Wait a Moment, Bibi Dong-We Can't Miss These Immortal Herbs!

Early the next morning.

Yu Xiaogang came down the mountain path with a bundle on his back and Luo Sanpao at his side. Before long, he reached the thatched cottage.

Li Qingshan had already packed. He stood in the courtyard studying a map.

"Teacher!"

Yu Xiaogang hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

Li Qingshan folded the map, glanced at the bundle on his shoulder, and asked, "Is everything ready?"

"Yes." Yu Xiaogang nodded, then asked with a hint of anticipation, "Teacher, where are we going next?"

Li Qingshan considered for a moment before giving his answer.

"Heaven Dou City."

He had considered it before. The Sunset Forest was not far from Heaven Dou City, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well hidden within it was where he most wanted to go.

The Immortal Herbs growing there were the key to completing Luo Sanpao's evolution!

The flesh of Dragon-Type Soul Beasts and a compatible Soul Ring had brought about changes in Luo Sanpao, but they were nowhere near enough to turn him into a true Golden Sacred Dragon.

If Li Qingshan could obtain the right Immortal Herbs and follow them with further training, Yu Xiaogang's path of cultivation would finally be secure.

As for taking on another disciple...

Li Qingshan had considered Bibi Dong, but judging by the current timeline, she had probably already joined Spirit Hall and might even have become Qian Xunji's disciple.

Poaching that disciple would not be easy.

He could either wait until Bibi Dong left Spirit Hall to gain experience and find a chance to approach her, or go straight to Spirit City and demand that they hand her over. The latter was clearly out of the question for now.

He was only level seventy. The title of Love Sword Douluo might have convinced Yu Yuanzhen and the others, but Li Qingshan knew exactly what his real strength amounted to.

He could hardly march into Spirit City on the strength of a wisp of Spiritual Power that lasted only three breaths and tell Qian Xunji to hand over his disciple.

That would not be taking on a disciple.

That would be deciding he had lived too long.

For now, he would take Yu Xiaogang to Heaven Dou City and get settled, then find a chance to enter the Sunset Forest and obtain the Immortal Herbs.

As for whether anyone had discovered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, or whether the herb garden already had an owner, he would have to find out once he got there.

While Li Qingshan was thinking, Yu Xiaogang spoke again. "Teacher, are we going to Heaven Dou City to train at its Soul Fighting Arena?"

"We can arrange Soul Fighting after we arrive." Li Qingshan drew his thoughts back and looked at Luo Sanpao crouched beside the boy's feet.

"There's something more important I'm taking you there to do."

Puzzled, Yu Xiaogang asked,

"What is it?"

Li Qingshan replied calmly,

"To find medicinal herbs for you."

Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment.

Li Qingshan continued,

"Sanpao has only begun to change. He'll need the help of many medicinal herbs to complete his evolution."

"There happens to be an herb garden in the Sunset Forest outside Heaven Dou City. Some of what grows there will be very useful to both you and Sanpao."

Yu Xiaogang had looked hopeful at first, but the mention of medicinal herbs brought back memories of his past experiences.

After hesitating for a moment, the boy could not help asking,

"Teacher, can medicinal herbs really help Sanpao evolve further?"

Li Qingshan glanced at him.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"That's not what I mean." Yu Xiaogang quickly shook his head. "It's just that Father has found many medicinal herbs for me over the years."

"I heard some were quite precious, and it took a great deal of effort to obtain them. But after I took them, aside from occasionally feeling better while cultivating, Sanpao never changed at all."

At that, he looked down at his Martial Soul, his voice growing quieter.

"Later, the clan elders said medicinal herbs probably couldn't fix the problem with my Martial Soul either."

Li Qingshan merely smiled after hearing him out.

"Your father has certainly put a great deal of thought into helping you."

"But... compared with the herbs I intend to find for you, everything you took before was little more than dross."

Yu Xiaogang's head snapped up, interest lighting his face.

The things Father found for me were nothing but dross to Teacher? Then what could Teacher be looking for?

Before he could ask, Li Qingshan went on. "What I intend to find for you are Immortal Herbs."

"Immortal Herbs?"

Yu Xiaogang repeated the words without thinking.

Li Qingshan nodded, his expression turning serious.

"Most ordinary medicinal herbs can only nourish the body, strengthen the meridians, or aid Soul Power cultivation."

"True Immortal Herbs, however, can do far more. Choose the right one, and improving your aptitude or making up for defects in your Martial Soul may not be difficult at all."

Yu Xiaogang's breath caught.

Improve my aptitude?

Make up for defects in my Martial Soul?

Those were the two things he had wanted most for years!

"Teacher, do Immortal Herbs like that truly exist?"

Li Qingshan answered without hesitation.

"Of course they do."

"They're rare, and people who can recognize them are rarer still. Even with one right in front of them, someone who doesn't understand its properties might take it for an ordinary flower."

"Besides, you can't simply pick any Immortal Herb, eat it, and expect to benefit."

He looked at Yu Xiaogang, his tone growing more earnest.

"You must understand whether its properties suit you, how to harvest and store it, how to take it, and whether it needs to be paired with other herbs."

"Only when used correctly does it become a fortuitous opportunity."

Yu Xiaogang nodded quickly and committed every word to memory. But as he listened, he could not help looking at Li Qingshan with growing curiosity.

"Teacher, you know about all that too?"

Li Qingshan kept his expression still, though a thought stirred within him.

He knew the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well held Immortal Herbs, and he remembered some of their effects.

But identifying every medicinal herb on Douluo Continent—let alone blending and refining them to suit Yu Xiaogang—was beyond him.

The scattered details he remembered from the original story would not be enough. If he was going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to gather herbs, he needed to prepare for it in advance.

With that thought, Li Qingshan clasped his hands behind his back and said evenly, "If I dare take you to find them, then naturally I know how to use them."

He looked at Yu Xiaogang and smiled faintly.

"I forgot to tell you something earlier."

"Besides cultivating Martial Souls, I've spent considerable effort studying the art of refining medicine. Your teacher is also a master alchemist with a thorough understanding of medicine."

As the words left his mouth, a familiar golden screen slowly unfolded before Li Qingshan's eyes.

[A new identity lie has been established!]

[Identity: Master Alchemist.]

[Current progress toward becoming reality: 60%.]

Looking at those lines, he felt reassured.

Twin Martial Souls had already become real.

He now had level-seventy Soul Power as well.

Next, he had to make his abilities as a master alchemist real too!