The Bilin Five Poisons were indeed terrifying, but in this era, there were still powerful experts in poison cultivation.
The Sect Master of the Body Sect, Du Bushi, was one such fearsome poison cultivator. His deadly innate poison was hidden within his skin, and perhaps he would be capable of helping Dugu Xianmeng with her condition.
Although her Bilin Snake martial soul had an innate toxicity that constantly corroded her body, with the right method, there was still a possibility it could be resolved.
Zhou Sichen thought to himself, Perhaps I'll need to make a trip to the Body Sect soon.
Right now, it was a bit unrealistic for him to go out of his way for Dugu Xianmeng. After all, Zhou Sichen was a practical person.
But this girl had taken the initiative to stick close to him. If he truly accepted her and confirmed she was one of his people—someone who could help him in the future—then he naturally wouldn't hesitate.
Of course, the Body Sect wasn't the only solution. Even Du Bushi might not have a cure.
Zhou Sichen had a second plan in mind—locating the Icefire Yin Yang Well. With the heaven-defying herbs that grew there, he might not be able to completely cure Dugu Xianmeng, but he could at least help her suppress the venom.
He also knew that the Icefire Yin Yang Well was located deep within the Sunset Forest. However, with his current strength, it was still out of reach.
His plan was to wait until he obtained his fourth soul ring, and then rely on the power of his four contracted soul beasts, each of them powerful enough to help him safely enter the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
And he had his own ideas on how to deal with the intelligent herbs inside—many of which had already developed spiritual awareness and were comparable to hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
Once everything was prepared, if he could claim the Icefire Yin Yang Well for himself, Zhou Sichen would be on the fast track to the peak of the continent.
The only problem was... would that old schemer Tang San, now a god in the Divine Realm, keep watching from above? Zhou wasn't entirely sure if his every move had already been exposed to that divine gaze.
Meanwhile, Dugu Xianmeng was deeply moved by Zhou Sichen's words. She had never hidden her affection for him—but part of why she felt so emboldened was because she sensed he responded in kind.
After all, she wasn't some lovesick fool. If she didn't feel that he liked her too, she wouldn't cling so tightly.
In truth, she knew she might never get another opportunity . So when someone like Zhou Sichen appeared in her life, she let her guard down and allowed herself to fall.
After all—what girl doesn't dream of a prince on a white horse?
Still, her condition was harsh. For over a thousand years, there had never been a cure for the venom in her martial soul, and she had already accepted that it might be impossible to fully purge it.
Currently, she was using an ancestral method to store the venom temporarily in a soul bone. But as her cultivation rose, her Bilin Five Poisons were becoming more and more potent.
Even though she already possessed a ten-thousand-year soul bone, she estimated that once she reached the Soul Sage realm, that bone would no longer be able to contain the poison.
Not wanting to burden Zhou Sichen with these thoughts, Xianmeng forced a smile. "Thank you, little brother."
Zhou Sichen smiled softly in return. "No need to thank me. But I do have one important question, Sister."
Xianmeng sat up straight. "Go ahead."
Zhou Sichen looked her in the eyes and asked calmly, "Do you really like me?"
She froze for a moment, thinking he was just teasing her again—but the seriousness in his eyes made her realize this was no joke.
Meeting his gaze, Dugu Xianmeng gave her answer without hesitation. "I do. I admit I was first drawn to your looks. But after spending time with you these past two days, I realized it was love at first sight. It's just... pure affection. No hidden motives. If you don't believe me, I can—"
Zhou Sichen's throat bobbed slightly. He knew exactly what she was about to say, but he gently interrupted her, "That's good enough. I understand how you feel. Time will tell whether we're truly suited for each other."
Xianmeng didn't know if it was her imagination, but she thought she saw a glimmer of joy in Zhou Sichen's eyes. Either way, with those words, her lingering worries vanished.
He hadn't accepted her directly, but he hadn't rejected her either.
Maybe he just felt it was too soon, and wanted to get to know her better before making a decision.
With that, Xianmeng decided it was time to leave. "It's getting really late. I'll come find you again tomorrow."
Blushing, she turned and fled the courtyard like a graceful shadow disappearing into the night.
Zhou Sichen watched her leave and smiled faintly. He had asked that question on purpose. Since she liked him, deepening her affection over time would ensure she'd never escape the palm of his hand.
After tidying up the table, Zhou Sichen returned to the villa, took a hot bath in the bathroom, and then entered the training room to begin cultivation.
Every villa had a quiet room specifically for cultivation. The Academy would also tailor these spaces to suit each student's individual traits.
Ye Guyi's villa had three such rooms. One had already been set up for her, while the other two remained empty, with only a few potted plants as decoration.
Zhou Sichen sat cross-legged in one of the spare quiet rooms and began meditating to cultivate his soul power.
Although he had already reached the bottleneck at Rank 40, the soul power accumulation from continued cultivation wouldn't go to waste. Once he obtained his fourth ring, it would all be converted immediately.
At his current pace, if he could train under the Golden Ancient Tree once a week, even if the effect wasn't as amazing as the first time, he could still expect to gain at least one level every month or two.
Moreover, Zhou Sichen's soul power quality far surpassed other soul masters at his level. Among all the students in the academy, only a handful could keep up with his cultivation speed beyond Rank 40.
Just like that, time passed swiftly in meditation. In the blink of an eye, dawn had arrived.
Today marked only the fourth day since Zhou Sichen had arrived at Shrek Academy.
And yet, in just a few short days, his status and resources had already reached heights that many people could only dream of attaining in a lifetime.
He had earned everything through careful planning and foresight, and everything so far was unfolding according to his long-laid plans.
After a night of cultivation, Zhou Sichen felt sharp and refreshed. His gaze was calm, and he carried a lightness in his expression.
Just as he finished washing up, a gentle knock came at the courtyard gate. When he went to open it, he found Dugu Xianmeng already standing there with another freshly packed meal in her hands.
Zhou Sichen couldn't help but smile warmly and teased, "Sister Xianmeng is so good to me, I hardly know how to repay you."
Xianmeng stepped into the courtyard with a playful grin. "Then offer yourself to me. I'll reluctantly accept."
After returning home last night, she had thought long and hard. Since she had already confessed, she might as well be bold and express her feelings openly. Who knows? If she kept teasing him , maybe he really would fall for her.
Sure, this brat was only twelve—but on the precocious Douluo Continent, many people had two kids by that age.
Besides, Zhou Sichen was already a soul master at Rank 40. His appearance was also more mature and composed than most boys aged fifteen or sixteen.
Faced with her blunt flirtation, Zhou Sichen waved his hands in mock panic. "Oh, I wouldn't dare! I'm afraid you'd gobble me up whole—bones and all!"
Xianmeng was clearly in a playful mood, and Zhou Sichen was more than happy to keep her company.
After all—what could be more beautiful than having a stunning girl at your side?
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