Obtaining Immortal Herbs

Two and a half months later.

Ling Qianyue finally found the right opportunity to have Dugu Bo take him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's botanical texts had been delivered a month ago. Under the manipulations of a certain wicked angel, Ling Qianyue had paid a hefty price that would make others envious before getting his hands on them.

Of course, along the way, he also obtained what he wanted: a Storage Soul Tool capable of holding living beings—a golden bracelet engraved with Angel Wings patterns along its inner side.

With Qian Renxue blushing furiously, it had been forcefully stuffed into his arms.

Not only was the bracelet lavish in appearance, but it also possessed vast internal space, enough to hold all the immortal herbs he needed for this trip.

Over the month he spent constantly laying the groundwork and planting psychological suggestions in Dugu Bo's mind, Ling Qianyue had also committed every record in the texts Chrysanthemum Douluo sent him to memory.

At the same time, he had selected part of the illustrated catalog of immortal herbs and compiled it into a new volume.

Sometimes, Ling Qianyue wondered whether his wariness toward Dugu Bo was even necessary. After all, before Dugu Bo had proactively offered to take him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, their conversation had involved Dugu Yan.

After Ling Qianyue mentioned that Dugu Yan's martial soul affliction could be cured sooner, Dugu Bo quickly brought up taking him to a secret Medicine Garden.

Though at the time, the way Dugu Bo looked at Ling Qianyue had seemed somewhat off—scrutiny, anticipation, satisfaction, and a faint urge to seize him in one grab and refine him on the spot.

Sunset Forest, Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

"Qianyao, we're here."

Dugu Bo released Ling Qianyue from the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch, and the two stood together atop a cliff.

"To be honest, the environment inside your Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch isn't great. It's pitch-black."

Dugu Bo glared. "It's good enough that I let you in. Do you think just anyone can enter the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch?

"If it weren't because you're somewhat special, I wouldn't have let a brat like you inside. Don't mistake kindness for weakness.

"You should know that this is one of the few Storage Soul Tools on the continent capable of storing living beings. It's extremely rare, you know?"

His eyes rolled as he chuckled. "You brat, have you taken a fancy to your master's Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch? It's no big deal. Listen to me—spend more time with my Yan Yan. If you can win Yan Yan's heart, then it's not like your master can't consider it."

"Heh." Ling Qianyue rolled his eyes. He had heard this kind of granddaughter sales pitch far too many times lately.

Still, he understood. Dugu Yan was Dugu Bo's precious treasure, so naturally, he hoped she would find a good match.

Dugu Bo was not angry either. He merely sighed, thinking that Ling Qianyue was truly difficult to handle. Even that slender waist of hers had failed to catch his eye.

Originally, he had thought that his days were numbered. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was one of the Upper Three Sects, and it would be a good thing for Yu Tianheng of this generation and Dugu Yan to get to know each other.

Once his poison flared up and claimed his life, Dugu Yan would have someone reliable to depend on. That was why he had not stopped Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan from interacting.

To begin with, though, he had not thought highly of Yu Tianheng's character.

But then again, now that there was hope of curing both his and Dugu Yan's martial soul afflictions, his lifespan could naturally be extended. The plans he had made for Dugu Yan's future had faded considerably.

After Ling Qianyue suppressed the poison within him that day, Dugu Bo had even specifically told Dugu Yan not to get too close to Yu Tianheng.

At the time, Dugu Yan happened to be angry, so she agreed without a second thought. She and Yu Tianheng had only just begun to develop feelings for each other, but after that, they returned to being ordinary classmates.

Ling Qianyue did not know what Yu Tianheng was thinking. He only happened to pass by the academy lakeside one night.

He vaguely heard murmurs like, "Yan Yan, how can I live without you?"

Thankfully, it was only that one day. Otherwise, Ling Qianyue would have started wondering whether there was truly something wrong with Yu Tianheng's brain.

"Let's go down."

Dugu Bo directly grabbed Ling Qianyue, then leaped off the cliff.

A biting cold wind blew through the valley, yet it carried a strange freshness.

Ling Qianyue felt his body grow light as Dugu Bo's Soul Power wrapped tightly around him like an invisible shield.

The two fell rapidly, and the scenery before them gradually became clearer.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, that legendary holy land of immortal herbs—the cheat that ran throughout the Douluo series—finally appeared before Ling Qianyue's eyes.

A strange lake lay quietly at the bottom of the valley. Half its water was icy cold, while the other half was scorching hot. Two utterly opposing powers blended here in a wondrous way, forming an indescribable harmony.

Milky white and vermilion liquids were sharply divided, while mist continually rose from the surface.

Around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye grew countless immortal herbs, medicinal plants, and poisons.

"Well, Qianyao? Isn't your master's Medicine Garden impressive? This incomparably strange sight, and all these herbs covering the ground, were painstakingly cultivated by your master."

Dugu Bo stroked his beard and looked at Ling Qianyue with a proud expression.

Ling Qianyue rolled his eyes. "Oh, really? Master is so capable. Then may I ask what kind of herb this is?"

He lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, flashed forward, and arrived before a strangely shaped, brilliantly colored herb.

"Uh, this... this..." Dugu Bo's gaze wandered as he hesitated.

Seeing Ling Qianyue's teasing, half-smiling gaze, Dugu Bo snorted. "Fine, fine, you little brat.

"I admit that while I painstakingly cultivated quite a few of these, some are rare herbs born from heaven and earth. It's not as though I recognize every single one."

Dugu Bo awkwardly waved his hand, somewhat annoyed at being left speechless.

He should have simply made something up and gambled that Ling Qianyue did not recognize it either.

"I told you before, my poison began forming within my body ever since I started cultivating my martial soul.

"By the time my cultivation reached Soul Sage, it had already begun affecting me. Fortunately, when my cultivation reached Soul Douluo, I happened to discover this place.

"Using the extreme cold and extreme heat of that hot spring, I suppressed the eruptions of poison within my body. At the same time, I gained some benefits in increasing my Soul Power.

"Take whatever herbs you need, but let me warn you: only take herbs you recognize.

"I don't know many of the plants here. If you pick some poison I don't recognize and end up poisoning yourself, I won't be able to help you."

Ling Qianyue chuckled. "Don't worry, Master. Don't forget my martial soul ability. Besides, I won't take anything I don't recognize.

"Master, don't tell me you've done something like that before?"

Dugu Bo choked on his words, snorted, and said nothing more.

When he had first discovered this place, he had naturally been overjoyed. It sped up Soul Power cultivation, and there were so many strange herbs that he had eagerly begun experimenting.

Unfortunately, he was not blessed by luck. He was simply cursed with bad fortune. The first herb he tried detonated the poison within his body, and he spent a long time recovering beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, nearly dying.

After that incident, he had never dared to casually consume the flowers and plants here. Not even the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, which looked exactly like Chrysanthemum Douluo's martial soul. After all, who knew whether the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum here was truly the same as that damned chrysanthemum's martial soul?

What if it was poisonous? Wouldn't he be done for?