Rumble—!
The earth shook violently as rocks crashed down.
The ferocious shockwaves from the explosion completely engulfed one corner of the valley entrance.
"Ah—!"
Caught at the center, the once-majestic Jade Phosphor Serpent rolled and hissed in agony.
Its scales shattered, blood covering its body.
A beam infused with the power of time shot out and precisely blew its head apart.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent finally flashed with light, then dissipated like a bursting bubble.
As its true form was revealed, Dugu Bo was blasted backward, smashing into a mountainside and collapsing half of the cliff wall.
Pfft!
He spat out a mouthful of stale blood. His face was deathly pale, his life hanging by a thread.
When the torrent of attacks finally ended, he collapsed weakly to the ground.
His clothes were in rags, not a single patch of skin intact, and his spirit power was completely drained.
The light in his cloudy eyes slowly faded.
There was no doubt—he had lost.
Lost to a youth who had been forced to withdraw because of him three years ago.
And lost to a white giant serpent and a black Dragon Hound he could not comprehend at all.
I'm sorry, Yan Yan… Grandpa dragged you into this… Yan Yan…
"No… I can't fall yet…"
At the thought of his granddaughter, a final spark of clarity ignited within Dugu Bo, a sliver of awareness returning to his eyes.
Escape!
I must escape!
Even if it costs me this old life, I have to get Yan Yan out of here!
He burned his remaining vitality, forcing out a trace of strength to prop up his shattered body and struggle to his feet.
"Clap, clap, clap…"
Before he could take a single step, applause echoed through the valley.
Dugu Bo's body trembled. He stiffly turned his head, only to see a tall, perfectly built youth slowly emerge from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Admirable courage—truly admirable," the youth said.
"I really envy Yan Yan. She has a grandfather willing to protect her even at the cost of his life."
Bai Mu casually shook the water from his body.
"You… you were hiding in the spring the whole time?!"
Dugu Bo stared in horror, his voice trembling.
That place—even a Titled Douluo would die if they stayed inside for too long!
How could someone have hidden there for most of the day?
"Hahaha… I didn't want to interfere in your life-and-death struggle," Bai Mu laughed lightly. "Taking a soak in a hot spring should be fine, right?"
As he spoke, he reached out and took a treasure pouch from Little Soft's mouth.
"The Wishful Hundred Treasure Pouch?!"
Dugu Bo's pupils shrank. He frantically searched his body—and sure enough, the pouch containing Dugu Yan was gone.
"Senior Dugu, are you sure you still want to leave?"
Bai Mu released Dugu Yan from the pouch and gently wrapped his fingers around her neck.
"If you insist on leaving, then I'll have to take Yan Yan for a little 'paired bath' nearby. I wonder how many seconds her delicate skin can last in there?"
"You dare—! Cough, cough!"
Dugu Bo's eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
That was a natural wonder even he didn't dare to touch lightly. If Yan Yan were thrown in, she would die without a doubt!
"Do you really think I wouldn't?"
Bai Mu smiled faintly, tightening his grip and taking several steps toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Ugh… no… don't… go…"
Dugu Yan trembled violently, choking back sobs.
"You—!"
Dugu Bo's rage surged, and the injuries he had been suppressing finally exploded. Blood streamed from his seven orifices as he collapsed to the ground.
"What… what exactly do you want?!"
He spoke in despair.
His vitality was gone, his strength exhausted.
Even if Bai Mu spared him now, he wouldn't survive the day.
"It's simple."
Bai Mu casually set Dugu Yan down, took out several pieces of chain sticky cake, weighed them in his hand, and tossed them in front of Dugu Bo.
"Eat these first. Then hand over the Inner Alchemy Core you condensed when you broke through to Titled Douluo."
"In your dreams! I, Dugu Bo, would rather die than be threatened by you!"
Dugu Bo let out a final roar.
In his current state, once the alchemy core left his body, the toxins within would spiral out of control. In less than three minutes, he would dissolve into a pool of poisonous sludge.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"As expected of the Poison Douluo—such backbone."
Bai Mu remained unmoved. "Then you can watch your granddaughter die with your own eyes."
As he spoke, he grabbed Dugu Yan again, making as if to throw her into the spring.
"Wait!"
Dugu Bo shouted desperately. "I… I promise!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the last shred of the Poison Douluo's dignity—of the man who once terrified the continent—was completely shattered.
Trembling, he picked up every piece of chain sticky cake and swallowed them.
As a strange power surged through his body, the poisonous energy transformed into illusory chains that wrapped around his limbs and bones.
At the same time, he faintly established a connection with Bai Mu.
With a single thought, Bai Mu could influence his actions—or even control his body.
"This… what kind of poison is this…?"
"I see…"
Recalling how Yan Yan had urged him to leave alone earlier, Dugu Bo finally understood.
From beginning to end, the initiative had always been in Bai Mu's hands.
Even in the worst-case scenario—if he had actually killed Bai Mu—Bai Mu could still have dragged Yan Yan to her death before dying.
If he wanted Yan Yan to live, there had only ever been one path: submission.
"…Sigh."
Dugu Bo's spirit completely collapsed.
He opened his mouth and spat out the alchemy core that condensed the essence of his Poison Dao, tossing it toward Bai Mu.
Almost at the same moment, the toxins within his body erupted violently. His strength vanished, and he slumped to the ground.
"Good, good. That's more like it."
Bai Mu caught the alchemy core. With a thought, he summoned the excess Zygarde Cells within his body, completely enveloping it—
Zygarde Cell Sealing!
"Z2, help me sever the connection."
With that, Bai Mu casually tossed the alchemy core.
"No problem."
Zygarde guided life energy into the core, rapidly washing away Dugu Bo's imprint.
With no resistance remaining, the process was effortless.
In less than ten seconds, the alchemy core became ownerless.
"So beautiful."
Bai Mu retrieved the purified alchemy core and held it up to the sunlight.
It was emerald-green like jade, poisonous liquid swirling inside.
Who would believe that this small sphere contained nearly half the power of a Titled Douluo?
"I beg you… Master… please save my grand… father…"
Dugu Yan clutched Bai Mu's ankle, pleading.
"What's the rush? Can't you see I'm busy?"
Bai Mu casually kicked her aside.
He glanced over to see Dugu Bo's body rotting inch by inch, no longer breathing.
"What's the big deal? He's just about to die."
"He hasn't finished dying yet, has he?"
Growing impatient, Bai Mu swallowed the alchemy core in a single gulp.
My fate is in my own hands—not the heavens'!
A stream of heat flowed down his throat. Warmth surged within his dantian, spreading through his limbs and bones, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.
With the Inner Alchemy Core, whether it was spirit power cultivation, body refinement, or absorbing Immortal Herbs, his efficiency would rise to an entirely new level.
"Perfect. Feels amazing."
After successfully seizing a Titled Douluo's Inner Alchemy Core, Bai Mu felt better than ever.
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