Gathering Immortal Herbs, Returning to the Academy

Lin Chen did not leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well immediately.

He walked once around the edge of the spring, his gaze sweeping over the various immortal herbs as he quickly took stock of them in his mind.

He had not been in a hurry to touch these things before because the time had not been right.

But now that the Ice Fire Dragon King had acknowledged him as its master and Dugu Bo had become one of his own, this treasure ground was practically his private herb garden. It was time to collect what needed collecting.

He stopped in front of an immortal herb that was pure white, its petals seeming to have been carved from jade.

The herb stood about half a foot tall. Its leaves were oval, their surfaces covered in a faint sheen.

A white flower bloomed at its peak, its petals layered upon one another. Each one looked as though it had been carved from the finest mutton-fat white jade, giving off a delicate, tranquil fragrance.

Qiluo Tulip.

In the original story, Ning Rongrong had relied on it to evolve her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, turning its seven treasures into nine.

Although Lin Chen did not know Ning Rongrong yet, that did not stop him from storing it away first. Good things were best secured first; they would always come in handy someday.

He carefully used a jade shovel to dig up the Qiluo Tulip, roots and soil included. After sealing it inside a specially made jade box, he stored it in his storage soul tool.

Then he moved toward the next plant.

It was a pale golden immortal herb with long, slender leaves and clear veins, as though they had been woven from golden threads. Several pale yellow flowers bloomed at its peak, their red stamens resembling rubies set against golden silk.

Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.

In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing had consumed this immortal herb, greatly improving her physical constitution and laying a solid foundation for her future cultivation.

In this life, Zhu Zhuqing was already by his side, so this immortal herb naturally belonged to her.

Lin Chen carefully dug it out as well and sealed it inside a jade box.

Finally, he came to a sunlit crack in the rocks beside the spring.

An unusual immortal herb grew there.

Its roots were buried deep within the crevice, while its leaves were dark purple and heart-shaped. At the very center of the leaves bloomed a huge red flower. Its color was an intensely vivid red, as if dyed with the richest blood. Its petals were layered one over another, each full and heavy, radiating a profound and blazing aura.

Lovesick Heartbroken Red.

The finest among immortal herbs, it was the hardest of all immortal herbs to harvest. To pick it, one needed to be a person of pure and unwavering love, free of distracting thoughts, and water it with the blood of a sincere heart. Only then could it be plucked. Otherwise, even a Title Douluo trying to forcefully harvest it would cause it to wither instantly.

Lin Chen crouched down and looked at the Lovesick Heartbroken Red in silence for a moment.

He did not rush to pick it. This immortal herb was too special; it required the right moment and state of mind to harvest. Trying to force it now might ruin it instead.

He reached out and gently touched one of the red flower's petals. The petal trembled slightly, as though responding to his touch.

"Wait a little longer," Lin Chen said softly. "When the time comes, I'll come for you."

He withdrew his hand and rose to his feet. After giving the Lovesick Heartbroken Red, swaying gently in the wind, one last look, he turned and left the valley.

As he walked out of the valley, the Fire Dragon King's voice sounded in his mind. "Little brother, those immortal herbs you picked were meant for other people, right?"

"Mm."

"That golden one is for that little girl with the cat martial soul?" the Fire Dragon King asked gossipily. "What about the white one? Who's that for?"

"The white one has another purpose." Lin Chen did not elaborate.

"And what about that red one you looked at last?" The Fire Dragon King's voice carried a teasing smile.

"That Lovesick Heartbroken Red can only be picked by someone devoted and true in love. Little brother, do you already have someone in your heart?"

Lin Chen did not answer, but the corners of his lips lifted slightly without him realizing it.

The Fire Dragon King keenly caught that detail and let out a meaningful laugh. "Oh, I see. I see."

"Don't talk nonsense," Lin Chen said blandly.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything." The Fire Dragon King replied with a grin, though its tone clearly said, I know everything.

The Ice Dragon King did not participate in the conversation from beginning to end. It only left Lin Chen with a calm reminder in his mind. "Take good care of that Lovesick Heartbroken Red. It will be of great use in the future."

"Understood."

Lin Chen quickened his pace and headed toward Heaven Dou City.

By the time he returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was already evening.

He first returned to his room to take a bath and change into clean clothes, then went to knock on Zhu Zhuqing's door next door.

The door opened a crack, and Zhu Zhuqing revealed half her face through it. Only after seeing that it was Lin Chen did she open the door fully.

"You're back?" she asked. Her tone was calm, but Lin Chen noticed a nearly imperceptible flicker of relief in her eyes.

"I'm back," Lin Chen said. "Where's Xiao Wu?"

"In her room." Zhu Zhuqing gestured toward the next room. "She's been going on all afternoon about when you'd be back."

Lin Chen smiled, then turned and knocked on Xiao Wu's door.

He had barely knocked twice when the door was abruptly pulled open from within.

Xiao Wu stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, looking him over from head to toe. Only after confirming that he was completely unharmed did she snort. "So you still know how to come back? I thought that old poisoner had dragged you off to test his medicine."

"That old poisoner wouldn't dare grab me now." Lin Chen smiled. "He owes me his life."

Xiao Wu blinked, about to ask for the details, but Lin Chen beat her to it. "Come inside. I have something for you two."

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, both curious, but they followed him into Lin Chen's room.

Lin Chen closed the door and took out two jade boxes from his storage soul tool, placing them separately on the table.

"These are for the two of you."

He opened the first jade box. Inside lay the pale golden Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. The moment the immortal herb appeared, a delicate fragrance filled the entire room. Merely breathing it in made them feel refreshed, while their limbs and bodies relaxed several degrees.

"This is Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone." Lin Chen looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "After consuming it, it can greatly improve your physical constitution, temper your muscles and bones, and enhance your body. It will be extremely beneficial to your Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the pale golden immortal herb in silence for a moment, then raised her head to look at Lin Chen. "This... is for me?"

"Mm." Lin Chen nodded. "You have a good foundation, but if you want to go further, you need some additional help. This immortal herb can help you build a stronger base."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the immortal herb, then at Lin Chen. Her lips moved slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she merely lowered her head and softly said, "Thank you."

Her voice was quiet, but Lin Chen could hear the faint tremor hidden beneath her calmness.

He smiled and said nothing more, instead opening the second jade box.

Inside was the Qiluo Tulip, pure white, its petals seeming to have been carved from jade.

"This is a Qiluo Tulip," Lin Chen said. "But this isn't for you." He looked at Xiao Wu. "I haven't picked yours yet. That immortal herb is rather special and needs to be harvested at the right time. Don't worry, I remember."

Xiao Wu did not mind. She waved a hand. "It's fine, it's fine. I'm not in a hurry anyway. But you went out and came back with so many good things. You weren't hurt, were you?"

"No," Lin Chen said. "And I made two new friends, too."

He raised both hands, revealing the Ice Dragon Ring and Fire Dragon Ring on his ring fingers. The two rings glimmered faintly in the evening glow, one blue and one red, their lights reflecting one another.

Xiao Wu leaned closer curiously to take a look. "Those two rings are so pretty. Where did you get them?"

"I picked them up at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Lin Chen said with a smile.

He did not explain further, and Xiao Wu did not press him. She merely looked at the two rings, then at Lin Chen, before nodding. "Alright. As long as you're okay."

Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side and put away the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. Then she lifted her head, looked at Lin Chen, and said, "Dinner together tonight?"

Lin Chen froze for a moment, then smiled. "Alright."