Douluo Continent: From Internal Martial Arts to the Law of Heaven and Earth

Tang Shan explained the principle of how the soul bone condenses toxins to Dugu Bo, and also analyzed the pros and cons of the matter for him.

Upon hearing about the potential dangers of the toxins condensing in the soul bone, Dugu Bo was completely silenced. Tang Shan hadn't even mentioned that he hadn't discovered such a great danger.

"Then how do we address the root cause?"

Tang Shan cleared his throat: "The second method is very simple, which is to absorb a soul ring."

"What does absorbing a soul ring mean?"

Dugu Bo was somewhat puzzled, but he was not in a hurry. Tangshan's first symptomatic treatment strategy had already given him confidence in Tangshan, and at the same time, it added to his respect for the master.

Originally, although the master was famous, Dugu Bo did not take him seriously. So what if your theories are powerful? So what if you are a hidden peerless expert? What does it have to do with me? Only after receiving help from the master's disciple Tang Shan today did Dugu Bo realize how arrogant and ignorant he had been before.

"Let me ask you first, senior, what kind of spirit rings does your family usually absorb when breaking through?"

Tangshan did not immediately inform him, but instead asked Dugu Bo a question.

"Our Dugu family is famous for its poisons, so naturally we try our best to find soul beasts with poison attributes to absorb."

Dugu Bo answered as a matter of course, and the other party's answer was not unexpected by Tang Shan.

"Then your granddaughter needs to change this soul ring absorption mode and try to reduce or avoid touching poison-attribute soul rings in the future. This is why I said that her poison skills can only be partially retained."

"Then her cultivation and combat strength..."

Dugu Bo realized what he was saying halfway through his sentence and let out a long sigh.

"Sigh! I was greedy. I finally found a solution to the poison in Yan Yan's body, and now I want her to cultivate. I shouldn't have done that. As long as she is safe, I'm fine with her being an ordinary Soul Master for the rest of her life."

"Senior, are you perhaps mistaken? Changing the target of your spirit ring absorption does not mean that your granddaughter's talent will be weakened. She can develop in a completely different direction."

"how do I say this?"

Dugu Bo looked puzzled, while Xue Qinghe looked thoughtfully at Tang Shan.

"If a Beast Martial Soul wants to improve and develop, there are only two directions for improvement: either pursue a superior bloodline or maximize the attributes attached to the Beast Martial Soul. Your Dugu family made your fortune with poison, so you are obviously taking the second path."

Tang Shan didn't finish his sentence, but Dugu Bo clearly understood what Tang Shan meant: "You mean you want Yan Yan to pursue the path of dragon transformation?"

"It may not be a dragon transformation. You should know that snake bloodline is not necessarily weak. For example, Medusa is the king of snake soul beasts. Does she have even a trace of dragon bloodline in her body?"

Take, for example, the Mountain-Entangling Python. It has a huge body and a powerful devouring ability. If it weren't for the fact that it could only use its devouring ability once a day, it would probably be even more despised by soul beasts than the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. After all, its devouring conversion rate is almost 100%, and it also does not have dragon blood in its body.

Of course, I'm not saying the path to dragon transformation is bad. The main problem is that dragon-blooded spirit beasts are extremely rare. To allow one's spirit to continuously evolve, one must find spirit beasts with increasingly pure bloodlines and ever-growing ages. Senior Dugu, do you think this is easy?

"I understand. In any case, whether Yan Yan chooses the path of dragon transformation or the path of strengthening snake attributes, she should try to avoid absorbing poison attribute soul rings in the future, right?"

Tang Shan nodded: "Actually, I estimate that if you were willing to let your granddaughter be an ordinary Soul Master for the rest of her life, you should also be able to think of the second method. After all, you should also know that if you don't strengthen the poison attribute through Soul Rings, no matter how powerful the poison becomes with the increase of Soul Power, it will ultimately just be the venom of the Jade Scale Serpent, rather than the natal Soul Poison born after absorbing many poison-attribute Soul Beasts."

As Dugu Bo listened to Tang Shan's last words, he was somewhat dazed: Yes, was the solution I hadn't thought of, or was it that I didn't want to think about it? If I hadn't met Tang Shan, and had continued to be stubborn and cling to the Dugu family's heritage, trying to detoxify my granddaughter while simultaneously letting her absorb poison-attribute soul beasts, what difference would that make from personally driving her to her death?

"Thank you for your reminder, young friend. Yan Yan will be level 20 soon, and your method can be verified quickly. Regardless of the final outcome, I will remember this favor. If the problem still cannot be solved in the end..."

Dugu Bo was silent for a moment: "Then let her continue to be an ordinary person."

Clearly, Tang Shan's words not only convinced Dugu Bo of the second treatment method, but also made him decide to abandon the first way of solving the problem, which allowed him to continue practicing poison techniques. After all, Dugu Yan was his granddaughter and his only relative in the world.

Standing up, Dugu Bo bowed deeply to Tang Shan and Xue Qinghe. The two tried to avoid him, but Dugu Bo's soul power forcefully suppressed them.

"Thank you for your hospitality, young friend from Tangshan and Your Highness. I apologize for my previous rudeness. I will take my leave now, as there is no need to hide anything any longer."

When he stood up again, the gloom that had lingered between Dugu Bo's brows for many years had mostly dissipated, his previously tense shoulders and back were completely relaxed, and his long dark green hair swayed lightly with the movement of turning around, without any trace of the previous gloom.

His steps were light yet steady as he walked away, each step as if he had unloaded a heavy burden. The hem of his gray robe swayed gently with each step, revealing a touch of nonchalance.

"Senior, the toxins in your body..."

Tangshan quickly took a few steps, wanting to say something.

Dugu Bo didn't even turn his head. He simply raised his right hand and waved it gently, his tone resigned: "No rush. Let's solve my granddaughter's problem first. If we can't solve it, there's no point in me living alone in this world."

As they spoke, they arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, where Xue Qinghe and Tang Shan escorted them.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I apologize for any offense I may have caused today."

As he pushed open the gate, Dugu Bo stood ramrod straight, facing the astonished gazes of the soldiers, and once again bowed solemnly to Xue Qinghe.

This time, the bow was accompanied by a sincere expression of gratitude in his eyes.

As he straightened up, he raised his hand to gather his gray robe, completely shrouding his figure in the shadow of his garment, and then walked steadily into the distance, his back view resolute yet relaxed.

"Tangshan, what do you think he meant when he said 'some things don't need to be hidden anymore'?"

Xue Qinghe watched Dugu Bo's figure gradually disappear into the distance until it turned into a gray shadow and merged into the distance. His tone was filled with a sense of melancholy and complexity.

"It's likely that his poison was passed on to his son, who was also Dugu Yan's father. In a sense, he died indirectly at Dugu Yan's hands. Perhaps Dugu Yan was also poisoned."

However, today's gains were considerable. His public bow just now, in a sense, increased Your Highness's importance in Emperor Xueye's heart.

Watching the figure disappear completely from sight, Xue Qinghe slowly pursed his lips, his fingertips unconsciously clenching his sleeves.

The estrangement caused by Dugu Bo's previous rudeness has quietly dissipated after witnessing his transformation in letting go of his obsession and relieving himself of his burdens for his granddaughter.

She suddenly realized that this titled Douluo, famous for his poison, was essentially just an ordinary elder worried about his granddaughter, and that his affection was so intense that it made people overlook all his rough edges.

Thinking of this, her eyes suddenly dimmed, and the image of the woman sitting high on the papal throne involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

Despite being connected by blood, only a cold estrangement and an unspeakable distance remain between them.

P.S.: This is the last chapter for today. I'll update the rest tomorrow. I'm exhausted, but don't worry, my fans, I'll definitely make up for it with extra chapters. The next part involves joining the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and there will be some plot developments. Time acceleration should start later on.

Chapter 131 Golden Crocodile Douluo's Progress in Internal Martial Arts, a Conversation with Qian Daoliu

"Your Highness, snap out of it."

Tang Shan's voice roused Xue Qinghe from her chaotic thoughts, and her eyes returned to calm.

"Dugu Bo is not bad. At least that last bow made this morning's work worthwhile."

Tang Shan stretched, let out a long breath, and said.

What should I do next?

After calming down, Xue Qinghe sought Tang Shan's opinion.

"We should remain still. Your Highness currently holds the greatest advantage in the position of Crown Prince, so there is no need to rush."

"His Majesty will surely announce the Crown Prince in a few years at most. During this time, stability is of utmost importance. Unless there are other changes involving the Second and Third Princes that greatly affect His Highness, maintaining a low profile and remaining composed is the best course of action."

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

The two disappeared into the depths of the Prince's mansion, their shadows gradually merging in the sunlight.

"Hey, this little poisonous creature does have some sense."

Under the banyan tree, Golden Crocodile Douluo lifted the recliner with one hand, glanced in the direction of the Prince's Mansion, and turned to leave. As for Xue Qinghe's consultation with Tang Shan, he didn't care. In the end, the so-called Heavenly Dou "grand plan" was just a way for the old men of the Hall of Offerings to fulfill Xue Qinghe's wishes. They didn't really care about it. Whether it succeeded or not, it wasn't on their minds.

……

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, you have a good foundation. I estimate it won't be long before you reach the Ming Jin level."

In the training ground, the withered body of the Golden Crocodile Douluo burst forth with astonishing vitality. His limbs twisted and turned, like an ancient giant crocodile stirring up waves. Every swing of his arms and sinking of his waist carried the fierce momentum of a savage beast.

The dormant blood and qi within his body were suddenly mobilized, surging like magma. Rolling heat waves, carrying a faint golden-red halo, spread uncontrollably from within a three-foot radius around him, making the bluestone bricks on the ground slightly hot.

Today is the first day of teaching the Golden Crocodile Douluo Internal Martial Arts in Tangshan. Due to previous delays caused by trivial matters, this special training method has only just begun to get on track today.

As soon as he began teaching, Tang Shan discovered that although Golden Crocodile Douluo had never been exposed to internal martial arts, as a level 98 peak Douluo, his understanding of qi and blood cultivation had already reached a certain level.

Judging solely from his stance, Golden Crocodile Douluo's lower body is firmly rooted to the ground, and his body is coordinated and perfectly integrated. Tang Shan concluded that Golden Crocodile Douluo could directly strike.

Therefore, Tang Shan, taking into account the nearly ten-foot-tall, robust physique and limb proportions of the Golden Crocodile Douluo, and had him practice the original moves of the crocodile, such as pouncing, tail whipping, and biting, had a brand-new boxing style tailored to him formed in less than half an incense stick's time.

This may seem exaggerated, but it's actually quite reasonable: Tang Shan only created an introductory Ming Jin (明劲) boxing style, while he himself had already reached the Hua Jin (化劲) realm. Coupled with his fully developed mental abilities and the ability to tailor a training method to the physical characteristics of the Golden Crocodile Douluo, it wasn't particularly difficult. After all, Hua Jin is already a master level in internal martial arts, meaning his understanding of boxing principles, power, and human anatomy had already transcended conventional frameworks, forming his own unique style.

As for the methods to advance to the next level of internal strength and external strength, Tang Shan said, "The master leads you through the door, but the practice is up to you."

Indeed, this is true. After entering the realm of Ming Jin (manifested strength), internal martial arts are no longer about practicing techniques step by step, but about deeply understanding the essence of strength. Whether one can break through depends entirely on one's understanding and control of power.

This internal martial art is completely different from the self-created soul skills I previously comprehended!

Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly understood, and an excited expression appeared on his aged face. What he had seen before was just a fragmented skin, but today's version was the true complete version, which could fully integrate the fierce power of skin, flesh, tendons and bones, rather than the version he had only integrated a part of the power before.

His powerful qi and blood surged within him like a mighty river. With each move, the air around him seemed to ignite, and warmth spread from his limbs and bones to his internal organs, revitalizing his withered body. He had never felt so acutely that the once unattainable limit was now so close; nor had he ever imagined that the qi and blood within his body contained such immense power.

Previously, when Golden Crocodile Douluo saw that Ming Jin was somewhat similar to his own self-created soul skill, he even thought of skipping Ming Jin and cultivating it directly. Now, after experiencing it firsthand, he realized the difference: Ming Jin is a perfect integration of the power of the whole body, while his previous soul skill only mobilized the power of the torso and arms, lacking the power of the legs, and the integration was incomplete.

If one hasn't mastered the Ming Jin (明劲) technique, how can one advance to the next level?

A glint flashed in Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes, his body suddenly sank, and then, like a giant crocodile poised to pounce, he twisted violently, his right leg sweeping out like a steel whip! This strike did not use any soul power, but was purely physical strength driven by Ming Jin. Yet, the moment it was unleashed, the air was torn apart, producing a sharp "sizzling" sound. The sound barrier was broken silently by this kick!

The rolling air currents spread outwards like a circular shockwave, sending pebbles flying several meters away.

Tang Shan had already retreated ten feet away. Looking at the sweeping leg shadow, his expression couldn't help but twist: "Good heavens, other people's Ming Jin strikes create an air explosion, but you directly broke the sound barrier. The difference is too outrageous."

Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly retracted his right leg, the surging blood and qi within his body gradually calming down, but the exhilarating feeling of power still lingered in his limbs and bones. He subconsciously straightened his spine, and his originally slightly hunched body appeared much more upright, a childlike satisfied smile appearing on his wrinkled face.

"Such an increase in power from just the Ming Jin..." he muttered to himself. Even with his physical attributes, he would have needed to use most of his strength to unleash such power before, but now it was so easy.

With his gaze fixed on Tangshan, who stood with his arms crossed in the distance, Golden Crocodile Douluo had already made up his mind: it was time to send a message to the Grand Elder.

……

"Tang Shan, how much do you know about the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy?"

Xue Qinghe held a celadon teacup in his hand, his fingertips caressing the warm rim of the cup. After taking a small sip of tea, he looked up and asked.

The night was deep, and a bright moon hung in the dark blue sky, its clear light pouring down like water, sprinkling onto the bluestone slabs of the courtyard and casting dappled shadows of the trees.

The sky was filled with countless stars, like shattered diamonds embedded in the night sky. Their faint light intertwined to form a dazzling sea of ​​stars, which, together with the moonlight, bathed the entire courtyard in a tranquil and serene atmosphere.

Moonlight and starlight fell upon Xue Qinghe, her moon-white robes shimmering with a faint silver glow, her hair fluttering in the night breeze, her features as soft as a celestial being under the moon, adding a touch of hazy illusion.

"The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a top-tier Soul Master Academy directly under the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family," Tang Shan answered clearly, combining information from the original work with the news he had just learned. "The academy is located in the majestic mountains on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, covering an area of ​​thousands of acres."

The school boasts a strong faculty, with eight teachers at the Heavenly Dou level or above (level 60 and above). The highest decision-making body is a teaching committee composed of three Soul Douluos at level 80 or above: Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin. The honorary principal is Emperor Xue Ye himself. More importantly, the academy has created numerous simulated environments suitable for cultivating different martial souls; its resources are unparalleled in the Heavenly Dou Empire.

"More or less," Xue Qinghe nodded and added, "One more thing, the academy's daily affairs are mainly handled by my uncle, Prince Xue Xing. His attitude as the crown prince is unclear, so don't let your guard down after you enroll and try to avoid direct conflict with him."

"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured." Tang Shan nodded in agreement.

"Then you should get some rest too. I'll go with you to register tomorrow," Xue Qinghe said calmly.

"Your Highness, if you need anything, I can go by myself." Tang Shan said helplessly, feeling that Xue Qinghe's appearance was rather strange, like a parent taking their child to school.

"I'll take you there myself."

Xue Qinghe said firmly, "Ultimately, Tiandou Royal Academy is an aristocratic academy, full of people who rely on their family background and have no sense of right and wrong."