Angel and Rakshasa

"Senior Dugu, your herb garden isn't as simple as a place to grow a few medicinal plants. The herbs growing around the pool are the real treasures."

"You know what this place is, kid? And you know what those herbs are?"

"This place is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. According to records, it's one of the Three Great Treasure Troves. As for the herbs inside, I don't know."

Dugu Bo was so exasperated by Xu Mingxi he almost laughed. Did he not know the herbs growing by the lake were all treasures? The problem was that he did not recognize them and had no idea how to use them.

Seeing how confidently Xu Mingxi had spoken, he had thought the boy recognized them. In the end, he actually told him he did not know. What use was it just knowing what this place was called?

Xu Mingxi was helpless too. He looked around and realized he did not recognize these Immortal Herbs at all. Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid—he only knew their names, but he had completely forgotten what they looked like.

The only one he recognized was that golden-purple Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum over there, and that was only because it was Chrysanthemum Douluo's martial soul.

Oh, and there was also that Lovesick Heartbreak Red Sausage growing on the rock. But recognition was one thing. For the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, was it the petals you ate, or something else? And in the original work, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red Sausage had not been eaten either, right?

"Senior Dugu, although I don't know, someone else does."

"Oh? Who are you talking about?"

Dugu Bo dared to say with confidence that his research into pharmacology absolutely stood at the forefront of the continent. And there were actually things he did not know that someone else did?

Xu Mingxi did not keep him in suspense. When the time came to obtain information on the Immortal Herbs, they might still need Dugu Bo's help. However, the ownership of the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well still had to be settled first.

"Senior Dugu, naturally there are people who know. However, as for the herbs in this garden, I wonder if you would be willing to part with them.

Of course, this place will still belong to you. We only need this first batch of herbs."

Dugu Bo fell into thought. Xu Mingxi and the others had done the Dugu Family a great kindness. They had even helped him hunt his Ninth Soul Ring and completed the evolution of his martial soul.

And he did not know what these herbs were anyway. Leaving them there unused was a waste. Most important of all was the First Elder standing nearby, as well as the Star Crown Sect behind Xu Mingxi.

"Fine. But if any of them are useful to my Dugu Family, they must be ours."

"That's only natural. When the time comes, we will also provide Senior with a certain amount of compensation. Though it cannot compare to these herbs, it can still be considered a token of goodwill from my Star Crown Sect."

Their relationship with Dugu Bo absolutely could not be allowed to grow distant. Gold Soul Coins would not catch his eye, so Xu Mingxi planned to exchange the thirty-thousand-year Great Strength Ape Soul Bone he had obtained back then with the sect for one of a lower age. He believed Dugu Bo would accept this gesture.

"All right, kid. You can say it now. Who exactly knows the information about these herbs?"

"Don't be impatient, Senior. On this continent, as far as I know, only two people understand this. One is your old rival, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan. The other is Yang Wudi, the head of the Soul Breaking Spear Yang Family, who is famous across the continent for his mastery of medicine-making."

"Kid, are you making a fool of this old man? Yue Guan would absolutely never tell me. Yang Wudi is a member of the Clear Sky Sect, and knowledge of medicinal herbs is a medicine-making clan's greatest secret. He won't easily tell us."

"Chrysanthemum Douluo is naturally not very likely, so we have to start with Yang Wudi. If he won't give it to us, we'll force him to."

"Don't do anything reckless. The Clear Sky Sect is not to be trifled with. That person is only missing, not dead."

Even though Dugu Bo had already advanced to Titled Douluo, he was still somewhat wary of the Clear Sky Sect. Tang Chen's name was simply too resounding on the Douluo Continent.

Right now, he had only been missing for a few years. Before definite news of his death spread, no one dared to tug at the tiger's whiskers.

"Don't worry, Senior. That is only the last resort. I believe Clan Leader Yang will be a reasonable man."

A sharp gleam flashed in Xu Mingxi's eyes. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had already appeared. Now all that remained was the relevant information on these Immortal Herbs and their methods of consumption.

If they could peacefully trade for it from Yang Wudi, that would be best. If not, then he could not be blamed for taking certain measures.

At the same time, a fierce argument broke out in Spirit City. The current Supreme Pontiff, Qian Xunji, watched the departing Saintess, Bibi Dong, with a dark expression.

He had not expected that the disciple he had painstakingly nurtured would want to leave Spirit Hall for a man, that she would want to betray him. He would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen.

Although Bibi Dong was saddened that her love had not received her teacher's blessing, she still headed happily to Spirit Hall's Hall of Records. Xiaogang was still waiting for her there.

Thinking of the talented, learned, charming man in her heart, Bibi Dong could hardly control her feelings at all. She completely failed to notice the strange look in her teacher's eyes behind her.

A dozen days later, Bibi Dong sank into despair. After she was defiled by the teacher she had always respected and loved, she wanted to go to Yu Xiaogang for comfort.

What Bibi Dong had not expected was that, after she had endured Qian Xunji's harassment again and again in order to protect Yu Xiaogang, he would refuse to listen to her explanation. Stubbornly believing that she looked down on him, he left in anger.

These successive blows caught Bibi Dong completely off guard. She collapsed to the ground, staring hollow-eyed at Yu Xiaogang's back as darkness began to grow in her heart.

She hated. She hated Qian Xunji. She hated Spirit Hall. She hated Yu Xiaogang. Even more, she hated herself.

The beautiful Saintess's state of mind underwent a tremendous change. She became extreme, deranged, her heart filled with hatred, yet deep within that hatred, her love for Yu Xiaogang still remained.

In the Elder Hall, Qian Daoliu let out a deep sigh. He knew everything Qian Xunji had done, but what could he do? That was his son.

Qian Daoliu could only choose to turn a blind eye. Until several months later, when Bibi Dong began to show, and ten months later, when Qian Renxue was born, he felt the Angel Statue tremble.

He looked excitedly at the granddaughter in Qian Xunji's arms. The Angel Statue emitted a brilliant light that shone upon the newborn Qian Renxue, making her appear so sacred.

He hurriedly snatched Qian Renxue over and held her in his arms, revealing a warm smile that had not appeared in a long time. He knew that since this granddaughter had stirred the Angel Statue, there was an extremely high chance she could inherit the Angel Godhood. Could their Qian Family produce another god?

But very soon, he furrowed his brow. Could Bibi Dong truly still be a good mother?

The Elder Hall was splendid and resplendent, and the radiance emitted by the Angel Statue made this place seem even more sacred.

Meanwhile, in a certain gloomy Secret Chamber, a pair of eyes filled with hatred showed through Bibi Dong's disheveled hair.

There was now one more target of her resentment: her own biological daughter, Qian Renxue. Everyone in the Qian Family deserved to die. They all deserved to die. Die...