Li Qingshan in the Sky Screen had likewise found the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well only after passing through a stretch of poisonous miasma.
The terrain and surroundings of the area before them closely resembled what they had committed to memory.
Chen Xin did not respond immediately. He raised his hand, sending a thread of Soul Power from his fingertip into the mist ahead. A moment later, his brows stirred slightly.
"The poison is quite potent. An ordinary Soul Master who rashly entered would probably collapse before making it through these woods."
At that, Ning Fengzhi's expression grew more serious.
It was not that they had encountered no Soul Beasts along the way, but most had kept their distance after sensing Chen Xin's aura.
Only this poisonous miasma remained barring their path.
Watching the constantly shifting green mist, Ning Fengzhi mused, "It seems that medicinal garden really was a treasure trove Dugu Bo discovered first."
Chen Xin gave a faint smile.
"Stay close to me."
As his words fell, a sharp surge of Soul Power suddenly spread from his body. Silver-white light gathered in his palm, and a silver longsword took shape.
It was the Seven Kill Sword!
The instant the sword appeared, the blades of grass around Chen Xin abruptly flattened. Even the poisonous mist drifting slowly toward him seemed pinned back by an invisible force, unable to advance another inch.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi said nothing more and merely stepped closer to Chen Xin.
Chen Xin looked into the depths of the miasma and slowly raised the Seven Kill Sword. The next instant, a silver-white blade of sword energy slashed out!
Hiss!
The sword energy swept through the woods, sending the pale green poisonous mist ahead rolling away to either side.
That single slash forcibly cleaved the unbroken bank of mist apart, revealing a path into its depths!
Ning Fengzhi looked up and discovered that the miasma extended much farther than it had appeared from outside.
Though the sword energy had cut deep into it, the mist behind it continued churning, trying to refill the opening that had just appeared.
Chen Xin gave his wrist a slight turn, releasing several more slender strands of sword energy from the Seven Kill Sword.
Rather than cutting farther ahead, they swept along both sides of the passage, driving back the returning poisonous mist layer by layer.
At the same time, silver-white Soul Power spread out, enveloping Ning Fengzhi.
"Let's go."
With that low command, Chen Xin stepped forward, and Ning Fengzhi followed closely behind.
Their figures soon entered the miasma. Mist churned constantly along their route, yet never managed to cross the flowing sword light on either side.
Occasionally, a wisp of pale green seeped through the foliage, only to be swept away by the keen sword energy before it could approach them.
After they passed through the last stretch of miasma, the mist around them finally thinned.
Chen Xin did not put away the Seven Kill Sword, instead spreading his Spiritual Power into their surroundings. Ning Fengzhi also focused on probing the area, his gaze moving slowly along the undulating terrain ahead.
A moment later, both men looked toward a cliff almost simultaneously.
The aura coming from there was quite strange: cold and heat intertwined, yet gathered in the very same place.
"Uncle Jian, over there!"
Chen Xin nodded slightly. Supporting Ning Fengzhi with his Soul Power, he carried him over the treetops and headed straight toward the cliff.
Within moments, a secluded mountain valley appeared before them.
Mist rose from the valley floor. Milky-white and vermilion spring waters stood distinctly apart, while great swathes of medicinal herbs in all manner of shapes grew beside the spring.
It was almost identical to the scene in the Sky Screen!
Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up, but before he could search for the immortal herb Aromatic Silk Beauty, a busy figure beside the spring caught his attention.
Dugu Bo!
At that moment, the Poison Douluo was crouching beside the medicinal garden, placing a freshly harvested herb into the Wishful Treasure Bag. Several closed boxes sat beside him.
He had clearly only just returned; he had not even bothered to brush the bits of leaves from his robes.
"Someone's here?" Dugu Bo's hands suddenly paused, and he jerked his head up. Once he recognized the two figures on the cliff, his expression darkened.
He had hurried back as fast as he could, yet visitors had come knocking when he had barely put away a few herbs-and of all people, they were Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin!
Dugu Bo quickly stowed the jade boxes beside him and rose to block the medicinal garden. A layer of emerald-green Soul Power spread from beneath his feet.
"Sect Master Ning. Sword Douluo." His gaze swept over the Seven Kill Sword in Chen Xin's hand, and his voice grew colder.
"You came uninvited and broke through my poisonous miasma. Just what are you two planning to do?"
Chen Xin brought Ning Fengzhi down into the valley, stopping outside the medicinal garden without approaching any farther.
Ning Fengzhi cupped his hands slightly. "It was indeed discourteous of us to arrive unannounced. I hope you can forgive us, Poison Douluo."
"If you know it's discourteous, then leave." Dugu Bo snorted coldly, showing no intention of making way.
Ning Fengzhi did not lose his temper. His gaze passed over Dugu Bo's shoulder and settled on a golden flower-the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
Finding that the immortal herb was still there, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Dugu Bo sounded displeased, Ning Fengzhi could hardly get angry. After all, if he drove this old poisoner into a corner, what if Dugu Bo simply destroyed the immortal herb, leaving them both empty-handed?
When he looked at Dugu Bo again, his tone grew solemn. "Poison Douluo, I have come solely for that Aromatic Silk Beauty."
"You heard what was said in the Sky Screen, too. This herb determines whether my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul can evolve. It is truly of immense importance to me. I hope you will part with it."
Dugu Bo's brows knitted tightly as he said:
"You make it sound so easy. This thing has been growing here for years, and now that you know it's useful, you expect me to hand it over?"
"Naturally, I wouldn't ask you to give it up for nothing," Ning Fengzhi said earnestly. "You may name your terms. As for the other immortal herbs, I have no interest in them and won't take a single one."
Dugu Bo did not answer immediately.
He had originally planned to leave after gathering the herbs. As long as he had them in hand, he could take his time arranging to give them to Yanyan or finding someone to study their medicinal properties.
Yet now, the very immortal herb Ning Fengzhi coveted most was one he had not managed to put away.
Dugu Bo looked at Chen Xin.
Chen Xin had not interjected once. Though he merely held the Seven Kill Sword at an angle, its faint, elusive edge made Dugu Bo's heart tighten.
If they really fought, he would gain nothing. Moreover, the medicinal garden was right behind him. How many of these immortal herbs would remain after a battle?
At that thought, Dugu Bo's expression darkened further. He asked for confirmation, "Sect Master Ning, do you truly want only the Aromatic Silk Beauty?"
"Yes. I want only the Aromatic Silk Beauty," Ning Fengzhi answered without hesitation.
Though greed stirred in his heart as well, he knew that if he pushed this old poisoner too far, he might end up with nothing.
After a moment of silence, Dugu Bo finally gritted his teeth. "Fine, then. Sect Master Ning, remember what you just said."
He turned toward the golden flower, his heart brimming with resentment.
He had guarded this treasure trove for so many years, only to be forced to watch one of its most precious treasures slip away just as he finally understood its value!
Seeing him relent, Ning Fengzhi's expression finally eased.
But just as Dugu Bo bent down to harvest the Aromatic Silk Beauty, a sultry voice suddenly drifted in from outside the valley:
"Old poisoner, you had such a treasure trove, yet you never told me or Old Ghost!"
Dugu Bo's outstretched hand froze. At that same instant, Chen Xin raised the Seven Kill Sword and turned his gaze beyond the cliff.
Dugu Bo slowly straightened, his expression turning even uglier than before as he said coldly:
"Chrysanthemum Guan?!"
"Those two actually came here too?!"
Before you continue