Dugu Bo Lost It

Xiao Han knew that after absorbing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, jumping into the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would ease the pain in his body. The spring water could accelerate his absorption of the medicinal effects of those two Immortal Herbs.

However, the little time they had left simply did not allow for that.

Even if he jumped into the spring, he would still fall unconscious.

And Lin Zhiruo had no way of pulling him out of the water.

If Dugu Bo returned tomorrow and found them, they would undoubtedly die.

Therefore, Xiao Han would rather endure the pain and have Lin Zhiruo take him away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Without the aid of the spring water, he could still absorb the effects of those two highly poisonous Immortal Herbs, though the process would be far longer.

In the first place, the effects of those two Immortal Herbs could not be fully absorbed in a short time.

Xiao Han was still young. There was no need to rush; staying alive was what mattered most.

Fortunately, he had eaten Whale Rubber before, and his physique was different from that of ordinary people. He could barely withstand the impact of the two Immortal Herbs' effects.

Once he fell unconscious and lost all feeling, he would no longer feel the pain.

Xiao Han knew that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had formed because this was where the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had fallen. The remains of the Two Dragon Kings were buried beneath the spring.

If he could obtain the Dragon Bones, he might gain the power of true dragons after absorbing them. After all, they had belonged to Divine-level Soul Beasts.

But that was something that could not be done today.

The spring was bottomless. In such a short time, Dugu Bo would likely return before they could even find the Dragon Bones.

Even if they found them, storing and absorbing them would both be major problems.

Xiao Han had a longer-term plan.

He wanted to absorb several Immortal Herbs first. Once his body, spiritual power, and overall strength had become stronger, he would find another opportunity to retrieve the Dragon Bones from the bottom of the spring.

After all, he was the only one in this world who knew the secret that Dragon Bones lay beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

As long as the Dragon Bones remained there, those immature plant seedlings would continue growing, but they would not reach the Immortal-grade in a short time.

So even if Tang San somehow came here, he would not obtain a single Immortal Herb.

Lin Zhiruo carried Xiao Han out of Sunset Forest and arrived at a small town.

Xiao Han was still unconscious, but fortunately, his breathing had steadied.

The alternating heat and cold in his body continued, though it was no longer as pronounced as before.

In a daze, Xiao Han slowly opened his eyes.

"Xiao Han, you're finally awake."

Seeing that Xiao Han had awakened, Lin Zhiruo was overjoyed.

Ever since leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lin Zhiruo had been worried about Xiao Han. She had not slept for three days and three nights.

Xiao Han slowly sat up. Looking at Lin Zhiruo's haggard face, his heart ached.

It was as though, during the time he had spent asleep, Lin Zhiruo had aged greatly. A few strands of white had appeared at her temples, and her eyes were bloodshot.

"Mom, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for making you worry."

"Silly child, it's enough that you're awake."

Lin Zhiruo pulled Xiao Han into her arms, and two streams of tears spilled from her eyes.

Xiao Han's eyes also moistened.

In this world, Lin Zhiruo was his only family and the person who loved him most.

Although he had lost his parents at a young age, he had never lacked a mother's love.

Only after a long while did Lin Zhiruo gradually calm down.

"Xiao Han, how is your body? How do you feel now?"

Xiao Han rose to his feet.

"Those two Immortal Herbs are both highly poisonous, but they restrain each other. I haven't fully absorbed their effects yet, but I can already feel that my physique has improved and that I'm stronger."

After saying that, Xiao Han took two Immortal Herbs from the Snow Domain Soul Silk.

One was crystal clear and gave off a faint Blue Light. It had no flower, only several ice-crystal blades resembling swallowtails, which emitted a faint chill.

The other was a ganoderma. Its cap was shaped like a canopy, its entire body purple, with a jade-like stalk beneath it and nine leaves.

"Mom, this Ice Swallowtail Grass is a perfect match for your Ice Sparrow Martial Soul. It can increase your speed and ice power. It's practically tailor-made for you."

"Xiao Han, didn't you say that the younger one is, the better the effects of absorbing Immortal Herbs? At my age, would it still be useful?"

"Of course it would! I have a way. To help you absorb its effects, this one was prepared for you as well."

As he spoke, Xiao Han held the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma out to Lin Zhiruo.

"Although this Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma is not quite Immortal-grade, it is still one of the finest ganodermas. It strengthens one's foundation, replenishes vitality, boosts qi, and increases cultivation. It is no worse than an Immortal Herb. Take this Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma first. Once you absorb its effects, take the Ice Swallowtail Grass. Perhaps these two Immortal Herbs can help you break through to Rank 80."

Xiao Han had originally wanted to take out the finest Immortal Herb—the King of Flowers, Lovesick Heartbreak Red—and let Lin Zhiruo try picking it.

However, the man Lin Zhiruo loved most was already gone from this world. It might only bring her pain, so he abandoned the thought.

Looking at the two strange plants, Lin Zhiruo was somewhat at a loss.

"Xiao Han, if I absorb two Immortal Herbs by myself, what about Bing'er and the others?"

"Mom, don't worry about that. I picked plenty of Immortal Herbs and saved some for them. You haven't slept for days while taking care of me. Absorb this Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma now to replenish your qi and blood. I'll stand guard for you."

"But you just woke up."

"Don't worry, I'm already in my best condition."

As he spoke, Xiao Han removed the ganoderma from its stalk and held it out to Lin Zhiruo.

Lin Zhiruo no longer refused. She accepted it, placed it in her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed.

"Mom, sit down and cultivate for a while to refine the medicinal power."

"Alright."

Lin Zhiruo sat cross-legged, calmed her mind, and began cultivating quietly.

Xiao Han stood guard at her side.

Time passed second by second.

When Lin Zhiruo opened her eyes again, she suddenly felt refreshed.

"Mom, how do you feel?"

Lin Zhiruo smiled faintly and rose to her feet. The exhaustion in her body had vanished completely.

"That ganoderma truly is miraculous. I feel much better, and it seems I'm about to break through the bottleneck at Rank 79."

"Mom, your complexion is much better. You look several years younger. Once we return to Skywater City, you can absorb that Ice Swallowtail Grass."

"Alright. We've been away from the academy for half a month. It's time to go back."

"Mm. Let's hire a carriage so you can rest a while longer on the way."

Soon after, the two took a carriage back to Skywater City.

Elsewhere.

On the day after Prince Xue Xing's Birthday Banquet ended, Dugu Bo returned to Sunset Forest.

However, he only returned to his usual cultivation spot and did not visit the herb garden.

When he came to the herb garden again, the sight before him gave him a fright.

Someone had clearly been here.

The herbs he regarded as treasures had all vanished without a trace.

Even those nameless herbs containing potent poison had disappeared along with them.

Only the portion of herbs he had transplanted remained untouched.

"Who was it?! Who the hell stole my herbs?!"

Dugu Bo was so enraged that a mouthful of black blood sprayed from his mouth.

"Could it have been them? No! Impossible!"

Dugu Bo recalled the time several years ago when he had encountered Lin Zhiruo and her group of three at the edge of his Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison Array.

"I've never heard of anyone from Skywater Academy who understands herbs. Besides, that woman was traveling with two children and had even stated her identity. Even if she had ten thousand times the courage, she wouldn't dare trespass into my herb garden."

"The two herbs at the center of the spring contain incomparably fierce poison. Even I wouldn't dare approach them carelessly, yet that flower thief actually picked them both. He's clearly no ordinary person!"

"In this world, aside from me, the people who know herbs best are Yang Wudi of the Star Luo Empire and that eunuch Chrysanthemum Douluo from Spirit Hall."

"Could it really have been Chrysanthemum Douluo?! Damn it! Chrysanthemum Douluo, I'll settle this score with you!!!"

Thinking that the carefully tended herbs might have been stolen by his archenemy Yue Guan, Dugu Bo completely lost it and spat out another mouthful of blood.