132: Chapter 132: The Snow Empress's Seven Hundred Thousand Year Tribulation Arrives

"Uh..."

Dugu Bo was rendered speechless by the two, his old face flushing bright red. He suddenly recalled those unpleasant events from six years ago, and the humiliation of being forced to surrender control of the medicinal garden.

In his panic just now, he had subconsciously treated this place as his own private property, forgetting that the two fierce individuals before him were the true owners of this place now.

He coughed awkwardly twice, scrambled up from the ground, brushed some non-existent dust off his knees, and asked sheepishly:

"Then... what does the Young Master want this old man to do? As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse!"

Lu Jing looked at Dugu Bo, his gaze deepening as he slowly stated his conditions:

"It is very simple. Follow me and work for me."

"Follow you? Work for you?" Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo immediately frowned, his face showing clear hesitation and resistance.

He stood up straight, his tone returning to its previous low pitch, carrying a bit of the pride and stubbornness belonging to a Titled Douluo: "Young Master, it is not that this old man is unwilling. It is just that... this old man has been accustomed to a life of leisure, cannot bear being restrained, and has never thought of serving under someone else or taking orders. This..."

He did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: Make me your subordinate? Impossible.

Lu Jing was not at all surprised by Dugu Bo's reaction. His expression did not change in the slightest, and he simply asked back in a flat tone, almost like stating a fact:

"Senior, do you think that given your current situation—your cultivation is inferior to ours, your potential is long exhausted, and your only specialty is poison, which seems to have little use before us—could I be asking you for anything troublesome that requires you to serve me at all times?"

"..."

Dugu Bo was stunned by the question.

Lu Jing continued, his tone carrying a trace of faint mockery: "To put it plainly, what I value is your ability to use poison, and the fact that your status as a Titled Douluo might still be useful in certain situations. In normal times, you can do whatever you want and go wherever you want. As long as you do not become my enemy and do not leak my secrets, I cannot be bothered to manage you. Only when I need you, such as on certain specific occasions or when encountering certain special enemies, will I ask you to take action. Is this so hard to accept?"

Although Lu Jing's words were blunt and even somewhat hurtful, they hit the nail on the head regarding Dugu Bo's awkward situation.

His strength was indeed inferior to the other party, his potential had indeed reached its end, and his only poisonous techniques seemed pale and powerless before them.

The other party sought him out, perhaps really just to use him as a backup tool or a thug for special occasions, rather than a servant who needed to follow them at all times.

Thinking about it this way, it seemed... not entirely unacceptable?

It was still much better than dying from poison and implicating his granddaughter.

Dugu Bo quickly weighed the pros and cons in his heart.

The other party could see through the poison in his body at a glance, and even knew about the hereditary aspect; perhaps... they really had a way to save him.

And following the other party did not seem to require him to give up too much freedom, just to exert some effort at critical moments.

No matter how one looked at this deal, he was the one profiting.

After a long silence, Dugu Bo raised his head, looked into Lu Jing's deep, calm black eyes, and finally nodded heavily, saying in a deep voice: "Fine! This old man... will trust you once! As long as the Young Master can cure the poison in my granddaughter and me, from now on, this old man's life belongs to the Young Master! Whatever you command, this old man will not refuse!"

"Good."

Lu Jing nodded with satisfaction and said: "I already have a plan for the detoxification, but I need to prepare some things. You go back first, stabilize your granddaughter's condition, do not let her fight anyone in the near future, and do not use the origin power of her Spirit. When I am done with the things at hand, I will personally go to Heaven Dou City to find you and detoxify you."

"Thank you, Young Master!" Dugu Bo was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks, the heavy stone in his heart finally dropping halfway.

He did not dare to ask more, fearing he might displease the other party, and hurriedly said: "Then this old man will return to Heaven Dou City first and wait for the Young Master's good news!"

After speaking, he bowed to Wang Donger again, then turned and flickered a few times, disappearing into the dense forest, coming in a rush and leaving in a rush.

Only after Dugu Bo's aura had completely disappeared from their perception range did Wang Donger walk to Lu Jing's side, her stunning face carrying a trace of confusion as she asked softly:

"Lu Jing, is it necessary to go through so much trouble? We... don't seem to be lacking a combat force at the Titled Douluo level like him, right? Moreover, his poison has limited threat to us."

Lu Jing turned around, looked at the Snow Empress who was still calmly cultivating in the cold spring, then looked at the vibrant medicinal garden around them, and shook his head gently.

"Donger, you are right; we personally do not lack a Dugu Bo. But what we need to consider is not just ourselves."

His voice carried a foresight and calmness that transcended his age.

"Dugu Bo's strength might not be much among top experts, but his poison is an extremely special power. This kind of power, in specific situations—such as war, or when facing a large number of low-level enemies—can exert an effect far exceeding his own Titled Douluo cultivation. Large-scale, persistent, and difficult-to-prevent deadly poison is a major weapon on the battlefield, sufficient to turn the tide of regional battles, and even cause terrifying casualties and deterrence."

He looked at Wang Donger, his gaze deep: "We may not need it, but we cannot let him be used by potential enemies. Especially when we might face not just one or two top experts in the future, but organized armies or certain troubles that are difficult to deal with using conventional means. Killing him is certainly simple, but wasting this special talent is a pity. Releasing him is not safe; who knows if he will stand on the opposite side of us in the future because of other interests?"

"Therefore!"

Lu Jing concluded, his tone calm yet carrying the confidence of controlling everything, as he explained: "The best method is to keep him and hold him in our hands. Give him what he needs in exchange for his service and loyalty. When needed, he is a good poison blade. When not needed, it does no harm. How does that saying go? Utilizing waste is also saving resources. Moreover, Dugu Bo cannot be considered waste."

He paused, looked in the direction of Heaven Dou City, and his eyes became even more profound: "Don't forget, whether it is now or in that era ten thousand years later where we plan to bring back technology, unification has always been an unfinished project. On the continent, powers are divided, and conflicts are endless. Mastering one more power, having one more controllable variable, only has benefits and no disadvantages for our future plans."

Wang Donger listened quietly, the confusion in her eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by realization and deep thought.

She understood Lu Jing's intention. This was not just about subduing a Dugu Bo, but a far-sighted strategy, a more diversified and pragmatic understanding and application of power.

She nodded gently, indicating her understanding.

However, just as the two had finished their discussion about Dugu Bo and were preparing to continue guarding the Snow Empress—

"Hum!"

A sudden change occurred!

The milky white cold spring of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which had been calm, suddenly rippled violently!

Immediately after, an incomparably brilliant ice-blue aurora, as if it had condensed all the icy cold power in the World, shot up from the center of the cold spring without warning, piercing straight into the clouds!

This aurora was so dazzling, so pure, carrying a terrifying artistic conception that made all things freeze and time stop, instantly piercing through the clouds above the Sunset Forest!

The next moment, as if triggered by this ice-blue aurora, the originally clear and sunny sky suddenly changed color!

Endless lead-gray dark clouds gathered crazily from all directions at a speed visible to the naked eye, piling up layer upon layer, instantly covering the entire Sunset Forest and even a wider range of the sky!

"Rumble—!"

The deafening thunder, like billions of war drums beating in the depths of the clouds, rolled in, shaking the earth slightly!

Bolts of silver lightning, thick as dragons, crisscrossed and exploded crazily within the ink-black clouds, instantly illuminating the dim World in a pale white light!

A gale suddenly rose, sand and stones flew, and the ancient trees in the forest were blown about, emitting groans of being unable to bear the weight!

An indescribable, vast, majestic, and terrifying pressure, as if representing the will of heaven and earth, poured down from the nine heavens like a solid substance, firmly locking onto the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and locking onto the figure in the center of the cold spring who was absorbing endless icy power!

This sudden phenomenon of heaven and earth, this terrifying might that felt like the arrival of the apocalypse, caused the expressions of Lu Jing and Wang Donger, who were just discussing future plans, to change instantly!

"This is... a Heavenly Tribulation?! The Snow Empress's 700,000-year Heavenly Tribulation has been triggered early!"