As the information on the Sky Screen continued to spread, people from factions across the continent began setting out.
Within the great sects, some hurriedly summoned their elders. In the cities, Soul Masters rushed toward Sunset Forest without even stopping to pack.
The powerful wanted to claim the most precious immortal herbs, while the weaker ones figured that even if they could not obtain those, coming away with a few valuable medicinal herbs would still make the trip worthwhile.
For a time, Sunset Forest, which had originally had nothing to do with the Sky Screen, became the destination of countless travelers.
Meanwhile.
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Bo sat beside a stone table in the courtyard, listening to Dugu Yan describe the problems she had recently encountered in her cultivation.
With a rare free day on his hands, he had left Sunset Forest specifically to visit his granddaughter at the academy.
But before Dugu Yan could finish, she noticed her grandfather suddenly raise his head, his gaze fixed intently on the Sky Screen overhead.
"Grandpa?"
Dugu Yan called to him in confusion.
Dugu Bo did not answer.
His gaze first settled on the golden flower in Li Qingshan's hand, then swiftly shifted to the hot spring in the image and the familiar herbs growing beside it.
Milky white on one side, vermilion on the other.
Two utterly different waters remained sharply divided within the same pool, and he had looked at that herb garden more times than he could count!
Wasn't that his own home?
"So this place is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well..."
Dugu Bo murmured, his expression already changing.
Earlier, when he had seen his other-world self staying in the valley with his son, most of his attention had been on Xin'er.
Seeing the child who should have long since left him restored to health filled his heart with both envy and an indescribable ache.
As for the herbs in the valley, he knew they were precious but had paid them little mind. After all, he had guarded them for many years.
There were many he did not even know how to consume, so he usually just left them to grow beside the spring.
But now, as Li Qingshan explained the effects of several immortal herbs in succession, Dugu Bo abruptly realized just what a treasure trove he had been guarding all these years!
Singular velvet sky chrysanthemum could nourish the muscles and bones, clear the flow of blood and qi, and forge an indestructible body. Eight-petal immortal orchid could strengthen one's foundation and purge impurities.
As for that aromatic silk beauty, it could actually evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
"This is bad. Something's going to happen!" Dugu Bo muttered. Rather than showing much joy, his expression only grew uglier.
He was not the only one who had heard those words on the Sky Screen. The entire continent had heard them! Others might hesitate, but Ning Fengzhi certainly would not!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been constrained by its martial soul for years. Now that it had suddenly learned of an immortal herb capable of helping the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda evolve, how could it possibly sit still?
What was more, that single herb was far from the only treasure in the valley!
Dugu Bo sprang to his feet.
Disaster!
Of all days, he wasn't at the herb garden today!
"Grandpa, what's wrong?" Seeing his expression change so abruptly, Dugu Yan hurriedly stood as well.
Dugu Bo glanced at his granddaughter, already unable to spare the time for an explanation. "Yanyan, Grandpa has something urgent to deal with. I have to go back immediately. Stay at the academy these next few days, and don't go wandering around."
Dugu Yan paused, then followed his gaze toward the Sky Screen. Something suddenly occurred to her. "Grandpa, could that herb garden be..."
"That is precisely where I live in seclusion," Dugu Bo said gravely, looking as though he wanted to cry but had no tears left.
At his words, Dugu Yan's eyes widened.
She knew her grandfather had a secluded residence in Sunset Forest, but she had never imagined that the immortal herbs described on the Sky Screen grew there.
Before she could ask anything else, Dugu Bo had already turned away. "Whatever it is, we'll talk when Grandpa gets back."
Before his words had even faded, emerald-green soul power surged from his body. His figure swept out of the courtyard and raced straight toward Sunset Forest!
The comic world.
Time flowed differently in the two worlds.
While the various factions on the original Douluo Continent had only just set out, another two days had already passed at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well on the other side of the Sky Screen.
Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
As Li Qingshan slowly withdrew his soul power, the flames within the Xuanling Pill Cauldron finally began to die out. Before the lid was even lifted, a rich medicinal fragrance drifted through its seams.
Dugu Bo stood nearby, his eyes fixed on the pill cauldron.
Over the past two days, aside from refining Mystic Water Pills, Li Qingshan had devoted the most effort to the batch before them.
Li Qingshan had taken a portion from each of the various immortal herbs and added them to the cauldron in a particular sequence.
From some, he took only a few petals; from others, a little of their stamens; and from still others, only a short section of root or stem. He had carefully weighed the quantity of every ingredient.
Had he not witnessed it himself, Dugu Bo would have struggled to believe that so many precious herbs with entirely different medicinal properties could be refined together in a single cauldron.
"Teacher, did it work?" Dugu Bo could not help asking when Li Qingshan finally stopped.
Li Qingshan did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised a hand and lifted the lid. In the next instant, a faint golden halo shone from within.
At the bottom of the cauldron, a pill the size of a longan fruit hovered silently.
The pill was pale gold throughout, with several fine markings faintly crisscrossing its surface. As it slowly rotated, they looked almost like the silhouette of a coiled dragon.
Li Qingshan beckoned with his hand, drawing it into his palm. Feeling the medicinal power within settle into stability, he finally smiled.
"It worked."
Dugu Bo looked at the pill, his eyes full of curiosity. "Is this the pill you refined for Senior Brother?"
"That's right." Li Qingshan nodded slightly and said slowly, "This pill is called the Sacred Dragon Creation Pill."
"The Sacred Dragon Creation Pill..." Dugu Bo repeated softly, then looked at the remaining immortal herbs nearby.
Singular velvet sky chrysanthemum, nine-grade purple ganoderma, aromatic silk beauty, and several other precious herbs had all been placed separately inside pill cauldrons by Li Qingshan.
Though portions had been taken from each, they were far from exhausted.
"Teacher, there's still something I don't understand," Dugu Bo asked hesitantly. "Since each of these immortal herbs has its own marvelous uses, why not have Senior Brother consume them separately? Why go to so much trouble to refine them together?"
Li Qingshan glanced at him and explained, "Immortal herbs cannot regrow in a short time. If I used them all on him, what would you and Xin'er do?"
"Besides, Xiao Gang's body and martial soul both have shortcomings. A single herb might not resolve every problem."
"If he consumed several immortal herbs one after another, his body might not withstand it, to say nothing of the conflicting medicinal properties."
As he spoke, he raised the pill in his palm.
"That is why I had to select the strengths of different herbs according to his condition and readjust their quantities and medicinal properties."
"Singular velvet sky chrysanthemum nourishes the muscles and bones and clears the flow of blood and qi, so I used it to strengthen his physique. Only a sufficiently strong body can withstand the changes brought by martial soul evolution."
"Nine-grade purple ganoderma replenishes his vital energy and helps him break through the bottleneck in his soul power cultivation."
"As for aromatic silk beauty..."
Li Qingshan's gaze shifted slightly as he continued slowly:
"I drew on its power to promote martial soul evolution, then combined it with the other immortal herbs to awaken the power within Sanpao that has yet to truly manifest."
Dugu Bo listened intently and could not help pressing further. "What about the other immortal herbs?"
"Some strengthen his foundation, some nourish his meridians, and others harmonize the medicinal properties," Li Qingshan explained.
"Different quantities and combinations of the same immortal herb will produce different effects. Adding more herbs does not necessarily make a better pill."
"What matters for this batch is that it suits Xiao Gang perfectly."
Dugu Bo nodded slowly, his gaze returning to the pale-gold pill.
Only now did he understand why his teacher had repeatedly deliberated over the ingredients these past two days, even treating individual petals separately.
Had these herbs been placed in his hands, he would most likely have thought about how to use each one separately. Li Qingshan, however, had considered how to make them work together within a single person.
Li Qingshan carefully inspected the pill once more. Only after confirming that its medicinal powers were no longer clashing did he take out a jade bottle and place the Sacred Dragon Creation Pill inside.
"Xiao Gang's martial soul has been held back for far too long."
As he spoke, he sealed the stopper, a little more anticipation appearing in his eyes. "I hope this time, Sanpao can finally take that step."
"Come on. Follow me back to Heaven Dou City and meet your senior brother!"
Before you continue