Ice and Fire Tempering, Divine Art Mastery

"This is the complete Poison Pill? It really feels incredible. In just under half a year, not only did my strength rise by two ranks in a row, I even reached Rank 93."

"Most importantly, this Poison Pill can rapidly absorb Soul Power from the outside world and help me recover my Soul Power quickly. If I encounter Chrysanthemum Pass or Gui Mei again, in a one-on-one fight, I, Dugu Bo, may well be able to fight them."

At this moment, Dugu Bo could hardly conceal the excitement in his heart.

"Grandpa, it shouldn't be called a Poison Pill anymore. It should be called a Soul Core."

"Xiaofeng, that is indeed a fine name, but why can't I sense the Soul Core within your body? It seems you are still only at the Poison Pill stage."

"A Poison Pill is easy to condense, but a Soul Core is difficult to form. To transform a Poison Pill into a Soul Core requires immense Soul Power and spiritual power."

"Alas, Xiaofeng, in order to help me condense a Soul Core, you ended up delaying your own cultivation."

"Grandpa, my Soul Power has already reached Rank 37. Rising three ranks in less than half a year is still enough to be considered astonishing."

"Of those three levels of Soul Power, two were raised with the help of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid."

"Grandpa, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid's primary purpose is to consolidate one's foundation, nourish one's origin, and remove impurities from the body."

"Thanks to the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, the somewhat unstable Poison Pill in my body has been completely stabilized. I can now control it as easily as an arm or finger."

"Before the Poison Pill technique is fully formed, the greatest taboo is losing control. Now, with the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid's medicinal effects, I can completely control the Poison Pill."

"Unfortunately, my Soul Power and spiritual power are ultimately inferior to yours, Grandpa. I cannot transform the Poison Pill in my body into a Soul Core."

Dugu Feng had also tried condensing the Poison Pill within his body toward a Soul Core, but he ultimately failed. Whether it was Soul Power or spiritual power, he lacked both.

Neither could be absent.

Dugu Feng then turned his gaze toward the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot.

In the original story, Tang San had used these two immortal herbs to be reborn, becoming immune to water and fire.

The reason he had not consumed them before was because the time had not yet come.

He had not wanted to risk consuming the two immortal herbs either. If he was even slightly careless and failed to balance their two powers, causing himself to explode and die, that would be no joke.

But now, he had confidence in his body. It was enough to endure the medicinal effects of these two immortal herbs. Then, with the help of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he could forge a body immune to water and fire.

Perhaps he could even advance his Thousand Poison Body another step.

"Grandpa, this Aromatic Silk Beauty is a special Immortal Herb. I have observed it for a long time, and I think this one can be given to Sister Yan. Perhaps it can cause her martial soul to mutate."

"If our strength is to advance further, it cannot just be the two of us benefiting. We cannot forget Sister Yan."

"You're right. Perhaps it can allow Yanyan to eliminate the effects brought by the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison without having to condense a Poison Pill."

"Xiaofeng, keep the remaining immortal herbs for yourself. With your talent, these immortal herbs are most suitable for you."

"Your future is destined to go farther than mine and Yanyan's. Although the effects of the snake poison have been resolved, I have already lived for over a hundred years."

"At most, I can protect you for a few more decades. The future will ultimately depend on you. My wish now is simply to see you become a Titled Douluo, marry, and have children while I am still alive."

"Don't worry, Grandpa. It won't take too long."

Dugu Bo patted Dugu Feng on the shoulder.

"Having a grandson like you is the greatest fortune of my life, Dugu Bo."

Dugu Bo then took the Aromatic Silk Beauty and headed toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Before he left, Dugu Feng specifically reminded him to find a remote, uninhabited place for Dugu Yan to consume it.

After all, Xue Qinghe, who was disguised by Qian Renxue, was still in Heaven Dou City.

If Spirit Hall discovered this treasure land, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The most important aspect of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was that its unique climate could be used to cultivate medicinal herbs.

"Only by becoming strong enough can I protect everything."

After making up his mind, Dugu Feng looked toward the other immortal herbs and found that they did not seem particularly helpful to him.

"Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone can improve one's physique in addition to raising Soul Power. I'll save it for my sister. My physique no longer needs improvement; it has already reached its peak."

"Consuming this immortal herb would be useless to me aside from raising my Soul Power."

"As for the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, it is completely useless to me. The remaining Aromatic Silk Beauty is useful, though, so I can keep it."

"There is also the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, which is greatly beneficial to fire-attribute martial souls. But it obviously does nothing for my Toxic Toad, so I'll keep it for now."

"It is still an Immortal Herb. When I encounter a bottleneck in my cultivation later, I can consume it and use its medicinal power to break through."

Dugu Feng stored the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb in the system's personal storage space.

He had rarely used the system's personal storage space.

Although the space was not particularly large, it still covered five hundred square meters.

Other than being unable to store living creatures, it already surpassed many spatial Soul Tools on the continent.

"Cultivating within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well means my body is constantly enduring the tempering of ice and fire. That is why my Toad Style reached mastery so quickly."

"To properly cultivate a technique, one needs the right time, place, and people. None can be lacking. Unfortunately, I still cannot figure out how to bring the Toad Style to great perfection."

"Perhaps I can use this Ice-Fire Tempering to bring my Toad Style completely to the realm of great perfection."

With that thought, Dugu Feng consumed the two Immortal Herbs one after the other.

Two sensations, one freezing and one scorching, began rampaging through his body.

Dugu Feng did not dare delay and immediately leaped into the spring water.

He began circulating the Toad Style.

[Ding, it has been detected that the host is tempering his body with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot]

[Toad Style, circulating...]

[Current physique +10]

Dugu Feng ignored the system's voice in his mind. His eyes were tightly shut, and his brows were furrowed.

One moment, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. The next, he felt as though raging flames were burning him atop a scorching volcano.

The powers of ice and fire collided within his body.

If he had consumed these two immortal herbs earlier, before possessing such a powerful physique, he would undoubtedly have died.

He was also somewhat glad that he had not blindly consumed the Immortal Herbs.

Otherwise, he would have been harmed by his own greed instead.

A strong person had to learn to restrain their greed. Otherwise, they would eventually destroy their future for the sake of a small benefit before their eyes.

Dugu Feng began guiding the toxins within the two herbs into his Pill Poison.

From then on, his poison gained two unique traits: extreme yin and extreme yang.

Those poisoned by it would feel as though raging flames were burning their bodies and icy cold was piercing their bones.

It would leave them unable to live, yet unable to die.

At this moment, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well seemed to transform into a furnace, while he became the pill being refined within it.

Previously, he had only cultivated around its outer edges. Now, he had directly leaped into the spring itself.

That sensation of alternating between scorching heat and freezing cold constantly stimulated him.

But ever since he had embarked on the path of cultivation, when had he ever been free from pain? Whether it was the Toad Style or absorbing Soul Rings beyond his level, which time had not brought immense pain to his body?

It had also granted him powerful perseverance.

At this moment, he recalled a line: Countless hammer blows carve one from the mountain; do not fear the blazing flames that burn.