Upon hearing Gai Yue's introduction, Shao Xin respectfully greeted Dugu Bo:
"Young junior Shao Xin greets Your Grace."
Dugu Bo waved it off casually.
"No need for that. Since Yan Yan received your care earlier, I should be the one thanking you."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo glanced at the fire pit burning nearby.
"Yan Yan mentioned your grilled meat is quite good. Since I'm joining you on this trip, I hope it's not too much trouble to get a taste."
Normally, Dugu Bo wouldn't be this polite or approachable. But with his granddaughter Dugu Yan present and knowing she wanted to befriend Oscar he was consciously maintaining a kind and benevolent persona.
Although his reputation in the soul master world wasn't great, if he made a good impression now, it could shift people's perceptions.
He personally didn't care, but Dugu Yan certainly did.
"It would be this junior's honor," Shao Xin replied.
"Hahaha, don't let me disturb you. Go ahead and absorb your spirit ring. This old man will stand guard for you," Dugu Bo laughed heartily.
"Then I shall trouble you, Your Grace. I'll prepare some grilled meat for you afterward," Shao Xin said directly, without false courtesy. He pulled out a dagger from his soul tool and dealt with the Lifetree Burrow.
As the black spirit ring slowly condensed atop the Lifetree Burrow, Shao Xin sat cross legged and began adjusting his breathing.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan tugged Dugu Bo aside for a private chat. Gai Yue, always quiet, saw that Dugu Bo was busy spoiling his granddaughter, so he leapt onto a nearby giant tree to stand watch.
Although Dugu Bo had said he would guard Shao Xin, Gai Yue knew one truth: better to rely on oneself than on others.
Oscar, seeing Dugu Yan whispering to her grandfather, didn't want to interrupt. He quietly added more dry wood to the fire.
After ten or so minutes of whispering, Dugu Yan waved to Oscar:
"Oscar, come here for a second. Grandpa has some questions for you."
Oscar walked over. Seeing Oscar's somewhat restrained demeanor, Dugu Bo gestured to a stone near him and said:
"Sit. We're just chatting, no need to be nervous."
Oscar nodded and sat down.
"If the elder wishes to ask anything, I will answer everything I know."
Dugu Bo smiled.
"You're a straightforward one. Yan Yan seems to have a good impression of you. The two of you met by chance but seem to have become friends. Yan Yan doesn't make many friends, so you better not bully her."
Oscar rolled his eyes internally with a doting grandpa like you, who'd even dare?
Outwardly, he kept a polite smile:
"Elder flatters me. Dugu Yan and I did feel an instant connection, but I would never do something like bully a girl."
Dugu Bo nodded with satisfaction, then got to the point:
"I heard from Yan Yan that you're only eleven this year?"
Oscar confirmed with a nod.
"You're a food type soul master, yet you've already reached level 30 at eleven? Even if you were born with full innate soul power, this shouldn't be possible. Your talent is truly one in a million."
Oscar smiled humbly:
"It's mostly due to effort. Also, I like dabbling in pharmacology. I once obtained a rare herb and managed to concoct pills that helped accelerate my cultivation. That's how I progressed so fast."
Of course, this was complete nonsense. Oscar had indeed used medicinal baths, but creating pills or refining elixirs? He said that to cover up the existence of whale glue.
Even if they trusted Dugu Bo's character, it was too soon to reveal such secrets.
Oscar wasn't worried about Shao Xin or Gai Yue leaking any thing they understood the stakes even better than he did.
That said, if Oscar ever gained access to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and its immortal grade herbs, creating true alchemical pills wouldn't be impossible.
Dugu Bo showed clear interest.
"Oh? So you have that kind of skill?" he said, clearly pleased.
"It was just luck. Without enough ingredients, it was a one time opportunity," Oscar replied modestly.
Still, Dugu Bo was quite shocked. Luck? Then why doesn't everyone have that kind of luck?
He had also secretly overheard that Oscar's knowledge of pharmacology came from an ancient text he found when he was just eight.
But how could an eight year old learn so much from a single book?
When his own granddaughter was eight, she still acted like a silly little girl who didn't even want to cultivate.
How could Oscar, at that same age, already surpass seasoned masters?
Dugu Bo even suspected that Oscar's medical knowledge might already rival his own and that was knowledge Dugu Bo had painstakingly accumulated over decades.
So, he concluded that Oscar was not telling the full truth. Which was expected after all, they'd only just met, and no one would reveal everything to a stranger.
Still, the fact that Oscar at only eleven could analyze his granddaughter's condition at a glance, and even refine medicines, was not normal.
Dugu Bo speculated two possibilities: Oscar had a powerful background or belonged to a hidden sect specializing in medicine. That ancient book Oscar mentioned was a true treasure.
Either way, Dugu Bo wanted to find out.
Because he himself had access to a sacred location but even with decades of experience, he could only identify less than 10% of the herbs there.
Despite that, he had used that very place to break through to the Title Douluo level.
If Oscar could identify even a bit more of that sacred site's secrets, its value would skyrocket.
With that thought in mind, Dugu Bo asked casually,
"Yan Yan said your knowledge came from reading medical texts, and particularly from an ancient book?"
"Not to hide anything this old man also happens to be a pharmacological expert and avid collector of ancient books. Perhaps we could exchange knowledge sometime?"
At this point, if Oscar hadn't understood Dugu Bo's intent before, now he absolutely did.
This was a roundabout way of asking to see the ancient book.
Oscar did have an old medical text, but there was no way he'd show it to Dugu Bo especially now that he could already guess the man's motivation.
Still, Oscar kept his calm and replied with a smile:
"Elder flatters me. With my meager knowledge, how could I dare compare myself to you?"
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