Seven days later.
At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, steam billowed upward in thick clouds.
By the spring's edge, Dugu Bo sat cross-legged, his body surrounded by five of the most poisonous creatures known in the world: a jade-green snake, a translucent emerald scorpion, a vividly colored toad, a crystal-clear centipede, and a barely visible gecko clinging to his sleeve.
The five great poisons—snake, scorpion, centipede, toad, and gecko—were all here. But these weren't just common variants. Each one was a rare beast, the apex of its kind.
Ever since Lin Xiao proposed his idea for a technique called Poison Burst, Dugu Bo had—despite calling it ruthless—been secretly studying how to make it work.
These five poisons were all of a latent type: they looked harmless on the surface, elegant even, but once their venom was released… not even a Titled Douluo could resist.
Immediate suppression of the toxin was required to survive.
Right now, Dugu Bo was analyzing the internal structure of each poison, using soul power to simulate the reactions. His control had already improved significantly.
He glanced toward the steaming waters of the well, where Lin Xiao was submerged, his body soaking quietly in the spring.
"Tsk. This kid's only been at school for two days and already figured out the rules. He's acting like a seasoned third-year student. Don't know how he convinced Yan Yan and Lingling to help him skip class—saying he was staying with me, when in fact he's hiding out here."
"Of course, that won't stay secret forever."
If Ye Qingxian wasn't saying anything, she was clearly turning a blind eye.
"Hey, Lin Xiao! How's the spring water treating you?" Dugu Bo called out.
Though Lin Xiao hadn't consumed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass or Infernal Delicate Apricot, the repeated Evil Fire Body Temperings had given him high resistance to both extreme cold and heat. Combined with his Obsidian Divine Phoenix form, he could now soak in the twin spring safely, using it to temper his body.
"Feels pretty good," he answered.
"Any progress with your Poison Burst technique, Senior Dugu?"
"Still needs work," Dugu Bo admitted.
Lin Xiao asked, "Have you tried looking into soul bone techniques or custom soul skills? Any leads yet?"
"How could it be that easy?" Dugu Bo sighed. "I've put the word out to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's merchants and the imperial guilds—they promised to keep an eye out, but this stuff is rare. Not like you can just buy it on the street."
Floating in front of him was the toxic Bi-Phosphorus Seven-Dead Flower, emitting thick green vapor. Dugu Bo had even taken out his golden inner core, letting it absorb the toxins to refine his venom arts.
Lin Xiao watched in awe.
"Senior Dugu, that core of yours really is something. Didn't you once say it stores all your poison power? If worst comes to worst, you could detonate it to unleash your ultimate attack?"
The deadliest Poison Burst in history!
Dugu Bo's mustache twitched in annoyance.
"You brat, quit jinxing me! That core carries half my power—if I blow it up, I'd be crippled!"
Lin Xiao laughed.
"Hey, better a live coward than a dead hero. You've gotta stay alive to keep the fire burning."
With that, he stepped out of the spring, grabbed a towel and a pair of shorts, and slipped into his pants before walking out bare-chested.
His body had been rebuilt from the ground up through repeated destruction and regeneration—each time more refined than the last. His muscles now grew in precisely the ideal structure: balanced, resilient, and stunning to behold.
Even Dugu Bo had to admit: this boy's physique was exquisite—sculpted beyond anything mere marble could capture.
"Can't imagine what you'll look like when you're grown," the old man muttered.
Anyone seeing Lin Xiao for the first time might mistake him for a phoenix reborn.
"Gotta run, Senior Dugu!"
Lin Xiao waved and left.
These past days of soaking in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well hadn't just been for muscle gain. He'd been testing a theory.
From the first time he arrived here, he'd noticed how the spring seemed to suppress his Evil Fire.
And the closer he got to the spring's core, the stronger the effect.
Which led him to wonder—
"What if I just bathed in it?"
So he did.
For five straight days.
And the benefits went far beyond expectation.
First, the suppression was indeed strongest right at the spring's source. What's more, the effect was continuous—and could even be stacked with the Ice Heart Technique.
Second, the spring waters were infused with incredibly pure energy—nearly tangible in its richness.
Body tempering through Evil Fire required massive energy for recovery. Lin Xiao had been relying on medicinal meals before—but digestion took time, and efficiency was limited.
Here, the energy entered directly, no conversion needed.
The effect?
Perfect synergy.
No wonder this place was called one of the Three Great Treasuries—and ranked number one among them. Its uses far exceeded nourishing immortal herbs.
"This is the ideal place for Evil Fire Body Tempering!"
"I've gotta tell Aunt Qingxian."
She'd been collecting medicinal herb seeds for some time now. If not for the logistical headache of acquiring whale glue, she'd probably already have moved here to start cultivating a full-fledged herbal field.
Dugu Bo didn't stop him from leaving.
After all, Lin Xiao carried one of his custom toxin bombs. Even if he encountered someone he couldn't beat, he'd at least have a shot at mutual destruction—or stall long enough for Dugu Bo to arrive.
"Hmm?"
Dugu Bo noticed something on the ground.
It was a book.
He picked it up and saw the title:
"On the Phenomenon of Explosions During the Execution of Poison-Based Soul Skills—And How to Avoid Them"
Inside, every page was blank.
A small note was tucked between the sheets.
"Senior Dugu, this book isn't for external borrowing. If you want to read it, you'll need to apply at the Heaven Dou Imperial Archive."
Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow.
"'Avoiding poison explosions'… Sounds just like what I've been trying to stabilize with my own venom. Huh."
"This Heaven Dou Academy may not be good for much—but their archives do have some decent material…"
"Thanks, Lin Xiao, you little rascal."