Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot

After the time it took to burn an incense stick.

At the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, firelight flickered.

Su Mo and Golden Crocodile Douluo sat facing each other, each holding several sharpened branches with Soft Bone Rabbits skewered on them.

The rabbit meat was golden and crispy on the outside, giving off an enticing aroma.

As for why it was Soft Bone Rabbit again—

That was because, in the Soul Hunting Forest, Soft Bone Rabbits occupied the bottom of the Soul Beast food chain. They reproduced rapidly and served as food for other Soul Beasts.

Although those high-level Soul Beasts were highly nourishing, killing one meant one less. Soft Bone Rabbits, on the other hand, were numerous, and their meat was tender and delicious, making them the best choice for survival in the wild.

Su Mo skillfully turned the roasting rabbits in his hands, sprinkled on some seasoning, and casually said,

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, tomorrow I'll begin refining the Immortal Herbs. The process may take a long time.

I'll have to trouble you to make a trip to Heaven Dou City and notify Teacher to send people here to guard this place.

It would be best if you could bring Bishop Yue Guan. No one in all of Spirit Hall understands cultivating flowers and plants better than him. He would be the perfect person to manage this place."

"No problem." Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly, a trace of solemnity flashing through his eyes.

Having personally experienced the wondrous effects of Immortal Herbs, he deeply understood the importance of this place. A sacred land capable of nurturing so many heaven-defying Immortal Herbs could absolutely change the balance of the continent.

Since Yue Guan possessed a family-inherited Immortal Herb Illustrated Handbook, he presumably also excelled at cultivation.

As long as they kept the seeds and tended them carefully, Spirit Hall would be able to endlessly nurture peerless geniuses in the future.

As the two spoke, the light swirling around Bibi Dong in the distance flowed entirely back into her body. She slowly opened her eyes, and her aura was several times stronger than before.

Clearly, she had already refined the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

"Senior Sister, come eat something." Su Mo smiled and waved at her.

"I'm coming." Bibi Dong answered softly.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile." She first respectfully bowed to Golden Crocodile Douluo before sitting down beside Su Mo.

Su Mo handed her a skewer of roasted rabbit and asked with concern, "How do you feel?"

Bibi Dong accepted the rabbit and said happily, "I've already broken through to level thirty, but I don't know the exact level yet."

"Dong'er, since you've reached a bottleneck, tomorrow I'll personally take you to hunt for your third Soul Ring." Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed heartily.

"Thank you, Grandpa Golden Crocodile."

Then she turned to Su Mo and asked curiously, "By the way, Junior Brother, which Immortal Herbs are you planning to refine?"

Su Mo raised his hand and pointed toward the two sharply contrasting springs in the distance.

"Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot. I may need a long time, at least several months."

"No matter how long it takes, I'll stay with you."

Warmth filled Su Mo's heart. He reached out and ruffled her hair. "All right."

The next morning.

"No matter what happens later, don't be afraid, and don't come any closer." Su Mo solemnly instructed Bibi Dong.

"Mm. Junior Brother, you must be careful." Bibi Dong's eyes were full of worry.

Su Mo nodded and walked toward the ice and fire springs.

They had remained in the safe area before, but only after truly stepping into the range of the springs did he personally experience the terror of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

On one side, the chill pierced to the bone, as though even the soul could be frozen solid.

On the other, heat waves towered into the sky, seemingly ready to burn all things to ash.

Two completely different energies violently collided within his body.

He stared at the two Immortal Herbs beside the springs.

One had to know that even a Titled Douluo would not dare touch them lightly.

Moreover, he did not possess Mysterious Jade Hand like Tang San. If he picked them directly with his hands, he would likely turn into an ice sculpture or charred cinder in an instant.

The Black Gold Sword Wings on Su Mo's back abruptly spread open. Two Sword Feathers shot free like lightning toward the two Immortal Herbs.

Although this method would cost them a little medicinal potency, that price was insignificant for the sake of safety.

The moment the Black Gold Sword Feathers cut through the stems, one froze into a crystalline ice feather surrounded by cold mist.

The other turned red like molten iron, billowing with white smoke as even the surrounding air distorted.

This showed just how tyrannical and terrifying these two Immortal Herbs were.

Su Mo drew a deep breath and pulled off his shirt, revealing his lean, muscular upper body.

He was the classic type who looked slim in clothes but was well-built without them, with smooth, defined muscle lines.

At the sight, two blushes instantly rose on Bibi Dong's cheeks. Flustered, she covered her eyes, yet could not resist peeking through her fingers as her heartbeat quickened.

Although they had slept in the same bed for a long time, they had always remained fully clothed. This was the first time she had seen such a sight.

Soul Power surged through Su Mo's body. He controlled the two Immortal Herbs with completely opposite attributes from afar, forcibly kneaded them together, then swallowed them in one gulp.

In an instant, excruciating pain struck.

A layer of frost would suddenly cover his body, only for his skin to turn red the next moment. Ice and fire ravaged his body, making him tremble violently beyond his control.

"Junior Brother!" Bibi Dong lowered her hands and cried out anxiously.

"Don't worry... I'm fine..." Su Mo gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with pain.

His wings snapped once, and he leaped directly into the spring.

In an instant, red and blue light continuously flashed across his body. The energies of ice and fire washed over every part of him, each impact bringing waves of piercing pain.

Thanks to his exceptionally powerful physique, this ice-and-fire tempering, unbearable to ordinary people, remained within his control.

He did not lose consciousness. Though the pain was unbearable, his mind remained clear.

Su Mo surfaced with only his head above the water and said in a trembling voice,

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, Senior Sister, go hunt for the Soul Ring. Don't worry about me. The spring water's attributes are extreme. Neither Spirit Masters nor Soul Beasts dare approach, so I'm safe here."

After saying that, he spoke no more. He closed his eyes and fully entered a state of cultivation, refining the two violent medicinal energies.

Golden Crocodile Douluo used his spiritual power to sense him. Seeing that Su Mo's aura was steady, the tension in his heart finally eased.

Even he had broken into a cold sweat at that scene just now.

"Let's go, Dong'er."

Golden Crocodile Douluo left the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well with Bibi Dong.

At sunset.

Golden Crocodile Douluo and Bibi Dong returned to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Naturally, hunting a Soul Ring did not require so much time. Golden Crocodile had also taken Bibi Dong to Heaven Dou City to send word to Pope Palace.

Sensing their arrival, Su Mo slowly rose from the spring, water droplets sliding down the lines of his muscles.

He took out a fresh set of clothes from his Soul Tool, put them on, and went to meet them.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile."

Su Mo greeted him, then looked at Bibi Dong. "Senior Sister, what is your third Soul Skill?"

Bibi Dong looked excited. "My third Soul Ring came from a Man Faced Demon Spider more than three thousand years old. Its Soul Skill is a control-type skill. I call it Death Spider Web Restraint."

She paused, excitement gleaming in her eyes. "Junior Brother, guess what level my Soul Power is now?"

"Level thirty-seven?" Su Mo guessed cooperatively.

Bibi Dong giggled. "Close, but not quite. I'm already level thirty-eight!"