Chapter 96: Poison Wound.

"Good, it's just a last flicker of light. I estimate that if nothing unexpected happens, it will reach its end in a few days," Zhen Qingchun said.

"Ah…………"

Du Shaofu sighed lightly. The Thunder Demon Lion had guarded the Stone City for hundreds of years and, on the brink of its end, had set up a grand plan to completely eliminate the hidden dangers in the Stone City. Yet, in the end, it still could not escape its fate.

"What are you sighing for? The Thunder Demon Lion's end is all due to the old ailment it carries. If the old ailment could be cured, it would surely regain its vitality. If it could break through further, it would have a bright future," Zhen Qingchun said indifferently to Du Shaofu.

"What do you mean? Can you cure the Thunder Demon Lion's injuries?" Du Shaofu's gaze immediately fixed on Zhen Qingchun.

"Why are you so nervous? You call a demon beast 'senior' so respectfully, but you didn't treat me with such respect back then."

Zhen Qingchun pursed his lips, still feeling angry when he thought about how he had been exorcised with a child's urine by that perverted bastard.

"Brother Qingchun, you're my big brother now, why be so petty? I genuinely respect you now."

Du Shaofu's face lit up with a smile as he said to Zhen Qingchun, "Tell me, is there any way to cure the Thunder Demon Lion's injuries?"

Zhen Qingchun looked at Du Shaofu and said, "That Thunder Demon Lion has nothing to do with you. Why are you so anxious?"

"To put it simply, I received the Thunder Demon Lion's favor in the Thunder Pool. This is a way to repay that kindness."

Du Shaofu's eyes showed some emotion. He himself didn't quite understand why, but perhaps seeing the Thunder Demon Lion in the stone room reminded him of an elderly man who had contributed much to the Stone City, deeply touching his heart. If he could help in any way, it would make him feel better.

"In that case, I also received a bit of benefit from the Thunder Pool, thanks to the Thunder Demon Lion."

Zhen Qingchun looked at Du Shaofu, his triangular eyes becoming more serious. "The Thunder Demon Lion has a poison wound, not an ordinary one. Otherwise, it wouldn't be helpless. Because of this poison wound, the Thunder Demon Lion has come to this point."

"What kind of poison wound?" Du Shaofu asked.

"It should be the poison of a Flame Poison Demon Dragon. The Flame Poison Demon Dragon is a type of dragon, a branch of the dragon clan, but it is far inferior to the true dragon clan. However, its bloodline is still very strong."

Zhen Qingchun said, "Demon beasts with dragon bloodlines are all extremely powerful."

"How do you know this?" Du Shaofu asked in confusion.

Zhen Qingchun rolled his eyes at Du Shaofu and said, "The Ye family's Thunder Pool contains the Thunder Demon Lion's essence. I also received some benefits from the Thunder Pool, so I know the Thunder Demon Lion's condition."

"In that case, to cure the Thunder Demon Lion's poison wound, we need to remove the poison from the Flame Poison Demon Dragon?" Du Shaofu's eyes widened.

Zhen Qingchun raised his gaze, looking at Du Shaofu with a mocking smile. "Do you think the poison of the Flame Poison Demon Dragon is an ordinary poison? The Thunder Demon Lion has a strong bloodline, and ordinary poisons are ineffective against it. But the poison of the Flame Poison Demon Dragon is extremely powerful, and even some top-tier alchemists might be helpless."

Hearing this, Du Shaofu immediately frowned, his gaze sharpening. But then he looked at Zhen Qingchun and said, "Brother Qingchun, from your tone, you must have a way. Don't keep me in suspense."

"Heh heh."

Zhen Qingchun laughed, but his smile was not very reassuring. He looked at Du Shaofu and said, "The one with a way is you, not me."

"How could I have a way?" Du Shaofu was puzzled.

Zhen Qingchun rolled his eyes at Du Shaofu, adopting a scholarly air. "You're still a rookie, and you know too little. Don't forget, you cultivate the Golden-winged Great Peng's cultivation method, and your blood is almost the same as the Golden-winged Great Peng's."

"Is that relevant?" Du Shaofu still didn't understand.

"Don't interrupt, let me finish."

Zhen Qingchun said bluntly to Du Shaofu, "Do you know that in ancient times, the true Pengs that dominated the universe fed on dragons? The Golden-winged Great Peng may not be as powerful as those ancient true Pengs, but the Flame Poison Demon Dragon is far inferior to the true dragon clan. So you can completely suppress the Flame Poison Demon Dragon."

Pausing for a moment, Zhen Qingchun continued, "If my guess is correct, if you use your blood as a medicinal elixir for the Thunder Demon Lion and assist it with your mystical energy to remove the poison, I believe not only will the Thunder Demon Lion's Flame Poison Demon Dragon poison be eliminated, but you might also gain significant benefits. Your blood is almost the same as the Golden-winged Great Peng's, and for all demon beasts, it is a great treasure. Consuming some would bring many benefits."

"Is that so?" Du Shaofu was surprised.

"Someone is coming, I'll enter the tower."

Zhen Qingchun sensed someone approaching and immediately transformed into an energy wave, entering the small tower in Du Shaofu's chest.

"Shaofu, are you here?"

As Zhen Qingchun entered the tower, Du Zhixiong's voice echoed in the courtyard.

"Uncle, why did you come in person?"

Du Shaofu was quite surprised, quickly opening the door and stepping into the courtyard. It was indeed his second uncle, Du Zhixiong, who had come, carrying a wine jar that emitted a fragrant aroma. In the courtyard, his drunk father was still lying on the rattan chair, drinking alone. The wine jar was naturally for his drunk father.

"How are you? Have you recovered? Is your injury serious?"

Seeing Du Shaofu, Du Zhixiong immediately asked anxiously, his gaze carefully examining Du Shaofu.

"I'm fine, it's nothing serious."

Du Shaofu smiled, noticing that his second uncle's injuries had not fully recovered, but they should not be serious.

"That's good." Du Zhixiong smiled, then seemed to remember something. "I almost forgot, the Ye family's girl is waiting for you. She wants you to visit the Ye family for something. Your eldest uncle asked you to go see her."

"Okay."

Du Shaofu nodded, then said to his father on the rattan chair, "Father, I'm going out for a bit. Uncle can keep you company. Try to drink less."

With that, Du Shaofu stepped out of the courtyard.

Watching Du Shaofu's figure disappear, Du Zhixiong finally turned his gaze, sat down next to the rattan chair, and threw the wine jar onto Du Tingxuan's stomach. "Third brother, you have a good son."

Du Tingxuan sat up, greedily sniffing the wine jar and said, "Good wine."

"Third brother, I'm talking to you. I've discussed with the eldest brother, and we plan to send Shaofu to the main clan. With Shaofu's current talent, he can only receive the best cultivation in the main clan. If he stays in the Stone City, it will ruin him," Du Zhixiong said, looking at Du Tingxuan.

Du Tingxuan raised his head, his long hair covering his face, and looked at Du Zhixiong, saying softly, "Second brother, I've said it before, we have no connection with the main clan, never!"

Du Zhixiong looked at Du Tingxuan, his gaze wavering. He hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively, "Second brother, can you tell us what happened sixteen years ago? Sixteen years ago, you suddenly returned, and since then, the main clan has had no contact with us. And you have become like this, no longer the spirited person you once were."

"Don't ask. This is good, it's already good enough..." Du Tingxuan said softly.

"Alright, I won't ask."

Du Zhixiong didn't press further. Over the years, he had asked countless times, and this time, Third Brother had spoken the most.

"Third brother, drink less. I and the eldest brother have been waiting, waiting for the Third Brother of old to return."

With that, Du Zhixiong got up and left the courtyard.

On the rattan chair, Du Tingxuan stared blankly ahead. After a long while, he brushed the disheveled hair from his forehead, revealing a handsome and rugged face. His thick eyebrows arched, and his eyes were deep and bright, like two stars shining in the night.

"This is good, we are good, Aotong, how about you..."

...

"Hello, Brother Shaofu."

"Shaofu, are you better now?"

"..."

Du Shaofu left the courtyard and, greeted by various family members, arrived at the hall to meet Ye Zijin from the Ye family.

Seeing Du Shaofu, Ye Zijin's tense expression relaxed somewhat.

From Ye Zijin, Du Shaofu learned that the Thunder Demon Lion wanted to see him, so he immediately followed Ye Zijin to the Ye family.

Half an hour later, the two hurriedly rode a demon beast to the Ye family. Du Shaofu, noticing Ye Zijin's worried expression, finally couldn't help but ask, "Miss Ye, why does the Thunder Demon Lion senior want to see me?"

Hearing this, Ye Zijin's expression softened, and she forced a smile. "I don't know. Thunder Ancestor said he wanted to see you, so I came to the Du family to find you."

"Could it be that the Thunder Demon Lion senior...?"

Du Shaofu's gaze darkened, his brows furrowed, and he didn't finish his sentence, but he believed Ye Zijin would understand.

Ye Zijin seemed surprised that Du Shaofu could guess, and the forced smile on her face disappeared, replaced by worry. She looked at Du Shaofu, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "You guessed right. Thunder Ancestor might not be well."

Hearing this, Du Shaofu's expression changed dramatically, and he urged Ye Zijin, "Take me there quickly."

Ye Zijin was puzzled, seemingly more concerned about Thunder Ancestor than the people of the Ye family, but she immediately quickened her pace.