Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye

After reaching a consensus of trust, Lin Yao and Dugu Bo each began making preparations for their departure.

Lin Yao first returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and found his master, Chen Xin. The old man was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, holding an ancient, unadorned longsword.

The sword wind was fierce yet restrained. Every swing seemed to resonate with heaven and earth.

After Chen Xin sheathed his sword, Lin Yao stepped forward and bowed.

"Master, this disciple must travel with Senior Dugu Bo for a while. I will return immediately once the matter is settled."

Chen Xin's hand paused slightly as he wiped the blade. He raised his eyes to Lin Yao, his gaze carrying a trace of scrutiny, before slowly nodding.

"Go. Be careful while you are away. I know you have your own plans, but do not be impatient. With your talent, the future belongs to you."

"Mm!"

Lin Yao nodded in agreement.

After leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Lin Yao headed to the academy's Board of Education office.

The three education committee members were seated around a table, discussing the academy's tournament arrangements. When they saw Lin Yao enter, they all stopped talking.

Lin Yao explained in detail that he would be leaving with Dugu Bo. Meng Shenji and the others were somewhat surprised, but knowing that Lin Yao was exceptionally talented and would have Dugu Bo accompanying him, they readily agreed.

They merely reminded him again and again to remain cautious outside, even with a Title Douluo watching over him.

Afterward, Lin Yao went to see his teammates.

Ning Rongrong was sitting cross-legged on a cushion in the cultivation room. Faint Soul Power fluctuations lingered around her, while fine beads of sweat covered her forehead. She was clearly cultivating with all her strength in preparation for breaking through to Soul Grandmaster.

Lin Yao did not interrupt her rashly. Only after she finished cultivating did he step forward.

"Rongrong, I'll be leaving for a while. Cultivate properly while I'm gone. When I return, I might bring you a few surprises."

Ning Rongrong had just finished cultivating, and traces of exhaustion still remained on her face. The moment she heard Lin Yao's words, her eyes lit up.

"Where are you going? Will you be gone for a long time?"

Lin Yao smiled and ruffled her hair.

"I'm going somewhere I can learn quite a few things. I won't be gone too long. Just focus on breaking through to Soul Grandmaster."

Ye Lingling also walked over from the side and said softly, "Be careful out there. If you need anything, send word back."

Lin Yao nodded in response. After bidding farewell to the rest of his teammates one by one, he set off to find Xue Qinghe, whom Qian Renxue was impersonating.

When Lin Yao found Qian Renxue, she was standing on the palace terrace, gazing at the sea of clouds in the distance.

As Lin Yao approached, he could clearly sense the complexity in Qian Renxue's gaze when it fell on him. There seemed to be both surprise and a hint of unwillingness in her eyes.

Although she concealed the latter well, Lin Yao's sharp perception still caught it.

Meanwhile, Qian Renxue's heart was filled with shock.

A seven-year-old Soul Elder with such a deep foundation of Soul Power—if she had not witnessed such talent with her own eyes, the information she had gathered would have been wholly insufficient to prove it.

One had to know that even with her Innate Level 20 Soul Power, she could not help but feel wary before such terrifying talent.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lin Yao, the conflicted Qian Renxue cautiously probed him in an offhand tone. Her voice held a trace of tension that was difficult to detect.

"Yao, I feel like your aura has changed somewhat. You seem sharper than before. Has your strength improved again?"

"That's right, Brother Qinghe. Your instincts are accurate. I was fortunate enough to make a small breakthrough."

Lin Yao nodded with a smile.

Hearing the calmness in Lin Yao's voice, Qian Renxue found it impossible to remain calm. After a moment of silence, her fingertips unconsciously rubbed against her sleeve.

Thinking of Lin Yao's frightening rate of growth, she could not help but wonder.

Once he truly grows up, will I really be able to keep him under control?

But then she thought of how Lin Yao had always trusted her, and how she still had the Angel God Inheritance as a safeguard. That gave her a little more confidence.

"By the way, why did you suddenly come to see me?"

Qian Renxue steadied her emotions and asked.

"Right, Brother Qinghe. I came to tell you that I'll be going out with Senior Dugu Bo soon. We probably won't be able to meet for some time."

Lin Yao took the opportunity to explain why he had come.

"You're going with Senior Dugu? As a Title Douluo, he can certainly teach you many things. Go ahead, but be careful out there."

Qian Renxue looked up at Lin Yao as she spoke. The fact that he had come to inform her before doing anything made her feel that he recognized her importance, and she immediately smiled.

At the same time, she silently muttered to herself.

I should devote more effort to cultivation as well. I can't let you, a little brother ten years younger than me, leave me far behind.

Then, seeing the atmosphere suddenly fall silent, Lin Yao felt that would not do. He found a topic and began chatting with her, hoping to strengthen their relationship.

During their conversation, Lin Yao deliberately tried to draw closer to her. Noticing that Qian Renxue had considerable insight into court affairs, he took the initiative to discuss political matters.

Drawing on his abundant experience from his previous life, his words were sharp and well-organized, and Qian Renxue listened with great interest.

The two went back and forth, conversing exceptionally well. The previously tense atmosphere gradually became relaxed.

After their long talk, Lin Yao rose to take his leave.

Qian Renxue watched his departing figure, and an inexplicable thought suddenly arose in her heart.

When we meet again, will this little fellow's strength have soared once more?

Although Lin Yao said he was going to study under Dugu Bo, with one using poison and the other using a sword, it seemed unlikely he would make much progress. Yet Lin Yao had never followed convention, and every increase in his strength had been unexpected.

If she had not seen potential in Lin Yao to become someone she could use, and if she did not possess a divine inheritance capable of suppressing him, she likely would have already been unable to resist eliminating this potential threat.

Such talent was simply too terrifying.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and secretly set herself a small goal.

She would first break through to Soul Saint as soon as possible, then decide whether to return and accept the inheritance. At that moment, she felt pressure bearing down on her like a mountain, leaving no room for even the slightest slackness.

Early the next morning, when the sky was only beginning to brighten, Lin Yao had already packed everything and was waiting for Dugu Bo at their agreed meeting place.

Before long, Dugu Bo came into view.

The two exchanged no unnecessary pleasantries. Dugu Bo set off first, with Lin Yao close behind, and they sped toward Sunset Forest.

Sunset Forest was shrouded in dense mist year-round. Ancient trees towered overhead, their branches and leaves intertwined so tightly that sunlight could barely penetrate. The air was filled with damp moisture and the faint fragrance of grass and wood.

The two moved at great speed, Soul Power surging beneath their feet as they darted through the forest, startling numerous birds perched among the branches.

In less than two hours, they reached the central region of Sunset Forest. The trees here were even thicker, and the Soul Power in the air was several times denser than in the Outer Zone.

Dugu Bo stopped and pointed toward an area not far ahead, surrounded by poisonous miasma.

"That's my lair ahead. With the poison formation I have laid down over countless years, even a Level 95 Super Douluo shouldn't dream of entering without paying some price."

Lin Yao looked in the direction Dugu Bo indicated. Feeling the power of the poison formation that made the hairs on his skin stand up, he nodded in agreement.

At the same time, beneath the poison formation, Lin Yao's powerful spiritual force vaguely sensed two entirely different and almost imperceptible powers intertwining. He silently thought to himself.

Where those two completely different powers converge should be the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, unless something unexpected happens.

It had been formed from the remains of two god-level soul beasts, the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King. Within it were not only Immortal Herbs capable of remaking an ordinary soul master, but also supreme divine bones formed from the condensed remnants of their power.

Although Lin Yao was somewhat tempted as he thought of this, he quickly suppressed the feeling.

He was only a Soul Elder now. Supreme soul bones were too distant for him. Rather than reaching for what was beyond his grasp, he would be better off focusing on finding Immortal Herbs useful to himself and those he cared about.

Then, under Dugu Bo's lead, the two passed through layer after layer of poison formations.

The poison formation contained an astonishing variety of venomous creatures.

Some slithered through the grass with their tongues flicking. Others hung from branches, dripping deadly venom. The poisonous gas in the air was so dense that it almost seemed to condense into substance.

But Dugu Bo knew every detail of the poison formation. He easily avoided every danger and occasionally waved a hand, sending out a stream of Soul Power to drive away poisonous creatures blocking their path.

Lin Yao followed behind, carefully observing the layout of the poison formation and silently committing it to memory. It was also an indirect way of learning the art of poison.

The instant he stepped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, even before approaching the central spring, a powerful surge of Ice Fire Power rushed toward him.

On one side was extreme heat. It was as though flames burned in the air, and the rocks on the ground had been baked red, even producing faint cracking sounds.

On the other side was extreme cold. The chill pierced to the bone, a thin layer of ice covered the ground, and even the moisture in the air seemed frozen into ice crystals.

The two extreme powers met in the middle, yet instead of repelling each other, they formed a strange balance that nurtured vast patches of exotic flowers and herbs.

Lin Yao could not help sighing. "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye truly deserves its reputation as a famed treasure land of Douluo Continent."

The Star Sword within him possessed the three attributes of Wood, Fire, Earth. Although it lacked a Water Attribute, water nourished wood, so the power of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye did not reject him.

Instead, in this region harmful to ordinary soul masters, where even Dugu Bo could not remain for long, Lin Yao felt completely at ease under the protection of the Star Sword and Star Body, as though he had entered the most suitable cradle for cultivation.

Pure Soul Power continuously rose through the air and entered his body through his pores, nourishing both his martial soul and his flesh.

Seeing Lin Yao looking so relaxed, Dugu Bo could not help asking in surprise.

"Yao, this place of mine is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye?"

He had lived here for years, relying on its power to suppress the toxins within his body. He had even broken through to Title Douluo thanks to this treasure land, yet he had never understood its origins.

He did not even know the effects of these medicinal herbs, and could only use the dense Soul Power here to cultivate materials for cultivation.

Now, he was learning this treasure land's name from the mouth of a seven-year-old child like Lin Yao.

Lin Yao nodded and patiently explained.

"That's right, Senior Dugu. According to an ancient book, places where pure extreme cold and extreme heat converge without rejecting each other, while also nurturing precious medicines, are known as Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes. They are true treasure basins.

The environment in the Outer Zone is still relatively mild. The closer one gets to the center, the more extreme it becomes. Ordinary plants cannot survive there at all. Those able to grow in the Core Zone are all precious medicines and Immortal Herbs with extraordinary effects.

Moreover, the dense Soul Power here can shorten the growth period of precious medicines and Immortal Herbs by more than tenfold. If properly utilized, it would provide a faction with an endless stream of top-tier resources for nurturing its descendants.

Given enough time, even a weak clan could transform into one of the continent's foremost clans with this place. I am not exaggerating."

Dugu Bo listened dumbfoundedly, but he also felt somewhat bitter.

He had guarded this treasure land for more than a decade, yet had not uncovered even one ten-thousandth of its potential. It was like guarding a mountain of gold without knowing how to mine it.

Not only had he failed to use this treasure land to completely solve the toxins in his body and free himself from his neither-human-nor-ghost state, but the Dugu Clan had not benefited from it either.

Their bloodline had grown increasingly thin, and now only Dugu Yan remained.

Lin Yao saw Dugu Bo's disappointment and comforted him.

"Senior, with the power of this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, I am completely confident that I can help you sort through and suppress the deadly toxins in your body for several decades. If the effects are good, I may even be able to solve the problem in your body entirely."

A glimmer of light instantly flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes as he stared fixedly at Lin Yao.

Sensing the hope in his gaze, Lin Yao continued.

"However, I am not helping for nothing. I want to select some precious medicines and Immortal Herbs from this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye as payment.

Used properly, these precious medicines and Immortal Herbs can remake low-level soul masters. I will not forget Sister Yanyan either. I will certainly find her an Immortal Herb that can help remake her body and resolve the problems within it."

Dugu Bo's tense expression eased at once. He patted Lin Yao on the shoulder.

"Even if you had not said so, I would have let you choose whatever you needed from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

You are being so frank that I would feel embarrassed to be coy about it.

But I must remind you that the power within these precious medicines and Immortal Herbs is too overbearing. Even as a Title Douluo, I would not dare consume them carelessly.

You are only a Soul Elder. Do not lose your sense of caution just because you have achieved a little and know something about these precious medicines. Do not gamble with your life."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Bo saw that Lin Yao was listening seriously and could not help teasing him.

"If anything happens to you, it won't be your problem alone.

Your academy teammates, your family who care about you, and that hot-tempered master of yours—who knows how devastated they would be.

When the time comes, your master will probably be the first to come settle accounts with me. This old life of mine can't withstand a strike from his sword."

Lin Yao heard the concern in Dugu Bo's words and nodded solemnly.

"Rest assured, Senior. I will act carefully and will not risk my life."

Dugu Bo did not linger any longer. He laid down several Soul Power marks around the area and said to Lin Yao.

"I'll be back shortly. If you encounter any danger, just use your Soul Power to trigger the marks, and I will come immediately."

With that, he turned and left. He did not wish to disturb Lin Yao's search for Immortal Herbs, and he also wanted to show that he had no intention of spying on Lin Yao's opportunities.

After Dugu Bo left, Lin Yao took a deep breath and turned his gaze toward the spring at the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

He had just been about to search for medicinal herbs that could help Dugu Bo suppress his toxins when his attention was drawn to the two most conspicuous plants at the center of the spring.

At the center of the fire spring, a crimson plant grew quietly. Its leaves spread like flames, while a small red flower bloomed at its peak. Even the surrounding air had become scorching due to its presence.

Lin Yao recognized it at once. It was the fire-attribute immortal-grade herb, the Infernal Delicate Apricot.

Without hesitation, he mobilized the Star Power within his body and condensed it upon the Star Sword, forming a faint halo.

According to the records from the original work, the Infernal Delicate Apricot had to be harvested with jade to prevent backlash from its violent power. Lin Yao's Star Power was pure and gentle enough to substitute for jade.

Holding the Star Sword, Lin Yao carefully approached the fire spring.

The water of the fire spring churned and bubbled with scorching heat. The moment he drew close, he could feel a distinct burning pain against his skin.

He steadied himself and lightly swung his sword, precisely severing the Infernal Delicate Apricot at its Root.

In an instant, a violent fire-attribute power erupted from the Infernal Delicate Apricot, but the Star Power on the Star Sword firmly wrapped around it, preventing even the slightest leakage.

The Infernal Delicate Apricot rested steadily on the blade, perfectly calm.

Next, Lin Yao turned his attention toward the ice spring.

A thin layer of ice covered the surface of the ice spring, and its chill rushed toward him, causing the temperature around it to plummet.

At the center of the ice spring stood an elegant white herb, with a large, eight-pointed white flower blooming at its top.

Its petals were translucent and crystalline, while the stamen at its center glittered like ice crystals. Yet it emitted no fragrance at all. This was the supreme ice-type immortal herb, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.

Lin Yao walked to the edge of the ice spring and once more condensed Star Power around the blade of the Star Sword.

He held his breath, flicked his wrist, and the sword swept across. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass fell at once.

The instant the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass left the soil, a surge of extreme cold violently erupted.

Even with the Star Sword blocking it, a faint layer of white frost instantly formed over the surrounding herbs, while thin ice spread across the ground.

Lin Yao knew clearly that the ice power within the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was extraordinarily overbearing, and it also contained lethal cold poison. If an ordinary soul master consumed it and could not withstand the trial of the cold poison, death would be their only fate.

But if one succeeded in overcoming it, the power of a soul master with the same attribute would undergo a transformative rise.

He could not help thinking of Tang San in the original work. At that time, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had yet to awaken. Even after consuming the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, he had been unable to fully unleash its effects. It was truly a pity.

Lin Yao did not touch either Immortal Herb with his hands, fearing he might trigger an outburst of power. Instead, he controlled the Star Sword and kept the two Immortal Herbs floating above its blade.

Soon, an extraordinary scene unfolded.

The heat of the Infernal Delicate Apricot and the cold of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass sensed each other. Their two extreme powers began offsetting one another, and the scorching heat and freezing chill that had filled the surroundings gradually dispersed.

Seeing this, Lin Yao no longer hesitated.

He circulated Soul Power through his body to protect himself, then guided the two Immortal Herbs on the Star Sword slowly toward his mouth.

The Immortal Herbs melted the instant they entered his mouth. A sweet, refreshing taste filled his mouth, accompanied by a faint fragrance.

The next second, one red and one blue ray of light erupted from within him. The red radiance blazed like fire, while the blue radiance was cold as ice. The two lights intertwined and spiraled around his body.

Feeling the powerful energy surge violently through him, Lin Yao remained calm. He leaped into the air and landed firmly at the boundary between the two halves of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

He immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating his meditation method, guiding the medicinal power within his body with all his strength.

These two Immortal Herbs enhanced Lin Yao far more than they had Tang San in the original work.

His martial soul had greater potential, his Soul Power was more vigorous, and his body had become extraordinarily formidable due to the Star Body.

The Star Power and the power of the Five Elements Minor Cycle within him could perfectly harmonize with the Immortal Herbs' power, allowing the medicinal effects to move through his body like fish in water, constantly nourishing and strengthening him.

At the same time, the Star Sword and Star Body were actively absorbing this pure power, further improving their quality.

It could be said that Lin Yao's process of absorbing the Immortal Herbs' medicinal power was far easier and smoother than Tang San's had been, as though he were merely enjoying a feast of Cultivation.

As time passed, the Soul Power within Lin Yao gradually became somewhat depleted.

He made a swift decision, guiding the Soul Power within his body deep into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye beneath him to draw upon the pure power contained in the spring water.

Under his guidance, the blazing power of the fire spring and the frigid power of the ice spring slowly converged, forming a red-and-blue sphere of Soul Power around him that tightly enveloped him and continuously supplied him with strength.

Several hours later, Dugu Bo arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye carrying a food box, intending to bring Lin Yao something to eat.

But after circling the area once, he saw no sign of Lin Yao, and a few traces of worry immediately arose in his heart.

Fearing that Lin Yao had met with an accident while gathering Immortal Herbs, he was just about to use his Soul Power to search when his gaze casually swept over the spring and spotted the red-and-blue sphere of Soul Power floating in the air.

He sensed it carefully and detected a familiar trace of Ki emanating from the sphere—it was Lin Yao's Soul Power.

The worry in Dugu Bo's heart instantly vanished. He shook his head helplessly and chuckled under his breath:

"This little fellow really knows how to make trouble. I thought something had happened to him, but he's actually absorbing the power in the spring water. He certainly knows how to find a place for Cultivation."

He did not step forward to disturb him. Setting the food box on a nearby stone, he sat down beside it to stand guard and wait.