Snowy Swan Kiss

The group left the Dugu Mansion and, led by Dugu Bo, ventured deeper into the Sunset Forest.

The further they went, the denser and more ominous the forest became. A faint, colorful poisonous miasma began to permeate the air, and an increasing number of bizarrely colored, grotesque poisonous plants and insects appeared in the surroundings. An ordinary spirit master would likely have been unable to take another step by now.

Finally, the entrance to a valley shrouded in thick, colorful poisonous mist appeared ahead. The mist was dense and motionless, its vibrant colors appearing both eerily beautiful and dangerously heart-palpitating in the dim forest.

Vaguely, one could see red and blue lights flickering alternately behind the mist, and a strange aura, interwoven with scorching heat and biting cold, drifted through the fog.

"Ahead lies the poison array I have laid out. Once we pass through, we will reach the herb garden."

Dugu Bo stopped and explained. This array was the culmination of his life's work in toxicology. Without his guidance or a special antidote, anyone below the Title Douluo rank who trespassed would surely die, and even a Title Douluo would find it a troublesome ordeal.

Just as the group was about to follow Dugu Bo inside, Ning Xiaochun suddenly shouted:

"Wait! Let me prepare!"

He was seen frantically pulling items out of his small, seemingly bottomless storage spirit tool.

First came a small, exquisite gas mask, which he deftly strapped onto his face, leaving only his pair of alert, wide eyes exposed.

Next was a pair of gloves as thin as cicada wings, yet shimmering with a faint light of spirit power, which he carefully pulled on. Then, he donned a lightweight inner armor, seemingly woven from some special thread, beneath his outer robe.

Finally, he produced a jade bottle and poured out a few emerald-green pills that emitted a cool, medicinal fragrance. He swallowed one himself, then poured out two more, hesitated for a moment, and turned to Shui Bing'er.

"Sister Bing'er, here. These are top-grade Poison-Avoiding Pills. They can neutralize a hundred poisons. Just as a precaution, you should take one too."

Ning Xiaochun held the pills out to Shui Bing'er with a serious expression, even adding, "When we go in, stay close to me and stand by my side. This place is riddled with poison arrays. Even though Grandpa Dugu is here, it's better to be careful."

Shui Bing'er looked at the emerald pill in front of her, then at Ning Xiaochun's small face—mostly obscured by the gas mask, with only eyes full of "fear of death" and "earnestness" showing—and the strange feeling in her heart grew stronger.

This boy, who had just been speaking eloquently and confidently before the Poison Douluo, had turned into this fully armed, cautious little person in the blink of an eye. The contrast was so stark it was almost amusing.

Yet, he still remembered to give her a pill and told her to stay close... This subconscious care made Shui Bing'er, who had grown up accustomed to independence and protecting her younger sister, feel a strange and unfamiliar... sense of security?

Even though this person who claimed he would protect her was just a six-year-old child, a head shorter than her.

She did not refuse. She took the pill and placed it in her mouth. A cool sensation instantly melted and flowed through her limbs and bones, making even the uncomfortable poisonous miasma in the air feel much lighter. She nodded gently and whispered:

"Thank you."

Dugu Bo watched from the side, dumbfounded. He pointed at Ning Xiaochun's "armed to the teeth" getup, then at the act of handing the pill to Shui Bing'er, and his mouth twitched:

"You brat... where did that courage go when you were negotiating with me and asking to be my god-grandson? You're chickening out already?"

Ning Xiaochun's voice was muffled behind the gas mask, but he sounded righteous:

"Grandpa Dugu, this is called despising the enemy strategically while respecting them tactically! Being bold and not fearing death are two different things! Safety first, safety first! Look, Sister Bing'er is so pretty; what if the poison mist hurts her face? I have to protect her!"

Shui Bing'er: "..."

Dugu Bo: "..." He suddenly felt that his freshly minted god-grandson was, perhaps, more interesting than he had imagined.

Ning Fengzhi covered his forehead with his hand, unable to bear watching. Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were unfazed, even finding it somewhat amusing.

"Alright, alright, stay close to me and don't touch anything!"

Dugu Bo shook his head in annoyance and took the first step, a layer of ink-green light radiating from his body as he stepped into the colorful mist.

Wherever he passed, the poison mist parted automatically as if it had a life of its own, clearing a path.

Ning Xiaochun immediately followed closely, not forgetting to wave at Shui Bing'er: "Sister Bing'er, hurry, stay close to me!"

Watching the boy, who was nervous yet still remembered to look out for her, a faint ripple seemed to stir in Shui Bing'er's ice-blue eyes.

She stepped forward and followed, subconsciously walking just slightly behind and to the side of Ning Xiaochun.

Passing through layers of poison arrays, the scene before them suddenly opened up.

A surging aura, interwoven with scorching heat and biting cold, rushed toward them. The air was filled with an impossibly thick concentration of heaven and earth energy, mixed with the rich fragrance of thousands of rare flowers and herbs.

The group stood at the valley entrance, all stunned by the sight before them.

The valley was not large, but in the center lay a strange spring. The spring was clearly divided into two parts: one side was milky white, steaming with scorching heat, while the other was vermilion, radiating a bone-chilling cold.

The two streams of water intertwined without encroaching upon each other, forming a strange Taiji pattern. It was none other than the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well!

With the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well as the center, the soil of the entire valley appeared in a mix of red and white, covered in countless plants of various shapes and shimmering colors.

Some burned like raging fire, some were carved from ice, some were surrounded by ethereal mist, and others emitted exotic fragrances... Many were legendary immortal-grade, top-tier medicinal herbs!

"This is... the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well..." Ning Xiaochun muttered. Even behind the gas mask, his eyes were wide open, filled with shock and ecstasy.

He'd hit the jackpot! He really had hit the jackpot this time! These immortal herbs were enough to cause a qualitative leap in the strength of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect! The most important resource guarantee for his "low-profile development, stay steady and don't get cocky" grand plan was now in his hands!

"Hehe..." Ning Xiaochun couldn't help but giggle, then quickly wiped away some non-existent drool, his eyes returning to a look of "composure" and "wisdom."

Hmm, immortal herbs are great, but how to distribute them, who gets which, and in what order—all of this must be carefully planned to ensure maximum effect and minimum risk. Especially the issue with Sister Bing'er's spirit; he had to see if there was anything suitable here...

Steady, he must stay steady! With immortal herbs in hand, the world... ahem, the sect's safety is guaranteed! The next step was how to "take the meds" scientifically, reasonably, and steadily!

The others reacted differently, all shocked by the scene before them.

Dugu Bo took in everyone's reactions, especially Ning Xiaochun's "little miser" look, which made the corners of his mouth curl into a knowing smile.

He walked up to Ning Xiaochun, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of playfulness:

"Brat, can you tell the truth to your god-grandfather now? Your real purpose for wanting this herb garden was for these... hmm, things you call 'immortal herbs,' right? Are they... really that precious?"

Ning Xiaochun wasn't embarrassed at all after his intentions were seen through. He scratched his head and flashed a "guileless" grin.

"Hehe, Grandpa Dugu is wise indeed. Ginger really is spicier when it's old; nothing can be hidden from you. These aren't just ordinary herbs. They are immortal-grade treasures, top-tier goods nurtured by the essence of heaven and earth gathered in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well over millions of years!

Every single one of them, if placed in the outside world, would be a supreme treasure capable of inciting a bloody storm in the spirit master world! Some can consolidate one's foundation and nourish the origin, some can cleanse the marrow and cut the tendons, some can increase spirit power, and some can even... cause a martial soul to evolve!"

Since things had reached this point, hiding anything from Dugu Bo was useless. If he discovered the truth later, their relationship might rupture, so it was better to be straightforward.

"Martial soul evolution?!" As soon as those four words were spoken, even Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo were moved.

Martial soul evolution was a heaven-defying opportunity that could be sought but never found! Did the herbs in this valley truly possess such miraculous effects?