(Thanks to Candlelight123 for the recommendation vote!)
Chrysanthemum Douluo's face flushed red, and his hands trembled with excitement.
His expression instantly turned enraptured.
When he reached out to touch the Lovesick Heartbreak Red's leaves, the flower suddenly blazed with a brilliant golden-red light.
Realizing that the Immortal Herb was rejecting him, Chrysanthemum Douluo actually bowed and apologized to the flower.
He still wore a look of rapture.
"This is the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, hailed as the king of Immortal Herbs. Eating it can bring effects like seizing the wonders of heaven and earth."
"Unfortunately..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo explained the flower's bizarre requirements for being picked. (Chrysanthemum Douluo probably didn't know that story.)
Everyone present was quite surprised. Could this tiny flower choose its own master?
Noticing that Lin Huai had deliberately shown the Immortal Herb to Yue Guan.
"Little Huai, do you know this Immortal Herb?"
Lin Huai tossed it onto the ground and shook his hand.
He paid no attention to Yue Guan's pained expression.
"Yes, Teacher. I know a few, and this is one of them.
"Thank goodness Chrysanthemum Douluo knew how to pick it. Otherwise, who knows how many Immortal Herbs would have been ruined!"
Yue Guan stepped forward and carefully picked up the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.
He bowed and pleaded with Qian Daoliu. "Grand Elder, I know I can't earn the Lovesick Heartbreak Red's recognition.
"I beg you to let me care for it until someone comes along who can pick it."
Qian Daoliu considered the old fellows in the Worship Hall. None of them had ever experienced a love that cut to the bone.
He waved his hand casually.
"Fine. You can look after it for now."
"But after you take it away, won't its essence dissipate?"
Hearing that Qian Daoliu had granted his request, Yue Guan hurriedly took a rather exquisite flowerpot from his Storage Soul Tool.
As he scooped some soil into the pot, he answered the question.
"Don't worry, Grand Elder. As long as a mature Immortal Herb hasn't been picked, or has been picked using the proper method, then—"
"It won't lose its medicinal power. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red hasn't been picked yet, so it's in no danger."
Watching Yue Guan plant the Lovesick Heartbreak Red again,
"Right, we can pick the Immortal Herbs later. First, discuss with Little Huai how to deal with the Martial Soul flaws of Dugu Bo and his granddaughter."
Yue Guan used Soul Power to clean the soil from his hands,
Then looked at Dugu Bo.
"Martial Soul flaws?"
"Old Poison, what flaw does your Martial Soul have?"
Dugu Bo's face was full of disdain.
"No way!"
"Even Young Master Lin, a seven-year-old Soul Master, can see it."
"And you, a Titled Douluo who specializes in herbs, can't?"
Dugu Yan looked at her grandfather, who had never shown such an expression before.
Her instincts told her that these two weren't simply enemies.
"Senior Yue Guan, the poison from the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul has already begun affecting its hosts."
"Like Senior Dugu Bo's green hair and eyes. Miss Dugu's are the same."
Lin Huai's voice cut off their bickering at just the right moment.
"I do have ways to help them, but either they can't cure the problem completely, or they require purging all the poison from their bodies."
His gaze passed over Dugu Bo's strangely green hair.
"I don't think Senior would use either method unless absolutely necessary."
Lin Huai held the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
He walked among the Immortal Herbs and spread his hands.
"But since Senior provided us with so many Immortal Herbs,"
"I think we should find a better solution. That way, we won't let down someone who joined our Spirit Hall."
Yue Guan suddenly covered his mouth with a feminine giggle.
He gave Dugu Bo an amused look.
"See? You joined the Spirit Hall in the end."
"If you'd joined us sooner and told me about this place,"
Yue Guan paused and gently brushed a verdant Immortal Herb.
"You might even have caught up with me by now."
A green blur flashed past.
Dugu Bo grabbed Yue Guan by both arms and asked urgently,
"Sweetheart—"
"Bah, bah."
Noticing Yue Guan's expression stiffen, Dugu Bo hurriedly corrected himself.
"Yue Guan, are you sure you can deal with the poison in Yan Yan and me?"
Yue Guan tugged at his arms, but couldn't pull free.
"With the help of Immortal Herbs, there's no poison that can't be dealt with."
"Let go of me first, so I can see which Immortal Herb we need."
Dugu Bo awkwardly released Yue Guan's arms.
Yue Guan walked over to Dugu Yan and gave her a kind smile.
"Yan Yan, right? Give me your hand so I can check how far the poison has spread through your body."
Dugu Yan held out her slender hand.
Yue Guan took her wrist and slowly released his Soul Power.
A moment later, he let go.
Then he walked toward the Immortal Herb that looked like a verdant lotus.
"Good. Yan Yan's poison hasn't taken shape yet. She can use this Jade Scale Nine Nether Lotus."
"It'll not only perfectly resolve the snake poison in her body, but might even help her Martial Soul evolve."
Yue Guan glanced at Qian Daoliu, who was still reading the Immortal Herb Catalog.
Qian Daoliu didn't even look up. He waved his hand casually.
"No need to ask me. This was Dugu Elder's residence, after all. Just help them fix their flaws."
He then cut the stem with a jade ruler and sent the herb to Dugu Yan with Soul Power.
"Eat the petals first, then swallow the single lotus seed in the middle."
Dugu Yan followed his instructions and ate the Jade Scale Nine Nether Lotus, then immediately sat down to refine it.
Seeing that his granddaughter was fine and that her aura was continuing to grow stronger,
Dugu Bo looked at Yue Guan with relief and held out his withered hand.
"Thank you, old friend."
"Yan Yan's problem is solved. As for me, just do your best. It's fine if you can't cure me. I can hold on for another ten years or so, anyway."
Yue Guan took Dugu Bo's wrist.
"Don't worry. Even without Immortal Herbs, I can cure your Jade Phosphor Snake poison."
"Hmm...?"
"Why is there less poison in your body than I expected?"
Yue Guan rubbed his chin and muttered,
"From what you've said, the poison should have already reached your bones. But your condition is nowhere near that bad."
"What have you been doing?"
Under Yue Guan's stare, Dugu Bo felt a little uneasy. He took two steps back and shook his head.
"Nothing. I haven't taken any Immortal Herbs, either."
Hearing this, Lin Huai's instincts told him that the nascent Soul Core Dugu Bo had cultivated—the Inner Pellet—was probably helping.
It was a good chance to introduce the theory of Soul Cores.
Lin Huai's eyes shifted.
"Dugu Elder, could it be something caused by your cultivation?"
"Is there anything different about the way you cultivate?"
Dugu Bo slapped his forehead.
"There is, actually. Young Master Lin, you're sharp!"
He immediately circulated his Soul Power and spat out a jade-green bead that spun rapidly.
Qian Daoliu sensed the change, set down his book, and looked at them.
"What's that?"
Yue Guan probed the bead with his Soul Power.
Dugu Bo noticed their confusion.
He spoke with smug pride.
"This is the Inner Pellet I condensed at the cost of most of my Soul Power!"
"Not only can it store my Soul Power for use in battle, it's practically a powerful Soul Skill in its own right."
Qian Daoliu and Yue Guan stared at the Inner Pellet, lost in thought.
Lin Huai seized the chance and raised his hand, voicing the words he had prepared.
"Teacher, I've seen something similar in the library, too."
Before you continue