The air fell silent. Fang Lin could only feel that the look Dugu Bo was giving him was less than friendly.
Fortunately, Dugu Yan spoke up first. She turned to Fang Lin, displeasure on her face. "So your level rose so quickly because you ate the herbs in there? You had something that good and didn't even tell us?"
Fang Lin gave an awkward laugh. "That ancient text was from so long ago that I only recently remembered some of it. Besides, I'm not sure which ones would suit you. I still need to discuss the specific choices with you, Senior."
Based on the changes in the original story's characters after they consumed the Immortal Herbs, Fang Lin divided them into three categories.
The first category could remedy flaws or break through constraints, such as Aromatic Silk Beauty, Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. After Ning Rongrong consumed one, her Seven Treasures became Nine Treasures; after Ma Hongjun ate one, his Evil Fire Phoenix became a Blazing Fire Phoenix; and Yu Xiaogang finally got a seat at the Soul Elder table.
The second category had clear affinities with certain types of Soul Masters. Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, for example, was overbearing and fierce, capable of forging an indestructible body, and suited close-combat Power Attack System Soul Masters. Judging by how Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone suited both Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, it was suitable for Agility Attack System Soul Masters who relied more on flexibility. Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, meanwhile, had the mildest medicinal properties and suited Auxiliary System Soul Masters with weaker constitutions.
The last category consisted of those with special effects, such as Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.
Fang Lin wanted to choose Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, and Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma for himself. He wanted to save Aromatic Silk Beauty for Dugu Yan; perhaps it could help her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul evolve into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.
As for Dugu Bo, Fang Lin had no firm choice in mind. Dugu Bo had suffered backlash from his poison art for years, and Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison also lingered in his Soul Power. Fang Lin intended to explain the effects to Dugu Bo and let him decide for himself. If he chose blindly and ended up making things worse, that would be quite a spectacle.
In Dugu Bo's presence, Fang Lin explained the effects of Aromatic Silk Beauty to Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan was visibly interested. She ran over to Dugu Bo and looped her arm through his, speaking affectionately. "Grandpa, hurry and take us to the herb garden. And you already guessed what Fang Lin wanted to do, so why did you bring us here?"
Watching Dugu Yan act coquettishly, Dugu Bo let his gaze linger on Fang Lin for a while longer. At last, he let out a long, silent sigh and said helplessly, "All right, all right. Grandpa will take you there now."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo enveloped the two of them in Soul Power and lightly tapped the ground. The three of them leaped into the air.
Looking down from above, Fang Lin only then realized that behind the heavy stone doors stood a building resembling an ancestral hall. The place where they had just been was the ancestral ground where the Dugu Clan's ancestors were enshrined.
The soft rush of wind filled his ears, accompanied by Dugu Bo's voice.
"Kid, tell me everything you know in a moment. If you say you've remembered something else next time, heh heh..."
The voice reaching his ears was fine and concentrated. Fang Lin turned to look at Dugu Yan, but she showed no reaction, and he realized this was the Soul Power voice transmission unique to high-level Soul Masters.
Fang Lin immediately put on an utterly serious expression. "Rest assured, Senior. I'll tell you everything I know and leave nothing out."
Dugu Bo clearly hadn't believed Fang Lin's earlier claim that he had only just remembered. He had only let it pass because Dugu Yan had interrupted.
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The closer one got to the yin and yang springs, the more turbulent and violent the clash between yin and yang Qi became. The areas where the many Immortal Herbs grew were mostly within thirty zhang of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Since Dugu Yan couldn't remain inside for long, only Fang Lin and Dugu Bo entered.
"Lovesick Heartbreak Red. It's said to bring the dead back to life and put flesh on bare bones, but it only acknowledges someone with a true love as its master. We probably can't manage that, so there's no need to look at this one."
"Aromatic Silk Beauty. Elegant and magnificent. It's said that after taking it, one can absorb the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon. That sounds a little exaggerated..."
"Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid..."
"Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma..."
Drawing on his memory, Fang Lin introduced the Immortal Herbs to Dugu Bo one by one. With each one he heard about, the expression on Dugu Bo's face grew more complicated.
He had spent nearly twenty years in this valley, yet he hadn't known these herbs all had such astonishing effects. If any one of them found its way outside, it would likely provoke conflicts that turned blood into rivers. Their value was no less than that of Soul Bones.
"The last one is Snow-Colored Swan Kiss. It's not much use, but it can amplify deadly poison. That makes it quite suitable for your poison art, Senior..."
After introducing the last herb, Fang Lin paused, then continued.
"The book records that Aromatic Silk Beauty once allowed a Soul Master with a gemstone-type Martial Soul to shed their old self and undergo a fundamental Martial Soul Evolution. If Dugu Yan takes it, perhaps her Martial Soul can evolve into the Jade Qilin Serpent Emperor, just like yours, Senior."
"There's also Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. Its medicinal properties are the mildest and most mellow, so it might suit you too, Senior."
Following Fang Lin's gesture, Dugu Bo's gaze fell on a crystalline, snow-white orchid with eight petals. As soon as he drew a little closer, its refreshing fragrance lifted his spirits.
Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid could strengthen one's foundation and nurture vitality over the long term, as well as remove impurities. Of the many immortal-grade herbs, its medicinal properties were the mildest.
After sweeping his gaze over the many other Immortal Herbs, Dugu Bo looked away and glanced sideways at Fang Lin with a chuckle. "You've certainly thought everything through. What about yourself?"
Fang Lin coughed and said casually, "Senior, I'll be fine just eating a little of whatever."
"A little of whatever? Easy for you to say." Dugu Bo snorted, a cold smile curling his lips. "Kid, every herb you just mentioned could be called immortal-grade. Even if I can't consume them, I can leave them to my descendants or trade them with others. Why should I give them to you?"
"Senior, I forgot to tell you: I only know how to consume these Immortal Herbs, not how to pick them. Otherwise, I wouldn't have left everything untouched before..."
Anyone who could trade with Dugu Bo would at least be a Titled Douluo or someone from a power of equivalent standing, such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
But Dugu Bo couldn't possibly bring any of them into the herb garden. If negotiations broke down and they came to blows, this valley would be wiped out in an instant.
"As for your descendants..." Fang Lin kept his tone as tactful as possible. "Heavenly materials and earthly treasures belong to the worthy."
Fang Lin recalled what he had seen and heard at the Dugu Clan's ancestral ground. Dugu Bo probably had few close relatives left, and most of them were ordinary people. Very few would be qualified to consume Immortal Herbs. If they really did take them, never mind the wanton waste of heaven's gifts-they might even burst apart and die.
If Dugu Bo still insisted on gritting his teeth and keeping everything to himself, Fang Lin could do nothing about it.
Dugu Bo's face twitched for a moment. Recalling Fang Lin's earlier behavior, he didn't doubt the truth of his words, but his expression remained dark and displeased.
"You little brat, even if that's true, I can still pass them down and leave them for descendants with suitable aptitudes. Why should I let you benefit?"
"Besides, do you know why I let an outsider like you go to the Dugu Clan's ancestral ground? My original plan was to keep you there and have you join your bloodline with members of my Dugu Clan. Tell me, if we put in the effort for twenty or thirty years, could we produce a few Soul Masters with Jade Phosphorous Serpent bloodlines and decent aptitudes?"
Damn, he tricked me into going there to be a stud!
Fang Lin sucked in a breath. I only coveted your Immortal Herbs, and you went straight for my body!