Taking the Qiluo Tulip

Before long, the two arrived at another area where an Immortal Herb grew.

This Immortal Herb was exceptionally beautiful, even regal and luxurious. Its roots, stems, leaves, and vines spread like draped curtains, while at its finely layered crown bloomed a golden tulip.

The moment Dugu Chen and Ah Yin stepped within a dozen feet of the Immortal Herb, a rich, refreshing tulip fragrance wafted toward them.

"Ah Yin, this Immortal Herb is called the Qiluo Tulip. I considered it carefully before choosing it for you!"

Holding Ah Yin in his arms, Dugu Chen turned his head and spoke to her with a smile.

"Does this Immortal Herb have something special about it?"

Ah Yin looked at the beautiful tulip before her, a trace of fondness flashing through her eyes. What a beautiful Immortal Herb!

"This Qiluo Tulip can absorb the essence of heaven and earth, as well as the radiance of the sun and moon, increasing the efficiency of your soul power cultivation."

"However, there is a proper way to consume this flower. You cannot swallow it whole; you need to gently inhale its pistil and slowly draw its essence into your body. Then, circulate your soul power through cultivation so that the medicinal effects spread throughout your limbs and bones."

As he spoke, Dugu Chen reached out and picked the Immortal Herb for Ah Yin.

Ah Yin looked at the Qiluo Tulip Dugu Chen handed her. Just as she was about to say something, she met his resolute gaze.

Helpless, she could only give up and accept it. Then she sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing it according to the prescribed method.

Seeing Ah Yin obediently take the Qiluo Tulip, Dugu Chen revealed a satisfied smile.

He had only feared that Ah Yin would be too kindhearted to harm an Immortal Herb. That would have been a real headache.

With Ah Yin's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline and the Qiluo Tulip, her strength would surely undergo a qualitative leap after absorption.

In the future, even if he was not by her side, she would have enough strength to protect herself.

Immediately afterward, Dugu Chen also sat cross-legged on the ground and stood guard over Ah Yin.

Time passed second by second, and in the blink of an eye, several hours slipped away.

As the Immortal Grade Herb's effects took hold, a dense layer of golden light gradually spread from Ah Yin's body.

The golden light bloomed from within her body, carrying a rich tulip fragrance. As its precious radiance flowed, it made Ah Yin's temperament appear even more ethereal.

As expected of a top-tier Blue Silver Emperor bloodline. Even the effects produced during absorption are better than when I absorbed the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid!

Dugu Chen sighed inwardly. When ordinary Soul Masters absorbed Immortal Herbs, their bodies could at most digest seventy to seventy-five percent of the medicinal effects.

Even with talent like his, he could only absorb eighty-five to ninety percent of an Immortal Herb's effects, far from perfect absorption.

But judging from Ah Yin's current state, because she had originally taken human form from a hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beast, her constitution was naturally compatible with Immortal Herbs. She clearly could achieve a hundred percent absorption rate.

One had to know that before the Myriad Demon King became a ferocious beast, he had merely been an ordinary Evil Eye Demon Tree.

But after devouring an Immortal Spirit Grass that had grown alongside him, his talent had soared, his overall strength multiplied, and he had become a top-tier plant-type soul beast.

After cultivating through long ages, his cultivation had reached a terrifying five hundred and thirty thousand years.

This showed that plant-type soul beasts possessed an innate advantage over others when absorbing plant-type Immortal Herbs.

Ah Yin herself possessed a top-tier plant-type Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, so her rate of improvement would only be stronger than the Myriad Demon King's, never weaker.

As Ah Yin slightly parted her cherry lips and inhaled the final wisp of Immortal Herb energy, the Qiluo Tulip floating before her slowly dissipated.

In the end, only three crystalline Starfire Seeds remained, glimmering faintly like fireflies.

Dugu Chen remained calm. With a gentle wave of his hand, a stream of soul power wrapped around the three seeds and deposited them within the core area of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Once the Immortal Herb seeds took root and sprouted, new Qiluo Tulips would emerge.

Ah Yin let out a long breath of stale air, and her tightly shut eyes slowly opened, a bright golden gleam shooting from their depths.

She tried to stand, but the instant she moved, a numb, tingling sensation spread from her legs through her entire body, leaving her so weak that she could not muster any strength.

Dugu Chen moved at once, quickly stepping forward to catch her by the waist and pull her into his embrace. A gentle smile appeared in his eyes.

"Ah Yin, you worked hard!"

Two red flushes quickly appeared on Ah Yin's cheeks. Lowering her head, she greedily inhaled his scent, her willow-leaf brows curving like crescents.

Dugu Chen wrapped one hand around the back of Ah Yin's head and the other beneath her legs, then lifted her and headed out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

On the cliffside, Dugu Chen held Ah Yin as she rested on his lap. He raised his eyes toward the horizon, where the sky blazed red and a lone bird flew south.

For some reason, he seemed to be suddenly moved. Ah Yin heard him recite aloud—

The mountain air was lovely at dusk, and the birds flew home together.

There was true meaning here; when I tried to explain it, I had already forgotten the words.

Through rises and falls, returning at last, Dugu Chen felt a touch of detached serenity enter his heart.

It was as though he had cast himself into heaven and earth, a single grain amid the vast sea, lamenting the fleeting brevity of life.

Ah Yin seemed to sense the mood in Dugu Chen's heart. She tightly wrapped both arms around his chest and comforted him softly.

"Xiao Chen, there is no need to mourn life's brevity. Mayflies live for but a day, born in the morning and dead by night."

"As long as one lives brilliantly, even one day is enough."

As soon as she said this, Ah Yin could not help recalling her own experiences. Across her long hundred-thousand-year life, loneliness had been the background of her existence.

She had experienced both the immensity of heaven and earth and the insignificance of human life, yet she would not become despondent over setbacks or sorrowful over loneliness.

As long as there was a place of peace in one's heart, what greater fortune could life hold?

During this time, she had felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment, a happiness she had never experienced through countless days and nights.

Dugu Chen smiled and nodded. He reached out to stroke the ends of Ah Yin's hair, gazing tenderly into her eyes.

Lowering his head, he gently sealed her full, pink cherry lips. A rich, pure tulip fragrance instantly burst forth, filling the air and intoxicating the soul.

Ah Yin pressed her delicate body closer into Dugu Chen's embrace, as though doing so would bring her heart a little nearer to his.

"Let's go. We should head back!"

Dugu Chen cupped Ah Yin's cheeks in his hand and slowly drew away, flashing her a radiant smile.

Under the warm sunlight, Ah Yin's almond eyes were half-closed, veiled by a faint mist. Her lips were slightly parted, her cherry lips rosy and full.

"Mm... I'll listen to you."

Ah Yin's willow brows curved like crescent moons, and her smile bloomed like a flower.

The next moment, as soul power surged around Dugu Chen, the two turned into a beam of light and swiftly departed from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The moment they returned to the Dugu Residence, Dugu Bo approached them with a smile.

"Father!" Dugu Chen said with a smile.

"Greetings... Uncle!"

Ah Yin released the hand she had wrapped around Dugu Chen, clasped her hands toward Dugu Bo, and respectfully bowed.

A faint blush colored her face, and her eyes held a hint of charming playfulness.

"No need for such formalities. Just treat this place as your own home!" Dugu Bo laughed heartily, delight shining in his eyes.