Ice-Fire Body Tempering

Dugu Bo's hands trembled as he took the two herbs.

These two immortal herbs had been growing right under his nose.

He had lived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for so many years, coming and going every day, walking past these immortal herbs constantly, yet he had never realized their true value.

"Chrysanthemum Guan." Dugu Bo raised his head, his green eyes filled with complex emotions. "I must admit, you are the one who understands flowers and plants best on this continent."

Chrysanthemum Douluo stood by the edge of the pool, his hands tucked into his sleeves, the corners of his mouth curling into a slight arc.

"Old Poison, you are right, but not entirely." His gaze fell upon Gu Qingshan. "I am not the only one who understands flowers and plants."

Dugu Bo followed his gaze to Gu Qingshan, his brows knitting together slightly.

What exactly was the background of this six-year-old child?

First, he saw through the symptoms of his poison at a glance, then accurately named the immortal herbs needed for the antidote, and now Chrysanthemum Guan was saying he also understood flowers and plants?

How could a six-year-old child know so much?

Dugu Bo couldn't fathom it, but he didn't ask again.

"Understood." He carefully stowed away the two immortal herbs. "I will go take the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma first. As for Dugu Yan, we shall discuss it when she returns."

"By the way, Senior Dugu." Gu Qingshan suddenly spoke up.

Dugu Bo paused and turned his head to look at him.

"After consuming the immortal herb, your soul power will surge by several ranks. You must remind your granddaughter to keep it a secret."

"Understood."

With that, his figure flashed and vanished among the rocky cliffs of the valley.

The valley fell silent.

Gu Qingshan stood by the pool, his gaze sweeping over the various immortal herbs.

The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid was for Dugu Yan, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma for Dugu Bo, the Nine-Grade Jade Lotus was reserved for Ye Lingling, that deep blue Other Shore Flower was a perfect match for Ghost Douluo, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was the homologous immortal herb for Chrysanthemum Douluo...

He scanned the area, finally letting his gaze rest on two herbs at the edge of the pool.

One was fiery red, shaped like a ganoderma, its surface covered in fine cracks with faint firelight flowing within them.

The other was ice blue, shaped like a lotus, its petals crystal clear, resembling cold ice carved into the shape of a flower.

Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.

Gu Qingshan took a deep breath.

Consuming either of these two immortal herbs alone would be lethal, but if taken together, using poison to counteract poison while balancing yin and yang, their medicinal power could be converted into pure energy for body tempering.

Combined with the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the effect would be doubled.

"Elder Chrysanthemum." He turned to look at Chrysanthemum Douluo. "Please help me pick those two herbs."

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked in the direction of his finger, his eyes landing on the Infernal Delicate Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, his eyebrows arching slightly.

"Young Master Qingshan, these two herbs are one hot and one cold, their medicinal properties clashing. How do you intend to consume them?"

"Simultaneously," Gu Qingshan said.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's brows furrowed.

"Simultaneously? These two herbs are highly toxic on their own; taking them together might indeed neutralize each other, but are you sure..."

"I am sure." Gu Qingshan interrupted him, his tone calm but resolute. "Elder Chrysanthemum, I know what I am doing."

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked into his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"Young Master Qingshan, where do you intend to consume them?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked after picking the two herbs.

Gu Qingshan looked at the pool.

The red and blue water flowed quietly before him, with a clear dividing line at the junction; the red water emitted heat, while the blue water was frosted with ice.

"Right here," Gu Qingshan said, beginning to undress.

Chrysanthemum Douluo: "..."

"Young Master Qingshan, what are you doing?"

"Taking a bath." Gu Qingshan took off his black robe, folded it, and placed it on a stone by the shore. "Elder Chrysanthemum, after I consume the herbs, I will jump into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. You don't need to worry; this is the normal procedure."

Chrysanthemum Douluo opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

He found that he was already getting used to it.

Used to Young Master Qingshan doing everything in unexpected, yet truly efficient ways.

He handed the two immortal herbs to Gu Qingshan.

He took a deep breath and placed both herbs into his mouth at the same time.

Cold and heat alternated.

Ice and fire clashed.

Red and blue light emerged on the surface of Gu Qingshan's body, the two colors flickering alternately; his skin turned red as a branding iron one moment, and pale as frost the next.

Every shift in color was accompanied by excruciating pain that burrowed deep into his marrow.

Veins bulged on Gu Qingshan's forehead as sweat poured down like rain, only to be evaporated by the intense heat radiating from his skin, turning into wisps of white steam.

Elder Chrysanthemum stood to the side, his hands slightly clenched.

If Young Master Qingshan truly met with an accident, he would have no way to answer to His Majesty the Pope.

Once the medicinal potency of the two immortal herbs completed their first collision and fusion within his body, Gu Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes, stood up, and plunged headlong into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Elder Chrysanthemum stood on the bank, watching the ripples spread across the water's surface, his gaze shifting from worry to astonishment.

He could sense that Gu Qingshan's aura was not weakening; instead, it was strengthening at an incredible speed.

His vitality was surging.

His Soul Power Level was skyrocketing.

Elder Chrysanthemum stood on the bank for a long while, and only after confirming that Gu Qingshan's condition had stabilized did he finally heave a sigh of relief.

Then, he began to examine the surrounding immortal herbs.

There were still many immortal herbs left: Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, Aromatic Silk Beauty, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Nether Other Shore Flower... one by one, the herbs were identified by him, each one incomparably precious, each one enough to drive anyone in the soul master world insane.

The corners of Elder Chrysanthemum's mouth slowly curled upward.

"Old Poison, oh Old Poison, you have occupied this treasure land for years, guarding a mountain of riches without knowing it, hahahaha!"

"Now, it all belongs to us!"

He rolled up his sleeves, took a stack of jade boxes from his Soul Tool, and began to carefully harvest the immortal herbs.

Three days later.

A loud boom echoed.

A figure burst forth from the spring water.

Gu Qingshan stood on the bank wearing only a pair of shorts; his stature had grown, making him look like a child of eight or nine years old.

Upon sensing Gu Qingshan's Soul Power Level, Elder Chrysanthemum stood up in shock.

"Young Master Qingshan, you... you are at level thirty?"

"Mm, the effects of the two immortal herbs were excellent."

His soul power had increased by six levels, and his health bar had reached 9000.

Gu Qingshan gave himself a mental thumbs-up.

Infernal Delicate Apricot plus Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass plus the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—the effect of this combination was even better than he had anticipated.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, have all those immortal herbs been harvested?"

Elder Chrysanthemum's mouth slowly curled into a grin: "All harvested, Young Master Qingshan, ten in total! I never expected there to be so many immortal herbs here. That Old Poison has no eye for quality; guarding such a treasure mountain, he actually treated them as common herbs—what a waste of heaven's gifts!"

He took out the jade boxes one by one from his Soul Tool and handed them to Gu Qingshan.

Gu Qingshan looked at the golden chrysanthemum inside a jade box and glanced at Elder Chrysanthemum in confusion: "Elder Chrysanthemum, did you not consume the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum?"