"Very well! Since you have the will and the ability, young friend, how could I refuse?" Dugu Bo waved his hand generously and said, "You may take whatever you need from this valley! As long as it can cure my and Yanzi's poison, what do these material possessions matter!"
"Thank you, Senior!" Lin Yan bowed in gratitude, then, as if remembering something, solemnly said, "Senior, until you find a suitable Soul Bone, I will take good care of the ' Infernal Delicate Apricot ' and the ' Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass ' for you, and will never let anyone touch them. This is the last guarantee. If... if the Soul Bone method ultimately fails, or if Senior changes his mind, these two Immortal Herb will still be your hope."
These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity, completely considering Dugu Bo's perspective. Hearing them, Dugu Bo felt a warm current surge through his heart. He had been a recluse all his life, and apart from his granddaughter Dugu Yan, who had ever thought of him like this? Lin Yan's actions were tantamount to preserving a crucial escape route for him!
For a moment, Dugu Bo's gaze towards Lin Yan was filled with complex emotions—gratitude, appreciation, and a gentleness almost akin to that towards a nephew. "Young friend... you're very kind! I will remember this kindness!" He patted Lin Yan's shoulder heavily, saying nothing more, but everything was understood without words.
After giving a few more instructions about the poison array in the valley and the precautions, Dugu Bo did not linger any longer. With his mind focused on finding the Soul Bone, he transformed into a streak of green light and hurriedly departed.
The vast valley was now empty except for Lin Yan, the pervasive heat and cold, and the countless rare treasures of nature.
Only when Dugu Bo's aura completely disappeared outside the valley did Lin Yan finally relax. He let out a long sigh of relief, and an uncontrollable smile of excitement appeared on his face.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! He had finally arrived at this place! This treasure trove, considered one of the largest in the world of " Douluo Continent," was now practically open to him!
He wasn't in a hurry to acquire those top-tier immortal items, such as the Aromatic Silk Beauty, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. His immediate priority was to improve his strength. He had a deep-seated premonition that level 30 would be a crucial turning point for his Martial Soul.
The best choice to help him break through was not those top-grade immortal Immortal Herb with domineering medicinal properties, but rather the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, which has relatively mild medicinal properties but can strengthen the foundation and break through bottlenecks.
Based on the description in his memory, Lin Yan began to search carefully around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma was not difficult to identify. It was purplish-brown all over, with nine clear cloud-shaped patterns on its cap, emitting a faint purple halo and a refreshing fragrance.
Before long, Lin Yan found his target in a rock crevice near the Extreme Cold Yin Spring, but not completely shrouded in cold air. A Ganoderma lucidum, about the size of a palm, with a thick cap, nine clear cloud patterns, and flowing purple light, was quietly growing there.
"Found it!" Lin Yan was overjoyed. He carefully stepped forward, not touching it directly with his hands, but taking out a jade shovel and a jade box from his Storage Soul Tool. When picking spiritual Immortal Herb like Ganoderma lucidum, using jade tools is the best way to preserve their spiritual essence.
With gentle movements, he carefully dug out the entire Grade Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, including a small clod of soil, and then placed it in a jade box and sealed it away.
After doing all this, Lin Yan chose a place a little distance away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where the energy was relatively peaceful, and sat down cross-legged. He adjusted his breathing and brought himself to his best condition.
Upon opening the jade box, the strange fragrance became even stronger. Without hesitation, Lin Yan reached out and took out the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, as if he were holding a piece of warm jade. He divided it into several pieces and then put them into his mouth.
The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma had no spicy or bitter taste; instead, it melted in the mouth, turning into a warm current that slid down the throat into the stomach. At first, there was nothing unusual, but after only a few breaths, a powerful and pure energy suddenly burst forth from the abdomen, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly surging into every part of the body!
This energy was gentle and mellow, not domineering, but vast. Lin Yan felt as if all the meridians in his body were filled and swollen by this warm current. The bottleneck of his Soul Power at the peak of level 29 began to loosen violently under the impact of this energy.
He dared not delay, and immediately focused his mind and breath, fully activating the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique ".
As the cultivation technique circulated, Lin Yan's breathing became long and rhythmic, as if an invisible vortex had formed around his body. The immense medicinal power filling his body was rapidly and efficiently sorted and guided by this powerful refining force, transforming into the purest Soul Power and merging into his own Soul Power circulation.
Unlike ordinary Soul Master who might experience energy dissipation or slow refining when absorbing Immortal Herb, under the powerful effects of the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique," the medicinal power of the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma was absorbed and transformed by Lin Yan at a speed visible to the naked eye.
His Soul Power Level began to rise at an astonishing rate!
The barrier of level 29, the pinnacle of power, melted away instantly, like ice and snow under the sun.
Level 30!
Almost the instant he broke through to level 30, something within Lin Yan's body seemed to shatter. It wasn't just a surge and qualitative change in the total amount of his Soul Power; deeper still, his Martial Soul seemed to be stirred by this pure energy and the opportunity for breakthrough, and began to throb spontaneously.
An indescribable longing emanated from the Martial Soul Origin, guiding Lin Yan's consciousness into his body.
In his spiritual world, the Blue Silver Grass that had been quietly suspended was now radiating an unprecedented azure light. At the same time, the Blue Silver Grass's leaves became wider, its stems thicker, and its veins clearer, as if it contained infinite mysteries of life.
At the same time, Lin Yan felt that his connection with the surrounding world, especially with the countless plants in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, had become closer and clearer. He could even vaguely "hear" the faint life fluctuations emitted by those plants and feel their desire for growth, sunlight, and energy.
This perception is far more profound and mysterious than when I was merely trying to induce plant growth!
"Is this the change in my Martial Soul after reaching level 30? My perception and control over life force have improved by more than one level!" Lin Yan realized.
However, the changes did not stop. The medicinal power of the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma remained immense, and the refining of the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique " continued. After breaking through level 30, his body and meridians seemed to have expanded several times over, able to accommodate more Soul Power.
The medicinal effects were still surging, propelling his Soul Power to continue its upward climb! However, due to not having obtained Third Soul Ring, he remained at level 30 and could not advance any further.
Lin Yan was shocked. In the original novel, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma was mainly used to help break through bottlenecks and strengthen the foundation of one's soul. Its effect of directly increasing Soul Power did not seem to be outstanding. But now it seemed that it was not that its medicinal power was insufficient, but that ordinary Soul Master simply could not absorb and refine its medicinal power almost 100% like he did with the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique "! The overflowing energy probably accounted for as much as 70 or 80%!
Now, he has absorbed 70-80% of that energy, turning it into part of his own Soul Power!
Finally, after the last trace of the medicinal power of the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma was completely refined and absorbed, Lin Yan's Soul Power Level steadily stopped at the peak of level 30!
Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes. He felt the surging Soul Power within his body, which was several times stronger than before, and the renewed vitality of his Martial Soul. His heart was filled with joy.
"As expected, the combination of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique has an effect far exceeding expectations!" He clenched his fist, his knuckles making a crisp sound, and his whole body was filled with power.
To break through level 30, he needs to acquire his Third Soul Ring as soon as possible in order to truly step into the realm of Soul Elder. Moreover, he senses that after acquiring the Third Soul Ring, his Soul Power may further increase by leveraging the remaining resources from absorbing the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma.
But before that, he had more important things to do—to familiarize himself with the abilities of his Martial Soul after its transformation, and to consider the next Immortal Herb he should consume.
Tang San's statement that a person can only consume one Immortal Herb in their lifetime refers to the fact that ordinary Soul Master cannot fully absorb the power of Immortal Herb, and the conflicting power of multiple Immortal Herb within the body can be harmful. However, the refining ability of the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique " showed Lin Yan infinite possibilities.
"As long as the medicinal properties can be fully absorbed and transformed into one's own foundation, consuming more of these plants might not be impossible!" Lin Yan's gaze was fixed intently on the enticing celestial plants in the valley.
His goal is not just to break through to level 30. He wants to use the treasure trove of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to lay an unprecedentedly solid foundation!
However, one must take things one step at a time. He decided to first stabilize his current realm, thoroughly familiarize himself with the changes in his Martial Soul after the breakthrough, and then prepare some initial antidote for Dugu Bo as a way of giving him an explanation.