Secrets of the Immortal Herbs

After they had finished eating, Dugu Chen put everything into his storage ring, then stepped forward and swept Ah Yin into his arms, carrying her to the bed.

Her cheeks were instantly covered in rosy clouds, her eyes brimming with gentle affection.

Yet after placing her on the bed, Dugu Chen made no further moves. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and said to her with a faint smile:

"Ah Yin, how about we cultivate tonight? With me keeping you company, you won't feel lonely."

"Th... all right!"

Though confusion showed on Ah Yin's face, she still obediently nodded. Sitting beside Dugu Chen, she began circulating the soul power within her body and entered meditation.

After all, she had not been out of her meditative state for long. Returning to meditation now was clearly much more efficient.

Watching Ah Yin enter cultivation once again, Dugu Chen smiled faintly. He then steadied his breathing and focused his mind, entering meditation as well.

However, neither of them knew that after they entered meditation, the golden treasure aura surrounding Ah Yin dispersed through the air and drifted onto Dugu Chen. Wisps of white mist were unexpectedly drawn from within his body, swirling around him in hazy waves.

The golden light and white mist seemed to attract one another, faintly converging in the air. Their scents also gathered together, producing an incomparably soothing fragrance.

Both their bodies trembled slightly, but they soon calmed down and sank deeply into meditation.

Early the next morning.

A faint pale glow appeared along the horizon, and in the blink of an eye, another day had begun.

Dugu Chen slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. His long lashes fluttered a few times before he gradually opened his eyes.

A faint white gleam burst from his body, and a strange look appeared on his face.

"Strange. Why did the medicinal power of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, which had remained in my body and could not be absorbed, fuse with my body again during last night's cultivation?"

"And there also seems to be some golden flowing light within my body."

Dugu Chen looked at the golden light radiating from Ah Yin as she cultivated and found it to be exactly the same as the light within him.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled the legends of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and the Qiluo Tulip. The two were Twin Immortal Herbs and had complementary effects during cultivation.

It seemed that when Ah Yin cultivated last night, the treasure aura within her body had drawn out the medicinal power of the Immortal Herb within him and fused it further. Not only had it deepened his absorption, but he had also gained quite a bit of the Qiluo Tulip's treasure aura.

I'll have to ask Ah Yin whether she noticed anything unusual about her body after she wakes up.

Dugu Chen thought to himself. He then stood and stretched lazily, his bones cracking sharply in the air.

After all, these two Immortal Herbs complemented each other. Since his cultivation was higher, it was entirely possible that during their fusion, he would instead absorb Ah Yin's Immortal Herb medicinal power. The treasure aura inside him was the best proof of that.

But likewise, while he absorbed it, Ah Yin could also obtain the Immortal Herb medicinal power within his body, though naturally not as much as he received.

Dugu Chen then began quietly waiting for Ah Yin to finish meditating.

That wait lasted half an hour.

Ah Yin parted her rosy lips, and all the golden treasure aura surrounding her was drawn into her mouth. Then, she slowly opened her eyes.

Looking to her side, she discovered that Dugu Chen had long since finished meditating and was gazing at her with a smile.

Ah Yin's face reddened, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Xiao Chen, why are you staring at me?"

The corners of Dugu Chen's lips curled up. With one reach of his arm, he pulled Ah Yin tightly into his embrace. Her delicate body suddenly pressed against his chest, and warmth and softness instantly washed over him.

"Of course it's because you're beautiful. Ah Yin, you're so pretty that I could never get tired of looking at you."

Dugu Chen's lips brushed against the rim of her ear, his scorching breath slowly caressing her earlobe until it bloomed a rich crimson.

Immediately afterward, he reached out and held Ah Yin's chin, slowly lifting it. Following his motion, Ah Yin raised her fair face, flushed and soft as water.

Ripples glimmered in her deep blue eyes, hazy mist filling them like a mist-shrouded landscape, ready to fall at any moment into that deep blue lake.

Dugu Chen's heart trembled. He lowered his head and sealed her lush, inviting lips. The fragrance of tulips gradually faded, replaced by a faint scent of grass mingled with tulips.

It was sweet and refreshing with a trace of coolness, leaving behind a faintly sweet aftertaste that was utterly intoxicating.

After a long while, their lips finally parted.

Ah Yin exhaled like an orchid, a charming gleam in her beautiful eyes. The flush on her cheeks spread like fiery clouds all the way to her neck and ears.

Her delicate body curled within Dugu Chen's embrace, as though all strength had been drained from her. She buried her face against his chest, her breath warm and hurried.

"Ah Yin, after you finished meditating, did you notice anything unusual about your body?"

A thought stirred in Dugu Chen's mind, and he asked her softly.

"Something unusual?"

A blush appeared on Ah Yin's lovely face, and her eyes held a hint of resentment. "The moment I woke up, you... How was I supposed to have time to feel anything?"

"Then feel it now," Dugu Chen said with a faint smile, his palm sliding down along her waist. An astonishing softness and elasticity immediately met his hand.

Feeling the strange sensation spreading through her body, Ah Yin shot him a coquettish glare. She pressed her delicate body even closer into his embrace before finally calming her mind and sensing the changes within herself.

A moment later, delight appeared on her face.

"The medicinal power of the Immortal Herb is refining much faster, and I feel like there's also some faint white mist inside my body. It seems... to carry an aura from the same source as the Immortal Herb."

Upon hearing this, a satisfied smile immediately appeared on Dugu Chen's face.

It seemed his guesses had all been correct.

With that thought, he gave Ah Yin a light kiss on the forehead, then told her about his discovery and the secret behind absorbing the Immortal Herbs.

"So that's how it is. Doesn't that mean our cultivation speed will increase whenever we stay together in the future?"

Ah Yin's willow-like brows curved into crescent moons as she looked at him with smiling eyes. A delighted smile immediately bloomed on her face.

"Yes, though that's only a secondary effect. Perhaps there are other effects yet to be discovered?"

A mysterious smile appeared on Dugu Chen's face. The power of Immortal Herbs was unfathomable; only through constant exploration could their secrets be uncovered.

After chatting briefly, the two changed the subject.

"Ah Yin, when are you planning to visit that friend of yours?" Dugu Chen asked softly.

At the same time, his thoughts drifted far away.

After all, in a few years, Xiao Wu and her mother would likely be discovered. At that time, Bibi Dong would lead others in the Soul Hunting Operation.

If possible, he naturally did not want Ah Yin to watch her good friend leave her forever.

"Mm..."

Seeing Dugu Chen turn to serious matters, Ah Yin lifted her almond-shaped eyes slightly. A thoughtful glint flashed through them, and after a moment, she made her decision.

"Xiao Chen, why don't we set off today?"

"I've already fused most of the Immortal Herb's medicinal power. I can finish fusing it completely while we travel."

Ah Yin sensed the state of the soul power fusion in her body and spoke slowly.

"All right, whatever you say."

Dugu Chen smiled faintly and did not refuse.