Ice Fire Body Tempering

"Teacher, I'll only pick what I need. Uncle Chrysanthemum can send the rest back to Spirit City." Luo Ling was already eager to begin.

"You discovered this, so naturally you have the right to decide how it is distributed." Bibi Dong nodded approvingly.

Luo Ling did not stand on ceremony. Following the method from the original work, he picked the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, along with the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and a Darkness Attribute Immortal Herb, the Dark Night Hanging Orchid.

Finally, when he reached the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Luo Ling inexplicably thought of that Little Rabbit. After pondering for a few seconds, he picked the Lovesick Heartbreak Red as well.

"Only these?" Bibi Dong was somewhat surprised.

Luo Ling had only taken five Immortal Herbs, which was not much compared to the vast patch nearby.

"Teacher, this is already quite a lot." Luo Ling replied with a faint smile. "Immortal Herbs are called Immortal Herbs because their medicinal effects are exceptionally potent. For ordinary people, one plant is already enough."

"I have Homologous Twin Martial Souls, so I took more."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly. She truly did not know much about Immortal Herbs. Pointing at the Aromatic Silk Beauty nearby, she said:

"Are you really going to give this Immortal Herb to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? It can evolve a Martial Soul!"

"I don't need it." Luo Ling shook his head.

The Aromatic Silk Beauty could indeed compensate for a Martial Soul's flaws and allow it to evolve, but Luo Ling's Martial Souls had already undergone a second awakening.

His Raven Shadow Puppet and Soul of Desire were now far too powerful. Luo Ling even felt that this Aromatic Silk Beauty would not be of much use to his Martial Souls.

"Teacher should handle this Immortal Herb instead. I believe Teacher can trade it for suitable benefits."

Bibi Dong did not know what Luo Ling was thinking. She only felt that he was very sensible, and the look in her eyes grew gentler still.

"Xiao Ling, take them here. I'll protect you." Bibi Dong walked to Luo Ling's side.

"Teacher, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot need to be consumed together, then refined within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well." Luo Ling pointed at the pool occupied by extreme cold and extreme heat.

The water inside flowed quietly, radiating a terrifying aura.

Bibi Dong's expression changed instantly. "You have to go in there? Xiao Ling, you aren't joking, are you?"

She could sense the extreme danger within the pool. Even she did not dare set foot in it carelessly.

"Teacher, since I said it, I naturally wasn't joking." Luo Ling answered solemnly.

Bibi Dong stared at Luo Ling for a long time, the worry in her beautiful eyes undisguised. Only after a while did she finally relent.

"Fine, you can go in. But the moment there is any danger, I'll pull you back out."

Luo Ling nodded. He was somewhat nervous as well, but after a short while, his gaze became resolute.

Damn it, if Tang San could do it in the original work, what the hell am I afraid of?

Gritting his teeth, Luo Ling placed the two Immortal Herbs together and swallowed them.

At once, his entire body felt as though it had entered a furnace, yet also as if he had arrived in an ice cellar. Red and blue halos swirled over his body.

Intense pain engulfed Luo Ling's mind, making him shudder uncontrollably.

Enduring the agony wracking his body, Luo Ling gritted his teeth, stripped off his clothes, shut his eyes, and jumped straight into the Spring Eye.

With a splash, a huge spray of water rose into the air.

Seeing this, Bibi Dong nearly failed to restrain herself from immediately pulling Luo Ling out.

Dugu Bo nearby also noticed the situation. His eyes widened as he stared at Luo Ling falling into the Spring Eye.

"Is this kid trying to kill himself?" Dugu Bo cried as he rushed over.

The moment he arrived, he met Bibi Dong's vicious glare.

"If anything happens to Xiao Ling, you'll be going down there with him!" Coldly, Bibi Dong spoke with boundless frost in her beautiful eyes, exuding the pressure of the female Pope.

She was still that ruthless Pope. It was only because Luo Ling had been helping her all this time that she had not revealed her true side.

At that moment, the Rakshasa God's Evil Thought seemed on the verge of reviving from the ashes, gathering within Bibi Dong's eyes.

Luo Ling knew nothing of any of this. He had greatly underestimated his place in Bibi Dong's heart.

Under that pressure, Dugu Bo felt a chill run through his body and stiffened, not daring to say another word.

Chrysanthemum Douluo beside him was trembling as well. In the past three years, he had never seen Bibi Dong this furious. It seemed the Pope from before had returned.

Xiao Ling, you have to come back unharmed. Otherwise, Pope might truly go mad...

Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed inwardly, but all he could do was pray silently.

Three days later.

There was still not the slightest movement within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Bibi Dong's expression had become so dark it seemed capable of dripping water, while tangible killing intent gathered above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Dugu Bo and Chrysanthemum Douluo could only suffer in silence.

Another three days passed.

Dugu Bo felt that he might as well already be dead.

Just as the ferocity in Bibi Dong's eyes was about to overflow, faint ripples appeared across the tranquil lake.

A figure emerged from beneath the water.

Joy was written across Luo Ling's face. He had completely absorbed the medicinal effects of the two Immortal Herbs. Although his Soul Power had not increased, his physical body had improved enormously.

Compared to before, his physical constitution had increased by at least more than double. He had also gained the ability to withstand both water and fire.

The Ice and Fire Spring Eye could no longer harm Luo Ling in any way. It now felt like a genuine hot spring.

While Luo Ling was still sensing the changes in his body, the three people on shore all grew excited.

Without any concern for appearances, Bibi Dong directly used Soul Power to pull Luo Ling from the pool and hugged him tightly against her chest. Mist swirled in her beautiful eyes.

The dignified Pope actually cried at this moment.

Luo Ling was at a loss. Feeling the softness against his body and that gentle scent, he had no improper thoughts at all, yet his emotions were complicated.

All along, Luo Ling's only goals had been to take revenge on Yu Xiaogang and become a god. Joining Spirit Hall had merely been for the sake of those goals.

He had never held particularly strong feelings for Bibi Dong, but now...

Even if Luo Ling had been a fool, he could clearly feel the emotions Bibi Dong was revealing.

She truly regarded him as someone important.

"Teacher." Luo Ling raised his hands and held Bibi Dong, who was pressed against him.

Bibi Dong seemed to hear Luo Ling call out to her and came back to her senses. With reddened eyes, she glared at him. "Do you even still have me as your Teacher in your heart?"

"Of course I do!"

"You're not allowed to do something so dangerous again!"

"I'll listen to everything Teacher says."

Biting her lip, Bibi Dong stared at Luo Ling. Only after a long while did she finally let go.

Moved, Luo Ling gently took the initiative to hug Bibi Dong. He held her for several seconds before releasing her.

Seeing Bibi Dong's somewhat disheveled state, as well as the killing intent hanging in the air, he immediately entered a state of Martial Soul Fusion.

Under Dugu Bo's astonished gaze, the four Soul Rings fused in pairs, becoming two purple Soul Rings.

Then, the first purple Soul Ring lit up. Luo Ling once again saw Bibi Dong's Soul Body Thread, now containing considerably more black aura than before.

He directly controlled his Soul Body Thread, intertwining it with Bibi Dong's.

Feeling the warmth spreading through her soul, Bibi Dong closed her eyes. After a long while, as the killing intent in her heart gradually faded, she opened them again.

Her beautiful eyes, soft as water, gazed at Luo Ling as she returned to her imposing appearance as Pope.

"Th-this is?" Dugu Bo stared blankly at the scene before him and asked in a trembling voice.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. When it is time for you to know, you'll know." Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at Dugu Bo. "You should be grateful. You don't have to die now."

Dugu Bo gave an awkward laugh, and the heart he had been holding in his throat finally settled.