[What? Did you overdo it?]
The system spoke up, its voice tinged with amusement.
"Wait... Why is she reacting so strongly?"
[How do you think it feels to have impurities built up over years expelled from your body?]
"Fair enough..."
Since he'd be staying here for several months, Murong Ci decided not to hold back. He didn't even spare a glance at Dugu Yan, who was still lying on the ground.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, one of the three great treasure basins.
This was a place blessed by heaven and earth, where the world's spiritual energy gathered.
The treasures nurtured here were exceptionally gifted by nature and of the highest quality.
Murong Ci walked to the edge of the spring and spotted something that looked like a little bug.
"A Snow Silkworm? What a find. It should help Dugu Yan."
This Snow Silkworm weighed several pounds. Since it lived beside the Yin Spring, it naturally possessed an exceptional chill.
It could also help Dugu Yan withstand the next wave of poison.
But Dugu Yan was asleep at the moment.
Murong Ci simply placed the Snow Silkworm in his Yongzhen Space.
[You really aren't leaving Tang San a single good thing.]
The system teased him.
"Of course not. They're all mine."
[...Mind your limits. Don't take too much, and make sure you plant things in time. Don't turn into a selfish person like Tang San.]
Murong Ci's steps faltered for a moment, but he didn't stop. He simply slowed down.
Suddenly, Murong Ci caught a faint floral fragrance.
It came from a pale pink flower, its bloom enormous—over a foot across—with petals as translucent as crystal. It grew on the bank where the Yang Spring and Yin Spring met.
The flower gave off a delicate fragrance that wasn't overpowering, even up close.
[Youyou?]
The system recognized the flower and spoke up at once. Its interest in her was obvious from its tone.
Only then did Murong Ci realize that the flower was the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
The bane of all poisons, it made one immune to every toxin.
[You can let Dugu Yan smell it.]
[This flower won't help you. You're already immune to poison. But you can keep it for now, in case you need it.]
Murong Ci said nothing. He gently took the flower and placed it in his Yongzhen Pocket.
So your body was more honest than your words, huh...
Next, Murong Ci went over to a large white flower with eight angular petals.
Even Murong Ci's Ultimate Ice felt a faint chill before it.
It was the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass!
A temperamental Immortal Herb of Ultimate Ice!
[This is what you came here for. Use the Ice Scorpion Pincer to pluck it.]
Murong Ci did as instructed. Blue light flowed around him, and the Ice Scorpion Pincer gently snipped the flower free. It fell into his hand.
Then Murong Ci carried the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass over to Dugu Yan, who was gradually waking up.
"What are you doing?"
Dugu Yan looked somewhat wary, with a hint of anticipation she hadn't even noticed herself.
Her body gave another involuntary shudder.
"Smell it."
Dugu Yan opened her mouth and took a deep breath, almost as if she were floating on clouds.
"You! This flower's pretty potent. Don't inhale so hard."
With that, he took the Snow Silkworm out of his Yongzhen Space.
"Try to extract and absorb the energy inside this Snow Silkworm in a little while. It'll help with tomorrow's treatment."
Dugu Yan nodded, accepted the Snow Silkworm, then walked to a corner of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and sat down to meditate, beginning to extract its energy.
Seeing that, Murong Ci didn't hesitate any longer and headed straight for the Yang Spring.
At the heart of the scorching Yang Spring grew a fiery red plant that looked like a cabbage.
This was the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
It contained the violent power of Ultimate Fire.
[You can sit right in the middle of the Yang Spring and absorb this one. The Yang Spring's heat is incredibly overbearing, but since you have Ultimate Fire, it'll help you in essence. It'll temper your body.]
The system's words reminded Murong Ci. He rose and stepped into the Yang Spring.
Though Ultimate Fire shielded him, the spring's temperature still left his whole body burning hot.
It was at least as hot as the Fire Lotus Grotto.
Murong Ci immediately used fire to protect himself. The blue light around him turned red.
He released a tiny amount of fire-attribute energy from his palm, drawing the flower toward him.
[Ajiao's still as hot-tempered as ever.]
Murong Ci chuckled to himself. Youyou and Ajiao were names Huo Yuhao had given them.
It seemed the system really liked Huo Yuhao.
Without hesitation, Murong Ci grabbed the Infernal Delicate Apricot and swallowed it whole.
In an instant, scorching, violent energy rampaged through his body, burning him until his skin turned red.
It felt as though every inch of his bones were being forged in fire. Murong Ci could clearly feel them growing harder. He could only grit his teeth and endure, though now and then a soft groan escaped him.
At the same time, his Yongzhen power began absorbing the fire element around him faster and faster.
So the pain would gradually ease.
Murong Ci felt his affinity with fire growing stronger, and his body had already begun to enjoy the sensation of being tempered.
[Ding—Constant absorption of fire attribute detected. Current fire affinity increased by 30%.]
[Congratulations. The Yang Spring's temperature can no longer affect you.]
Indeed, as he continued absorbing the energy, the violent sensation faded, leaving only comfort.
It was like soaking in a hot spring.
Night had fallen completely.
Murong Ci climbed out of the Yang Spring. His body still glowed red, but he no longer felt hot.
He then took the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass out of his Yongzhen Space.
He steeled himself and plunged into the Yin Spring.
To emerge from scorching heat and dive straight into bitter cold took no small amount of courage.
Absorbing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was much easier for Murong Ci.
His affinity with ice had already reached unprecedented heights, so absorbing it posed no problem.
Still, the extreme heat lingering in his body fought against the cold, making him shiver with pleasure.
[Ding—Ice affinity increased by 30%.]
[Ding—Wood affinity increased by 50%.]
[Congratulations, host. By absorbing the two top-tier Immortal Herbs, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, your Soul Power has increased by one level. Your current Soul Power is level 36.]
It was past midnight by the time Murong Ci climbed out of the Yin Spring. He looked over at Dugu Yan, still concentrating as she absorbed the Snow Silkworm.
He couldn't help feeling moved.
Everyone was striving to grow stronger. Even now, Dugu Yan was drenched in sweat, yet she was still gritting her teeth and pressing on.
Murong Ci got dressed and walked over to her.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging them as he infused a little ice-attribute Soul Power.
Murong Ci reassured her.
"Don't be nervous. I'll protect you while you cultivate."
Dugu Yan's tense, trembling body gradually relaxed.
She accepted his help, too.
[Not bad. You can even help others cultivate.]
[But do you treat every woman like this?]
"..."
[What are you planning to do next?]
"Immortal Herbs aren't all there is. They're just one part of it. Like Huo Wu said, my future is the stars and the sea."
At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, all was silent.
Only Dugu Yan's occasional soft gasps broke the stillness.
Heaven Dou City.
"Old Ghost, that kid's gone."
"Looks like Old Poison took him away. Chrysanthemum Guan, are you still going to wait?"
"Let's head back first. After observing him for the past few days, we should report on the child to His Holiness the Pope."
"True enough. Let's go."
The two figures vanished in the blink of an eye.