Thanks for the Promise-I Have to Believe It

"Mo An, thank you."

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Dugu Bo called out his thanks to Mo An, who was gathering herbs like a little bee. He had never been one to tie himself in knots. He did what he wanted and said what he thought, unconstrained by trifles like status or strength.

Mo An had done him an enormous favor. A word of thanks was only right.

"Senior Dugu, there's no need to be so polite. To me, this was a fairly even trade. We both got what we needed, so I really don't deserve your thanks."

Hearing Dugu Bo thank him, Mo An set down his tools, turned, and told him how he saw it.

"You did help me. If you ever need anything, come to me."

Dugu Bo held to his view. Mo An's words had not changed his mind.

"I certainly won't turn down a promise from a Titled Douluo. Speaking of which, Senior Dugu Bo, do you have a Storage Soul Tool that can hold supplies? My Azure Jade Ring is almost full."

Since Dugu Bo had put it that way, Mo An did not stand on ceremony. He immediately asked for what he needed.

There were simply too many rare herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The Azure Jade Ring had limited space and was nearly full, so Mo An turned to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo raised a hand and tossed Mo An a sachet-shaped Storage Soul Tool. "This is the Wishful Hundred Treasures Pouch, a Storage Soul Tool I used years ago. There's plenty of room inside. It should be enough for you."

After catching the Wishful Hundred Treasures Pouch that would one day belong to Tang San, Mo An peered inside with his mind. To his surprise, it had three times the space of the Azure Jade Ring—enough to hold every herb here.

"Thanks."

Mo An raised a hand in thanks to Dugu Bo, then turned back to picking herbs. From each one he harvested, he trimmed off part of the root and replanted it in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He understood the value of keeping the garden productive.

As he planted, he divided the garden into new sections according to the herbs' habits and value. He meant to waste not an inch of ground and make the most of this place.

Watching Mo An focus on gathering herbs again, Dugu Bo took a small pill from the Iron Gourd and swallowed it. Then he resumed drawing the Jade Scale Snake Poison into the Soul Bone within his body.

As both sank into their own work, peace returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Two days later, Mo An had harvested most of the herbs. What remained were poisons, of no use to him. He might as well leave them for Dugu Bo.

With the harvesting done, Mo An watched Dugu Bo draw in the Jade Scale Snake Poison. He had not cultivated in some time, so he tried cultivating here, only to find that no matter what he did, he could not make even the slightest progress.

It seemed that even taking an Immortal Herb could not break the fundamental rules of Douluo Continent.

Unable to cultivate, Mo An opened his eyes and took the Green Bamboo Compendium from the Azure Jade Ring. He studied its information on the Breaking Clan, considering how to bring them over to his side.

Before long, Dugu Bo opened his eyes again, looking much healthier. He saw Mo An sitting on a nearby rock, reading. After a regretful glance at the nearly empty herb garden, he asked, "Leaving today?"

"Yes. It's time to get my First Soul Ring."

Of all the geniuses born with Innate Full Soul Power, he might be the last to obtain a Soul Ring.

"What Soul Beast do you want for your First Soul Ring? I can catch one for you right here in Sunset Forest."

Hearing that Mo An was going to obtain his First Soul Ring, Dugu Bo casually offered to help.

"No need, really. Uncle Ning and Grandpa Jian came along to get Soul Rings for Rongrong and me. We've already pinpointed where the Soul Beasts are, so I won't trouble you."

Dugu Bo still did not know what kind of First Soul Ring he intended to get. Better to keep it from him for now.

"All right. I'll take you out."

Dugu Bo did not press him. Grabbing Mo An by the collar, he flew out of Sunset Forest and landed inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's compound in Soul Hunting Town.

Dugu Bo made no attempt to conceal his presence, so Sword Douluo sensed him as soon as he approached the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's compound.

Hearing that Dugu Bo had brought Mo An back, Ning Fengzhi hurried out of his room. He found Dugu Bo looking markedly better and Mo An safe and sound.

"Uncle Ning, Grandpa Jian, I'm back."

Seeing Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo come out, Mo An waved in greeting to show them he was perfectly fine.

"It's good to have you back," Ning Fengzhi said to Mo An. Then he cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo. "Thank you for looking after little An these past few days, Senior Dugu."

"It was nothing. We looked after each other."

Faced with outsiders, Dugu Bo immediately grew distant. Nothing in his tone suggested he wanted to keep talking to Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi took no offense. Everyone knew Dugu Bo treated people this way. He barely even smiled in front of his granddaughter.

Dugu Bo was ill at ease with people like Ning Fengzhi. After forcing himself through a few more words, he announced his departure and flew back toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in Sunset Forest.

For now, Dugu Bo needed to move the Jade Scale Snake Poison in his body into a range he could control as quickly as possible. Then he would use the Snow-Colored Swan Kiss to strengthen his poison arts. After that, he would let his old enemy, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, learn firsthand what Jade Scale Snake Poison amplified a thousandfold felt like—and avenge the beatings he had suffered before.

Once Dugu Bo was gone, Ning Fengzhi turned to Mo An and asked helplessly, "Little An, judging by your expression, you came away with quite a haul. Can we go get your Soul Ring now?"

"Uncle Ning, let me show you something."

Mo An did not answer Ning Fengzhi's question or reveal his plan to obtain a thousand-year First Soul Ring. Instead, he took the Immortal Herb Aromatic Silk Beauty from the Azure Jade Ring and held it out before Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo.

The regal, magnificent Aromatic Silk Beauty instantly drew their gazes. Even Ning Rongrong, who had been inside, came over, drawn by its drifting fragrance.

Before seeing the Aromatic Silk Beauty with their own eyes, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo had never believed anything as heaven-defying as an Immortal Herb existed.

But now the Immortal Herb Aromatic Silk Beauty was right before them. They had no choice but to believe.

Perhaps because he possessed a gem-type Martial Soul, Ning Fengzhi could faintly feel a tremor in his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, which had already been developed to its limit.

After steadying himself, Ning Fengzhi tore his gaze from the Aromatic Silk Beauty with difficulty and looked at Mo An.

"Is this the Immortal Herb Aromatic Silk Beauty that can bring about Martial Soul Evolution in gem-type Martial Souls?"