Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

The Human-faced Demon Spider used all eight of its legs, while Cheng Xiao leisurely stepped on its head, sliding down the mountainside.

In just a blink of an eye, Cheng Xiao and the spider descended from the mountaintop into the valley. Once back on the ground, the Human-faced Demon Spider consciously returned to the shadows.

Gazing at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well before him, Cheng Xiao couldn't help but be slightly amazed. The hot spring wasn't particularly large, but it was divided into two distinct parts. In the oval-shaped pool, the spring water was divided into milky white and bright red sections.

What was even more extraordinary was that although both shared the same pool, they remained distinctly separate. They never mingled, each maintaining its own side. From Cheng Xiao's perspective, it looked like a giant yin-yang hotpot.

Surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were all kinds of plants, each displaying unique shapes and features, resembling a botanical paradise.

As Cheng Xiao approached, faint ripples appeared on the surface of the well.

The valley wasn't vast, but it was filled with a myriad of plants, and to Cheng Xiao's dismay, he couldn't recognize a single one.

This was somewhat awkward. The herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were incredibly valuable, but it was essential to know their names. Unfortunately, Cheng Xiao was at a loss.

However, this wasn't a big problem. He thought of bringing Chrysanthemum Douluo here, a flower enthusiast, who could easily identify the plants and explain their uses.

A glance around revealed various beautiful flowers competing for attention, their fruits abundant on their branches, many of them radiating different levels of luminescence. Just by observing, Cheng Xiao could tell these plants were anything but ordinary.

But none of that mattered. The most important thing was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, surrounded by these plants. The red and white sections resembled two giant jade stones embedded in the earth, and the air was thick with a rich life force that permeated the entire valley.

The abundant natural energy in the air stirred Cheng Xiao's heart. If he could cultivate here, wouldn't his progress be twice as fast? Just as Cheng Xiao was getting closer to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a shadowy green figure silently appeared behind him.

"Kid, if you take one more step, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Dugu Bo's cold eyes locked onto Cheng Xiao, like a venomous snake. He hadn't expected the boy, who had somehow resolved the Jade Phosphor Snake venom, to find this place so quickly. And by the looks of it, the venomous array hadn't harmed him much, which made Dugu Bo even more curious.

Hearing Dugu Bo's warning, Cheng Xiao halted. The shadow soldiers in his shadow stared intently at the green-clad elder, ready to rescue their king at any moment.

Though the shadow soldiers were no match for Dugu Bo in strength, their loyalty to Cheng Xiao was undeniable. They would charge at Dugu Bo without hesitation, for their existence depended on their king. Without him, there would be no shadow soldiers.

"Mr. Dugu, I thought you'd wait a bit longer," Cheng Xiao said with a smile as he turned around. He faced the tall, slender elder before him, whose hair and beard were white, and whose emerald-like eyes gleamed with emotionless indifference. His cheeks were sunken, and he wore a green robe.

"Are you implying that I was waiting for you to plunder my herb garden?" Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice cold.

"Mr. Dugu, don't be angry. I haven't touched a single plant yet," Cheng Xiao replied. Dugu Bo glanced at his intact herb garden and snorted. His personality was naturally solitary, and he acted solely based on his own whims. Even though Cheng Xiao hadn't taken anything, Dugu Bo still wasn't inclined to be friendly.

"Kid, let's set aside the fact that you've intruded into my herb garden. Can you tell me how you neutralized Yan Yan's Jade Phosphor Snake venom?" Dugu Bo's hands were behind his back, his eyes gleaming with a faint green light. A sinister aura began to emanate from him, and the powerful fluctuations of his soul force made the air feel like it was about to freeze.

Fortunately, Dugu Bo hadn't attacked Cheng Xiao directly, or else the soul force pressure from a Titled Douluo alone would have been more than enough for Cheng Xiao to handle.

"Mr. Dugu, I've heard that you're very interested in me, and I assume it's because of how I resolved the Jade Phosphor Snake venom, correct?" Cheng Xiao asked.

"That's right," Dugu Bo admitted. He wasn't one to hide the truth. If it weren't for Cheng Xiao curing Dugu Yan's venom, Dugu Bo wouldn't have paid attention to someone who hadn't even reached the fortieth level as a Soul Elder. His only interest in Cheng Xiao was to learn how he had neutralized the venom.

Hearing this, Cheng Xiao smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Dugu, I don't actually have the ability to cure the Jade Phosphor Snake venom. It's just that the venom has no effect on me."

"Are you toying with me?" Dugu Bo's expression darkened, and a vast wave of soul force pressure rushed towards Cheng Xiao, as if to teach him a lesson. While Dugu Bo wouldn't harm Cheng Xiao out of consideration for his friendship with Dugu Yan, he was more than happy to let the boy suffer a bit for his cheeky attitude.

However, just as the pressure was about to hit Cheng Xiao, a single sentence made Dugu Bo freeze in place, causing the soul force pressure to dissipate instantly.

"Mr. Dugu, if I'm not mistaken, your poison cultivation has been tormenting you severely, hasn't it?"

Cheng Xiao's calm words hit Dugu Bo like a thunderclap. He stared at the unflinching youth before him, visibly shaken. How did this boy know about the issues with his poison cultivation? His expression grew stern as he asked in a cold, raspy voice, "Kid, what nonsense are you spouting? I've spent my entire life mastering poison. How could it possibly backfire on me?"

Seeing Dugu Bo stubbornly denying the truth, Cheng Xiao didn't press the issue. Instead, he smiled and said, "Mr. Dugu, your poison is unparalleled, but unfortunately, it can kill both your enemies and yourself, as well as your descendants."

"Your interest in me stems from wanting to find a solution to the Jade Phosphor Snake venom and, in doing so, to discover a way to solve your own poisoning problem."

"But by the time you find a solution, I'm afraid Sister Yan Yan may no longer be alive."

At these words, Dugu Bo's face turned grim, his murderous intent nearly overflowing. He could accept living in agony from his own poison, but he could not allow his granddaughter to suffer. He knew Dugu Yan's condition well; the Jade Phosphor Snake venom had been building up inside her for over a decade. It had infiltrated her entire body, even her bones. Yet, after all these years, Dugu Bo still hadn't found a cure, which is why he had pinned his hopes on Cheng Xiao.

But now, it seemed he was running out of options. According to his estimates, if this continued, Dugu Yan wouldn't live past the age of thirty.

But could this boy be trusted? Dugu Bo didn't know. He didn't believe Cheng Xiao was acting out of selflessness. Still, he had no other choice. He could only hope for a miracle.

Staring at Cheng Xiao, his eyes glinting with a cold green light, Dugu Bo asked in a low, hoarse voice, "Boy, do you have a way to help me detoxify?"