Douluo: Emerald Poison Emperor

Half an hour later, when the dishes on the table were almost completely cold, Dugu Bo, who was sitting at the table holding his forehead, finally saw his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and Chen Ming arrive.

At this moment, Dugu Yan's face was glowing with a healthy flush, and her eyes were filled with a determination that had never been seen before. She had changed into a new outfit, and her entire demeanor was vastly different from usual as if she had undergone a transformation and matured.

As for Chen Ming, although his temperament hadn't changed much, he had also changed his clothes.

Seeing this scene, the weight in Dugu Bo's heart finally eased, though his thoughts immediately jumped to more questionable conclusions. In reality, Dugu Yan had cried in Chen Ming's arms for a long time, soaking not only her clothes but also his. However, Dugu Bo naturally assumed that sort of situation had occurred.

Looking at Chen Ming, Dugu Bo gritted his teeth, but in the end, he couldn't say anything. When Dugu Yan's gaze shifted to him, he quickly replaced his conflicted expression with one of kindness, as if he had spent his decades of cultivating soul power also mastering the art of changing his facial expressions.

"Grandpa, we're here," Dugu Yan said, greeting Dugu Bo while naturally pulling Chen Ming's arm and sitting down beside him.

"Grandpa, we're here," Chen Ming also greeted Dugu Bo before sitting down next to Dugu Yan.

The round table in front of Dugu Bo wasn't particularly small, but it was far from being considered small enough to feel cramped. It was large enough to seat seven or eight adults comfortably for a meal.

However, when Dugu Yan sat beside Chen Ming, pulling him along, it felt to Dugu Bo as if a thick barrier had been erected between him and his granddaughter.

On the other side of this barrier, a wild boar seemed to be leaning against his precious cabbage, flashing an arrogant grin at him.

"Come here, Xiao Ming," Dugu Bo said, calling Chen Ming over. "Sit by me. We have some things to discuss later."

Chen Ming instinctively looked at Dugu Yan, who nodded in response. Reluctantly, Chen Ming moved to sit next to Dugu Bo.

For some reason, Chen Ming felt that Dugu Bo's posture was unnaturally stiff. If it weren't for his rosy complexion and clear, coherent speech, Chen Ming might have suspected that Dugu Bo had been paralyzed by someone.

The dishes on the table were sumptuous, with an array of hot dishes, cold dishes, fruits, and pastries. However, because Chen Ming and Dugu Yan had taken some time to arrive, the food had cooled slightly, impacting the flavor.

After Chen Ming and Dugu Yan sat down, Dugu Bo dismissed the maids standing by, instructing them to close the doors and windows on their way out. In the spacious room, only the three of them remained.

"Eat, make yourself at home," Dugu Bo said to Chen Ming with a smile, signaling that he didn't need to be so reserved. As soon as Dugu Bo finished speaking, Dugu Yan, sitting on the other side, picked up a piece of rib from the table and passed it over.

"Yan Yan has grown up," Dugu Bo thought to himself, reaching for his plate to catch the rib. But to his dismay, Dugu Yan bypassed him entirely and placed the rib directly into Chen Ming's bowl.

"This rib is my favorite. Try it and see how it tastes," Dugu Yan said.

Hearing her words, Dugu Bo's heart nearly shattered. Mechanically, he continued to eat the rice in his bowl stiffly, as if the entire world around him had lost its color.

After some time, when Chen Ming and Dugu Yan had eaten their fill and started to slow down, Dugu Bo, who had been eating in a daze, finally invoked his soul power and called out to the maids outside.

A large group of maids entered the room, clearing away the remaining food and tidying up the table before leaving in an orderly fashion.

Dugu Yan patted her stomach, feeling slightly unsatisfied. However, upon seeing the serious expression on her grandfather's face, she decided against saying anything at that moment.

Once Dugu Bo was sure no outsiders were eavesdropping, he turned to Chen Ming with a grave expression.

"Xiao Ming, how is Yan Yan's condition? Can you treat her?"

"Grandpa, Yan Yan's condition isn't severe. If it's just detoxification, it's only a matter of time," Chen Ming replied. "However, there's one thing I must clarify. This matter concerns the origin of this highly toxic poison."

Dugu Bo nodded, as if suddenly recalling something.

"I remember you mentioned earlier that the poisons in our bodies are based on the Jade Phosphor Serpent as a foundation, formed by absorbing the essence of various poisonous soul beasts during the process of acquiring soul rings?"

"After thinking about it carefully, I do feel that the poison in our bodies has indeed grown stronger over time due to this. But I still don't understand—why is it that the poisons in our bodies have become uncontrollable?"

"I don't know and can't provide an answer. However, I do have some thoughts on how to control the poisons," Chen Ming said, shaking his head before moving on to the main point.

"The poisons in your bodies are extremely potent. If they can be controlled, it will result in a significant improvement in your strength. And as for how to control the poisons, I have some ideas."

Chen Ming dipped his finger in some water from a nearby teacup and began drawing on the table.

"The human body has three essential components: essence, energy, and spirit."

"This 'essence' refers to vitality, 'energy' represents soul power, and 'spirit' is the most mysterious—spiritual power."

"Essence, energy, and spirit are innate abilities that every living human being possesses."

"But soul masters are rare on the continent. According to your explanation, shouldn't ordinary people lack energy?" Dugu Bo asked in a deep voice.

"It's not that they don't have it; it's just difficult to detect," Chen Ming explained, waving his hand as he continued to draw on the table.

"Because of my family's unique situation, I've come to understand innate soul power."

"Our martial souls are like barrels filled with water, and soul power is akin to the water flowing through the barrel. Before the age of six, this barrel is gradually formed, and water begins to accumulate."

"In general, the higher the quality of the martial soul, the larger the capacity of the barrel."

"But the problem is, while the barrel may have a large capacity, the base of the barrel varies. The higher one's natural talent, the more complete the base of the barrel."

"For most commoners, their martial soul is like a small barrel with low capacity. What's more, the bases of these barrels often have holes, so any soul power that enters merely flows out. This is what we call having no soul power."

"A high-quality martial soul represents the size of the barrel, while nutrition before the age of six determines the speed at which water flows in. An individual's talent determines how intact the base of the barrel is."

"A barrel that's too small, even if the base is perfectly sealed, will still have a very limited capacity. On the other hand, a barrel with a base full of holes will leak no matter how large or fast the water flows.

"Even if you have a large barrel with a perfect base, if the water supply is insufficient, it won't be of much use."