See, this is your true intention."
"Chenxiang, if you stop me today, I will risk self-destruction and take you all down with me."
Despite Dugu Yan's threat, Bai Chenxiang shook her head and said, "Sister Yan, have you forgotten that your poison can be countered with realgar wine?"
As Bai Chenxiang finished speaking, a figure emerged from behind her.
Seeing the figure, Dugu Yan's face changed again, "It's you?!"
The newcomer was none other than Ma Hongjun, who had previously attacked Dugu Yan.
He had been sent by Tang San to capture Dugu Yan.
"Hehe, finally caught you again, didn't I?"
Ma Hongjun's face showed a lascivious smile, "I advise you to surrender. Don't make me use realgar wine against you."
He pulled out a flask of realgar wine and activated his Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul, "If you force me to take action, don't blame me for what happens next."
"You!" Dugu Yan glared at Ma Hongjun, wishing she could punch the pervert to death.
Bai Chenxiang immediately shouted angrily at Ma Hongjun, "Bastard!"
She had always disliked Ma Hongjun.
Despite being recommended by her cousin Tang San to join the Clear Sky Clan, Ma Hongjun still frequented questionable places weekly.
Although Ma Hongjun needed to suppress the evil fire within him due to his martial soul, Bai Chenxiang couldn't stand his combination of a fat body and sleazy demeanor. If it weren't for the need to capture Dugu Yan, she wouldn't want to be in the same team as him.
"Sister Yan, things have come to this point, please stop struggling," Bai Chenxiang said softly.
She genuinely didn't want to see her injured.
Dugu Yan was silent for a long time before saying, "Then you have to promise me not to hurt my grandfather."
She knew her grandfather must have been captured by Tang Xiao and the others.
"Rest assured, we just don't want Senior Dugu Bo to be misled into serving the Spirit Empire," Bai Chenxiang immediately promised.
Hearing this, Dugu Yan glanced at Ma Hongjun beside her, knowing she couldn't escape today, and agreed to return with them.
...
When Su Yun emerged from his retreat, he received news from his spies that Dugu Bo was in trouble.
Hearing this, his expression changed, and he immediately reviewed the detailed report.
"As expected, after discovering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang San would definitely try to take it for himself," Su Yun's face darkened.
To be honest, if the unique growth environment of this secluded paradise could be moved easily, Su Yun would have relocated the entire Sunset Forest to the Spirit Empire long ago, eliminating the worry for Dugu Bo and his granddaughter's safety.
"Tang San must be trying to detoxify himself," Bibi Dong, sitting beside Su Yun, understood Tang San's intention upon reading the report.
"Hmph, I refrained from letting Dugu Bo act to minimize casualties, and yet Tang San forces my hand," Su Yun's eyes glinted coldly. He felt as if he had given his opponent a ladder, and they were now using it to climb up.
"I've always told you, you're too sentimental," Bibi Dong lightly reproached. "In a war between two empires, countless lives will be lost. Instead of debating how to reduce deaths on the battlefield, it's better to end the war sooner. That way, fewer people will die."
Bibi Dong knew Su Yun didn't want the majority of civilians to suffer from Dugu Bo's poison.
Otherwise, when the Spirit Empire took action, they could have directly involved Dugu Bo.
"What do you plan to do now?" Bibi Dong turned her beautiful eyes towards her man and asked.
"First, we must find a way to rescue Dugu Bo," Su Yun said solemnly. "If I'm not mistaken, they likely want Dugu Bo to fight against us."
"Are you afraid Dugu Bo will betray you?"
"No, I'm afraid he would rather die than betray me, and they might..." Su Yun's eyes flickered with concern.
If Tang San deemed Dugu Bo a threat, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him.
"However, they shouldn't kill Dugu Bo right away."
Tang San's expertise in poisons was almost on par with Dugu Bo's, but his poisons mainly inflicted single-target damage. On the battlefield, only explosive range attacks like Buddha Fury Tang Lotus could make a real impact.
For widespread poisoning, Dugu Bo was unparalleled on the entire Douluo Continent.
So Su Yun believed Tang San and the others wouldn't easily kill Dugu Bo.
"Dugu Yan will also be a means to control Dugu Bo," Su Yun murmured.
Bibi Dong interjected, "I will put pressure on them on the front lines. If you have a plan, discuss it with Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo."
She squeezed Su Yun's hand, offering him a touch of encouragement.
(End of the chapter)