Douluo Dao : Soul Archer: The Bow of Destiny

Dugu Bo exhaled slowly, feeling the pure, refined power coursing through his veins. The breakthrough had been unexpected, yet it solidified his strength as a Rank 94 Titled Douluo. The chaotic poison that once plagued his body had now transformed into a Poison Core, stabilizing his martial soul. He clenched his fists, marveling at the control he now had over his Jade Phosphor Serpent venom.

Turning to Feng Xuan, his expression was serious but filled with gratitude.

"Feng Xuan, I owe you a great debt. I never imagined my poison would become my greatest strength. You not only saved me, but you also helped me surpass my previous limits."

Feng Xuan simply nodded, his golden eyes calm. "It was necessary. Power without control is a double-edged sword. Now, your strength is no longer a burden but a true weapon."

Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "You're wise beyond your years." But soon, his face turned solemn. "Since you've cured me, I have one more request."

Feng Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Speak."

"It's my granddaughter, Dugu Yan."

Feng Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He had expected this.

"She doesn't know it yet," Dugu Bo continued, his voice tinged with guilt. "But she inherited my Jade Phosphor Serpent poison. Unlike me, she hasn't cultivated it properly, and as she gets stronger, it will start to erode her from the inside."

Feng Xuan crossed his arms, thinking. "Her body is still young, meaning the poison hasn't taken full control yet. If we act now, we can stabilize it before it becomes irreversible."

"Exactly," Dugu Bo said. "Can you do it?"

Feng Xuan nodded without hesitation. "Bring her to me."

Without wasting another moment, Dugu Bo activated his Serpent Blink and vanished.

Not long after, Dugu Bo returned, bringing a young woman with him.

Dugu Yan had long green hair tied in a high ponytail, and her emerald-green eyes carried a confident, slightly arrogant gleam. She wore the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy uniform, standing with a pride that came from being a top student.

She looked at Feng Xuan curiously, her gaze analyzing him.

"You're the one who helped my grandfather?" she asked, her tone skeptical.

Feng Xuan gave a small nod. "Yes. And now, I will help you too."

Dugu Yan frowned slightly. "Help me? With what?"

"You're poisoned," Feng Xuan said bluntly.

Dugu Yan blinked. "What?"

She turned to her grandfather, laughing nervously. "Grandpa, is this a joke? I'm not poisoned. I've always been fine!"

Dugu Bo sighed, his face heavy with regret. "Yan'er… it's true."

Her smile disappeared. "Grandpa?"

"I never told you," Dugu Bo admitted. "Because I didn't want you to worry. Your martial soul, the Jade Phosphor Serpent, carries an innate toxin that affects your body. The stronger you get, the worse it will become. You may not feel it now, but by the time you reach Spirit Sage, it will start eating away at you."

Dugu Yan's confidence wavered. She looked at her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. "But… I've always felt fine…"

Feng Xuan stepped forward. "That's because the poison is still manageable. But your cultivation isn't high enough to suppress it permanently. If we don't act now, by the time you reach a high rank, your body will start breaking down."

Dugu Yan bit her lip, processing the truth. She looked at her grandfather again. "And… he can really cure me?"

Dugu Bo nodded. "He cured me. My poison was much worse, and now, I've reached Rank 94 because of him."

For the first time, Dugu Yan showed real shock. Her grandfather had been stuck at Rank 91 for years. If this boy had really helped him break through…

She turned to Feng Xuan, her expression serious. Then, she suddenly bowed.

"Feng Xuan… you helped my grandfather. I am grateful to you."

Feng Xuan nodded, not particularly moved by words. "Stand up. Gratitude is best shown through action."

Dugu Yan stood, taking a deep breath. "What do I need to do?"

Feng Xuan didn't waste time. He reached into his storage ring, pulling out a few rare herbs he had gathered from the Yin-Yang Well.

"I can create an elixir using Vedic Alchemy to guide the poison within you," he explained. "But that alone won't be enough. Unlike your grandfather, you don't have enough raw power to refine the poison into a core. To fully stabilize your martial soul, you will need a Soul Bone."

Dugu Yan frowned. "A Soul Bone?"

Dugu Bo immediately understood and stroked his beard. "A soul bone that specializes in poison resistance or refinement… that's difficult to find."

"I know," Feng Xuan admitted. "But for now, my elixir will delay the poison's effects and allow you to cultivate safely."

He moved to a small alchemical furnace and began working.

Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo watched as Feng Xuan skillfully combined several precious herbs, guiding their essence with precise hand movements. Golden flames flickered around the furnace, Vedic inscriptions glowing faintly as they controlled the alchemical reaction.

After nearly an hour, a small emerald pill emerged, shimmering with a soft glow.

Feng Xuan held it up. "This will guide your poison and prevent it from harming you."

Dugu Yan hesitated for only a moment before taking the pill and swallowing it.

Almost instantly, her body trembled. A surge of cool energy spread through her veins, counteracting the latent poison that had always existed within her.

She gasped. "I… I feel lighter…"

Feng Xuan nodded. "The poison is still there, but it's under control now. You should be able to cultivate safely for the time being. However, we still need to find you a Soul Bone to make this permanent."

Dugu Bo, who had been watching in silence, finally spoke. "Feng Xuan… your abilities are beyond what I ever expected." He exhaled deeply. "If I had met you earlier, my life might have been completely different."

Feng Xuan smirked slightly. "You still have plenty of time left."

Dugu Bo let out a chuckle. "Perhaps."

Then, his face grew serious. "Since you've helped both me and my granddaughter, I can't simply treat you as an outsider."

He walked up to Feng Xuan and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"From today onward, I, Dugu Bo, recognize you as my grand son."

Feng Xuan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

Dugu Yan also looked up, shocked. "Grandpa, are you serious?"

"Of course," Dugu Bo said. "Strength isn't the only thing that makes a person great. Character does too. And this boy… no, this young man has shown enough heart and wisdom to earn my respect."

Dugu Yan turned to Feng Xuan and, after a moment, gave a small smile.

"If that's the case, then I'll acknowledge it too. From now on, you're my brother as well."

Feng Xuan remained silent for a moment before finally nodding.

"Alright. Then from now on, we are family."

A new bond had been forged—one that would change the fate of many.