At the entrance to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Yuanen Yehui emerged from the depths of the valley, her steps light. Her face, usually as cold as ice, now bore an unmistakable look of delight.
She carefully cradled an Immortal Herb that shimmered from stem to leaf and gave off a faint blue glow. Its leaves looked as if they had been carved from ice crystals, and a chill hung in the air as they swayed gently.
"Not a bad haul?" Luo Yang asked with a smile.
Yuanen Yehui nodded. "This Ice Marrow Jade Bone Grass is a perfect match for my Titan Giant Ape Martial Soul."
Luo Yang smiled in satisfaction but said nothing more.
Behind him, Affection Douluo stepped forward and patted Luo Yang on the shoulder, his expression grave.
"Your turn, young man. Remember, the elder inside has a bad temper. Be respectful when you go in. Don't cause trouble, and don't try to pick any Immortal Herbs by force. They're all sentient and will choose their own masters. If they aren't willing, no one can take them."
Luo Yang nodded obediently. "Understood. Thank you for the reminder, Your Eminence."
Seeing how obedient he looked, Affection Douluo felt somewhat reassured. He gave Luo Yang a few more instructions before stepping aside.
Luo Yang took a deep breath and headed into the depths of the valley.
The full view of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was even more breathtaking than it had been from afar.
The lake at its center looked as if it had been cleaved by a divine sword: one half was crimson, boiling like lava, while the other was icy blue, frozen solid. The red and blue waters clashed fiercely where they met, yet somehow maintained a delicate balance, forming a perfectly straight dividing line.
Mists of red and blue swirled above the lake. Sunlight refracted through them, casting a dreamlike rainbow glow.
All around the shore, rare flowers and exotic plants vied for attention. Some were crystal-clear, refracting dazzling light beneath the sun; real flames burned on the petals of others without scorching anything nearby; and among the winding vines, starlike specks of light flickered, as if someone had plucked them from the night sky.
The air was saturated with such dense spiritual energy that it seemed almost tangible. Each breath left one feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
But Luo Yang's gaze did not linger on the Immortal Herbs for long.
His eyes settled on a boulder not far from the lakeshore.
Seven figures stood there.
Or rather, they were seven human forms conjured by Ferocious Beast Immortal Herbs.
At their head stood a woman in red. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a graceful figure and long scarlet hair falling over her shoulders like blazing flames.
A scorching aura beyond words surrounded her. Even the ground beneath her feet had been roasted a faint red.
Her scarlet eyes looked down at Luo Yang.
Infernal Delicate Apricot.
Luo Yang nodded to himself. As expected, it was her.
One of the strongest Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the incarnation of Infernal Delicate Apricot.
Six figures stood beside her, men and women of different forms. Each one gave off a powerful, distinctive aura.
They were all top-tier Immortal Herbs that had cultivated in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for countless millennia. Any one of them, taken elsewhere, would send Soul Masters across the entire continent into a frenzy.
"After all these years..." Infernal Delicate Apricot spoke first, her voice sweet but thick with mockery. "Every human who comes in has the same look on their face—eyes bulging, drooling, wishing they could carry us all off. Greed is truly human nature."
The other Immortal Herbs nodded, their eyes fixed on Luo Yang with suspicion and disdain.
Luo Yang's expression remained unchanged. He even smiled faintly.
Seeing his reaction, Infernal Delicate Apricot furrowed her brow but said no more. She waved a hand.
"Enough, young man. Show us your Martial Soul. We old-timers will pick the Immortal Herb best suited to you. Remember, you may choose only one. Once you've picked, get out."
Her tone was full of condescending charity.
Luo Yang did not argue. He simply nodded.
The next moment, he raised his right hand.
An invisible aura of death, ancient and profound, slowly welled up from within him.
It was not violent, yet it carried a supreme majesty that looked down on all living things and held dominion over life and death.
Like an ancient god waking from a slumber of ten thousand years, even the slightest leak of its aura seemed to lower the temperature throughout the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well by several degrees.
Infernal Delicate Apricot's expression changed instantly.
The six Immortal Herb incarnations behind her changed as well. Some even instinctively took a step back.
What... what kind of Martial Soul was this?!
That aura wasn't an ordinary death attribute. It was more primordial, more ancient—as if it were an authority that stood above the laws of life and death!
These Immortal Herbs had cultivated for countless millennia and were extraordinarily sensitive to the laws of nature.
The aura emanating from this young man filled them with instinctive fear—a trembling from the depths of their souls at the presence of something on a higher plane!
Infernal Delicate Apricot took a deep breath, suppressed her agitation, and tried to keep her composure.
She exchanged a glance with the other Immortal Herbs, then finally spoke.
"Good... that's an impressive Martial Soul. Your turn, young man. We'll choose an Immortal Herb for you."
With a wave of her hand, several shimmering Immortal Herbs lifted from the lakeshore and floated before Luo Yang.
"This Crimson Flame Golden Lotus can temper your Soul Power and double the might of your fire-based Soul Skills."
"This Frost Jade Marrow can strengthen your mental power and make your soul more stable."
"This Nine-Death Resurrection Grass can save your life when you're on the brink of death..."
Infernal Delicate Apricot introduced them one by one.
And yet.
Luo Yang looked at the few Immortal Herbs floating before him and slowly shook his head.
Infernal Delicate Apricot frowned. "What? These are the Immortal Herbs best suited to your current situation. We've lived for so many years. We know what we're talking about."
Luo Yang smiled.
"I don't want any of these," he said.
Infernal Delicate Apricot froze. The other Immortal Herbs froze too.
"You don't want them? Then what do you..." Infernal Delicate Apricot hadn't finished when Luo Yang's next words cut her off.
"Because—" Luo Yang raised his head, swept his gaze over the seven Immortal Herbs present, and enunciated each word clearly:
"I want all of them."
All of them?!
At his words, all seven Immortal Herbs froze.
Then Infernal Delicate Apricot laughed.
Her laughter was full of scorn and contempt, even pity, as if she were looking at a madman who didn't know the height of the heavens.
"All of them?" she repeated, her voice rising sharply. "I think a donkey kicked your head! You're young, but you sure have a big mouth!"
Behind her, an Immortal Herb with a deep blue body and a frigid aura sneered. "Young man, do you even know what you're saying? Every one of us has cultivated for tens of thousands of years. Any one of us would have Soul Masters across the entire continent fighting tooth and nail to claim us. And you want all of us?"
"Exactly!" another Immortal Herb chimed in. "Who do you think you are? Even a Limit Douluo wouldn't dare make such a boast!"