Ice and Fire Golden Body Refinement!

[დინ! The follow-up linked mission "Eradicate Old Ailments" had been completed!]

[Mission completion: 100%!]

[Mission reward issued: Wish Value +1000 (Current: 3154), Seal-Breaking Talisman x1;]

Seal-Breaking Talisman!

It was actually a Seal-Breaking Talisman!

Xiao Yin had seen it in the System Shop before. A single Seal-Breaking Talisman cost 1,000 Wish Value!

Seal-Breaking Talisman: Could break open any sealed space and enter it.

Xiao Yin had originally planned to exchange for a Seal-Breaking Talisman after wrapping things up, then enter beneath the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. After all, that was his true objective—

The remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings!

Devour them!

"I didn't expect the mission reward to directly give me a Seal-Breaking Talisman. Looks like the system really understands me!"

While Xiao Yin was lost in thought, Dugu Bo saw that he had not responded and asked awkwardly:

"Xiao Yin! Young friend Xiao Yin? What do you think?"

"Huh? Fine!" Xiao Yin was briefly dazed.

Damn! What had this Old Poisoner said just now?

Hm? Why was Dugu Yan's face so red?

Hearing Xiao Yin's response, Dugu Bo became even happier. "Hahaha, young friend, you truly are a straightforward person!"

Seeing Dugu Bo about to say something else, Xiao Yin hurriedly cut him off and said:

"You flatter me, Senior. This junior's strength is meager. Being able to help Senior strip away part of the poison was already sheer luck.

Although half the residual poison in Senior's body has been removed, the remaining half is entrenched even deeper and is more tightly entangled with Senior's Martial Soul Avatar and Spirit Bone origin. Removing it will be far more difficult."

His tone shifted as his gaze swept across the dazzling immortal-grade medicinal herbs in the valley, especially several plants he had long secretly marked. His voice carried just the right amount of gravity:

"To completely eradicate the remaining poison, more time will be needed, and this junior must also increase his own strength!

This junior has observed that the spiritual herbs here possess pure and immense medicinal power. If I can selectively refine and absorb several of them, it may improve my strength and lay the foundation for completely eradicating Senior's hidden ailments later!"

Those words were half true and half false, leaving no loopholes.

This was the most reliable method Xiao Yin had considered for a long time.

First, point out the danger of the residual poison. Then emphasize his own lack of strength, before naturally suggesting that he use Immortal Herbs to improve himself—all for the sake of curing Dugu Bo's poison more effectively.

Given Dugu Bo's current gratitude and trust in him, along with his desire to eradicate the poison completely, there was almost no chance he would refuse!

Sure enough!

Dugu Bo not only showed no suspicion, but his eyes flashed brilliantly. He waved his hand grandly and declared:

"Pick them! Pick whatever you want! Take whichever one catches your eye! I told you already, this Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well is your backyard! Forget a few plants—even if you pick them all, that's fine!"

He was in an exceptionally good mood right now, so he naturally granted Xiao Yin whatever he asked for.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Xiao Yin's heart settled, while gratitude appeared on his face. "Then this junior will boldly make use of them. Senior has just stripped away a large amount of poison, and your Soul Power has also improved. You need to enter seclusion and stabilize it.

This junior also needs to quietly refine medicinal herbs and improve my cultivation. Once the time is right, I will resolve Senior's remaining hidden ailments."

"Good! Good! We'll do as young friend says!" Dugu Bo deeply agreed.

He truly felt power surging through his body and needed seclusion to digest this long-lost strength.

He patted Xiao Yin on the shoulder, then gave his flushed-cheeked granddaughter a meaningful look before saying loudly:

"Yan Yan, come with Grandpa. Grandpa has some things to tell you. After that, you should return to the academy as well. Don't delay your studies."

Dugu Yan was pulled away by her grandfather. Before leaving, she could not help turning back to look at Xiao Yin once more.

Her emerald eyes rippled as though she wanted to speak but held herself back, filled with deep attachment and reluctance.

A short while later, at the entrance to the valley.

Dugu Yan had changed into a brand-new Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniform. Her short dark-purple hair fluttered lightly in the breeze at the valley entrance.

She looked at the young man who had thrown her heart into turmoil. The usual teasing charm was gone from her alluring face, replaced by a young girl's innocence and shyness.

"Xiao... Xiao Yin," she said softly, her voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremble. "Grandpa told me to return to the academy... How... how long will you stay here?"

"At least half a month, at most a month," Xiao Yin answered simply.

"Oh..."

Dugu Yan lowered her head, unconsciously grinding a small stone beneath her toe.

After several seconds of silence, she suddenly raised her head. Gathering her courage, she looked directly into Xiao Yin's eyes, her jade-green pupils clear to the bottom.

"I... I'll go to Blue Tyrant Academy after I return and tell Dean Liu that you're safe, so she won't worry."

She paused, and her voice became even softer. "You... you need to be careful too... Finish what you need to do... as soon as possible... Remember to come find me!"

After saying that, she abruptly stepped forward!

Before Xiao Yin could react, she rose onto her toes. Her warm, soft, fragrant lips landed lightly and swiftly on his cheek like a dragonfly touching water!

The touch was warm, carrying a girl's unique softness and a faint sweet fragrance.

"I... I'm leaving!"

Like a startled fawn, Dugu Yan instantly sprang back. Her cheeks turned crimson as she spun around and sprinted toward Heaven Dou City without looking back, leaving only her fragrant silhouette behind.

Xiao Yin stood where he was and raised a hand to touch the cheek that had been ambushed. It seemed to still retain that soft sensation.

His gaze shifted slightly, both surprised and helpless.

This girl... she was getting bolder and bolder.

As he watched Dugu Yan disappear at the end of the forest path, the helplessness on Xiao Yin's face instantly faded, replaced by profound calm.

He turned around and looked toward the heart of the valley, shrouded in red and white mist. The corner of his lips slowly curled into an almost imperceptible arc.

The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the immortal-grade medicinal herbs... Now, he was finally alone.

He stepped forward and made his way unhurriedly toward the center of the valley.

His target was clear—the several immortal-grade herbs with the most restrained yet most immense energy!

"Infernal Delicate Apricot... Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass... Ice and Fire Golden Body Refinement, today is the day!"

"Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum... fortify the limbs, clear the eight meridians—how could I possibly miss it?"

"And... Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew... Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower..."

"Even if some of them are useless to me, I still can't let them go!"

His footsteps then stopped at the edge where the ice and fire springs met, his eyes firmly locking onto the two immortal-grade herbs on either side of the spring eyes, radiating completely opposing auras!

On the Yang Spring side stood a proud plant as red as burning flame!

Infernal Delicate Apricot!

On the Yin Spring side quietly bloomed a plant as white as crystal, as if carved from ten-thousand-year ice!

Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass!

These two immortal-grade herbs, one yin and one yang, one fire and one ice, possessed utterly opposing attributes. Yet within this miraculous land of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, they formed a subtle balance.

"Ice and Fire Golden Body Refinement... temper the body with extreme forces, destroy before rebuilding, and forge an Indestructible Diamond Body... It is incomparably dangerous, but the rewards are limitless!"

A brilliant light burst from Xiao Yin's eyes. He no longer hesitated in the slightest!

He took a deep breath, and the black Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up!

"Third soul skill—Cauldron Cook!"

Bzzzz—!

A heavy hum echoed through the valley!

The enormous cauldron, several meters tall, suddenly manifested and firmly rooted itself directly above the point where the ice and fire springs converged!

The Taotie totem on the cauldron's wall seemed to sense the approaching feast. Its dragon head looked savage, its sheep body coiled tight, and its enormous dark-gold eyes gleamed with excitement!

Chaos mist churned violently from the cauldron's mouth, radiating powerful Devouring force!

"Draw!"

Xiao Yin's thoughts moved like lightning as both hands gestured through the air!

The cauldron trembled slightly, and the vortex at its mouth instantly expanded!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two streaks of light were forcibly dragged into the air!