Chapter 47: Searching for Dugu Bo!
After materializing Fu Ze, a Rank 95 Titled Douluo, the first step of Fu Shiyan's plan could finally be put into motion.
Looking at Fu Ze standing before him, he gave a direct order, "Fu Ze, prepare yourself. In a few days, you need to go somewhere."
"Yes, Young Master."
Without asking for a single reason, Fu Ze simply bowed his head respectfully and accepted the command.
Fu Shiyan was very satisfied with his reaction. Not beating around the bush, he asked directly, "Are you familiar with the Sunset Forest?"
Fu Ze pondered for a moment and replied, "Replying to Young Master, when this subordinate obtained his seventh soul ring back then, the clan elders personally led me into the depths of the Sunset Forest to hunt for it. I still have some recollection of the terrain and soul beast distribution in the outer areas."
This memory was, of course, generated by the system during materialization based on the background Fu Shiyan had set: "a genius from a branch line of the Fu Family, nurtured by the family."
Fu Shiyan nodded. This aligned perfectly with the memories he had planned for Fu Ze.
"Very well."
He pondered for a moment before beginning to instruct him in detail. "I need you to go to the Sunset Forest to find someone, or rather, to find a special valley sealed off by a toxic barrier."
"A Titled Douluo should be living there. His name is Dugu Bo, his martial soul is the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, and he is known as the Poison Douluo."
He handed a slip of paper he had prepared long ago to Fu Ze. It didn't contain a specific address--after all, he didn't know the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well either. Instead, several lines of text were written on it:
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent poison corrodes the body and erodes the soul; at midnight, the pain pierces to the marrow of the bone."
"Your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, possesses decent talent, yet the hidden danger in her lineage has already manifested. Without eradicating it, it will be difficult for her to surpass the Rank of Soul Saint."
"A wondrous view in the medicinal garden, where ice and fire share the same source; wondrous herbs grow alongside, surrounded by lethal poison."
"Wasting Heaven's treasures, a bright pearl covered in dust, uselessly guarding a mountain of treasure only to sigh in vain."
"To the one holding this note: I can resolve the calamity of your generations, and you can fulfill my need to gather herbs."
"Three days from now, at the southeast entrance of the Sunset Forest, I shall quietly await."
Fu Shiyan explained, "Carry this note with you. Once you find that toxic barrier, there is no need to force your way in. Just find a way to let Dugu Bo see it."
"If he comes out, give this note to him and state clearly that it is a gift from me."
"If he has doubts, tell him that I know all about the poison affecting him, the hidden danger in his granddaughter's lineage, as well as the characteristics and mutually reinforcing or inhibiting principles of the immortal herbs in that medicinal garden, and that I have a way to solve them."
"Invite him to meet at the southeast entrance of the Sunset Forest three days from now to discuss the details."
"If you really cannot find that toxic place in the Sunset Forest, then go to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to inquire about Dugu Bo's residence."
He paused, then added, "Dugu Bo has an eccentric and solitary personality, but he is not unreasonable, especially when it concerns his own life and his granddaughter's future."
"Your trip this time is primarily for negotiation, supplemented by displaying your strength."
"If he is willing to talk, that would naturally be best."
"If he is unwilling, or even attacks--with your capabilities, dealing with him should pose no problem."
"Remember, try your best to avoid a life-or-death struggle. Our purpose is not to kill him, but to trade. If possible, it would be even better to take him into our service."
The reason Fu Shiyan was so confident was precisely because of the vast, almost boundless knowledge of herbalism and immortal herbs he had obtained from his last simulation and materialization.
In this regard, his current theoretical level was likely something even the Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who was obsessed with flowers and plants, and Yang Wudi, the Clan Leader of the Breaking Clan, might not match.
Resolving the backlash of the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison and optimizing Dugu Yan's path of cultivation were things he was absolutely certain about.
As for Dugu Bo's strength, he was currently only Rank 91, ranking at the very bottom among Titled Douluos, so he wouldn't be difficult to deal with.
But Fu Shiyan looked further ahead. Dugu Bo's potential and ability to use poison were actually severely underestimated.
In the future, he could completely fabricate appropriate memories or fortuitous opportunity settings onto other "Children of Destiny" to "insert" insights on poison utilization and poison cultivation evolution methods, and then materialize them through the system.
Thereby, he could reasonably raise the upper limit of Dugu Bo's strength, turning him into a truly fierce general under his command.
Fu Ze took the slip of paper with both hands and put it away carefully. He had no doubts about the Young Master's arrangements, only asking, "This subordinate understands. If that Dugu Bo asks about the Young Master's name and background, how should this subordinate reply?"
Fu Shiyan smiled slightly. "Just tell him my surname is Fu."
"As for my background--there is no need to say more for now. If he is curious, everything will become clear three days later."
"Yes! This subordinate accepts the command!" Fu Ze bowed and cupped his fists.
"Go on, be careful on the way."
"If there is an emergency, injecting soul power into that 'Blue Silver Seed' I gave you will activate it."
"I have placed a vegetation incarnation inside it. If Dugu Bo arrives on time three days later, you can just bring my vegetation incarnation to meet him."
Fu Shiyan waved his hand.
Fu Ze bowed respectfully once more. Without saying another word, his figure blurred, slipping out of the courtyard like a wisp of black smoke. Following a light tremor of his soul power, he soared into the sky, turning into an inconspicuous streak of light that sped toward the direction of the Sunset Forest, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Standing in the courtyard, Fu Shiyan gazed in the direction Fu Ze had left, his finger lightly tapping on the stone table.
"Dugu Bo... Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well... Immortal Herbs..."
He murmured to himself, an expectant look flashing in his eyes.
That treasured land was crucial to his subsequent plans. Not only could it accelerate Tang Tri's growth, but it could also lay the foundation for the supply of medicinal pills and resources for his future "faction."
And the negotiation with Dugu Bo would be the first step in establishing the "Beichen Fu Family" on the Douluo Continent.
"The first step is always the hardest. I hope this first step goes smoothly."
Over the next few days, the focus of Fu Shiyan's life shifted to teaching Tang San.
A quiet, secluded open clearing on the back mountain of Nuoding Academy became the training ground frequently used by the master and disciple.
"Little San."
Fu Shiyan pointed at a hard piece of granite the size of a washbasin on the ground. "I observed before that the way you circulate your meditation method is different from what is circulated in the market, but the state of emptying yourself and having a mind free of stray thoughts when you cultivate is extremely rare."
"When training your martial soul control, you can apply this same state."
Tang San listened intently, reflection in his eyes. "Does Teacher mean that in that state of quietude, I should focus my entire mind on the Blue Silver Grass martial soul, as if it were a part of my body, and use my intent to precisely manipulate it?"
"Exactly."
Fu Shiyan nodded approvingly. "A martial soul is an extension of a soul master's soul and power; it is not a dead object."
"Your first task is to use your intent under the state of quietude to control the Blue Silver Grass, wrapping it around this rock in front of you. Without using brute force to pull, rely on the continuous internal force generated by the vines constantly contracting and applying pressure until it is destroyed."
"Remember, it is control, not using a soul skill."
"This disciple understands."
Tang San took a deep breath, sat down cross-legged in front of the rock, and closed his eyes. The Mysterious Heaven Skill slowly circulated, and he quickly entered a state of quietude where he forgot both himself and the outside world.
Subsequently, the deep blue Blue Silver Grass extended from his palm. Like tentacles possessing independent life, it gently enveloped the rock, and then began to tighten slowly with a uniform and continuous force.
At first, the friction between the Blue Silver Grass and the rock made a faint rustling sound.
Tang San concentrated fully, perceiving every bit of force transmitted by the vines and the subtle stress changes in the rock, constantly adjusting the angle and rhythm of the tightening.
This process was not exceptionally difficult for Tang San, who possessed powerful mental strength and was accustomed to the precise control of hidden weapons.
Time slowly slipped away under this training method of Tang San's.
Two days later, accompanied by a dull cracking sound, that hard piece of granite finally split into several fissures under the continuous pressure of the Blue Silver Grass, ultimately shattering into several pieces.
"Teacher, I succeeded!"
Tang San opened his eyes. Looking at the shattered rock, joy appeared on his face.
He could clearly feel that the precision of his control over his martial soul had improved by a large margin.
"Passable."