Back when Qian Juechen first ventured out to gain experience, there was one place he simply could not miss.
It was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a place said to top Douluo's must-eat list.
It was a land of extraordinary opportunities deep within Sunset Forest.
Though its location was well hidden, anyone willing to spend enough time searching would eventually find it.
With Uncle Fu leading the way, he wandered Sunset Forest for several dozen days before they finally reached a valley shrouded in poisonous miasma.
Looking at the valley, which almost blended into its surroundings, and the seemingly man-made veil of poison around it, Qian Juechen could hardly contain his excitement.
This was one of the greatest treasure troves of opportunity in the Douluo World. Not only did it contain the natural energy of the two ultimate attributes, ice and fire, but it also nurtured vast numbers of rare Immortal Herbs.
In a sense, without the Immortal Herbs in this blessed land, those characters from the original story probably would not have qualified to become gods, even with their connections to God King Tang.
Although Qian Juechen believed he had arrived fairly early, someone had still beaten him to it.
Indeed, Dugu Bo had already discovered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and claimed it as his private territory.
The newly ascended Titled Douluo detected Qian Juechen and Uncle Fu as soon as they approached.
Soon, a cold, sinister voice, like the low hiss of a venomous snake, drifted out from deep within the poisonous miasma.
"This place already has an owner. You have no business here."
Then a slender figure with dark green hair and a sickly complexion slowly appeared before them.
Naturally, Dugu Bo had no warm welcome for the two strangers who had barged into his territory.
With his usual temperament, he might well have killed them outright.
But Uncle Fu was a Soul Saint, after all. Someone of that strength could hardly be a nobody on the continent, and he might well have ties to a major power.
Dugu Bo did not want to become entangled with any major powers, so he had shown himself, intending to intimidate them with his strength and drive them away.
Upon seeing Dugu Bo and realizing that he was a Titled Douluo, however, Uncle Fu promptly announced their affiliation.
He even came close to revealing Qian Juechen's true identity.
Fortunately, the Wind Sword Sect's reputation alone was enough to give Dugu Bo pause.
After all, the Wind Sword Sect was one of the Lower Four Sects and enjoyed a measure of renown across the continent. Moreover, its former sect master was still alive at the time, and his formidable reputation was widely known.
If it really came to a head-on fight, Dugu Bo, a newly ascended Titled Douluo, might not actually be able to defeat that veteran peak Soul Douluo.
Thus, Dugu Bo could only glare at the old man and the boy and snap, "This is my private territory. Out of consideration for the Wind Sword Sect, I will overlook your intrusion. Leave at once."
His meaning could not have been clearer: this was his turf, and they needed to get lost.
Uncle Fu's expression soured somewhat, but he did not argue. With their current strength, they truly had no right to challenge a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo.
Even if people often joked that the Poison Douluo was the unit of measurement for Titled Douluo strength, he was still a genuine Titled Douluo.
With only a Soul Saint like him and the young Qian Juechen, they would probably be doomed if Dugu Bo truly decided to attack.
Under normal circumstances, their wisest choice would have been to turn around and leave immediately.
But since Qian Juechen had dared to come, he had already made every preparation.
In response to Uncle Fu's questioning look, Qian Juechen calmly shook his head.
That shake of his head only left Uncle Fu more puzzled.
Qian Juechen knew perfectly well that he stood no chance against Dugu Bo at present. Uncle Fu was getting on in years, too, and was no match for him either.
He had understood that from the start, so he had never intended to fight Dugu Bo.
He was so confident because he knew an enormous secret intimately connected to Dugu Bo.
And it concerned a problem that even Dugu Bo himself could not solve.
"Senior Dugu," Qian Juechen suddenly called out just as Dugu Bo was about to turn away.
"Hmm?" Dugu Bo stopped and turned to look at him.
Speaking through the thick veil of poisonous miasma, Qian Juechen said calmly, "Senior, have you often felt numbness along both sides of your ribs lately? It becomes especially noticeable on overcast or rainy days, and it flares up once at noon and once at midnight."
"Given your current condition, each episode probably lasts at least two hours."
Dugu Bo stiffened at those words, and the impatience on his face began to shift.
Noticing that change, Qian Juechen pressed further. "Besides that, late every night, do you feel a needle-like pain at the crown of your head and in the soles of your feet? It spreads bit by bit from within your body, and when it gets bad enough, the agony makes you wish you were dead."
"Am I right?"
As he finished, their gazes met across the distance. Dugu Bo's expression had turned utterly dark.
Every word the boy had just spoken was correct.
He had even described the timing and symptoms of the attacks with perfect accuracy.
Over the years, a flaw in his martial soul had caused toxins to accumulate within his body, and they had long since begun to turn against him.
These symptoms had always been his greatest hidden threat. Even his son had died from those toxins.
This was a closely guarded secret of the Dugu Family. He had never told anyone, yet the young boy before him had described it with astonishing precision.
Dugu Bo blurred into motion, his tall figure appearing directly before the young Qian Juechen.
Uncle Fu immediately activated Martial Soul Possession, holding a Bronze Sword as he blocked Dugu Bo's path and watched him warily.
Dugu Bo first glanced at Uncle Fu, then lowered his eyes to the young boy and demanded an answer.
"Boy, what nonsense are you spouting? I am a Titled Douluo. My physique is extraordinarily powerful. How could I possibly suffer from the symptoms you described?"
Qian Juechen smiled at Dugu Bo's show of indifference.
"You know perfectly well whether I'm talking nonsense, Senior. Don't you want to know how much longer you have to live? Don't you want to know whether there's a cure?"
Dugu Bo's pupils abruptly contracted.
He stared intently at the child before him, struck by how absurd this all felt.
But then he thought of his young granddaughter and how accurately this child had described his condition. Perhaps the boy really did have a solution.
If he did, it would be wonderful news for the Dugu Family.
If he did not, given the strength of this old man and boy, Dugu Bo could keep them here forever and ensure that the secret died with them.
So instead of making Qian Juechen leave, he waved a hand. The thick poisonous miasma shrouding the valley entrance slowly parted to either side.
"Follow me. I want a word with you."
Watching the sudden turn of events and listening to their cryptic exchange, Uncle Fu was left rather dazed.
What was going on? What had those two just said?
Dugu Bo, who had nearly attacked them and ordered them to get lost a moment ago, was now inviting them inside of his own accord.
Qian Juechen was not surprised. From the moment he had recited those symptoms, he had secured his ticket into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—and, with it, the right to sweep up its Immortal Herbs.
In later years, countless transmigrators would jokingly call that speech the Immortal Herb redemption code.
If you still don't know it, hurry up and jot it down in a notebook. It's essential knowledge for any transmigrator. Who knows? One day, you might transmigrate yourself.
Before you continue