Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, Ning Bei had been enrolled for half a year.
During these past six months, Ning Bei did not slack off. His cultivation reached level 26. Of course, if anyone asked about his spirit power, Ning Bei only said he was level 23 spirit power. Anyway, during Spirit Duels, he only needed to release two Beast Spirits, so there was no risk of exposure.
Ever since Yu Tianheng obtained his second spirit ring two months ago, he had started challenging Ning Bei again. However, every time he faced Ning Bei's two Beast Spirits, he would get beaten black and blue.
He, however, enjoyed it immensely, because in battles with Spirit Beasts, his combat skills had made significant progress.
On this day, Dugu Yan also asked her teacher for leave to go back and find Poison Douluo to take her hunting for her second spirit ring.
In fact, Ning Bei's Dan Tower contained snake-type Spirit Beasts suitable for Dugu Yan's second spirit ring, but releasing them openly would be difficult to explain.
During this time, he had already become very familiar with Dugu Yan. The two often exchanged experiences on poisoning. Ning Bei obtained a lot of venom from his snake-type Beast Spirit. The antidote pills also had a restraining effect on these toxins. Ning Bei took out an antidote pill and said that he had prepared the antidote himself based on venom, which was quite shameless, to say the least.
But this successfully piqued Dugu Yan's interest.
Slowly, Ning Bei also led the conversation to the issue of poison-type Beast Spirit Masters retaining toxins in their bodies during the Spirit Possession process.
However, Dugu Yan didn't pay attention at the time. Dugu Bo probably hadn't told her the seriousness of the matter, probably not wanting her to live in fear at such a young age.
Three days later, Dugu Yan successfully acquired her second spirit ring and returned to the academy.
Arriving at the classroom in the morning, Ning Bei saw Dugu Yan, who was already there, and skillfully started chatting her up.
"How is it, Yanzi? Is your second Spirit Ability good to use?"
But Dugu Yan's expression was a bit off. She looked at Ning Bei beside her and said weakly:
"It's alright. The second spirit ring was hunted from a 700-year-old Purple Scale Rattlesnake, further enhancing the power of my snake venom."
Ning Bei looked at the dejected Dugu Yan and had some guesses in his heart.
"Isn't that great? Most of your strength relies on poison. By strengthening your poison, your strength will also increase significantly. Why do you seem unhappy?"
Dugu Yan became even sadder upon hearing this, and tears even welled up in her eyes.
"What's the point of getting stronger? You were right. The stronger the toxins of our family's inherited Jade Annihilation Snake Spirit, the stronger the backlash on the Spirit Master. My father died early because he couldn't suppress the snake venom."
"My grandpa told me this when we went hunting for a spirit ring this time."
Ning Bei glanced at Dugu Yan's pupils. Their color indeed seemed to have become greener, suggesting that the Spirit's toxins had already begun to affect her body.
However, Ning Bei felt an unethical joy in his heart. His half-year plan finally had an entry point, but he still couldn't appear too eager.
"Isn't your grandpa a Titled Douluo who uses poison? Can't even he solve your snake venom?"
Dugu Yan didn't see through Ning Bei's scheme and thought he was concerned about her. She shook her head dejectedly.
"There's no way. If it could be solved, my father wouldn't have died from the toxin backlash."
"This..."
Ning Bei tried hard to put on a sad expression and comforted Dugu Yan.
"It's alright. I'll go back and ask my father and grandpas another day. Maybe they'll have a solution."
A trace of emotion appeared in Dugu Yan's eyes, but she didn't think the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would have a way to solve the toxins.
"Thank you, but there's no need to trouble them. This might just be my fate."
Ning Bei looked at the self-abandoning girl in front of him and felt a burst of amusement.
"Then isn't Senior Dugu's Spirit also the Jade Annihilation Snake? How did he overcome the snake venom backlash?"
Dugu Yan thought for a moment and replied:
"Grandpa said that his toxins also erupt periodically, but he can suppress them by relying on his powerful cultivation and the magic of our family's medicine garden."
"Here it comes," Ning Bei thought to himself, then calmly asked, "What medicine garden? Can't you use it?"
Dugu Yan shook her head.
"That's a spring where ice and fire intertwine, but Grandpa said that sometimes even he finds the aura of that spring difficult to bear, let alone me, a mere Spirit Grandmaster, being able to approach it."
Ning Bei thought for a moment and decided to lay his cards on the table directly.
"There's no need to wait for me to go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to inquire. I think I might have a few methods."
Dugu Yan immediately looked at Ning Bei with surprise.
"Really?"
"Can I meet Senior Dugu? I think he, an elder, will be able to determine whether my methods are effective."
Dugu Yan thought for a moment, agreed to Ning Bei's request, and decided to take Ning Bei to find Dugu Bo after class today.
The remaining class time was torturous for Dugu Yan. The thought that there might be a solution to the toxins in her body made her heart burn with excitement, but then the thought that Ning Bei was just a Spirit Grandmaster and his methods might not be useful made her feel a bit uneasy.
But she had to try. If there was a way, who would be willing to wait for death?
Finally, the homeroom teacher on the stage announced the end of class, and the time for self-cultivation began.
Upon hearing the dismissal, Dugu Yan immediately grabbed Ning Bei's hand and, amidst everyone's ambiguous gazes, rushed out of the classroom, making Ning Bei feel a burst of awkwardness.
Several hours later, the two arrived at a small town near the Sunset Forest.
After entering the town, they arrived in front of a small house. Dugu Yan pushed the door open and walked straight in, then waved to Ning Bei. Ning Bei saw this and followed her inside.
"Grandpa, I'm back."
An old man dressed in deep green appeared before them. The old man had even greener eyes than Dugu Yan, and his hair was gray.
"Yan Yan, isn't today a holiday? Also, who is this?"
The old man was indeed Dugu Bo. There was doting in his eyes as he looked at Dugu Yan, then he looked at them in confusion about their purpose.
"Grandpa, this is my classmate, Ning Bei. He said he has a way to solve the toxins in my body."
Upon hearing his granddaughter's words, Dugu Bo's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his entire aura pressed down on Ning Bei, who was beside Dugu Yan.
"Kid, speak. What is your purpose in approaching Yan Yan?"
The violent aura directly pressed Ning Bei into a crouch, and he cursed inwardly.
"Damn it, this old guy really doesn't have any martial ethics. He just attacks without warning."
Dugu Yan became anxious when she saw her grandpa's actions.
"Grandpa, no! This is my friend. He came with me because he's worried about me. If you dare to hurt him, I'll never talk to you again!"
Hearing Dugu Yan's words, a trace of helplessness flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. He shook his head and retracted his aura.
"Speak, what is your purpose? If this old man finds out you have ill intentions, even if Yan Yan resents me, I will make your life worse than death."
Ning Bei, whose entire body relaxed, let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and cupped his hands to Dugu Bo.
"Senior Dugu, this junior indeed came to see you because I was worried about Yanzi's Spirit toxins."