After the four returned to the Breaking Clan, they each began attending to their own affairs.
Yang Zhentian had been absent for over a month altogether. As the young clan chief, he had plenty of matters to handle. Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang needed to process the medicinal herbs they had gathered and plan what to do with the nine-grade purple ganoderma they now possessed.
Upon returning home, Niu Jinfeng immediately took her little daughter back into her arms, clearly doting on her tremendously. Then she secretly brought Yang Podi into a secret chamber. "Podi, I've taken care of the medicinal garden you and your father found. The entire garden has been hidden, so no one else should be able to find it. This is the key for entering and leaving. Keep it safe from now on. I only made three keys. Your father has one, and your two grandfathers have another."
"To get inside, you'll need to activate a special mechanism. I'll teach you how to operate it now, along with the other precautions."
Niu Jinfeng then described the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's current location and concealment method to Yang Podi in detail, explaining how to activate the mechanism.
"Son, I heard you were the one who found that medicinal garden. You even specifically found a precious earth dragon golden melon for your mother and a ten-thousand-year earth lingzhi for your maternal grandfather. That's my son! All the love I've given you hasn't been wasted. I'm already a rank seventy-three Soul Saint now. Next time I go hunting for a Soul Ring, I'll take you along."
"Mom, those are all little things. You need to remember to keep the medicinal garden's location secret, too."
"Silly child, do you really need to teach me that? Your mother has probably seen far more than you have."
The two continued talking for a while before leaving the secret chamber.
Over the past few days, Yang Podi had kept feeling that the immortal-grade medicinal herbs in his possession were not entirely safe. If he kept them in a single Soul Tool and someone cleaned him out in one fell swoop, he would be in trouble.
So he secretly found a way to obtain another Soul Tool. This one was relatively small and could be kept close to his body.
Yang Podi placed all his precious immortal herbs inside this small Soul Tool. His waist-support Soul Tool now held only ordinary medicinal herbs, along with, at most, some ten-thousand-year tonics, including ten-thousand-year poria, ten-thousand-year white peony root, snow silkworm, cinnabar lotus, and the like.
After lunch that day, Yang Podi went to his grandfather's pill-refining room again to study medicine refining, only to find his father and both grandfathers there. Thinking they had something to deal with, he intended to leave on his own, but they called him back.
Yang Zhentian spoke. "Son, the last time we went to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, you seemed to dig up quite a few good things while I was engrossed in the aromatic silk beauty. Why don't you take them out for your two grandfathers to see?"
Hearing this, Yang Podi could not help grumbling inwardly. Dad sold me out about having immortal-grade medicinal herbs? If I take them out, given my grandfathers' personalities, it would be a miracle if I got them back. Good thing I prepared ahead of time.
"Dad, haven't I already taken out everything I dug up? All I have left now are some ordinary medicinal herbs."
All three men's faces darkened at his words, especially Yang Zhentian's. He knew exactly what good things his son possessed, yet his son was flatly denying it. How was he supposed to explain this to his father?
Yang Wudi could no longer hold back either. "Podi, just take them out. Your grandfather only wants a look."
Hearing this, Yang Podi considered silently. Looks like Dad didn't tell them exactly what I have. At that thought, his eyes shifted. "Grandpa, this is my Soul Tool. Have a look. I gave all the other good things to Dad. I remember him saying I was too weak and that he would keep them safe for me first."
With that, Yang Podi even took many jade boxes out of his Soul Tool. There were indeed plenty of rare spiritual medicines, but not a single trace of an immortal herb.
Among the spiritual medicines he brought out were actually ten-thousand-year poria and white peony root, along with an enormous snow silkworm and cinnabar lotus. They looked dozens of times larger than those on the market, almost as if they were about to become spirits.
Yang Podi even took off his wristguard Soul Tool, looking as though they could search it however they pleased.
Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang carefully examined the wristguard Soul Tool. There was indeed nothing else inside, so both turned to look at Yang Zhentian.
Yang Zhentian's face darkened further. He had already passed the buck to his son, only for his son to have prepared ahead of time and toss it right back.
Yang Wudi now stared at his son with a dark expression. "Zhentian, you unfilial son! I only want a look, and you won't even agree to that?"
Hearing this, Yang Zhentian could not help inwardly cursing his son countless times. This little brat really knows how to screw me over!
Seeing his father and second uncle looking ready to resort to force at any moment, then looking at his son's indifferent expression, he had no choice but to take several jade boxes out of his Soul Tool. Inside were the immortal herbs allotted to him back then, including the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, eight-petal immortal orchid, and cockscomb phoenix sunflower. As for the others, he had no intention of bringing them out.
Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang snatched the jade boxes and carefully examined the immortal-grade herbs inside.
"The Lovesick Heartbreak Red truly deserves to be called a divine treasure among immortal-grade medicinal herbs, the king of flowers. It really is magnificent and regal. It's even said to bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bare bones."
"This eight-petal immortal orchid has gentle, mellow medicinal properties and is easily absorbed. It can strengthen one's foundation, nourish one's vitality, and expel impurities from the body. It truly deserves to be called the finest of orchids."
"This cockscomb phoenix sunflower truly deserves its reputation as a fire-attribute immortal herb. It greatly replenishes pure yang and can substantially increase the user's Soul Power. For fire-attribute Soul Masters, it's an absolute treasure."
Holding the three immortal herbs, the two could not stop clicking their tongues in admiration. Though they were not as crazed as when they had obtained the aromatic silk beauty, their expressions were still full of longing, somewhat like Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression in the original story, seemingly carrying a fanatical yearning.
Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang held the three immortal-grade medicinal herbs, unwilling to let go.
"Zhentian, do you have any other immortal-grade medicinal herbs? Take them out for us to see. Don't worry, we-we won't take yours."
Yang Zhentian could not help grumbling inwardly again. Don't worry? Don't worry, my ass! I might not even get these three back. How could I possibly take out any more?
"Dad, Second Uncle, we really only obtained these three immortal-grade medicinal herbs. If you don't believe me, just ask Podi."
After speaking, Yang Zhentian looked toward his son, a faint hint of warning seemingly in his gaze.
Yang Podi quickly spoke as well. "Grandpa, Second Grandpa, immortal-grade medicinal herbs are incredibly rare. Every single one is worth a fortune. How could they be so easy to obtain? Even for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, having this many is already quite impressive!"
Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang both considered for a moment. "Immortal-grade medicinal herbs are indeed rare. After all, you could say they seize the very creative power of heaven and earth. Having these few is already quite good. Zhentian, your second uncle and I will study these three immortal-grade medicinal herbs for a while. We'll return them once we're done."
Before Yang Zhentian could react, they put away the three immortal-grade medicinal herbs.
Seeing this, Yang Podi hurriedly retrieved his own Soul Tool and medicinal herbs, making both grandfathers burst into laughter.
As for his father, his face was now as black as the bottom of a pot. This was far too much preferential treatment! They left their grandson's things alone but snatched away everything of his.
When father and son left the medicine-refining room, Yang Zhentian looked rather displeased. "Podi, you really screwed me over this time. How are you going to compensate me? Give me one of those immortal herbs you hid."
Yang Podi did not indulge his father. "Dad, what are you talking about? My grandfathers only took them to study for a while. They'll return them to you soon. You can rest assured about that."
With that, he left without looking back.