Lin Huai suppressed his excitement and spoke calmly:
"Since Poison Douluo Senior came here in search of medicinal herbs, you must have already collected some."
"Would it be all right if I took a look at what you've gathered? I might be able to find a better way to detoxify you."
Dugu Bo looked immensely proud and waved a hand.
"I have a small medicinal garden with most of the herbs in it. Young Master, feel free to use whatever you like."
"However, could you please help my granddaughter first and deal with the effects of the Jade Phosphor Snake poison?"
Lin Huai smiled.
Dugu Bo should be glad he wasn't like Tang San.
Tang San had eaten and taken things from Dugu Bo, yet hadn't given him any Immortal Herbs,
nor had he helped him completely resolve the flaw in his Martial Soul.
"We're all on the same side. Senior, just bring your granddaughter over later."
Guided by Dugu Bo,
Qian Daoliu and Lin Huai appeared in a valley filled with poisonous fog.
"Grand Elder, I have an antidote for this poisonous fog. Should I give Young Master Lin some?"
Dugu Bo activated the Storage Soul Tool he carried with him
and took out a small glass bottle.
Qian Daoliu released his Soul Power into the fog.
He carefully sensed the surroundings.
"No need. Poisonous fog of this strength can't penetrate my Soul Power barrier."
"Keep leading the way."
Dugu Bo led the two of them through a winding route, quickly making their way through the poisonous fog.
As soon as they entered the valley,
Qian Daoliu dispelled his Soul Power barrier, and Lin Huai caught a faint, pungent smell.
Dugu Bo saw Lin Huai frown and feared he might think he was trying to poison him.
"Young Master Lin, there's no need to worry."
"My little medicinal garden has two springs, one frigid and the other scorching hot. That smell comes from sulfur. It's harmless."
Lin Huai nodded thoughtfully.
"Senior Poison, this place of yours must be rather unusual. Extreme cold and heat coexist here. There's probably nowhere else like it in the world."
Dugu Bo looked immensely proud.
"I stumbled upon this place by chance and discovered that plants here grow far faster than they do elsewhere."
"Let me take you both to the garden first."
After passing through the dense forest,
Lin Huai finally saw one of the fabled Three Great Treasure Basins—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Unlike Lin Huai, who had already braced himself for the sight,
Qian Daoliu was astonished to see two springs, one steaming with heat and the other radiating cold, joined together.
Nothing separated them, yet they remained distinct within one enormous spring.
"This..."
"Dugu Bo, with a treasure land like this, why have you been stuck at level 91 for so many years, unable to break through?"
Dugu Bo heard him
and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Why was the Grand Elder so blunt?
"Grand Elder, you know about the flaw in my Martial Soul.
"I managed to break through to Titled Douluo only because this treasure land has a special effect that suppresses toxins."
Qian Daoliu paid no attention to Dugu Bo's awkward tone.
"Don't worry. My disciple said he has a way to solve your problem, so he'll definitely be able to."
"You'll be able to reach even higher levels in the future."
Qian Daoliu looked at the many strange flowers and plants.
He realized he didn't recognize a single one.
Oh, no, that wasn't quite true.
He did recognize that fluffy chrysanthemum.
It was Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul—the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
So he turned to his well-informed disciple.
"Xiao Huai, do you recognize these unusual flowers and plants?"
Under Qian Daoliu's protection, Lin Huai examined them carefully.
With Dugu Bo watching expectantly, he said:
"I recognize a few. For instance, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. I'm sure Teacher and Senior know that one."
Dugu Bo looked at the chrysanthemum, which seemed rather cute up close, and thought of his old enemy.
"That's the only one I recognize. Chrysanthemum Guan's Martial Soul is this flower, but I only know what it is, not what it does."
Lin Huai stroked his chin, pretending to think.
"What I read in an ancient text was that consuming it can make the body impervious to blades and spears, and can also slightly improve one's talent."
"Improve one's talent!"
Dugu Bo was astonished and regretted it so much he wanted to slap his thigh.
Great. Was he going to get any of this good stuff now?
Seeing Dugu Bo's disappointment,
Lin Huai said solemnly:
"Senior, don't worry. I would never do something as despicable as crossing the river and tearing down the bridge."
"We're all on the same side. If the herbs suit them, you and your granddaughter can each have one."
At that moment, Tang San, who was being lovey-dovey with Xiao Wu, sneezed.
Seeing the overwhelming gratitude in Dugu Bo's eyes,
and the look on his face, as though he'd gladly devote his life to the cause,
Lin Huai nodded to himself.
Good. Thankfully, Dugu Bo knows what's what.
He didn't say anything foolish like, "This is my territory. Why should I only get two?"
Then he looked at Qian Daoliu.
"Teacher, can you send a message to the elders in the Worship Hall?"
"Could you see if Chrysanthemum Douluo can be summoned here?"
Seeing the puzzled looks on Qian Daoliu and Dugu Bo's faces,
Lin Huai explained, "As far as I know, Chrysanthemum Douluo's family knows a great deal about rare flowers and herbs."
"He should be able to identify more of the medicinal herbs here. The Breaking Clan knows something about them too, but they're not on our side. The fewer people who know about this treasure land, the better."
Dugu Bo again felt that the kid was taking a jab at him.
Qian Daoliu nodded, then tossed out a small token.
Looking at the token-like Soul Tool,
Lin Huai figured some Soul Tools had survived on the continent after all. He wondered if he could build something of a similar size in a short time.
Then he looked at his level-99 teacher.
If all else failed, he'd just have to make Teacher work for it.
Tang Wulin from Douluo 3 could circle the planet. There was no reason the Angel Douluo, Invincible of the Sky, couldn't do the same.
"Chrysanthemum Guan?"
"That sissy knows about this stuff?"
Dugu Bo's question interrupted Lin Huai's thoughts.
After sorting out his train of thought, Lin Huai decided the Soul Tool could wait.
"So Senior hasn't consumed any of these herbs."
"Otherwise, Chrysanthemum Douluo could tell what you'd eaten just from your aura."
Lin Huai saw Dugu Bo's expression shift when he heard Chrysanthemum Douluo had such an ability.
"Senior, there's no need to worry. Although you and Chrysanthemum Douluo have some bad blood between you,"
"when it comes to matters of right and wrong, I believe he knows where he stands."
"Go bring your granddaughter here first. I can recognize the common herbs."
Lin Huai offered Dugu Bo a casual reassurance and sent him away.
After Dugu Bo disappeared,
Lin Huai walked toward a plant that was entirely emerald green, except for three white leaves at its center.
A few drops of water clung to the middle of the leaves, like morning dew that hadn't yet evaporated.
"Teacher, I plan to consume this herb first."
Qian Daoliu looked a little worried. "Xiao Huai, are you sure? Why not wait until Yue Guan arrives?"
"Don't worry, Teacher. This herb is called Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, and it's one of the few whose medicinal properties I can identify with certainty. It's the gentlest of them all."
"It can greatly increase mental strength. I might even be able to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as my third Soul Ring."
Lin Huai explained earnestly to Qian Daoliu.
"All right. If you're that confident, I won't stop you."
"Go ahead and refine it. I'll protect you."
Lin Huai sat cross-legged and tipped the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew into his mouth.
The rest of the plant instantly turned to ash. He casually scattered the ash and the remaining seeds where it had grown.
Lin Huai began cultivating with his eyes closed.
As time passed,
Lin Huai felt his mind drift again. A flash of white light passed before his eyes,
and the red-haired figure appeared once more.
Before you continue