Douluo: Emerald Poison Emperor

Title Douluo, even if they are not particularly skilled in physical strength, possess bodies of astonishing resilience thanks to the transformation brought by their nine soul rings and the amplification of their soul power. Furthermore, during this period, Dugu Bo's physical body had been significantly enhanced for various reasons, and the quality of his martial soul had also improved after detoxification. Although he still wasn't adept at melee combat, his physical body was no longer a weakness.

The massive Emerald Scorpion retreated several steps and cautiously watched Dugu Bo. Its soul power began surging uncontrollably, and a massive domain unfolded with the Emerald Scorpion at its center.

"Deathly Poison Realm!"

Under the influence of a martial soul fusion skill, most spirit abilities, including soul bone skills, cannot be used. However, this domain from the Netherworld Scorpion did not fall into the category of most abilities.

In addition to the Deathly Poison Realm, Chen Ming could still use one other skill—the Poison Explosion Technique, derived from the Emerald Scorpion. Since it originated from the Emerald Scorpion, he could use it even in his transformed Emerald Scorpion state.

However, although his external soul bone also originated from the Emerald Scorpion, the tail portion contained many elements of the Jade Phosphorus Serpent, making it impossible to use the soul bone skill in this state.

The domain, composed of the dual attributes of poison and death, expanded rapidly. The plants on the ground quickly lost their vitality, melting into pools of venom, with their soul power and life force assimilated into the domain as part of the deathly poison.

Fortunately, the two of them were outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The domain did not extend to the well; otherwise, the mere activation of the domain would have caused the loss of countless herbs, enough to make the wealth of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan seem insignificant.

The moment the domain enveloped him, even someone as powerful as Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo, showed a drastic change in expression. His previously relaxed demeanor disappeared entirely, replaced by a look of pure seriousness.

Within this domain, Dugu Bo felt his connection with external soul power completely severed. The soul power within his body began to be drained by the domain, and even his life force and mental energy showed signs of depletion.

Although the domain was filled with poison, Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo specializing in poison, could not make use of even a trace of it. The poison, infused with the attribute of death, continuously corroded Dugu Bo's protective soul power, leaving him no room for complacency.

"So this is the tyranny of a domain-type spirit skill." Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed, and the light of his third soul ring radiated from his body.

"Jade Phosphorus Violet Poison!"

The phantom of the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor appeared, and its translucent snake mouth spewed out deep violet poison.

This poison, originating from the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor, quickly spread around Dugu Bo under his control, attempting to resist the erosion of the Deathly Poison Realm. However, it was completely ineffective.

Even the poison Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo, prided himself on was gradually devoured by the Deathly Poison Realm. If it weren't for Dugu Bo's exceptionally deep reserves of soul power, the Jade Phosphorus Violet Poison wouldn't have even caused a ripple within the domain.

"Unite!"

Realizing it was futile, Dugu Bo decisively let out a low shout. The scattered Jade Phosphorus Violet Poison began to condense, eventually forming a massive purple python that coiled toward the Emerald Scorpion's body.

Facing the poisonous python, Chen Ming merely swatted it away like a fly with his massive pincers, completely shattering it. The highly corrosive poison, capable of melting even metal, didn't leave a single mark on his carapace.

Dugu Bo's heart sank. Something felt off, and he immediately activated his fifth soul ring to test again.

Although the poison from his ten-thousand-year soul ring was far more potent than that of his third soul ring, it still failed to make even the slightest impact on the Emerald Scorpion Emperor.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo's face darkened.

"High poison resistance? No, this is practically some rule-defying immunity to poison!"

Among Dugu Bo's nine spirit abilities, eight were poison-based, while the remaining one was a control skill. However, in his current state, Chen Ming and Dugu Yan's martial fusion was immune to poison, making them the most incompatible enemy for Dugu Bo.

In normal circumstances, Dugu Bo would never choose to fight someone like this unless he had lost his mind. But in front of his granddaughter and her fiancé, Dugu Bo simply couldn't allow himself to lose face.

"Dragon's Might!"

Dugu Bo activated the soul bone skill he had obtained from absorbing the torso bone of a ten-thousand-year Earth-Dragon. His previously frail-looking body expanded as if inflated, and his once-aged physique was instantly covered in rippling muscles.

Dragon's Might increased strength, defense, speed, and resistance to abnormal conditions by 100%—a pure melee-oriented skill. But that wasn't all. Dugu Bo also activated the Jade Phosphorus Heavenly Light Shield from his left leg bone, enveloping himself in a protective barrier that completely ignored the poisonous and deathly attributes of the outside world.

Taking advantage of the Emerald Scorpion Emperor's slower reaction speed, Dugu Bo rushed beneath it and delivered a vicious uppercut to its head. The physical collision caused by this punch, after years of avoiding melee combat, left Dugu Bo feeling exhilarated.

The punch was truly ferocious. The massive body of the Emerald Scorpion Emperor was sent flying in a dramatic arc.

It felt as if Chen Ming and Dugu Yan had been stuffed into a giant bell, which was then struck hard from the outside. The entire world seemed to hum and tremble in resonance.

After the head trauma, both Dugu Yan and Chen Ming experienced dizziness, and the flow of their soul power became intermittently disrupted.

It was their first time entering a martial soul fusion state, and they were completely unprepared to handle such issues. Before they could readjust, the massive Emerald Scorpion Emperor disintegrated mid-air.

Dugu Bo grabbed Dugu Yan with his left hand and Chen Ming with his right.

Thanks to the protection of Dugu Bo's soul power, neither of them suffered any serious harm. However, the interruption of the martial spirit fusion skill left their soul power and blood circulation in turmoil, causing significant discomfort.

Chen Ming took a deep breath to recover and jumped down from Dugu Bo's hand. Dugu Yan, supported by Dugu Bo, stood up and took a few deep breaths before finally regaining her composure.

"No more, no more! Grandpa, this is cheating. A Title Douluo fighting a Soul Elder, and even using soul bone skills—this is bullying!"

Dugu Yan clutched her head and complained to Dugu Bo.

"I… I'm the one bullying others? Grandpa's bad."

Dugu Bo wanted to retort, "You're both immune to poison! What else can this Poison Douluo do besides fight in melee?" But in the face of his beloved granddaughter, he could only raise his hands in surrender.

On the side, Chen Ming recovered his soul power while mentally noting a few exposed issues.

In the state of martial soul possession, the Emerald Scorpion Emperor did not affect his reaction speed. However, once in the martial soul fusion state, he transformed into a true Emerald Scorpion Emperor, and his reaction speed became a problem.

The reaction speed of arthropods is inherently slower than that of vertebrates. The larger the body size, the more pronounced this issue becomes. This structural limitation is difficult to overcome—a rare instance of Douluo Dalu adhering to scientific principles in such a peculiar way.

In the martial soul fusion state, he essentially became a real soul beast. While his other attributes were significantly enhanced, his reaction speed not only failed to improve but declined somewhat.

Second, the martial soul fusion state relied on the compatibility of both participants to sustain it.

For example, despite the damage they received being far from enough to force them out of the fusion state, their inability to maintain synchronization caused the fusion to disintegrate on its own.

This was another issue that needed to be carefully noted.

However, despite these issues, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. The martial spirit fusion state still represented a significant boost to Chen Ming's strength.

Although Dugu Bo's evaluation was that it was comparable to an average Soul Emperor, considering the domain and the Poison Explosion Technique that could still be used after transforming, Chen Ming and Dugu Yan might already be capable of challenging some Soul Sages.