As energy continued to be absorbed, the green lotus began to change; the originally pure green color gradually faded, replaced by an ice-green hue. The green and white flames rising from the surface of the lotus did not change, but their temperature significantly increased. Even from over ten meters away, the Snake Spear Douluo could feel the heat comparable to that of the fiery red spring water.
Strangely, the lotus itself emitted a chilling aura that was mesmerizing. The combination of these two contradictory properties unexpectedly did not result in a clash but maintained a subtle balance that was truly breathtaking.
Through the translucent ice-green part of the lotus, one could vaguely see a figure sitting cross-legged inside. It was Lan Si.
At this moment, his clothes had nearly completely disintegrated, leaving him naked, with only the Qiankun bag at his waist and on his arms—the two soul-guided devices and the jade belt had not been corroded by the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.
The Soul-Devouring Eight Spider Lances had also vanished, absorbed into his body, with his entire being covered in the same green and white flames as the lotus.
As the lotus gradually transformed into ice-green, Lan Si's body began to undergo subtle changes. First, his black, tousled hair turned ice-green and started to grow longer. Among the ice-green strands, a faint golden light could be seen, just like the vibrant green lotus enveloping him.
At this moment, Lan Si's entire being transcended.
His skin became even fairer, and his body seemed to grow taller, appearing more harmonious. If Lan Si's height was only 1.77 meters before, he now exceeded 1.80 meters.
Most notably was his face, which had previously been as handsome as Oscar or Dai Mubai's. At this moment, all imperfections vanished, his eyes appeared larger, and his aura underwent a dramatic transformation, exuding a more refined and serene demeanor, like an ethereal being.
The Snake Spear Douluo was left dumbfounded. Is this still the Lan Si he knew? If he hadn't witnessed Lan Si's transformation with his own eyes, he would have thought it was someone else entirely.
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Meanwhile, in a nondescript small inn in Heaven Dou City:
Dugu Bo lay on the bed in a rather disheveled state, shivering intermittently and breaking out in hot sweats. The alternation of cold and heat made his pale old face display a painful, twisted expression.
This state lasted for about an hour before Dugu Bo finally freed himself from the agony.
"Damn it, this poison really is never-ending," Dugu Bo cursed painfully, getting up and stepping out of the room. He entered the adjacent room, where a plain-looking young man was bound to the bed—none other than Tang San.
Bound by iron chains, Tang San slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the door creak open. Without looking at Dugu Bo, he said flatly, "How is it? Old Poison, feeling the taste of the poison backlash isn't pleasant, right?"
"Can you really detoxify my poison?" Dugu Bo, having just experienced the backlash, set aside his pride and waved his hand. A wisp of purple mist floated out, dissolving the chains binding Tang San. Unable to restrain himself, he asked.
"That depends on your sincerity," Tang San replied, stretching his limbs that had gone numb from being bound for so long, turning his back to Dugu Bo, a subtle sly smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
It had been two days since he was captured, and during this time, Tang San had been working tirelessly to survive. Fortunately, fate was not so cruel. Having lived two lives and bearing the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques, he noticed Dugu Bo had a formidable poison ability and was suffering from the poison backlash.
Furthermore, after nearly two days of indirect probing, he learned that Dugu Bo owned a medicinal garden. Based on Dugu Bo's descriptions, Tang San speculated that it could very well be one of the three treasure troves recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Record—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.
This place was a gathering of the world's essence, a site rich in spiritual energy.
Within it grew countless miraculous herbs that could enhance one's foundation, augment talent, and increase soul power.
Moreover, Dugu Bo seemed to be unaware of the medicinal herbs inside, guarding a treasure mountain without utilizing it. It was truly a shame. If he could obtain the herbs there and select suitable ones for himself, his strength and talent would undoubtedly experience a leap in growth. He could also select a herb for each of the remaining five from the group, aside from Zhu Zhuqing. They would surely be grateful to him, making him their leader.
At that time, who would care about Lan Si or the Royal Fighting Team? Even if Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others obtained the herbs, they would not necessarily be better than Lan Si. Tang San would ultimately step on Lan Si to avenge his grievances against Xiao Wu, the humiliation of his teacher, and the pain of the Tang Sect's hidden weapons.
"Sincerity? What do you want?" Dugu Bo furrowed his brow, his dark green eyes filled with a chilling gaze, fixating on him.
"The question is not what I want, but what do you have? Even if you are a powerful Title Douluo, if I were to ask you for a soul bone over fifty thousand years old, whether from the head or torso, could you give it to me?" Tang San shrugged. He knew Dugu Bo had stepped into his verbal trap.
"You're quite ambitious. Don't say a soul bone over fifty thousand years old; some Title Douluo go their entire lives without acquiring a single soul bone." The coldness on Dugu Bo's face gradually faded as he slowly placed his hands behind his back, his tone softening a bit. "Alright, I don't have a fifty-thousand-year-old soul bone. The only thing I can offer is a medicinal garden that grows countless rare and unique herbs from outside. There are so many varieties that even I cannot recognize them all."
"You also play with poison, so I believe you will be very interested. I am willing to part with some for you. In addition, if you can detoxify me, I will also agree to three conditions that do not violate my principles as a person—three conditions from a Title Douluo, along with those rare herbs. This reward is not lighter than a soul bone, right?"
"Of course, all of this is on the condition that you can detoxify me. If you cannot, not only will I not pay the reward, but you will also experience the most brutal pain that exists in the world, one that is worse than death."
Upon hearing Dugu Bo's words, Tang San maintained a calm facade, but inside he was bursting with joy. He suppressed his eagerness and slowly said, "It's a deal."
"Good, then start detoxifying me now," Dugu Bo said somewhat impatiently.
"A skilled chef cannot cook without rice. To detoxify you, I will need medicinal herbs, but I currently have nothing. How can I help you?" Tang San rolled his eyes, a sly smile appearing on his lips as he suggested, "Why not go to the medicinal garden you mentioned?"
"That's probably not possible right now." A hint of embarrassment crossed Dugu Bo's face. If he could go, he would have returned long ago, rather than suffer in this small inn from the backlash of the poison. If he had the medicinal garden's miraculous spring to suppress it, he would feel much better.
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