Dugu Bo's Submission, Claiming the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply, and his entire body froze in place as if struck by lightning.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was his greatest secret. Fewer than three people in the entire soul master world knew of this place.

Dugu Bo stared fixedly at Gu Qing, shock, vigilance, and disbelief churning within his jade-green snake eyes before finally turning into a hoarse, bitter laugh:

"You even know about this?

I've lived in seclusion in Sunset Forest for most of my life. I thought I'd hidden myself deeply enough, but before you, it seems I'm completely transparent."

"Don't be nervous. I know because the immortal herbs I need only grow in such extreme environments, and only the immortal herbs there can cure your poison."

Gu Qing patted Dugu Bo on the shoulder. "Let's go. Your poison can't be delayed much longer."

Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then nodded heavily and turned toward the outside of the basin.

The group passed through the dense forest. The farther they went, the more treacherous the terrain became, while the surrounding air gradually changed from dry and scorching to moist and cool.

After passing through the last forest of poisonous miasma, the scene ahead suddenly opened up:

A hidden valley enclosed by mountains appeared before them.

The valley was enormous and oval-shaped. At its center lay a pool of water clearly divided into two halves: one was crimson like fire, with seething, scorching springs; the other was icy blue like frost, radiating bone-piercing cold.

The two extreme springs converged at the center in the shape of a taiji diagram. Hot and cold collided, sending up a strange mist.

Half crimson and half icy blue, the mist slowly swirled through the air, shrouding the entire valley in a hazy glow.

All manner of exotic flowers and strange herbs grew around the pool. Some burned with ghostly blue flames across their entire bodies, some had ice crystals that never melted condensed upon their petals, and some had a liquid-metal sheen flowing across their leaves...

Liu Erlong stood at the valley entrance, her phoenix eyes widening slightly. The fullness of her chest rose and fell several times with her deep breaths as she spoke with unconcealed astonishment:

"There's actually a place like this hidden in Sunset Forest? These twin pools of ice and fire are simply unheard of. They're so beautiful."

The dual ice-and-fire spiritual energy within the spring pool was a hundred times denser than any cultivation treasure ground Liu Erlong had ever seen. If she cultivated here, her Fire Dragon Martial Soul would likely rise to another level.

Tang San's gaze swept over the exotic flowers and strange herbs one by one, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.

She recognized several of them: Aromatic Silk Beauty, Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Aromatic Silk Beauty.

She had originally thought the records of immortal herbs in the ancient books from her previous life were merely legends. She had never expected them to truly exist in this world.

Gu Qing swept his gaze across the immortal herbs surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, already forming a plan for how to distribute them.

Though he had long known of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's existence, seeing these twin taiji pools reflecting each other amid the mist with his own eyes still left him momentarily dazed.

For such utterly opposing natural forces to coexist so harmoniously in one place was, in itself, the most incredible miracle of heaven and earth.

Dugu Bo stood to the side, watching the three of them react. For some reason, a sense of pride rose within him.

But he quickly suppressed that feeling. His jade-green snake eyes turned toward Gu Qing, and his voice was hoarse and urgent:

"Headmaster Gu, you said the immortal herbs here can cure both Yan Yan and me. How exactly will you do it?

Gu Qing withdrew his gaze and slowly looked across the patches of immortal herbs surrounding the pool:

"The solution to your problem lies among these herbs growing from the ground."

Dugu Bo followed his gaze toward the exotic flowers and strange herbs swaying in the spiritual mist. A trace of bitter self-mockery appeared on his aged face:

"I've lived at this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for most of my life, looking at these flowers and grasses every day. I only knew they looked unusual, never realizing they were immortal medicines that could save Yan Yan's life and mine. Truly, I was surrounded by treasure without recognizing it!"

Dugu Bo raised his head, urgency flashing through his jade-green snake eyes:

"I've lived for more than ninety years and know a little about pharmacology, but I don't recognize a single one of the immortal herbs here. Since Headmaster Gu recognizes them, please enlighten me."

"There are two ways to cure your poison."

Gu Qing raised one finger and said:

"The first is to swallow and refine both the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot at the same time.

One is extremely cold, the other extremely hot. The opposing powers of ice and fire yin and yang will completely scour away and dissolve the Jade Phosphorous poison accumulated in your marrow, meridians, and Martial Soul.

The poison will be permanently removed, and you will never again suffer backlash from it. Your body will also gain resistance to fire and water, as well as immunity to all poisons.

However..."

Dugu Bo's eyes instantly lit up, but soon narrowed again. "However?"

"However, the poisonous origin of your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul will be dispersed by the ice-and-fire medicinal effects as well! Decades of poisonous cultivation will be completely ruined, and your combat strength will plummet! Simply put, the poison will be gone, but so will your cultivation."

Dugu Bo's expression darkened. He slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse but resolute. "I've established myself in the soul master world through poison arts my entire life. Losing my poison arts would be the same as crippling my very foundation.

That option won't do. What about the second?"

Gu Qing summoned the Thunderfire Bronze Spear and pointed with it.

"The second option is to guide, transfer, and store all the poison within soul bones, turning the soul bones into containers for the poison and isolating it from eroding your physical body and soul.

The poison will remain in your body, and your poison arts will be fully preserved, but it will never again backlash against you. You are already a Titled Douluo and possess several soul bones. You can directly use your existing soul bones to bear the poison.

Dugu Bo's eyes reddened slightly, and his voice turned husky. "This one. I have several soul bones that can bear the poison directly, but Yan Yan is still young. She doesn't have any soul bones..."

"Find her a high-quality soul bone with a compatible attribute and use the same method to channel the poisonous bloodline toxin into the soul bone for sealing.

The entire process will require Aromatic Silk Beauty to suppress the poison throughout, along with a small amount of the medicinal effects of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot to balance the scorching heat and frigid cold of the Jade Phosphorous poison."

Dugu Bo looked at Gu Qing, then at the immortal herbs swaying in the spiritual mist. Complex emotions churned within his jade-green snake eyes.

This kid had known him for less than a day, yet he had not only seen through the poison he had concealed for most of his life, but had even prepared two treatment plans.

What shocked Dugu Bo even more was that every part of those two plans was logically sound and pharmacologically clear. They did not seem like something a young man had casually made up, but rather the ten-thousand-year legacy of some reclusive sect.

Then he recalled the Titled Douluo wielding the Clear Sky Hammer earlier, and the scales in Dugu Bo's heart tipped completely: the force standing behind this young man was absolutely no simple one!

"Headmaster Gu."

Dugu Bo raised his head. The coldness and arrogance had vanished from his emerald snake eyes, leaving only solemn resolve.

"I have lived for most of my life. Other than Yanyan, I have never bowed my head to anyone. But today, you saved both my granddaughter and me. I have no way to repay such a debt.

"This Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is a treasured land I have guarded for half my life. From this day onward, it is yours! I am also willing to follow Headmaster Gu and join your Self Academy, to be at your command."

Gu Qing looked into Dugu Bo's solemn emerald snake eyes and did not decline.

"Good! Self Academy happens to need a teacher for poison-related courses. Senior Dugu, welcome aboard."

Gu Qing glanced at him without any polite refusal, then reached out and helped Dugu Bo to his feet.

"Agreed! Self Academy is short on a Titled Douluo-level combat instructor. I'll see the treatment for you and Yanyan through to the end."

Gu Qing turned to Tang San and took a small porcelain bottle from his robe, handing it to her.

"Third Sister, use Aromatic Silk Beauty as the main ingredient, supplemented by small amounts of extracted medicinal properties from Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot. Refine two poison-resistance pills for Senior Dugu and Yanyan.

"First suppress the spread of the poison, then take them to the cabin in the woods to purge the toxins."

Tang San accepted the porcelain bottle and turned to gather the immortal herbs.

Her movements were precise and swift, each herb picked in exactly the right way to preserve its medicinal properties as completely as possible.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan followed her to the cabin in the woods. The valley fell quiet, leaving only Gu Qing and Liu Erlong behind.