The voice within the purple mist fell silent for a long while. At last, the mist slowly parted to reveal a winding path threaded with vines.
The hoarse voice rang out again:
"Come in, then. But uninvited guests aren't welcome on my turf. If you harbor ill intentions..."
"Rest assured."
Qian Daoliu was the first to step into the Poison Formation.
"We have come with the utmost sincerity."
Golden Crocodile, Bibi Dong, and the others followed close behind. Yue Guan deliberately released the fragrance of his Chrysanthemum Martial Soul, forming a barrier around everyone to keep out the lingering toxins.
Xiao Wu's Mother carried her daughter as she followed lightly at the rear. Xiao Wu, the Soft Bone Rabbit, poked her head out curiously, looking at the ancient trees entwined with poisonous vines, and whispered:
"Mom, the plants here are so scary."
Xiao Wu's Mother gently patted her daughter's back, her wary gaze sweeping their surroundings-to survive within such a Poison Formation, Dugu Bo's strength was probably even more terrifying than they had thought.
The purple mist slowly closed behind them, sealing the entrance completely, as though they had stepped onto a path leading into the unknown...
The instant they passed through the purple mist, the scenery abruptly changed. The vapor washing over them carried a strange warmth, making everyone instinctively stop in their tracks.
Before them lay a small yet exquisite valley, like a hidden realm enfolded in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth-dark green vines hung down the rock walls, dotted with tiny, unfamiliar white flowers. Droplets condensed on their petals and fell, pattering softly against the ground.
At the center of the valley, an oval hot spring steamed with white mist. A peculiar, refreshing fragrance filled the air, mingling with the warm moisture. Breathing it in seemed to soothe even their Soul Power.
Most astonishing of all, an invisible boundary divided the hot spring into two halves: the water on the left was milky white, radiating a bone-piercing chill, with tiny ice crystals floating on its surface; the right was vermilion, rolling with waves of heat, and faint veins of magma could be seen flowing slowly beneath the water.
Though the two currents shared a single pool, they remained as distinctly separate as the Jing and Wei Rivers, as if divided by an invisible barrier. Only at their boundary did thick white mist rise continuously, drifting out through the gap above the valley and refracting faint rainbows in the sunlight.
"This..."
The flower slipped from Yue Guan's hand. He hurried to the edge of the hot spring, his gaunt fingers trembling slightly, disbelief gleaming in his eyes.
He bent down for a closer look. Several plants with leaves as translucent as ice grew beside the milky-white water, while flame-shaped vines sprawled beside the vermilion half. Every leaf trembled faintly, as though breathing with a life of its own.
"Is this... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Yue Guan's voice trembled, as though he were seeking confirmation of a legend long buried in dust.
His family's ancient records had described a wondrous place that united the powers of two extreme attributes, allowing ordinary medicinal herbs to develop a hundred years' worth of potency in just ten years. Yet no one had ever confirmed its existence.
Qian Daoliu stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over all the plants on either side of the spring, and said calmly:
"Indeed. This is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
At that confirmation, Yue Guan shuddered and abruptly turned toward Qian Daoliu. Realizing he had lost his composure, he quickly lowered his voice and used Soul Power to transmit his words to Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile:
"Great Enshrined, Enshrinement Golden, this is a true treasure land! Ultimate yin and ultimate yang coexist here. Ordinary medicinal herbs planted here gain as much potency in ten years as they would in a hundred years outside. And if they're immortal-grade spiritual herbs..."
His voice grew unsteady with excitement.
"They could raise a person's innate talent to another level!"
A spark of burning desire flashed in Golden Crocodile's eyes. He instinctively clenched his fists and replied through voice transmission:
"How can we let that old poison fiend Dugu Bo monopolize such a treasure land? Why don't we..."
If Spirit Hall could control this place, it could nurture countless powerful experts. He looked at Qian Daoliu, undisguised possessiveness in his eyes.
"No."
Qian Daoliu's voice sounded in both their minds, calm yet carrying unquestionable authority.
"We came to discuss cooperation, not seize territory. Besides, this place's value goes far beyond what you see on the surface."
Qian Daoliu merely smiled faintly, his gaze settling on Yue Guan with a hint of approval. It seems bringing you along was the right decision.
Yue Guan's mastery of medicinal properties ran far deeper than that of Dugu Bo, the "lone wolf." With him here, their chances of persuading Dugu Bo had improved considerably.
"You're better informed than I imagined."
Just then, a hoarse voice reached them.
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw an old man in a dark green robe emerge from the shadows.
He was gaunt, his face sinister, his serpent-like eyes glinting coldly. A faint haze of jade-green poison lingered around him-he was the only person on the Douluo Continent to possess "two" titles.
Jade Phosphor Douluo Dugu Bo, or Poison Douluo.
Dugu Bo's gaze passed over Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile before finally settling on Yue Guan, tinged with scrutiny.
"You know this place?"
Though Dugu Bo had occupied this valley for years, he recognized only a few poisonous herbs around the hot spring's perimeter. He had always kept a respectful distance from the exotic plants near the center of the spring, and knew nothing of the two-colored water's true name.
Seeing that this valley could shock even Yue Guan made him realize for the first time that the place he guarded might be an extraordinary treasure.
Yue Guan did not answer. A plant beside the pool had caught his attention.
It was an enormous chrysanthemum, half as tall as a person, with pale golden petals whose edges shimmered with a strange light. It was almost identical to the phantom of his Martial Soul condensed in his palm.
He hurried over, stopping three feet from the chrysanthemum, his eyes filled with awe and excitement.
"Singular velvet sky chrysanthemum... It really is singular velvet sky chrysanthemum! To think I would find the true form of my Martial Soul Origin here!"
"Isn't it just your Martial Soul? What a fuss."
Dugu Bo spoke as he watched Yue Guan's reaction. If he had not feared damaging the medicinal garden, he would have destroyed that chrysanthemum long ago.
Yue Guan carefully examined the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum's leaves and answered solemnly:
"Singular velvet sky chrysanthemum ranks nineteenth in the Immortal Herb Rankings. Its nature is warm, and it can neutralize a hundred poisons. Prepared with dew from the ice and fire spring, it can be refined into a Heaven-Reaching Pill to strengthen a Soul Master Body."
Dugu Bo's pupils abruptly contracted. He had occupied this valley for years and knew only that this chrysanthemum was unusual, not its name or effects. Yet Yue Guan had identified it at a glance. Clearly, his knowledge of medicinal properties far surpassed Dugu Bo's own.
Dugu Bo snorted coldly.
"Spirit Hall's people really are up to no good. First you sent people to hunt me down, and now you've sent someone to pry into my medicinal garden. Tell me, what exactly do you want?"
Golden Crocodile stepped forward, his golden Soul Power rippling faintly.
"Dugu Bo, we came today to trade medicinal herbs. Spirit Hall is willing to exchange rare poisonous herbs, such as thousand-year poison vine and ten-thousand-year cold lotus, for the herbs in your garden."
"Trade?"
As though he had heard a joke, Dugu Bo broke into a sinister, cackling laugh.
"Why didn't you think of trading when you were hunting me down back then? Now that you need something from me, you think you can snare a white wolf with empty hands?"
"What's past is past."
Before you continue