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Ning Tian dug into the Shrek versus Imperial Combat Team fight.
Shrek had challenged the Imperial Combat Team in Soutuo City.
The Imperial side had the edge until Tang San and Dai Mubai made a martial soul fusion skill.
"How strong is Tang San?" Ning Tian asked.
If Tang San was average, he might've taken the Blue Silver Emperor leg bone early—a slim chance, but bad news. Ning Tian would need to up the laxatives.
If he was strong, he'd added rings to the Clear Sky Hammer, and Ning Tian could ease up.
"Really strong. Pure power-wise, he beat our captain's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon," Osler said. He'd felt it up close.
Ning Tian exhaled. 'Clear Sky Hammer it is.'
"How? When we left, Tang San was stuck at thirty-one, barely moving. A month later, he's up four levels and stronger than Yu Tianheng's martial soul?" Ning Rongrong asked, stunned.
"Did he get a soul bone?" Zhu Zhuqing guessed.
"Soul bones aren't common, especially not one that jumps strength and soul power that fast. I've got a hunch, but I'm not sure yet," Ning Tian said, brushing it off. He didn't want Ning Rongrong to know about Tang San's twin martial souls—her father, Ning Fengzhi, would find out and might play both sides.
......….
Ning Tian leaned against the window of his dorm, the faint glow of a spirit lamp casting long shadows across the room. For the past two months, he'd been weaving a web of deception, each thread carefully placed. Every night,he increased the dose of 'Zhennior', a toxin and swallowed it before transferring it to Dugu Yan. He always made sure to check if Dugu Bo was near her granddaughter by using his system daily.
......
Next morning, he watched her falter. Her spoon trembled as she lifted it, her face paling. "Just tired," she snapped when Ye Lingling pressed her, but Ning Tian caught the wince she tried to hide. By noon, it was worse—sharp cramps doubled her over during sparring, her breath hitching. "Yan Yan, you're not fine," Ye Lingling said, her Nine-Hearted Begonia flaring as she tried to help. Dugu Yan brushed her off.
Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Ning Tian saw her slip out of the academy, her steps unsteady. She has a habit of going to teahouses in the afternoon daily. He lingered in the training yard, a shadow clone swinging a sword in his place.
........
In a cramped inn room, Ning Tian adjusted his disguise. A human skin mask, procured from a shady merchant—transformed him into an elderly man, weathered and gray-haired. A small spirit tool changes his voice and a ring he got from his teacher's father that helps him to hide his soul level. He draped a cloak over his shoulders and slipped out, heading for the teahouse.
Now, her symptoms were peaking, and it was time to strike.
The tea house buzzed softly with chatter as Ning Tian stepped inside. He spotted Dugu Yan in her usual corner, her composure fraying. Her hand trembled as she gripped her teacup, tea spilling onto the table, and her painted green fingernails tapped an erratic rhythm. Her sharp green eyes were dulled by fatigue, and a faint sheen of sweat glistened on her brow. Ning Tian in disguise approached, his steps measured, his expression one of feigned concern.
"Excuse me, miss," he said, his disguised voice low and gentle. "I couldn't help but notice you seem unwell. Is there anything I can do to assist?"
Dugu Yan's gaze snapped to him, sharp despite her evident strain. "I don't need help from strangers," she snapped, her voice edged with irritation. "Leave me be." Her pride was unmistakable—Dugu Yan, granddaughter of the Poison Douluo and Vice Captain of the Emperor Team, was not one to admit weakness.
Ning Tian pressed on, undeterred. "I mean no disrespect, but I've seen symptoms like yours before—trembling, paleness, sudden fatigue. It's the mark of poison building up in the body, isn't it? A burden tied to a serpent-based martial soul, perhaps?"
Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition betraying her defenses. In Douluo Dalu, Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul was a double-edged sword. Its venomous power made her a formidable spirit master, but it came with a cost: the slow accumulation of toxins in her system. It was a secret she kept closely guarded.
"How do you know about this?" she demanded, her tone icy.
Ning Tian offered a faint, knowing smile. "I've studied the spirit master world extensively."
Dugu Yan's silence confirmed his words. She set the teacup down, her hand steadying with effort. "Even if you're right," she said, her voice low, "what could you possibly offer me?"
Here was his opening. "There's a rare plant that grows in the Misty Veil Mountains, far to the north," Ning Tian said, leaning in slightly. "It's called the Silver Vein Orchid. It's said to have the power to purify the blood and cleanse the body of even the deepest toxins. If you could obtain it, it might rid you of the poison that's been plaguing you."
Dugu Yan scoffed, though her skepticism wavered. "The Misty Veil Mountains? I've never heard of them. And some magical flower? Why should I trust you?"
"The mountains are remote, shrouded in mist, and rarely traveled," Ning Tian replied smoothly. "As for the orchid, its silver-veined petals are a giveaway—legends say it thrives near high-altitude waterfalls, where the air is pure. I learned of it from ancient herbalist scrolls, knowledge passed down from a master I once studied under. It's not a cure you'll find nearby, it's too rare for that."
Dugu Yan's eyes flickered with interest, though her guard remained up. "And what's in it for you? Why help me?"
Ning Tian shrugged lightly. "I am a healer, that's what I do. If you don't believe me, let the poison keep eating away at you, Miss."
Her jaw tightened. She knew her condition was deteriorating. Ye Lingling's healing could soothe the symptoms, but it couldn't purge the root cause. Tang San had once helped her grandfather with a similar issue, but she had no access to him now. "Tell me more about this orchid," she said finally, her tone grudging.
Ning Tian nodded. "The Silver Vein Orchid grows on the highest peaks of the Misty Veil Mountains, often near cascading falls. It's a delicate flower, pale with silver streaks, and it's guarded by a spirit beast—the Mist Weaver Spider. That creature spins fog into traps, disorienting anyone who gets too close. You'll need to be prepared for a fight."
Dugu Yan absorbed this, her mind already shifting to strategy. "And you're sure this will work?"
"I'm sure it's your best shot," Ning Tian said. "The orchid's properties are documented—purification, toxin expulsion. It's tailored to your problem."
She studied him for a long moment, then stood, her resolve hardening despite her unsteady stance. "Fine. I'll find this Silver Vein Orchid. But if this is a trick, I'll track you down, and you'll regret it."
Ning Tian bowed slightly. "I don't lie, miss.."
As Dugu Yan strode out of the tea house, her determination masking her weakness, Ning Tian watched with a hidden smirk. She'd taken the bait, and now the board was his to play.
...….
The next day, word spread that the Poisoned Douluo was looking for a mysterious old man. Unable to find him, he took Dugu Yan and left the academy for an extended trip.
...….
Ning Tian stood by his dorm window, satisfaction curling his lips. He felt like a certain man with long hair.
'With her and Dugu Bo gone, the garden's mine for the taking.' Afterall he was sure any possible cure for her granddaughter, Dugu Bo will go.
He turned to pack, already envisioning the treasures ahead. The Misty Veil Mountains would keep Dugu Yan occupied, and the Silver Vein Orchid real or not didn't matter. His plan was in motion.
He told Zhuqing and Rongrong that he will be leaving for a few days to go to his master's house and that he will bring them some gifts. After that he gathered a map, his soul tools, and a few vials for the herbs and set off for the Sunset Forest. The clock was ticking, and he wouldn't waste a second.
.......
After hours of travel, the Sunset Forest loomed ahead, its canopy thick with mist and menace. Ning Tian navigated the winding paths, brushing aside soul beasts with swift, precise strikes.
As he neared the garden's entrance, a house carved into a hillside came into view.
He activated his third soul skill, and two shadow clones flickered into existence beside him. Identical to him in every way. "Test the path," he commanded.
The first clone stepped forward, triggering a jet of corrosive mist. It dissolved in seconds, leaving nothing but a faint wisp. The second clone veered left, dodging a hidden pressure plate that unleashed a barrage of poison darts. Ning Tian repeated it until his clones sacrificed themselves to reveal the array's secrets.
With the path clear, Ning Tian darted to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The garden sprawled before him, a riot of vibrant herbs glowing in the dual springs' light. He harvested quickly—the Immortal herbs–the Infernal Delicate Apricot, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and a handful of others,
Time for the prize. He consumed the Apricot and Ice Grass together, their energies clashing like fire and frost in his veins. Leaping into the well, he let the springs refine them, enduring the agony as his body tempered and his soul power spiked to level thirty-six.
{A/n: In the original, these herbs don't directly boost soul power—they strengthen the body, martial soul, and external soul bones. Leftover energy aids cultivation. Tang San gained three levels in half a year after refining them.}
That was just the beginning. Most of the herbs' power lingered in him. If he stayed, he could hit level forty in six months.
He gathered his haul, removed any possible tracks with his second martial soul and went back to the academy.
........
Meanwhile, the Shrek group arrived at the academy.
"Is this Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"
"It's more like a mountain!"
The Shrek students stared at the sprawling campus. Even Tang San, usually calm, raised an eyebrow. Compared to this, Shrek Academy was a shack.
Xiao Wu stood apart, her face shadowed with worry. Since Ning Tian's departure, she'd grown quiet, training relentlessly. Tang Hao's appearance had deepened her gloom, but her soul power had risen to level thirty-three in three months, just behind Dai Mubai at thirty-eight and Tang San, now at thirty-six despite his struggles.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun had grown too. Oscar hit level thirty-two after securing his soul ring, while Ma Hongjun, stuck at twenty-nine, brimmed with confidence after months of soul fights. He'd cozied up to Tang San, calling him "Third Brother," swayed by Yu Xiaogang and Flender's talk of being "monsters." Beating the Imperial Combat Team only fueled their swagger.
Tang San felt untouchable. Twin martial souls, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, hidden weapons, and two thousand-year soul rings on his second martial soul—he couldn't picture anyone his age besting him, not even Ning Tian. His steps carried a new boldness, his posture a touch straighter.
"Halt! Who are you lot?" a voice snapped.
Xue Beng, the fourth prince, walked over confidently with his group of lackeys.
Flender stepped forward. "We're from Shrek Academy, here for an exchange. Take us to your education committee."
Xue Beng smirked, sizing them up. Maybe playing the spoiled prince or just enjoying himself, he scoffed, "You country bumpkins want to see the committee? Look at yourselves. Scram before I have you tossed out."
Spotting Dai Mubai's glare, he added, "What's that look? You're all primped up—probably a eunuch, right? Ha!"
His lackeys roared with laughter.
Dai Mubai's temper flared. In a blink, he loomed over Xue Beng, a dark chill rolling off him. Since his castration, "eunuch" word hit a nerve. Already hot-headed, betrayal and humiliation had turned him brutal—weaklings who provoked him paid dearly.
Thud!
His foot slammed into Xue Beng's groin. A sharp yelp followed as the prince crumpled, clutching himself.
Xue Beng's lackeys froze. Dai Mubai didn't let up—two yellow and one purple soul rings blazed as he shifted into his martial soul form, ready to thrash them too.
Flender frowned. "Mubai, stop it."
He wasn't fussed about their safety, just their families. A beating was fine; crippling them was trouble.
Dai Mubai switched to fists, pounding them until they sprawled, dazed. Only when Sun Buyu arrived did he stop, trailing the Shrek group into the academy with the others.
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