Wrapping Up

More than half a day passed in the blink of an eye; the sun above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well gradually sank into the west, replaced by the twilight.

Lin Ze'an's small face was etched with exhaustion.

After another moment, he slowly withdrew his hands, let out a long breath, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

Did this guy Dugu Bo have absolutely no idea how to use his own toxins reasonably?

To think he had managed to let the poison seep into his bone marrow, saturating every single meridian in his body.

It was so severe that a level 93 Title Douluo required two level 95 Title Douluos, plus the auxiliary energy of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and it still took this long to resolve.

Lin Ze'an sighed and turned to look outside the domain.

He saw that the edges of the herb garden were already crowded with a dense mass of spirit beasts.

From ten-year spirit beasts to low-level ten-thousand-year ones, all sorts of species were quietly prostrating themselves on the perimeter.

They looked as if they were on a pilgrimage, greedily absorbing the life force radiating from the Fragrant Domain.

"So many," Lin Ze'an muttered softly, his thoughts shifting.

The domain that had shrouded the entire herb garden instantly dissolved into specks of fluorescent light, merging back into his body.

As the Fragrant Domain dissipated, the attracted spirit beasts froze for a moment before letting out various cries.

But they had no choice but to scatter reluctantly, and the herd soon vanished into the twilight.

Seeing that Lin Ze'an had finished, Yue Guan and Gui Mei simultaneously withdrew their spirit power.

Yue Guan hurried to Lin Ze'an's side and asked with concern, "Disciple, are you alright?"

Lin Ze'an shook his head, a weary smile appearing on his small face: "I'm fine, Master, just a little tired."

At this moment, Dugu Bo also slowly opened his eyes, his face filled with shock.

He stood up and stretched his body, feeling an unprecedented sense of comfort within him, his voice trembling: "Kid... you... you actually did it..."

The pain caused by the backlash of the toxins that had tormented him for years was completely gone.

Lin Ze'an nodded and asked with a smile, "How do you feel, Senior?"

He had used his life force to forcibly drive the toxins deep in Dugu Bo's marrow back into his martial soul; surely that would keep things stable for the time being?

Dugu Bo laughed and said, "This feels wonderful. I don't know how many years it's been since I felt this light."

"The backlash that tortured me day and night has truly vanished."

Watching Dugu Bo, a gratified smile appeared on Lin Ze'an's face.

After all, what doctor doesn't want their patient to recover? Well, excluding the twisted ones, of course.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he took out an immortal herb and handed it to Dugu Bo.

The herb was crystalline throughout, its petals as translucent as amethyst, and the stamen emitted a strange fragrance that invigorated the spirit upon smelling it.

It was none other than the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb.

Lin Ze'an said, "Senior, this is for you."

Dugu Bo took the immortal herb, a look of confusion on his face: "This is?"

It looked like one of the herbs from his own garden, didn't it? Hadn't he already given them all to this kid? What was the meaning of this?

"The Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb," Lin Ze'an said earnestly. "If mastered properly, it can enhance toxins, or it can neutralize them."

"However..." He paused, a serious expression on his small face: "Do not eat it yourself."

With Dugu Bo's strength, if he were to eat this thing, the toxins in his body would undergo a violent reaction instantly, and even he might struggle to save him then.

Dugu Bo nodded and carefully put the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb away.

He stared at Lin Ze'an for a while before suddenly asking, "Kid, what is your name?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present froze, looking at each other with strange expressions.

After a long while, Lin Ze'an blinked and said incredulously, "My name is Lin Ze'an... didn't we mention this before?"

That shouldn't be right? Had he really not said his name?

Dugu Bo was also stunned, scratching his head in embarrassment: "I was too excited just now and forgot to ask your name."

The group chatted for a while longer. Shortly after, Lin Ze'an sent Hu Liena and the others away to collect immortal herbs suitable for themselves, while he quietly made his way to the side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

He carefully checked his surroundings, and after confirming no one was watching, he gently opened the necklace around his neck.

"Doudou!" Little Sprout's body popped right out.

As soon as it emerged, it excitedly circled Lin Ze'an, blinking its eyes as it checked to see if he was injured.

Lin Ze'an crouched down and gently stroked Little Sprout's head: "I'm fine, don't worry."

But Little Sprout didn't seem convinced; it circled Lin Ze'an a few more times, its little nose sniffing constantly to confirm there was no scent of blood or wounds on him before it finally let out a sigh of relief.

Lin Ze'an was amused by Little Sprout's nervous behavior, and he pointed to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well: "Look, this is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

"It contains immense energy, which will be a great supplement for you."

Although he was also capable of absorbing the energy here, cultivation required a gradual and orderly progression; doing so this way would inevitably lead to an unstable foundation, so it was not suitable for him.

Upon hearing this, Little Sprout nodded vigorously: "Doudou!"

It chirped twice, then closed its eyes, and its tiny body began to emit a soft glow.

Lin Ze'an also raised his hand, a flicker of light flashing through his emerald eyes.

He began to guide the energy with great caution, and before long, wisps of ice and fire energy began to converge in his palm.

Then, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The two intertwined energies swirled in Lin Ze'an's palm, the attributes of ice and fire being erased bit by bit until they finally transformed into pure energy.

Under Lin Ze'an's control, this energy began to convert into rich life force, flowing slowly toward Little Sprout.

After a short while, Lin Ze'an withdrew his hand and examined Little Sprout before him in surprise.

Although it had not absorbed much energy, Lin Ze'an could feel that the fluctuations of soul power within Little Sprout had now reached the level of a normal human Soul Elder.

However, the small flower bud atop its head had become much fuller, and its body had grown significantly as well.

At this moment, Yue Guan's surprised voice came from behind Lin Ze'an: "Disciple, is this the soul beast you've been raising?"

"I had only heard rumors before, but I didn't expect there to truly be one. Where did you get it?"

He did not seem to recall when his disciple had acquired a soul beast.

Hearing this, Lin Ze'an turned around to see that Yue Guan and Gui Mei were already standing not far away.

"Master." Lin Ze'an said with some hesitation: "This is..."

"Enough." Yue Guan stepped forward, cutting him off: "Everyone has their own opportunities. This is your gain; there is no need to tell your master everything."

"Today, this master will teach you one thing."

"A secret is only a secret when kept within one's own heart. The more people who know, no matter how much you trust them, the greater the risk."