The next day, the sun shone brightly as a gentle breeze swept by.
Dugu Yan's Snow Silkworm had reached the final moments of its absorption.
Its entire body had long since turned transparent.
Seeing this, Murong Ci didn't delay any longer. He withdrew his hand from her back and began to collect his "spoils of war."
Murong Ci walked with the lightest of steps, careful not to disturb Dugu Yan, and made his way to the outer edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The herbs on the outskirts weren't top-grade, but they were still rare enough.
Murong Ci stopped in front of an unremarkable stone and gently inhaled the faint floral scent.
It was a pale blue flower, its petals crystallized like ice, glistening and translucent, with several droplets clinging to them.
Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew—just as its name suggested, it was a spiritual herb that could enhance mental power.
Though it couldn't be called an immortal-grade herb, it was still a rare find for an agility-type Soul Master.
He had already made all the arrangements for Feng Xiaotian's share. He absolutely couldn't shortchange his own little brother.
[Picking these herbs can draw out your Ultimate Wood attribute, giving you an especially strong affinity with herbs.]
[Idiot.]
Murong Ci shook his head and pressed his lips together. He drew out Yongzhen's wood attribute and let it seep into the roots of Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.
It was as if he were communicating with it.
Before long, the flower seemed to relax, as though its strength had ebbed away. Murong Ci reached out and lifted it.
Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew then merged into Yongzhen Space.
Only a tiny seed remained behind.
Murong Ci even infused the little seed with a faint trace of Ultimate Wood energy.
Grow quickly.
Murong Ci stood up, stretched, and turned toward the next herb.
It was a plant growing beside the Yang Spring, its entire body fiery red, nestled in a crack in the rocks beside the spring.
Its petals resembled a glowing red cockscomb, and a little liquid fire trickled from its stamens.
It was the top-grade fire-attribute immortal herb, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
Though its quality was slightly inferior to Infernal Delicate Apricot, it was still the best of the best.
This was the very source that would evolve that Ma Hongjun's thing from an Evil Fire Phoenix into a phoenix.
But Murong Ci certainly couldn't leave it for him. This immortal herb was meant for Huo Wu.
After tempering her body with the earth's core flames earlier, and with this top-grade fire-attribute immortal herb, Huo Wu's own flames would surely make a great leap forward and reach Ultimate Fire.
A thrill of delight ran through Murong Ci. Of course giving it to his girlfriend was better than giving it to Ma Hongjun, that john.
With a thought, he drew out Ultimate Fire and gathered it in. Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower flew into Murong Ci's arms as if it had found its master.
"In a few months, when I leave this place, my companions will surely shine. Especially my Huo Wu."
Murong Ci's steps grew a little lighter. Nothing matched the heady spirit of youth.
He continued onward, his stride carrying him across the world.
East of the spring's source, a golden chrysanthemum stood alone in a crack in the rocks, closest to the Yang Spring.
Its petals formed a perfect chrysanthemum, but its core was pale purple. A faint purple haze shrouded it, lending it a bewitching air of nobility beneath the moonlight.
Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was the Martial Soul Origin of Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
He could keep this one for himself and use it as leverage when he worked with Chrysanthemum Douluo in the future.
Murong Ci was certain that with this immortal herb, Chrysanthemum Douluo would agree to do anything for him.
Was this what raising a loyal assassin amounted to?
More or less. Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul was Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum to begin with. If Murong Ci gave him this immortal herb as well, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
He could probably raise his level to 97, or even Level 98.
Only with capital to back him could he get what he wanted.
That was the only way to make his trip to Spirit Hall all the more splendid and perfect.
Half a day passed in the blink of an eye. Murong Ci then gathered Narcissus Jade Bone and Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, two more immortal herbs.
He really wasn't leaving a single good thing for Tang San.
But the system suggested he could give these to them in trade. That would be far more valuable than waiting for Tang San to come and take them.
After all, Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing would then owe him a favor, and he could make use of it later.
As for Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Murong Ci also tried to see whether he could pluck it.
But, of course, it didn't go well.
To pluck it, one had to love someone and use one's heart's blood as the catalyst. Anyone who wasn't devoted enough couldn't pick it.
[You really are Zang Xin, a man with a wandering heart. But this flower is just as bad, arrogant and conceited.]
The system's voice carried a hint of mockery and contempt.
Murong Ci pondered for a moment. Maybe he was thinking the system could help him pluck it someday?
Thoughts were one thing; reality was another. He'd better focus on what was in front of him first.
So Murong Ci went to the last immortal herb.
It grew on the bank where the Yang Spring and Yin Spring met, its petals as clear and translucent as crystal.
Aromatic Silk Beauty had originally been Ning Rongrong's exclusive immortal herb.
It evolved Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda, making her the unprecedented Nine Treasures Douluo.
Murong Ci sat there, staring blankly at the immortal herb, his eyes unfocused.
[Thinking about whether to give it to her?]
Murong Ci gave a slight nod and reached out to touch one of its small petals.
[Whether you give it to her or not is up to you, but I know you don't hate her that much.]
[Perhaps you shouldn't hate her at all. A four-hundred-year-old Flame Demon Lion is something the people of this era can only dream of obtaining.]
[I wonder how she managed to persuade Ning Fengzhi to get that Soul Beast for her. Sigh, merchants value profit and look lightly on parting.]
Murong Ci stared blankly at the sky, his eyes hollow. Perhaps he really shouldn't hate her.
It had come to this; he had no time to dwell on anything else.
Murong Ci turned around and circulated his Soul Power, putting Aromatic Silk Beauty away.
Suddenly, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as a brilliant idea came to him!
He could sell it to Ning Fengzhi. Wasn't he obsessed with profit and doted on his daughter? He would surely buy it for her.
That way, Murong Ci would get money and earn a favor. Maybe Ning Rongrong would even throw herself into his arms?
Maybe.
A trace of self-mockery crossed Murong Ci's expression.
In any case, the immortal herb expedition had ended in perfect success.
At last, Dugu Yan finished absorbing the Snow Silkworm and stood up, feeling completely refreshed.
She sauntered toward Murong Ci, her eyes carrying a hint of greed and desire.
"Thanks to your Snow Silkworm, quite a bit of the poison buried deep inside me has been drawn out. The Snow Silkworm has also strengthened my resistance to the cold."
As soon as she finished speaking, she rushed toward Murong Ci. He had no time to dodge before she pinned him against the stone wall.
It dug painfully into his back.
Dugu Yan's breath brushed across his face, and his heart raced.
"So I want you. I want you to turn up the heat today and treat me with everything you've got. Pour your Ice-attribute Soul Power into me!"
Murong Ci coughed softly and waved for her to let him go.
Dugu Yan did as he asked and released him.
Murong Ci led her to the Yin Spring and treated her as he had the day before.
This time, however, he took Aromatic Silk Beauty out of his Yongzhen Pocket and set it to one side.
That would make the treatment go more smoothly.
And Dugu Yan would feel better, too...
Soft moans sounded from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from time to time.
Dugu Bo stood beside a cliff, looking down over the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He watched what his granddaughter was doing.
He couldn't help covering his head, though the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed how he felt.
Soul Power slowly gathered in Dugu Bo's hand, alternating between ink green and deep purple.
He looked down at the two and murmured to himself,
"Let this old man see whether you have what it takes to deserve my granddaughter."