“You really want to?”
Tang San firmly nodded once.
A cold light flickered in Dugu Bo’s eyes, thinking to himself, ‘A tiger that doesn’t show its strength, you would truly take me for a sickly cat. Don’t tell me that with all these years of cultivating poison I would be unable to control this little junior?’ Lightly flicking his finger, the tip already pierced into Tang San’s arm.
Practically in an instant, a dark energy entered and swiftly spread, and in a moment that black line rose up the arm.
Tang San quickly used his right hand to press down on the injury on his left arm, and while he could still move, quickly retreating a few steps, again returning within the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure’s protective range. Sitting down cross legged, he closed his eyes and silently circulated Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Right now he wasn’t circulating Mysterious Heaven Skill in order to force out the poison; let alone the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison, with his current level of Mysterious Heaven Skill he couldn’t even have disposed of the previous Nine Segment Jade’s poison. The reason he circulated his internal strength was to increase the flow speed of his blood vessels.
An average person dealing with poison this way would not doubt accelerate their own death, but what Tang San did now was in order to arouse the medicinal strength of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot within his body.
Just like ten thousand poisons shunned the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the most significant advantage of dosing himself with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot was to change his physique with the two extreme ice and fire medicinal strengths. If Tang San was able to completely absorb these two kinds of medicines, then he would possess a body protected from a hundred poisons.
Of course, he still had a very long way to go to reach this goal. Before when the Nine Segment Jade bit him, it was precisely the two kinds of medicinal herbs in Tang San’s body that showed their effect, neutralizing the poison. And the reason the Nine Segment Jade lost consciousness was because it had swallowed some of the two kinds of medicinal herbs along with Tang San’s blood. Fortunately this blood was already neutralized, otherwise such a rare and precious poisonous creature like the Nine Segment Jade would have immediately burst and died.
If Tang San was be able to completely absorb the two kinds of medicinal herbs, he of course wouldn’t fear Dugu Bo’s Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison, but right now he was still far from accomplishing this. Consequently, in order to resist Dugu Bo’s toxin, he had to rely on some external force.
Tang San of course wouldn’t play around with his own life, when he agreed he had already made up a plan.
Even if the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure was unable to restrain poison in the blood stream, by its very nature it could still slow down the rate of the poison’s outbreak, and cause a certain suppressive effect. When Tang San previously touched the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure’s flower with his right hand, it had been covered in pollen. After being poisoned, he immediately spread the pollen on his wound.
The Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure’s pollen had the effect of dissolving a hundred poisons, even if it couldn’t dissolve the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison on its own, it was still enough to weaken it. Further adding the combined effect of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot, several kinds of poisons were currently struggling for life and death within Tang San’s body.
Dugu Bo calmly observed Tang San. Even he himself didn’t have the ability to remove the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison, and watching Tang San sit there with a face already black, he couldn’t help feel somewhat regretful. He had been famous for so many years, what strength did a child have by comparison. If he died here now, the trouble would truly be great. Recalling that person behind Tang San, Dugu Bo felt a great headache. Just like what Flender said, Tang San’s father, that man called Tang Hao, truly wasn’t someone he could offend.
Just as man and heaven waged war in Dugu Bo’s heart, suddenly there was a change in Tang San before him. Faint red light appeared underneath his skin, followed by white light. Red and white distinctly alternated, and that quickly moving dark energy was pushed back by the red and white lights, unable to continue spreading.
Eight Spider Lances released on Tang San’s back. When fighting the poison with all his strength, Tang San was already unable to control his own spirits and spirit bone.
The Eight Spider Lances was brightly colored, but it wasn’t alone in that. The Blue Silver Grass within Tang San was equally released, and the originally bluish purple Blue Silver Grass was still the same size, but the coloring had changed, bluish purple with the same pattern as Eight Spider Lances, the color of the lines alternating red and white, appearing both beautiful and bizarre, even somewhat dazzling. It spread out from him like a multitude of vipers, revolving around Tang San’s body and taking on a shape a bit like a cage.
If this made Dugu Bo startled, then, when a small pitch black hammer slowly appeared from Tang San’s left hand, his astonishment became shock.
Yes, they hadn’t lied to him, even if that hammer was small, wasn’t it precisely the world famous Clear Sky[ (昊天) Hao Tian, the first character is the same as in Tang Hao, and it’s the same as what Flender and Wuji called the mysterious stranger after the Shrek entrance exam. Could also be “Boundless Heaven”.]?
The poison unable to continue spreading, Tang San’s Mysterious Heaven Skill circulating with all its power and the two kinds of herbal medicine effects slowly compelled it outside the body. Even Tang San himself didn’t know that right now he was profiting from disaster.
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot’s medicinal properties were both extremely potent. Even if one by one they weren’t the best immortal treasures around this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, with the two kinds of herbs fused together, it was absolutely a top-notch existence even in this place. Tang San thought that in order to completely assimilate the medicinal properties of these two kinds of herbs within his body, he would need to reach at least seventieth rank spirit power to achieve it.
But right now, stimulated by the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot were resisting on their own, thus greatly accelerating Tang San’s absorption rate.
When the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison had largely drained from Tang San’s body, more than thirty percent of the two kinds of herbs’ positive effects had already been absorbed. Of course, this was also inextricably linked to Tang San soaking for a night in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo looked at Tang San with a volatile expression, after he had finished being astonished, he who was famous for poison had by now gradually started to understand the reason this youngster in front of him was able to resist the poison.
When he had just been captured by him he clearly didn’t have this ability. Whether it was spirit or external spirit bone, both had changed somewhat after coming here, clearly he had eaten some medicaments capable of resisting poison.
Ever since discovering this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo had found that there were a lot of plants here he didn’t recognize. He had once tried to experiment a bit with the medicinal properties of these herbs, but had only let him sample pain that couldn’t be forgotten if he lived forever. If it wasn’t for his outstanding strength, perhaps he would have already died from poison.
Ever since, when Dugu Bo came here he had only taken the plants he recognized. He really didn’t want to believe that this teenaged kid in front of him would be able to recognize plants that even he didn’t. He also knew there could be untold treasures among these plants, but having already reached Title Douluo he didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.
Looking at Tang San, Dugu Bo could only think of two words: Blessed genius. Perhaps, everything Tang San possessed right now didn’t mea
n anything to Dugu Bo, he could still crush him like an ant, but Tang San’s age was his greatest advantage. With his present age and strength, his future prospects could not be measured.
Truly unfortunate, Dugu Bo sighed inwardly, his granddaughter was really a bit too old for him, otherwise, to say nothing of playing matchmaker for them, he wouldn’t even even hesitate cooking the rice before planning the meal[ Original idiom is “the rice is cooked”, meaning “what’s done is done and too late to change”. In this case the meaning is probably that he would aim for a shotgun marriage.].
The red and white lights gradually faded under Tang San’s skin, that pitch black little hammer also merging back into his body, immediately followed by the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances, and finally the Blue Silver Grass. Tang San’s complexion also gradually recovered to normal.
“Many thanks for your leniency.”
Tang San leapt up from the ground, once again with a small smile on his face.
Even though he had removed the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison, Tang San knew that it was only a fraction of the poison in Dugu Bo’s own body. The intensity of the toxin was directly proportional to its quantity, and even powerful poison wouldn’t be a threat in insufficient amounts. Dugu Bo had clearly started of leniently. Of course, Dugu Bo didn’t know that even this was in Tang San’s calculations.
When Tang San saw Dugu Bo give Grandmaster’s trio the antidote and letting them leave, he knew that Dugu Bo wouldn’t rashly try to kill him. This was a significant reason for why he chose to try and resist the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison.
With this time’s success, his body’s ability to withstand poison had increased substantially, and the next time Dugu Bo wanted to use the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor’s poison on him it wouldn’t be so easy.
Chapter 067: Ice Fire Protection, Hundred Poison Relief
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
The expression on Dugu Bo’s face vanished, again returning to the previous chill. Indifferently looking at Tang San, he said:
“What did you eat here that makes you fearless even before my Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison?”
Tang San didn’t hide it, saying:
“After you brought me here yesterday, I thought it over several times and took the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot.”
“Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Precious Apricot? What are those?”
Dugu Bo had never even heard these two names.
Tang San nodded,
“They’re two kinds of poisonous herbs that grew on precisely opposite sides of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, each absorbing the essence of the extreme yin or extreme yang to grow.”
Listening to Tang San’s explanation, Dugu Bo seemed to recall something,
“You’re speaking of those two plants with extreme cold and torrid heat? Those two could be eaten?”
Because of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot’s somewhat special nature, he clearly remembered these two plants. Those two were just two of many plants around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He had tried it out before, and even with his spirit power he was unable to stay too long next to any kind of poisonous plant. Dugu Bo knew that these two kinds of herbs both contained cold and fire poison.
Extremely potent.
As a result of not being clear on their medicinal properties, he had never used them rashly.
Because there was only one each of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot, Tang San didn’t fear letting Dugu Bo know,
“That’s right, these two kinds of plants are both poisonous. If an ordinary person got within ten meters of them, they would freeze or turn to ashes in a very short time, let alone eating them. However, just like yin and yang mutually subdues each other, ice and fire mutually controls each other. When these two kinds of herbs were mixed together, they neutralized each other, greatly reducing the toxicity. But that was also the only opportunity to take them. After taking them, the mutual rejection of ice and fire changed into mutually complementing each other, the effect transforming the body. Further using some methods to increase the absorption, the effect was Ice Fire Protection.”
“Good, good Ice Fire Protection.”
Dugu Bo looked at Tang San with a moved gaze, inwardly somewhat hesitant.
Although he wasn’t clear on the method of taking the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot, he knew the medicinal properties of these two kinds of plants were extremely potent, and naturally he understood Tang San couldn’t have fully absorbed their properties already. If he drank his blood, perhaps…… Only, he said these two plants had to be absorbed with a special method, and he didn’t know what that was.
Thinking of this, Dugu Bo probing asked:
“And you relied on these to restrain my three kinds of poison?”
Tang San smiled calmly, saying:
“One could say so. Old freak, after you brought me here I discovered how you could survive the poison side effects. It’s precisely because of this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well’s effect. The extremely cold yin water and blazing hot yang water have an extremely potent suppressive effect on all poison. The spring waters themselves are even more inimical to poison, and ordinary people would be unable to endure this environment, even a powerful spirit beast couldn’t survive. But to you this place is useful and harmless. It’s precisely the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well’s atmosphere that has restrained the poison within you. Even if cultivating here isn’t enough to dispel your poison, at least guaranteeing you will live to be a hundred is not problem. Only……”
Dugu Bo couldn’t help asking:
“Only what?”
Tang San sighed, saying:
“There was still another important reason I ate the Infernal Precious Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. It was to be able to live in this place. These two kinds of herbs mingled together is actually equivalent to a small scale Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, only its effect in fighting poison isn’t as terrifying as the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well itself. I have come up with two ways to remove your poison, the first is to simultaneously take these two kinds of herbs, and afterwards rely on your formidable spirit power to absorb their properties. Like that I have at least an eighty percent chance of being able to cure you.”
Dugu Bo’s expression gradually became ice cold,
“However, you’ve eaten them.”
Tang San smiled calmly:
“Old freak. Let me finish first.”
Since he dared confidently tell Dugu Bo about this, he was naturally reasonable,
“Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot are classified as immortal treasure precious herbs, even though they’re highly toxic, there’s no need to doubt the evaluation of these immortal treasures. True, they can dissolve the poison in your body, but at the same time it will get rid of your body poison skills, do you want that?”
“This……”
Dugu Bo looked distracted. He had originally thought to take the plan, but hearing Tang San’s words he immediately hesitated.
Tang San saw Dugu Bo vacillating, and said:
“It’s fine if you don’t believe me. My blood contains the properties of both herbs, I can draw some to let you try it. However, don’t blame me if your cultivation diminishes.”
“No need to try, you little freak.”
Dugu Bo said regretfully,
“How do you know this?”
Tang San said unruffled:
“I found a book when I was small, and within was written down a lot of strange things, the book had a golden section, and I learned all these things from the book.”
“Just now you said there were two methods of detoxifying me, what’s the other one?”
Dugu Bo asked.
Tang San said:
“I only have a sixty percent confidence in this second method, but it wouldn’t impact your
strength. Of course, your granddaughter’s poisoning is still shallow, I have a hundred percent confidence in helping her recover. This method also isn’t complex. The reason you’re suffering the side effects is mainly because of your poison skill cultivation method. It would be fine if you possessed a tool spirit, all that would be required would be for you to condense the poison within your spirit, and all the issues would be easily resolved. But right now you have a beast spirit, and as a result the poison fuses with your body. Even though your spirit power is able to transfer and suppress it, it has already long ago become part of your body, thereby causing maximum harm to your body. If you want to retain the toxin in your body, without letting it injure you, you have to find a parasitic body to act as a repository for the poison. I think that with your strength you should have a spirit bone.”
Dugu Bo was also an old veteran with regards to poison, and immediately understood Tang San’s words, the jade light in his eyes brightening,
“You’re saying, that if I forced the poison in my body into my spirit bone, it wouldn’t harm me?”
Tang San nodded, saying:
“Just like that, and your granddaughter is the same. As long as you find her a suitable spirit bone, and have her force the poison into her spirit bone when cultivating poison skills, then there wouldn’t be any issues. Just like me right now, even though I possess poison in my body, it’s all within Blue Silver Grass and the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances, so of course where wouldn’t be any issues for me.”
Dugu Bo frowned,
“This old man has cultivated the Jade Phosphor Serpent Spirit for seventy years, my body has already long ago fused with the poison. It won’t be easily forced out, it’s no good, perhaps the side effects will only grow worse. Little freak, you aren’t teaching me to commit suicide?”
Tang San indifferently said:
“This is the only feasible way. Of course you wouldn’t directly use spirit power to force it out, like you said, that wouldn’t have a good result, and would on the contrary cause even more powerful backlash. You have to do it in conjunction with certain medicines, gradually filtering out the poison in your bones and energy channels bit by bit, focusing it in the spirit bone. This is a very long process, not something that can be done in a day or two. After all, right now your whole body is poisonous. That’s why I say I only have a sixty percent certainty. Only one thing is certain, even if it’s impossible to gather all of your poison within the spirit bone, it will at least substantially alleviate the pain you have to endure right now, are you willing to try it?”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 120