Forging a Body in Ice and Fire-For Me?

Li Xun watched Dugu Bo disappear into the depths of the cave, then turned to the immortal herbs covering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. A smile tugged at his lips as he looked at Tang San. "Little San, I'll leave it to you to decide how to harvest and use the herbs in this garden."

Tang San froze. His eyes filled with disbelief and emotion.

Every immortal herb in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a treasure rarely seen in the world. Any one of them could drive a Titled Douluo mad with desire. Yet Li Xun had handed him control of the entire garden without a moment's hesitation.

The weight of that trust left Tang San at a loss. His nose stung as he nodded firmly. "All right, Brother Xun. Leave it to me. I'll make sure they're put to good use."

Moved by such wholehearted brotherhood, Tang San vowed to himself: I'll find the best herbs for Brother Xun. I won't let this trust go to waste.

Tang Hao watched them with growing satisfaction, nodding again and again. His son was fortunate to have such a devoted friend.

Li Xun met Tang San's grateful gaze, then caught the approving look on Tang Hao's face. A flicker of guilt stirred in him, and he quietly rubbed his nose.

Who knew a casual decision would win me this much goodwill? he thought wryly.

The reason he had left the harvesting to Tang San was simple. Gathering the herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well required care; one wrong move could damage their essence. Li Xun knew nothing about it, so he had passed the task to Tang San, who knew the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.

Li Xun cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment and said with studied calm, "No need to make so much of it, Little San. First, pick out a few herbs suited to Uncle Hao and me."

"All right, Brother Xun. I'll find them now!"

Tang San nodded solemnly, still deeply moved. He strode among the rare herbs glowing across the garden, examining each one and comparing its properties and essence to find the best choices for Li Xun and Tang Hao.

Tang Hao stood watching his son's busy figure, then glanced at Li Xun's carefully composed expression. He saw none of Li Xun's private calculations and simply took it as faith in Tang San's knowledge of herbs.

Tang San searched the garden and returned before long, carrying three carefully chosen herbs in his hands.

Each shone with a different light: the pure-white Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, the proudly blooming Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and the Primal Unity Immortal Herb with its deep, rich glow.

He went first to Tang Hao and offered him the steady, potent Primal Unity Immortal Herb. "Dad, this one suits you best. You're already among the strongest Titled Douluo. Your foundation is complete, and your talent has long since reached its peak. Ordinary herbs that cleanse the meridians or strengthen the body would do nothing for you. The Primal Unity Immortal Herb has one straightforward effect: it increases Soul Power. It's the perfect match."

Warmth entered Tang Hao's eyes as he looked at the ancient-looking herb, gentle to the touch and brimming with spiritual energy. He nodded and accepted it.

Then Tang San turned toward Li Xun, holding the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

Li Xun instinctively reached out, assuming both precious herbs were meant for him.

But Tang San did not hand them over. Instead, he turned his wrist and tucked them securely into his storage Soul Tool.

Li Xun's hand stopped. He looked at Tang San in confusion.

Tang San raised his eyes, his gaze clear and earnest. "Brother Xun, do you trust me?"

Li Xun paused, then laughed. He nodded without hesitation. "Little San, I trust you completely."

"Good. Then come with me, Brother Xun."

Tang San nodded firmly, a serious light in his eyes. Without another word, he turned toward the spring at the heart of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Is Tang San going to give me those two herbs? That can't be right. I'll go and see.

Li Xun followed him.

They soon reached the spring. On one side, bone-chilling mist froze everything it touched; on the other, searing heat threatened to melt stone and metal. The two extremes collided and intertwined at the heart of the valley.

Tang San pointed to two herbs rooted on opposite sides of the spring. "Look, Brother Xun."

"The one on the left is the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. It's so cold that taking it alone would freeze a soul master's body and shatter their meridians. The one on the right is the Infernal Delicate Apricot. It burns so fiercely that eating it alone would scorch the organs and consume the body. Either herb by itself is a fatal poison."

Then his tone shifted. "But yin and yang give rise to each other, just as water and fire can balance one another. Refine these two opposing herbs together, and their extreme properties will neutralize each other, becoming the purest power of their essence."

"Then jump into the heart of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Let its water and fire temper your bones, muscles, and blood, and you can forge a body impervious to both!"

Every word struck Li Xun. He had never expected Tang San to save these two herbs for him.

Ordinary immortal herbs could raise one's cultivation or improve one's potential. Together with the spring, these two could transform the very foundation of his body. It was a heaven-defying opportunity.

Tang Hao walked over. What he heard moved him too, and he gave Li Xun a long look. Little San has given Little Xun the very best.

Li Xun stood at the spring's edge, gazing at the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. His thoughts churned.

He knew their reputation. They were the most precious treasures in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, sought in vain by countless Titled Douluo.

He had thought Tang San would give him the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. He had never imagined Tang San would go further and offer him the chance to remake the foundation of his body.

Li Xun turned to Tang San, his expression conflicted. "Little San, are you sure? You want me to use them to forge a body impervious to water and fire?"

Tang San's expression was resolute. "Brother Xun, Senior Dugu Bo gave this garden to you. You deserve the best. Besides, the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum suit me very well."

"All right. Sorry for the trouble, Little San." Li Xun did not hesitate any longer. Tang San had made his choice; there was no need to make a fuss.

Once we've absorbed the herbs, I'll ask Tang Hao to plant Ah Yin's seed here. The sooner their family is reunited, the better.