Chapter 133: Why Not?
Seeing Dugu Bo's resolute expression, Sun Zhongjing immediately understood when he spoke of swearing allegiance, he wasn't referring only to himself, but also to his family. Of course, his family was now reduced to just himself and his granddaughter, but still.
"…Fine. Seeing your sincerity…"
Sun Zhongjing sighed, as if reluctantly agreeing.
Dugu Bo was overjoyed.
In this world, it wasn't shameful for the weak to follow the strong. Becoming a subordinate? As long as there were benefits, what was the problem?
Plenty of people would kill for this opportunity.
"I happened to be planning to establish my own sect soon, to pass on my lifetime of knowledge," Sun Zhongjing said. "Since that's the case, you can be the first member of the Medicine King Sect."
"The Medicine King Sect?!"
Dugu Bo immediately thought of the clinic's name Medicine King Hall and realized this must have been planned all along.
He had coincidentally arrived at the right time and was simply the first person chosen.
Luck was truly on his side.
At any other time, even if he had wanted to join, Sun Zhongjing might not have accepted him at all.
"The Medicine King Sect is still in its early stages," Sun Zhongjing continued. "We don't even have a base yet, nor have we begun formally recruiting disciples. But with your strength, you can serve as an elder in my sect."
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Without hesitation, Dugu Bo immediately knelt and bowed deeply.
There was no doubt since he was an elder, then Sun Zhongjing was naturally the sect's master.
"Rise."
Sun Zhongjing nodded slightly, and with a wave of his hand, an invisible force gently lifted Dugu Bo back to his feet.
"Sect Master, about the Poison Pill Technique…"
Dugu Bo hesitated, feeling slightly embarrassed.
He hadn't finished his sentence, but the implication was clear.
Sun Zhongjing naturally understood, and after a brief moment, he nodded.
"Since you have joined my sect, you are now one of us. And since that is the case, I will teach you the Poison Pill Technique."
As he finished speaking, Sun Zhongjing raised his hand, placed two fingers on Dugu Bo's forehead, and transmitted the technique's secrets directly into his mind through spiritual energy.
Dugu Bo closed his eyes, absorbing the vast information.
Moments later, when he opened them again, his face was filled with pure excitement.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
"I never imagined such a technique could exist! With the Poison Pill Method, the Dugu family will never again be plagued by our martial soul's poison. Instead, we can harness the power of poison to enhance our cultivation!
This is incredible!"
His excitement was overflowing, and he could barely speak coherently.
"Sect Master!"
After calming himself, Dugu Bo once again bowed deeply and said with utmost sincerity:
"I cannot thank you enough! From this day forth, I will follow you unconditionally even through fire and water, I will not hesitate!"
Sun Zhongjing accepted the bow without objection.
Then, as he helped Dugu Bo back to his feet, he added:
"You have accumulated a vast amount of toxic energy within your body. In the past, this was an immense burden. But now, it is an incredible advantage.
As long as you condense your inner poison into a Poison Pill, your cultivation will surge significantly. You will not only restore your previous level but may even advance by two or three ranks!"
Dugu Bo brightened instantly.
Even though he had lost a spirit ring as punishment, he had already attained the rank of Titled Douluo long ago.
As such, even with only eight rings, he was still a Titled Douluo.
His only real disadvantage was that others had nine spirit abilities, while he only had eight.
And he had no way to obtain a tenth ring to reach godhood.
But to Dugu Bo, this wasn't a problem at all.
After all
How many people in the world actually become gods?
He was very self aware.
He knew that reaching godhood was impossible for him.
Even if he could one day reach Rank 96, he would already consider himself extremely fortunate.
The concept of a Rank 99 Extreme Douluo was so far beyond his reach, it was completely unrealistic.
In his mind, godhood was an even more distant fantasy.
So when he heard that forming a Poison Pill could grant him two or three extra ranks, his old face practically bloomed with joy.
At the Titled Douluo stage, every single level was an incredibly difficult climb.
A sudden increase of two or three ranks was already a monumental improvement.
"However," Sun Zhongjing added, "since your toxic energy is extremely deep rooted, forming the Poison Pill will require additional medicinal support…"
Finally, here it comes.
"Ah, that's easy!"
Dugu Bo waved his hand dismissively, completely unconcerned.
"I stumbled upon a very special place many years ago. The environment there is highly unique, and it's filled with strange and exotic plants.
There are also many rare medicinal herbs all incredibly old!"
Sun Zhongjing's eyes lit up slightly as if he had just become interested.
"I see… So your ability to suppress your poison all these years must be closely linked to this mysterious place."
"From the moment I first met you, I noticed something strange."
Sun Zhongjing narrowed his eyes slightly, stroking his long beard as he continued:
"With the level of toxicity in your body, you should have died long ago.
Yet somehow, you are still alive.
At worst, you suffer occasional pain, but you are not crippled."
"At first, I suspected you had ingested some sort of divine medicine or rare immortal herb to suppress the poison.
But now, it seems clear
Your ability to resist your own poison is directly tied to this unique place."
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in realization.
Then, without hesitation, he offered:
"Sect Master, I will personally take you there!
If you find that this place can aid the sect, then please use it as you see fit!"
His words were filled with sincerity.
Dugu Bo had no idea just how valuable his medicine garden truly was.
To him, it was simply a special place where he had found rare herbs.
What mattered more was that Sun Zhongjing had given him the Poison Pill Technique, forever resolving his family's generational curse.
This was a kindness beyond measure.
There was no way he could ever repay such a debt.
So if his medicine garden could be useful to his benefactor, then why wouldn't he offer it?
Sun Zhongjing, of course, graciously accepted the invitation.
After all
His true goal from the very beginning had been Dugu Bo's medicine garden.
Could he have simply seized it by force?
Of course.
But that would have destroyed his carefully built reputation.
Whether it was his main self, Ye Cheng, or his alter egos Neptune and Sun Zhongjing, none of them were the type to steal from others.
And when persuasion works just as well
Why resort to robbery?
Now, not only did Sun Zhongjing gain a Titled Douluo as a loyal subordinate, but he also received the medicine garden as a gift.
He had obtained exactly what he wanted
Without lifting a finger.
So really, why not?
(End of Chapter)
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