"Xiao Chen, this place doesn't seem safe."
Bibi Dong's expression was grave.
She didn't recognize the Immortal Herbs, but she could sense how dangerous this place was.
The closer she got to the spring,
the stronger that feeling became.
"Teacher, as long as we don't get too close to the spring, we'll be fine."
"Besides, this is the safest place in the entire Sunset Forest."
"The Immortal Herb Illustrated Record mentions it!"
"Look at that big chrysanthemum. Doesn't it look a little like Elder Chrysanthemum's Martial Soul?"
"Teacher, it's also called the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Eating it can refine an Indestructible Diamond Body. This one, this one... and this one..."
Su Chen gave her a rough introduction to the Immortal Herbs, and Bibi Dong's expression changed again and again.
Seeing how earnestly Su Chen spoke, she believed most of what he said.
"Let me have a look at that book."
"Here!"
When Bibi Dong held out her hand, Su Chen took out the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record and handed it to her.
There was no need to hide it now, and he couldn't have hidden it anyway.
Even if Qian Xunji found out later and might even take the Immortal Herbs away,
Su Chen wouldn't care too much.
He just had to swallow the Immortal Herbs he wanted first. Then no one could dig them back out.
"Teacher, I'm going to pick them."
Su Chen saw Bibi Dong reading the book on the spot.
He didn't stay by her side. Instead, he took out the tools he had prepared earlier and started picking the herbs one by one.
Su Chen didn't leave a single one behind. Whether they were Immortal Herbs or herbs that hadn't reached that level, he stuffed them all into his Soul Tool.
There was no way he'd leave them for Tang San.
When he got to the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, Su Chen decided to eat them right away.
He couldn't take these two plants with him.
They would wilt quickly after being picked.
Besides, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot had to be taken together. Either one alone was deadly poison—not even a Titled Douluo could withstand it.
Su Chen remembered that they granted three abilities: immunity to all poisons, a body immune to ice and fire, and a strengthened physique. Their effect was even greater than that of Shark Glue.
Su Chen could even raise the age of his Second Soul Ring by an appropriate amount.
"Teacher, I'm going to absorb the Immortal Herbs."
"The Immortal Herb Illustrated Record says I need to absorb them together with the spring water."
"So I might have to take a swim. Teacher, Teacher, are you listening?"
Su Chen looked back at Bibi Dong. She was circling Lovesick Heartbreak Red, studying it, and comparing it with the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record he had just handed her.
Su Chen was speechless. Bibi Dong at this point seemed to yearn for love.
That made sense.
She was at that age, after all.
She had needs.
Su Chen stopped paying attention to her.
"Hongdou, Xiangsi!"
Buzz!
A chill wind swept through as baleful Yin energy quickly gathered nearby.
Ghost Bride · Xiangsi.
Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost · Hongdou.
The two ghost maidens appeared at the same time.
Su Chen took metal and jade tools out of his Soul Tool.
He handed one to Hongdou and the other to Xiangsi, asking them to help him pick the herbs.
After all, he didn't have the Mysterious Jade Hand.
Getting close to the spring or touching the Immortal Herbs would injure him.
Hongdou and Xiangsi took the tools and drifted toward the herbs.
Ghost Bride · Xiangsi cut the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass with the metal tool.
As soon as the Immortal Herb touched Xiangsi's hand,
a layer of frost quickly formed over it, then vanished moments later.
The Ghost Bride was also an extremely Yin body, and her power was of the same kind as the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
The Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost didn't act herself. She simply flung out a talisman.
Her First Soul Ring lit up right after. When the talisman burned, its ashes gathered together and slowly took the shape of a person.
A strange, eerie laugh rang out,
and a woman appeared, draped in white robes, her long hair veiling her face.
She was completely covered by the robes. Her exposed skeletal hands were white as snow, and she held a pipa made of bones. Floating in midair, she showed only a pair of red eyes. Baleful Yin energy swirled around her, and from time to time, laughter rang out from every direction.
This was the Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost's First Soul Skill. It could summon the undead to fight.
Su Chen had no idea how many there were.
That was because the number depended on how many talismans the Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost had.
The summoned undead took the jade tool from the Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost and drifted over to pick the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
The spring water's power clearly attacked the undead. When she touched the Immortal Herb, her hands turned bright red, but she seemed not to feel any pain. She quickly floated back, and just as she handed over the herb,
she tilted her head slightly and showed Su Chen a scarlet mouth, its corners curling upward in a sinister, satisfied smile. Then she vanished.
Su Chen caught the Immortal Herb from the Ghost Bride at the same time and immediately felt its intense heat and cold.
He didn't hesitate. He shoved it straight into his mouth.
A wave of cold and a wave of heat crashed through his body, and dull pain throbbed in his chest.
When he felt the herbs had taken effect,
Su Chen gritted his teeth, pulled off his clothes, and casually tossed his Soul Tool aside.
Then he jumped into the spring.
The Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost and the Ghost Bride turned into two clouds of red mist and drifted back into Su Chen's body.
The two forces within the spring felt even stronger. Pain was etched across Su Chen's face.
The two opposing forces rampaged through his body, and Su Chen couldn't help groaning.
"Hm?"
"Where's my disciple?"
"Did he really jump in?"
Bibi Dong watched bubbles rise from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, her pretty brows lifting slightly.
She checked the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record again. The method was correct.
Bibi Dong didn't know how long she waited. She read the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record over and over.
The method was right, but it was taking far too long. She was starting to lose patience.
From dawn until dark?
"Gurgle, gurgle!"
Just then, ripples spread across the spring.
Su Chen surfaced.
When he leaped out of the spring,
his face was alight with joy.
"Xiao Chen!"
Visible relief washed over Bibi Dong's face.
She hurried over and looked him up and down.
Thank goodness, he wasn't hurt.
He even looked sturdier—and bigger.
"Teacher, I successfully absorbed the Immortal Herbs."
"You should look away."
Su Chen's cheeks reddened as he picked up his clothes and put them on.
"You're just a little brat. What could you do?"
Seeing his embarrassed expression, Bibi Dong couldn't help letting the corners of her mouth curve up slightly.
"I..."
Su Chen was speechless.
He felt like he could handle a heavy load just fine.
"From the look of you, you must have gained a lot."
Bibi Dong's smile faded as she turned to business.
"Teacher, to be honest, I gained immunity to ice and fire as well as immunity to all poisons. I even feel like my physique alone is enough to beat a One-Ring Soul Master to a pulp."
"After that, I could still plow a few more acres of land and have energy left over."
Su Chen wore a confident expression. The Immortal Herbs had worked far better than he'd expected.
"Uh."
Bibi Dong found it amusing. This disciple of hers really knew how to talk.
"Teacher, let's leave. Do you want to try the Lovesick Heartbreak Red?"
Su Chen suddenly looked at Bibi Dong with a teasing smile.
Thinking of the love associated with the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Bibi Dong's cheeks flushed.
She felt a little longing, and a little envy.
But...
"Are you teasing your teacher?"
"Who would I try it with?"
Bibi Dong suddenly reached out and lightly tapped him on the head.