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

Tang Shan's expression was somewhat strange—good heavens, how could Dugu Bo not be more proficient in using drugs than his granddaughter? In the end, before he left, he only told me to be wary of Dugu Yan.

Shaking his head to suppress his doubts, Tang Shan pushed open the door and walked out of the courtyard.

Golden Crocodile Douluo remained lounging on the recliner, his posture as languid as ever. He watched Tang Shan push open the door and leave, then couldn't help but click his tongue: "Hey, that kid's reaction is pretty slow. And Xiao Xue, she got taken advantage of but didn't say a word, tsk tsk..."

This was Tang Shan's first time visiting the Dugu Mansion. He had expected it to take some time to find, but to his surprise, he spotted it the moment he stepped into the area. The surrounding area was deserted, with only one house exuding a faint sense of human presence, which he assumed must be the Dugu Mansion.

Moreover, a luxurious carriage is parked in front of the mansion today, which clearly indicates that a guest has arrived.

As soon as they reached the gate of the mansion, the heavy doors swung open, and a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and bloodshot eyes strode out. His face was filled with barely concealed excitement, and he carefully held a small brocade bag in his hands, as if it were some rare treasure.

As the man left, he merely glanced at Tang Shan before boarding the carriage. His hoarse yet urgent voice echoed from inside: "Back to the Prince's Mansion! Quickly, I need to test the effects of this new medicine immediately!"

Tang Shan watched the carriage disappear into the distance. The person's withered and emaciated appearance seemed strangely familiar to him, but no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't recall any person in his memory who matched it.

He didn't dwell on it any longer; the most important thing right now was to get the immortal herb, and all other trivial matters could be put aside for the time being.

Gripping the cold brass ring on the gate, Tang Shan raised his hand and knocked lightly. The crisp "ping-ping" sound echoed through the quiet alley. ...

"That old man's eyes are disgusting. Grandpa, should we teach him a lesson?"

The girl's voice carried obvious disgust. Her long, emerald-green hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, the ends swaying gently with her voice, shimmering with a faint, lustrous sheen. She wore a short, moon-white outfit paired with tight-fitting black trousers; the clean lines perfectly accentuated her slender yet supple figure, highlighting her slim waist and long legs.

Her oval face was as white as snow, but her eyes were an extremely vibrant purple, with slightly upturned corners, naturally carrying a hint of allure. Yet, at this moment, they were filled with frost, brimming with disgust for someone.

Dugu Bo's face was equally gloomy, and his originally emerald green pupils had shrunk to vertical pupils at some point. A cold light and intense killing intent intertwined and surged in his eyes.

“Prince Xuexin won’t live much longer,” he said in a deep voice. “The dosage of the depleting drug he’s been using has been increasing, and his body has long since given way. I was thinking of reminding him out of our past relationship, but he dared to harbor such lewd thoughts towards you. Let him fend for himself. Heaven’s sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are unforgivable!”

Dugu Bo never expected that Prince Xuexin, relying on the life-saving grace from years ago, would become increasingly audacious. With the corrosive effects of the depleting essence and spirit powder, the man's mind had long since become clouded. Today, when he came to the manor to collect the medicine, he brazenly stared at Yanyan with such unbridled eyes; the greed and filth in his gaze almost made Dugu Bo lose control of his murderous intent. If it weren't for the past favor, Dugu Bo would likely have immediately attacked and sent this arrogant prince to his death.

He should take a good look at himself. He's almost at his last gasp, yet he still dares to covet Dugu Bo's granddaughter. It's utterly ridiculous!

Out of gratitude, he couldn't directly intervene, but he would never again advise Prince Xuexin to be cautious with the medicine. Not only did he not advise her, this time he even had his granddaughter increase the dosage when concocting the medicine—you crave that momentary pleasure, don't you? Then I'll grant your wish, double the dosage, and increase the effect tenfold. But don't blame him for being ruthless about the price behind it.

When Dugu Yan heard about Prince Xuexin's fate, the disgust in her eyes subsided slightly.

Just then, the crisp sound of a brass ring banging on the door came again from outside.

Dugu Bo's face darkened, and a hint of hostility flashed through his mind: Could it be that Prince Xuexin has returned?

Dugu Yan, who was standing to the side, seemed to suddenly remember something, and a faint smile suddenly appeared on her icy face: "Grandpa, it should be Tang Shan who has arrived."

Dugu Bo was taken aback. He immediately released his spiritual power to scan the doorway and indeed sensed Tang Shan's presence. He was about to tell his granddaughter to greet the guest when he glanced around and found that Dugu Yan was no longer by his side.

"You've arrived."

Dugu Yan's voice came first from inside the door, carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

Tang Shan nodded in agreement and followed her into the Dugu residence. This was his first time stepping into this place, and he couldn't help but look around, his heart filled with curiosity.

"This is the poison house, the place my grandfather used to raise poisonous creatures. It mainly contains snakes, but there are also some centipedes, scorpions, toads, and spiders." Dugu Yan walked ahead and took the initiative to introduce the layout of the mansion to Tang Shan.

"Are they all spirit beasts kept inside?" Tang Shan asked curiously.

"I suppose so." Dugu Yan slowed her pace and explained, "The cost of raising high-level soul beasts for a long time is too high. Although my grandfather is a retainer of the Heaven Dou Empire, he has always focused on deterrence and rarely takes action. The manor's financial and material resources simply cannot support the consumption of a large number of soul beasts. Therefore, most of the poisonous creatures in the Poison House are low-level soul beasts that are less than ten years old or have just broken through to ten years old. There are only two Five Poison Snakes among the hundred-year-old soul beasts, and one of each of the other poisonous creatures."

Led by Dugu Yan, Tang Shan glanced briefly at the interior of the poison house before following her into the mansion.

"This is the alchemy hall. My grandfather and I usually refine medicines and make poisons here."

As she approached a quaint wooden house, Dugu Yan stopped. When she mentioned the alchemy hall, her brows furrowed involuntarily, and a clear displeasure flashed in her purple eyes.

Tang Shan, being perceptive, immediately noticed her change in mood and casually asked, "What's wrong? You don't seem to like it here?"

“It’s not that I don’t like it here.” Dugu Yan shook her head gently, her emerald hair swaying as it brushed against her shoulder. “It’s just that the person who was making medicine for someone here just now was really disgusting.”

"Oh? Who could make you so disgusted?" Tang Shan became interested and couldn't help but think of the middle-aged man with weak blood and a withered face that he had just met at the door.

"It is Prince Xuexin."

Before Dugu Yan could finish speaking, an old voice came from behind her.

Tang Shan turned around and saw Dugu Bo walking slowly towards him, wearing that unchanging gray robe.

"Greetings, Your Majesty Dugu." Tang Shan quickly composed himself and bowed respectfully.

Dugu Bowei stepped aside to avoid his bow, and waved his hand, saying, "Young man, you have done me and Yanyan a great favor, there is no need for such formality."

Tang Shan smiled but didn't say much. Before his strength was sufficient, it was always better to be cautious. A little extra courtesy might prevent him from getting into trouble. Gou Dao was serious about this.

Dugu Bo walked to the two of them, his gaze sweeping over Tang Shan and Dugu Yan meaningfully. Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed slightly under her grandfather's gaze, and she subconsciously turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes. Tang Shan, on the other hand, met Dugu Bo's gaze openly, his eyes filled with curiosity, clearly very concerned about the matter of Prince Xuexin that had just been mentioned.

"Let's talk inside." Dugu Bo withdrew his gaze and gestured towards the living room.

Tang Shan immediately followed, and Dugu Yan, seeing that her grandfather didn't say anything more, secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed after him.

Although the Dugu Mansion is named "Mansion," it does not occupy a large area, presumably because the Dugu family is small.

Upon entering the living room, Tang Shan and Dugu Bo sat facing each other, while Dugu Yan very sensibly turned around to make tea.

Seeing his granddaughter take out the tea from the cabinet, Dugu Bo couldn't help but twitch his lips. That was a refreshing tea that he had painstakingly found at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, a rare and precious treasure. Long-term consumption could not only stabilize emotions but also subtly enhance mental strength. He himself was usually reluctant to drink much of it, but as soon as Tang Shan came, his granddaughter took it out to entertain him without hesitation. It's true that daughters grow up and leave home.

Taking a deep breath, Dugu Bo forcibly suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and refocused his attention on Tang Shan.

Prince Xuexin's days are numbered, and the forces behind him are destined to crumble when he falls. The Dugu family must find a new patron as soon as possible.

With his strength as a Title Douluo, he shouldn't have needed to be so wary, but he has Yan Yan as his weakness. As long as his granddaughter is around, he is destined to have something to worry about. Moreover, he is the only Title Douluo in the Heaven Dou Empire. Unless he leaves for distant lands, he will inevitably be drawn into the vortex of the struggle for the throne sooner or later.

Rather than wavering between various factions, it's better to bet on the future crown prince as soon as possible. With Xue Qinghe's current strength and influence, coupled with Emperor Xue Ye's high regard, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the future throne is surely his.

Dugu Bo saw Tang Shan's talent and potential. He believed that this young man would surely grow into a powerful figure who would dominate the world. Befriending him would be entirely beneficial to the Dugu family.

A silence fell over the living room. Tang Shan, seeing that Dugu Bo hadn't spoken for a long time, broke the silence and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Dugu, what about the Princess Xuexin you mentioned earlier?"

He hadn't forgotten that in the original story, Prince Xuexin was one of the key figures who caused Xue Qinghe's plan to fail. Although he was now mediating between them, it was always wise to be cautious and to learn more about others.

“Prince Xuexin? He’s not far from death.” Dugu Bo spoke slowly, and Tang Shan was stunned by his words.

Now that things had come to this, Dugu Bo had nothing left to hide, so he told the whole story about Prince Xuexin's addiction to the depleting drug, the increasing dosage, and his ulterior motives towards Dugu Yan today.

Finally, he added, "Years ago, this old guy came to me, wanting me to get rid of you, but I refused."

Hearing that someone had tried to harm him, Tang Shan wasn't surprised. The Douluo Continent was a world where strength reigned supreme; geniuses were always targets for various powers, whether to recruit or eliminate them. If it weren't for his apparent backing by Xue Qinghe, which averted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Heaven Dou Empire's suspicions, his goodwill with Yu Tianheng, which prevented the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan from targeting him, and his covert allegiance to Qian Renxue, thus neutralizing the threat from the Spirit Hall, he would likely have faced countless assassination attempts long ago.

In the original novel, Tang San was assassinated by Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo on his way to Wuhun City, but the matter was eventually dropped. This shows that assassinating geniuses has long been an unspoken rule among major powers.

His ability to grow steadily to where he is today is ultimately due to his reliance on Xue Qinghe. Without Xue Qinghe's protection and support, even with his solid theoretical knowledge, he could never have improved his strength so smoothly.

P.S.: Thanks to Gu Yuena_ for the donation. Currently, I have 464 monthly votes. Please continue to support me, and I'll try to get an extra chapter tomorrow when I reach 500 monthly votes. Also, to avoid affecting audiobook listeners, there won't be any more P.S.s at the end of the chapters except for the first chapter updated daily.

Chapter 178 Dugu Bo's defection, heading to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well

It was Tang Shan's good fortune that he was never targeted for assassination; it was Dugu Bo's good fortune that he did not agree to Prince Xuexin's request.

At that time, Serpent Spear Douluo was working as a dormitory supervisor at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Golden Crocodile Douluo spent his days sunbathing at the Crown Prince's residence. Tang Shan really couldn't guarantee what would have happened if Dugu Bo had barged in back then.

"Tangshan, I want you to tell the Crown Prince that the Dugu family is willing to support him."

After briefly explaining that Prince Xuexin had been taking poison for a long time and was nearing death, Dugu Bo said very decisively.

Although he didn't expect Dugu Bo to be so direct, Tang Shan readily agreed: "Senior Dugu, rest assured, I will definitely convey your message to His Highness."

At this moment, Dugu Yan, who was fiddling with a tea set at the table beside her, saw that the two had finished talking and gently picked up the warm teapot and walked over. She placed the three jade cups steadily on the stone table, and then tilted her wrist slightly, and the clear tea water fell into the cups along the arc. The tea soup was clear, and a faint fragrance of orchids instantly filled the room.

"Thank you, Yan Yan."

Tang Shan thanked him. Dugu Bo's lips twitched; he was clearly very dissatisfied with Tang Shan's form of address. However, his granddaughter merely glanced at him indifferently, showing no displeasure whatsoever, so he could only reluctantly let it go.

After pouring the tea, Dugu Yan did not leave. Instead, she moved a low stool and sat down next to Dugu Bo, resting her elbows on the table and her chin on her hand, clearly intending to listen carefully to their conversation.

After discussing Prince Xuexin's matter, Dugu Bo went straight to the point, taking out a thick booklet from his soul tool and handing it to Tang Shan: "This is a collection of herbal medicine information passed down in our family, along with my observations of that herb garden over the years and my judgments on some of the herbs. Take a look and see if there's anything you like. If not, you can take all the herbs, just leave me some roots to grow. But I must warn you, there are many herbs in here that I don't recognize, and their effects are even more unclear. If you use them indiscriminately, it could very likely cause irreparable damage to your body."

Tang Shan took the booklet from Dugu Bo, ran his fingertips over the cover, and began to carefully read through it.

Compared to the detailed information on immortal herbs from the Yang family, a clan suspected of being one of the broken ones, the records of the Dugu family are much more concise. In addition, since the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was discovered by Dugu Bo by chance, the vast majority of the contents of the booklet are his experience in using it over the years.

Bitter Heart Grass: After taking it, the symptoms resemble poisoning, with a feeling of heart being torn apart. In reality, it tempers the internal organs and can greatly enhance the circulation of qi and blood.

Hundred-Eye Flower: Contains trace amounts of hallucinogenic toxins, which can cause temporary hallucinations. After the toxins dissipate, it can clear the liver, improve eyesight, and nourish the eye orifices.

After flipping through most of it, all that was recorded were relatively ordinary natural treasures, with not a single word about immortal herbs.

After quickly flipping through the booklet, Tang Shan closed it and looked up at Dugu Bo: "Senior, when do we set off?"

Dugu Bo was slightly surprised, not expecting Tang Shan to have figured it out so quickly, but he didn't delve into it: "Anytime is fine."

"Let's do it now," Tang Shan suggested immediately.

"Grandpa, can I come along too?"

Dugu Yan raised her head, her eyes full of anticipation. She had long been curious about her grandfather's mysterious medicinal herb garden.

"No way." Dugu Bo refused without hesitation, his tone resolute. "There are all sorts of deadly poisons hidden inside. The toxins in your body have only just been suppressed. If you go there and trigger any hidden dangers, it's no laughing matter."

The expectation on Dugu Yan's face vanished instantly. She pouted and didn't insist anymore. She knew that her grandfather was only doing it for her own good.

"Don't worry, Grandpa will be back soon."

Seeing his granddaughter's aggrieved look, Dugu Bo's voice softened a little, and then he turned to look at Tang Shan: "Then let's set off now."

Tang Shan nodded in agreement.

With a wave of his sleeve, Dugu Bo enveloped Tang Shan with a powerful yet gentle soul force. Then, soul force surged beneath his feet, and he soared into the air, speeding towards the outside of Tian Dou City.

……

Sunset Forest is located a hundred miles away from Tiandou City. From a distance, the entire forest looks like a piece of land covered with green silk. Although the layered trees are not as dense and impenetrable as Star Dou Forest, they are still lush and green.

The spirit beasts in this forest are not particularly strong, mostly those with a thousand-year cultivation level. Ten-thousand-year spirit beasts are extremely rare, and hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts have completely disappeared from this place.

After Dugu Bo led Tang Shan into the Sunset Forest, he deliberately lowered the flight altitude, keeping them only a few feet above the ground. This was clearly to avoid disturbing the high-age flying soul beasts that inhabited the high sky and causing trouble.

The two moved extremely fast, and soon they were deep in the heart of the forest. Suddenly, the view opened up, and a basin surrounded by mountains appeared in the distance.

Above the valley in the center of the basin, a thick layer of colorful miasma lingers, with red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple colors intertwined and slowly surging like flowing clouds, dreamlike and illusory, at first glance, it looks like a fairyland on earth.

Tang Shan knew perfectly well that this seemingly dazzling and beautiful seven-colored miasma was actually the most poisonous substance in the world. Beneath its vibrant colors lay a corrosive toxin powerful enough to tear through any soul-force defense; inhaling even a trace of it would instantly cause the poison to attack the heart and lead to a violent death.

Along the edge of the valley, the ground was covered with blooming Emerald Scale Seven-Colored Flowers, their bowl-sized petals a vibrant emerald green. Wisps of seven-colored poisonous gas seeped from the veins of the petals, rising slowly and eventually coalescing into the perpetual miasma cloud overhead.

Dugu Bo, who was with Tangshan, ignored this and plunged straight into the seven-colored miasma.

The seven-colored clouds surged up instantly, wrapping around the two like living things. The intensely corrosive toxin landed on the soul power shield set up by Dugu Bo, making a soft "sizzling" sound, but the surface of the shield did not even ripple.

Dugu Bo remained calm, his soul power propelling him forward as he plunged into the depths of the valley without pause. What a joke! When it comes to using poison, who in the entire Douluo Continent can compare to him, the Poison Douluo?

Passing through layers of multicolored miasma, the scene before my eyes suddenly changed, revealing an exquisitely wondrous sight—