Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply, and his face filled with disbelief.
He hurried over to Long Chen and looked him up and down.
It seemed he wanted to confirm whether Long Chen was lying or if eating the herbs had caused him some kind of problem.
"You... You really ate those two herbs? They're both highly poisonous. Even I wouldn't dare touch them lightly."
Long Chen smiled calmly and explained in all seriousness:
"Of course I know how potent those two herbs are. The one with extremely cold poison is called the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, while the one with extremely hot poison is called the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
"If you take either one alone, its poison will attack your heart and kill you.
"Although the two herbs are highly poisonous, their effects can counteract each other, balancing yin and yang.
"You know there are poisonous herbs everywhere here. It's impossible to stay here for a long time without being affected—not even you can do it, let alone me.
"So I took the risk and ate both herbs at once. Now my body can withstand the poisonous gas here."
After hearing Long Chen's explanation, Dugu Bo furrowed his brows and fell into thought. Only after a while did he speak:
"Kid, your courage and resolve are truly admirable. But do you know how risky that was? One small mistake, and you'd have been doomed!"
"Of course I know the risks. But I also know this is the only way I can safely develop a Detoxification Pill here and better help you and your granddaughter overcome the poison."
A faint smile appeared on Dugu Bo's face.
He had deliberately waited a few days before coming to see Long Chen because he wanted to find out whether Long Chen could use the herbs here to resist the poisonous gas on his own.
And Long Chen really had done it.
What's more, he'd done it in a way that astonished Dugu Bo.
"Fine. Since you've already eaten those two herbs, there's nothing more I can say. The fact that you knew their names means you understand their value better than I do. When will you start developing the Detoxification Pill?"
"We can start today. Come with me."
Dugu Bo followed Long Chen to a spot in the Medicine Garden.
Pointing to an Immortal Herb with a pale purple color, a canopy-shaped top, and nine leaves, Long Chen said:
"This herb is called Ninth Grade Purple Zhi. It's the finest kind of lingzhi mushroom, and it can strengthen the body, replenish qi, and increase one's power."
After speaking, Long Chen plucked it and handed it directly to Dugu Bo.
"Lingzhi is mild in nature, so eating it will benefit your health. Just chew and swallow it, then cultivate for a while to absorb its medicinal power."
Dugu Bo took the Ninth Grade Purple Zhi, looking somewhat hesitant.
He was a suspicious man, and he'd known Long Chen for only a few days.
Long Chen knew even more about all kinds of medicinal herbs than he did.
Only he and Long Chen knew about this place.
If he died, the Medicine Garden he'd spent years painstakingly tending would fall into Long Chen's hands.
So he had to be cautious.
"Kid, my old life may not be worth much, but I'd still like to live a few more years. It's always wise to be wary of others, and all these years, I've only trusted myself. I'll trust you this once and eat this herb. But if you dare try anything, you'll die with me."
After speaking, Dugu Bo spat out a green bead.
Under Dugu Bo's control, the bead slowly floated in front of Long Chen.
"This is the Dan Bead I condensed after my Martial Soul, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. Half my strength lies in this bead. If you swallow it and I die, it'll detonate inside your body."
Long Chen took the Dan Bead and joked:
"Senior, I wouldn't harm you. On the contrary, sometimes I even wonder if you'll kill me to silence me after I cure you and your granddaughter. After all, apart from you, I'm the only one who knows about this Treasure Land."
Long Chen knew the Dan Bead could help his Soul Power condense, which would benefit his cultivation.
As soon as he finished speaking, he swallowed the Dan Bead without hesitation. A warm, comfortable sensation immediately spread through his dantian.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo chuckled.
"Though I, Dugu Bo, am cold-blooded and have killed countless people, I'm no ingrate. If you really can cure the poison backlash afflicting me and Yanyan, I won't kill you. I'll even treat you as a friend. That Dan Bead you swallowed will benefit your cultivation. Once you've cured me, I'll draw it back out."
"Can I trust your word?"
"Of course. I, Dugu Bo, always keep my word. To be honest, you have courage and potential, so I'd originally thought of taking you as my disciple. But after bringing you to this Medicine Garden, I realized you knew more than I did, so I gave up on the idea."
"Good, I believe you. Hurry and eat the Ninth Grade Purple Zhi. Once you've absorbed its medicinal power, we can move on to the next stage of treatment."
Dugu Bo nodded, put the Ninth Grade Purple Zhi into his mouth, and chewed and swallowed it. Then he sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
An hour later, Dugu Bo woke from his cultivation.
"Kid, that Ninth Grade Purple Zhi really does replenish qi."
"Mm. You should cultivate a while longer and let your body absorb all of its medicinal power."
"All right."
Over the following period, Long Chen refined several pills for Dugu Bo and told him to take them for a while to see how they worked.
The Ninth Grade Purple Zhi was, after all, the finest kind of lingzhi mushroom, and it truly benefited Dugu Bo's body, which had been harmed by the poison backlash.
After taking it, he suffered less when the poison in his body flared up.
After this, Dugu Bo trusted Long Chen a little more.
One day, Long Chen woke from his cultivation, his eyes lighting up.
"Dugu Bo's Serpent Emperor Pill really is a treasure. My Soul Power is growing faster, and it helped me break through to level forty ahead of time. Now I can go hunt a Soul Beast again."
Long Chen stood up and turned to look at Dugu Bo, who was cultivating nearby.
Just then, Dugu Bo also woke from his cultivation.
"Senior, I have some good news for you."
"Oh? What good news?"
"My Soul Power has broken through to level forty. Now I need to hunt a suitable Soul Beast to obtain my Fourth Soul Ring."
A flicker of surprise crossed Dugu Bo's eyes before giving way to approval:
"Kid, your progress is astonishing. You've already broken through to level forty so quickly."
"That's all thanks to your Serpent Emperor Pill."
Dugu Bo stood up and stretched his limbs.
"There are plenty of Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest. I'll go with you."
Long Chen shook his head gently and smiled:
"Senior, I have a favor to ask. Could you accompany me to Star Dou Great Forest? I want to hunt a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for my Fourth Soul Ring."
"What? A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?! You've only just reached level forty, and you're already being so greedy. Can your body handle it?"
"Don't worry. I can handle it."
Before you continue