Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo Consumes the Earth Dragon Golden Melon

Deep within Sunset Forest lay a hidden valley concealed by natural barriers.

Dugu Bo led Lin Chen through a dense thicket of brambles and around several massive boulders before the view suddenly opened up before them.

A mingled wave of heat and cold rushed toward them, making it feel as though they were standing atop a volcano and an icecap at the same time.

Standing at the valley entrance and taking in the sight before him, Lin Chen could not help but marvel inwardly.

It was a small valley surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. At its center lay a pool of spring water, one that was exceptionally peculiar.

Half of it was milky white, giving off scorching steam; the other half was dark green, radiating bone-piercing cold.

The two differently colored waters did not mingle, yet they occupied the same pool, forming a perfect taiji pattern.

All manner of plants grew along the spring's edge. Lin Chen recognized some of them, while others were beyond even his ability to name.

Nourished by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, those plants had grown exceptionally lush, their leaves glossy and their flowers brilliant. The air was thick with a rich medicinal fragrance.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

One of the greatest treasure troves on Douluo Continent, it gathered the spiritual essence of heaven and earth and nurtured countless rare immortal herbs.

In the original story, Tang San had relied on the immortal herbs from this place to lay the foundation for becoming a god in one fell swoop.

"We're here." Dugu Bo stood beside him, a trace of pride and vigilance in his tone. "This is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I've studied this place for more than ten years, and I know every herb here like the back of my hand. You said you had a way to cure my poison. Can you tell me now?"

Lin Chen did not answer right away. He walked once around the edge of the spring, his gaze sweeping over the various herbs as he rapidly took stock of them.

Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Serene Fragrance Qiluo Immortal Herb, Autumn Dew, Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower...

The immortal herbs that Tang San had collected one by one in the original story were still growing quietly along the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, untouched by human hands.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Dugu Bo.

"Senior, you've studied this place for more than ten years, but do you know what kind of treasure ground you're standing on?"

Dugu Bo frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well gathers the yin and yang energies of heaven and earth. It is the best place on the continent for cultivating immortal herbs," Lin Chen said.

"Any one of the herbs beneath your feet would be enough to drive soul masters across the entire continent mad. Yet you treat them as ordinary medicinal ingredients. What a waste."

Dugu Bo's expression changed. "You're saying I'm wasting them?"

"Am I wrong?" Lin Chen pointed at a golden plant in the distance shaped like a pumpkin. "Do you know what that is?"

Dugu Bo followed the direction of his finger and frowned. "That's an Earth Dragon Golden Melon. I know it. It has a mild nature and can be used in medicine. It has some effect on internal injuries."

"Some effect?" Lin Chen laughed. "The Earth Dragon Golden Melon blooms once every hundred years, bears fruit once every hundred years, and takes two hundred years to mature. Its true effect is not healing internal injuries, but purifying one's bloodline and improving the quality of one's martial soul. To soul masters with serpent-type martial souls, it is priceless."

Dugu Bo's pupils abruptly contracted.

"Look carefully at that Earth Dragon Golden Melon," Lin Chen continued. "Its skin has already turned translucent gold, and the veins inside are clearly visible. That means it has fully matured. If you use it as medicine, it can completely purify the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison in your body and bring about a qualitative leap in your martial soul."

Dugu Bo fell silent.

He quickly walked over to the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, crouched down, and examined it closely. He had studied this plant for more than ten years, always believing it to be nothing more than an ordinary medicinal herb for treating injuries.

But upon closer inspection, he discovered that its skin truly had a translucent golden sheen. Faint streams of light moved within it, releasing a strange aura he had never noticed before.

"Is what you said true?" Dugu Bo's voice trembled slightly.

"Whether it is true or not, Senior will know after trying it," Lin Chen said. "The Earth Dragon Golden Melon is simple to consume—just eat it raw. However, its effects are powerful, and there will be a painful period afterward that you must endure. But as long as you survive it, the poison in your body will be completely removed, and your martial soul will evolve as well."

Dugu Bo stared at the Earth Dragon Golden Melon in silence for a long time.

Of course, he would not completely trust Lin Chen based on a few words alone. But the poison in his body had indeed seeped deep into his bones. If he did not deal with it soon, he would not live another three years. Rather than wait for death, he might as well take a gamble.

"Fine." He gritted his teeth and reached out to pluck the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

He did not consume it immediately. Instead, he put it away first, then looked at Lin Chen. "Why are you helping me? We don't know each other. You have no reason to take this risk."

"I naturally have my reasons for helping you," Lin Chen said. "But now isn't the time to discuss them. Once you've cured your poison, we can talk about the rest."

Dugu Bo stared at him for quite some time before finally nodding. "Fine. If this Earth Dragon Golden Melon truly works, then I, Dugu Bo, will owe you a great favor."

Lin Chen smiled but said nothing.

He turned and walked toward the other side of the spring, his gaze settling on several immortal herbs of varying forms. For now, he would not touch them. The time was not right yet.

But he had already made his plans.

The Earth Dragon Golden Melon would go to Dugu Bo, curing his poison and allowing his martial soul to evolve in the process. That way, Dugu Bo would become his strongest support in Heaven Dou City.

As for Dugu Yan...

"Senior," Lin Chen said as he turned back toward Dugu Bo, "I'll also help resolve the poison in Sister Yan's body. And I can guarantee that I'll handle it far better than you have."

Dugu Bo froze for a moment. "Yan'er? The poison in her body..."

"Her Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul is the same as yours. It also produces poisonous backlash," Lin Chen said. "Though her cultivation is still low and her symptoms are not obvious, the poison has already begun accumulating slowly. If it is not dealt with in advance, then by the time she reaches your age, she will face the same problem as you."

Dugu Bo's expression turned grave.

Having suffered from it himself, he naturally did not want his granddaughter to walk the same path. But he had tried many methods and none could completely remove the poisonous backlash caused by the Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul.

"You have a way?" he asked.

"I do." Lin Chen nodded. "But it will take some time and preparation. Senior should consume the Earth Dragon Golden Melon first. Once your problem is resolved, we can discuss Sister Yan's situation."

Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

"Fine. I believe you."

As night deepened, vapor rose from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well beneath the moonlight, gathering into a hazy mist.

Lin Chen stood by the spring, gazing at the taiji-shaped pool as he silently calculated the next step of his plan.

The Earth Dragon Golden Melon was only the first step.

The treasures within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were far from limited to this one.

He would make good use of this place and carve out an unprecedented path for himself and those around him.