Earth Dragon Golden Melon

At the sight of Ye Han's calm, composed expression, Dugu Bo's heart gave a sudden jolt, and he blurted out instinctively:

"Ye Han, you... could it be that you recognize these herbs around us?"

Under Dugu Bo's gaze, Ye Han nodded lightly, his expression candid. "I do recognize a few, Senior."

"Good, good, good! I really did bring the right person this time!"

Dugu Bo froze for a moment, then was swept up in wild delight.

It was as though he had finally glimpsed a faint ray of hope. Could the poison backlash that had tormented him for half his life truly be cured this time?

Ye Han hesitated no longer. With a thought, a flash of red light swept past him, and the Fire Qilin appeared on the open ground beside his feet.

With two qilin horns atop its head, the little creature surveyed the unfamiliar valley with eyes full of curiosity.

This was Dugu Bo's first time seeing Ye Han's Martial Soul.

Before he could examine it closely, the Fire Qilin's next move made his expression change drastically.

It seemed drawn to the sharply divided, two-colored spring at the center of the valley, especially the crimson Yang Spring that constantly steamed with scorching heat.

It actually set off on all fours, heading straight toward the water.

"Stop! Hurry, stop it!"

Dugu Bo's expression changed abruptly. Almost instinctively, he barked a warning under his breath and moved to intervene.

"The waters of this spring are extreme, with blazing heat and bitter cold entwined. Even I wouldn't dare remain in them for long. With the strength of your manifested Martial Soul, touching them recklessly could mean that in an instant..."

Before he could finish, Ye Han gently raised a hand beside him. "There's no need to worry, Senior. The fire spring within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well may be hot, but it cannot hurt the Fire Qilin."

No one understood the Fire Qilin better than he did.

The Fire Qilin was born with extraordinary gifts in the way of flame. Though the flames it commanded had yet to reach the level of ultimate fire, the gap was not particularly large.

Besides, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a treasure land left behind after the two Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had fallen.

For the Fire Qilin, it was unquestionably a land blessed with auspicious energy.

Seeing Ye Han so composed, without the slightest trace of panic, Dugu Bo swallowed the warning already on the tip of his tongue.

He cast a doubtful glance at the Fire Qilin, which had reached the spring and was tentatively dipping a paw into the crimson water, then looked back at the unruffled Ye Han. In the end, he chose to trust him for now.

Yet his curiosity had been stirred, and he could not help asking, "This 'Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well' you mentioned... what exactly does that name mean?"

Ye Han smiled faintly and explained at an unhurried pace, "It's a term I once read in an ancient book, Senior. It specifically describes a treasure land where the two extremes of bitter cold and blazing heat gather, yet coexist in wondrous harmony. Now that I've seen this place myself, it matches your herb garden remarkably well, so I used that name for it."

After hearing his explanation, Dugu Bo paused for a moment and quietly repeated the name, then nodded. "Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well... it does fit. This place never had a proper name before. From now on, we'll call it the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

For one thing, the name suited this place's unique environment. For another, it sounded far more imposing than the simple "herb garden."

Ye Han withdrew his gaze, no longer watching the Fire Qilin, which was now soaking contentedly in the fire spring with its eyes narrowed in bliss.

He turned to Dugu Bo, his expression solemn. "Senior, I've found a way to resolve the backlash from your Martial Soul's poison."

He raised a hand and pointed toward one side of the valley. "A medicinal treasure growing over there can alleviate the poison backlash afflicting you and Yanyan. There's a considerable chance it will stimulate both your Martial Soul Origins and bring about the beneficial evolution you've long hoped for."

He paused briefly, then continued more cautiously. "Of course, as you said earlier, Senior, I'm merely offering advice based on what I know. What medicinal properties these immortal herbs truly possess, whether to try them, and how to do so—the final decision remains yours."

After hearing Ye Han's words, the joy that had just risen on Dugu Bo's face faltered slightly, giving way to a measure of doubt.

He had discovered this herb garden years ago, while Ye Han had only just arrived and had not even approached the herbs to inspect them closely.

How could he so easily find a solution to a problem that had plagued Dugu Bo for half his life?

As though he had seen through Dugu Bo's doubts, Ye Han swept his gaze over the surrounding patches of herbs, which bore clear signs of having been transplanted, and spoke unhurriedly:

"Senior, judging by how well these transplanted herbs have grown, you must have discovered this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well quite some time ago, correct?"

Looking at Dugu Bo, he continued, "Since you found such a treasure land and gathered so many rare herbs to plant here, haven't you tried identifying them or studying some of their medicinal properties over the years? Even understanding just a handful might have helped suppress the poison."

At those words, Dugu Bo's aged face grew a little warm.

He instinctively avoided Ye Han's gaze and lowered his voice. "Well... I... originally only treated this place as a refuge where I could suppress the poison backlash in my body. Whenever the poison flared up and the torment became unbearable, staying here for a while would ease it somewhat."

"As for transplanting these herbs... they simply grew far more vigorously here than elsewhere. They were pleasing to look at, so I planted them on a whim... I truly didn't give it much more thought."

"In that case, Senior, you've been sitting on a mountain of treasure without knowing it," Ye Han teased mildly.

Dugu Bo did not argue.

Ye Han had spoken nothing but the truth.

He had guarded this treasure land, yet had not dared recklessly test its herbs.

His greatest concern was his granddaughter, Dugu Yan. If he died unexpectedly, Yanyan would lose his protection, and the days ahead would surely be difficult for her.

"Then let's begin. We'll retrieve the medicinal treasure first."

Ye Han headed toward the western side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where the immortal herb capable of resolving Dugu Bo's hidden affliction grew.

It was the earth dragon golden melon.

The earth dragon golden melon was an earth-attribute spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, innately imbued with the power of an earth dragon's upheaval.

Having grown within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for so long, the plant had also absorbed a trace of the aura left behind by the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, making it the immortal herb best suited to Dugu Bo in the entire valley.

Dugu Bo dared not delay and followed Ye Han toward the western side.

Yet his tightly clenched, faintly trembling hands revealed that he was nowhere near as calm inside as he appeared.

Before long, the two arrived before the earth dragon golden melons.

Filled with urgency, Dugu Bo did not wait for Ye Han's instructions before personally digging the medicinal plants out of the soil.

They harvested three melons, one large and two small.

Dugu Bo's gaze remained fixed on the earth dragon golden melons cradled in his hands. As he sensed the dense earth-attribute energy flowing steadily from them, a lingering sense of unreality remained in his heart.

Had a turning point truly appeared so easily for the stubborn affliction that had tormented him for most of his life?

"The earth dragon golden melon is an earth-attribute spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, innately imbued with the surging power of an earth dragon. In my opinion, it's highly compatible with your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul, Senior."

Standing beside him, Ye Han offered the reminder in a calm voice.

"If there truly is a medicinal treasure within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well that can help your Martial Soul undergo a beneficial mutation and completely eradicate the suffering caused by poison backlash, this is it."

"Yes, I can feel it."

Dugu Bo nodded slowly, his voice trembling slightly.

Even without Ye Han's explanation, he could sense the aura emanating from the earth dragon golden melons blending with his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul, giving him a faint feeling that they formed a seamless whole.

Yet his habitually cautious and suspicious nature still left him with reservations.

Ye Han noticed his hesitation. "If you have concerns, Senior, why not let me test the herbs first, as a trial for myself? What do you think?"

"What do you mean by that?" Dugu Bo discreetly put the three earth dragon golden melons into his Storage Soul Tool, then turned his emerald serpent eyes toward Ye Han and asked.

"To find a way out for myself, and seize a little opportunity along the way."

Ye Han raised a hand to scratch his head and stopped deliberately restraining his aura.

Under the constant wash of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's icy and fiery energies, the qilin blood within him had long since begun churning relentlessly.

Having remained here for so long, he could hardly avoid being affected by this extreme environment.

Unlike the Fire Qilin, he could not disregard the power of ice and fire and comfortably soak in the scorching Yang Spring.

All this time, Ye Han had deliberately stood where the bitterly cold and blazing-hot auras met, doing his best to endure them and temper himself.

"I failed to consider that."

Seeing that something was wrong with Ye Han's condition, Dugu Bo waved a hand. A surge of emerald Soul Power instantly enveloped Ye Han, temporarily shielding him from the encroaching icy and fiery auras.

"You act with such maturity and composure that I forgot for a moment you're still a child under ten. Recall your Martial Soul first. I'll take you out of here."

Dugu Bo lowered his gaze to Ye Han and said slowly, "The environment here is far too dangerous and extreme. Even I cannot remain for long. With your current cultivation, staying too long really could endanger your life."

Under the protection of Dugu Bo's Soul Power, Ye Han's complexion improved considerably. The discomfort of his churning blood gradually subsided, and more than half the pressure on him eased.

"It's all right. I've already thought of a way to deal with it. I just need your help, Senior." Ye Han smiled lightly.

His gaze then swept over the two springs in turn, lingering briefly on the herbs growing beside the scorching Yang Spring and the Extreme Cold Yin Spring.

Dugu Bo followed Ye Han's gaze. Once he saw the appearance of those two herbs clearly, he could not help shuddering.

Those two were precisely the supreme poisonous herbs he had always dreaded, unwilling even to approach them. They contained the most potent fire poison and cold poison respectively.