Three hours passed.
Demon Subduing Douluo followed behind Ji Ye, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked as relaxed as if he were strolling through his own backyard.
"Little Ye, are you sure we haven't gone the wrong way? If we go any farther, we'll reach the poisonous miasma. Even Soul Emperors can't withstand that stuff."
"We're on the right path." Ji Ye didn't look back.
The two walked for another hour or so. The surroundings grew darker, and the trees took on increasingly strange shapes. Dark green moss covered their trunks, while vines dangled like curtains.
The air grew heavier with dampness, and a faint, pungent smell began to creep in.
Demon Subduing Douluo's brow furrowed. He stopped and raised a hand to signal.
"Poisonous miasma ahead."
Ji Ye stopped beside him.
He peered through the dense shadows of the trees at the faint green haze up ahead.
"We're here," Ji Ye said.
Demon Subduing Douluo froze.
"Here? There's poisonous miasma ahead. Are you sure?"
Ji Ye nodded.
"I'm sure. Senior, put up a Soul Power shield and take me inside."
Demon Subduing Douluo glanced at him. He was silent for two seconds, then asked nothing more.
Soul Power surged through him, and a pale golden barrier enveloped them both.
Fine lines of Soul Power flowed across its surface, keeping the poisonous miasma at bay.
"Let's go."
The two stepped into the pale green miasma.
The fog churned against the Soul Power shield, hissing faintly as it constantly eroded the barrier.
But before the power of a Titled Douluo, the poisonous fog was pathetically weak.
Not a trace of poison could seep through.
Ji Ye walked ahead, his steps steady and unhesitating.
Demon Subduing Douluo followed behind, scanning the fog around them with a frown that never once relaxed.
What kind of treasure land could this wretched place possibly be?
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the fog ahead suddenly began to thin.
The light brightened again, and their field of vision gradually widened.
When the last trace of green mist faded from sight, the scene before them made Demon Subduing Douluo stop dead in his tracks.
It was a small valley, encircled by towering cliffs covered in dense vines and moss.
At its center lay an irregular pool, its waters sharply divided by color.
One half was blue, shimmering with a bone-chilling cold. The other was crimson, like molten lava.
The two colors mingled at the boundary, yet never fully blended, forming a strange, winding line.
Strange plants grew thick along the pool's edge. Some bore enormous blossoms, some translucent fruits, some leaves as clear as jade, and others gleamed all over with a metallic sheen.
A rich medicinal fragrance filled the air. Just one breath left them feeling refreshed, and even the flow of Soul Power within them seemed to grow smoother.
Demon Subduing Douluo stood frozen, his mouth hanging open. For a long while, he couldn't close it.
"W-what is this place?"
Ji Ye walked to the pool and crouched down, reaching out to test the temperature of the blue water.
The moment he touched it, he yanked his hand back.
It was cold!
Colder than cold!
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
"A treasure beyond compare."
Just then,
a commanding voice rang out.
"Who dares trespass in my medicine garden?!"
Ji Ye stood up, brushed the droplets from his hand, and turned toward the voice.
Demon Subduing Douluo turned as well.
An old man in a green robe emerged from the shadows of the cliff.
He was gaunt, with long green hair and a dark green robe.
When he saw that the pool was unharmed, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did he turn his gaze toward the two by the pool.
A youth in gray and a burly middle-aged man.
His eyes fell on Demon Subduing Douluo, and his pupils contracted slightly.
"Someone from the Worship Hall?" Dugu Bo's voice had dropped, tinged with wariness.
"How did you find this place? And how did you get through the poisonous miasma outside?"
Demon Subduing Douluo took the Coiling Dragon Staff from his shoulder and planted it in the ground. The staff sank half a foot into the soil with a muffled thud.
"Old Poison, that's a pointless question. How did we get in? We walked in, of course. Your poisonous miasma can only stop Soul Kings and Soul Emperors. It's useless against me."
Dugu Bo's mouth twitched.
The wariness in his eyes turned to apprehension.
"Demon Subduing Douluo, my people and the Worship Hall have always kept out of each other's way. Why have you trespassed in my medicine garden today?"
Demon Subduing Douluo smiled.
"This is a fine garden. My Little Ye has taken a liking to it. From today on, it belongs to the Worship Hall."
Dugu Bo's eyes settled on Ji Ye, sizing him up.
He knew Demon Subduing Douluo, but had never heard of the Worship Hall having a "Little Ye."
"Senior Dugu, I'm Ji Ye."
"So you're the one who said you'd give my medicine garden to the Worship Hall?" Dugu Bo was plainly displeased.
He had tended this place for many years. It had long been his.
"Little brat, do you know what you're saying?"
Ji Ye stood by the pool, his hands hanging loosely at his sides and a faint smile playing at his lips.
Threatening me?
"I do. I said the Worship Hall is taking over the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. And you, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, will submit to the Worship Hall from today onward."
"Bullshit!" Dugu Bo's voice shot up, and even his green hair quivered.
"I've lived for all these years, and no one has ever dared speak to me like that!"
Demon Subduing Douluo stood off to the side. Hearing Dugu Bo curse, his grin widened.
Dugu Bo had brought this death upon himself.
Ji Ye wasn't frightened by the roar. His voice remained calm.
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was unclaimed land. Whoever occupied it owned it."
Dugu Bo's expression darkened.
"I've tended this place for more than twenty years—"
"Now we'll be tending it." Demon Subduing Douluo cut him off. His tone remained light, but the smile had left his eyes.
"Old Poison, enough nonsense. My Little Ye wants this place. If you know what's good for you, leave on your own. If you don't—"
He took a step forward. Rings of Soul Power lit up along his Coiling Dragon Staff.
"I'll send you on your way."
Dugu Bo's fists clenched, then relaxed. They clenched and relaxed again.
He looked at the Coiling Dragon Staff in Demon Subduing Douluo's hands, then at Ji Ye standing beside the pool. After a long silence, he finally forced out a few words through gritted teeth.
"...What exactly do you want?"
Ji Ye looked at Dugu Bo, his tone mild yet leaving no room for argument.
"It's simple. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well belongs to the Worship Hall. You'll stay here and watch over it, tending the medicinal herbs for us. In return, the Worship Hall will provide you with protection and cultivation resources. From today on, you're one of us."
Before you continue