Ninety Percent Certain?!
"Ninety percent certain?! And even further?!" Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's voice trembled with excitement.
He had only hoped to alleviate his pain and prolong his life, but he never expected that Yan Zu would dare to mention "detoxification" and "further progress"!
This was something he never even dared to dream of!
"Young friend! Pick whatever medicinal herbs you need! As long as they can cure me, you can take whatever you want from this herb garden! If it's not enough, I'll search the entire Douluo Continent to find it for you!" Dugu Bo made his promise without hesitation, waving his hand.
For him, who had been tormented by deadly poison for decades, nothing was more tempting than curing the root of his illness and restoring his health.
Yan Zu was certain that his cooperation with Dugu Bo had successfully taken the most crucial step.
The next step is to utilize the resources of this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and one's own knowledge of alchemy to pave a broader path for oneself, one's companions, and the Dugu Bo.
"Please rest assured, senior, but I also have a request, and I hope you will grant it," Yan Zu said.
Dugu Bo's heart skipped a beat, fearing it was something impossible that might affect his and Yanyan's treatment. So he said, "Young friend, please speak plainly."
Yan Zu slowly said, "Some of my secrets will be revealed during the treatment. Please keep them confidential, senior."
Upon hearing that Yan Zu's request was merely to keep it a secret, Dugu Bo was initially taken aback, but then a wave of shame and gratitude welled up within him.
I had been judging him by my own petty standards, worrying about what unreasonable conditions he might impose, but he hadn't expected that he would be so considerate, simply to protect his own secret. This openness and trust are all the more precious.
"Rest assured, young friend!" Dugu Bo said solemnly, facing the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, "I, Dugu Bo, swear by my Martial Soul that I will never reveal a single word of any of the methods and secrets of Yan Zu that I have witnessed today! If I break this oath, may my Martial Soul be shattered and my soul be scattered!"
Oaths made with one's Martial Soul are extremely solemn in the Douluo Continent.
Seeing his reaction, Yan Zu's last lingering doubts vanished. "Senior, you flatter me. I trust you."
"Then, let's not delay." Yan Zu gazed at the vibrant yet mysterious herb garden below, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "The toxins in Senior's body have accumulated over many years. Although Senior Yan's condition has improved slightly, her very essence has been damaged. Treatment must be gradual, focusing on strengthening her foundation and restoring her vitality."
He turned to Dugu Bo: "Senior, I wish to begin preparations immediately. I will stay here today to carefully examine the medicinal properties and formulate a strategy. However, I would like to trouble you to return to the city and deliver a letter to Teacher Liu Erlong of the Blue Tyrant Academy, so as not to cause worry to my teachers and companions."
"Of course!" Dugu Bo agreed without hesitation. "Young friend, please feel free to take whatever medicinal herbs you need. I'll go back and deliver the message, and also bring Yanyan here. Although this place is secluded, my residence has several quiet rooms for resting. Young friend, you can refine pills here without being disturbed."
Yan Zu nodded, took out paper and pen from his Storage Soul Tool, pondered for a moment, and then wrote, "To my teacher: I have arrived at Senior Dugu's herb garden with him. The medicinal herbs here are plentiful, which is just what I have learned. I am determined to start preparing immediately to treat and cure Senior Dugu and Senior Yan's stubborn illness."
This is not something that can be accomplished in a day; I will need to stay here for many days, focusing intently on the path of alchemy. Please do not worry, Master, and please also tell Xiao Wu, Rongrong, and the others to cultivate with peace of mind. The herb garden is secluded and safe, Senior Dugu will also take care of it. Once the elixir is initially completed, this disciple will return. Your unworthy disciple, Yan Zu, bows respectfully.
He sealed the letter and handed it to Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo took it and carefully put it away. "Young friend, rest assured here. I'll be right back."
After giving his instructions, Dugu Bo swallowed another Poison-Avoidance Pill, his figure transforming into a green shadow and quickly disappearing into the poisonous barrier.
In the vast Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Valley, only Yan Zu and his beast remained. He did not rush to pick the dazzling immortal Immortal Herb, but instead took Little Jade and strolled slowly along the edge of the spring.
Starting with the relatively ordinary herbs on the periphery (only compared to immortal Immortal Herb, they would be considered top-grade even in the outside world), I carefully sensed the aura, medicinal properties, and growth status of each plant, while simultaneously rapidly accessing the vast amount of knowledge in the "Pill Scripture" (Classic of Alchemy) and the "principal, assistant, adjuvant, and guide" theory of traditional Chinese medicine from my previous life.
Alchemy is by no means a simple matter of randomly mixing precious medicinal herbs.
There must be a "principal drug" as the main ingredient, which directly targets the core and solves the main problem; "assistant drugs" as auxiliary ingredients, which enhance the efficacy of the principal drug or treat secondary symptoms; "adjuvant drugs" as supplementary or restraining ingredients, which prevent the drug from being too extreme or causing adverse reactions; and "guide drugs" as guiding ingredients, which direct the other drugs to the site of the disease or harmonize the other drugs.
Only when the principal, assistant, and adjuvant herbs each perform their respective duties can the elixir be successfully made, and the medicinal properties will be balanced and mild, thus doubling its efficacy.
Yan Zu needs to tailor a complete improvement system for Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, and even for himself and his companions' future advancement.
His first observation was of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well itself.
This spring, where extreme cold and extreme heat coexist, is itself a top-grade "medicinal ingredient."
If its properties of combining ice and fire, and balancing yin and yang can be skillfully utilized, the quality of the refined elixirs will surely be elevated to a higher level.
His gaze swept over the thriving patch of high-grade medicinal herbs such as "Soul-Returning Grass," "Dew-Congealing Flower," and "Iron-Bone Ginseng" on the outer perimeter, and Yan Zu made a plan in his mind.
"What you learn from books is never enough. Before using the Immortal Herb, I need to practice with ordinary medicinal materials to familiarize myself with the influence of this environment on alchemy and my control over the alchemy furnace," Yan Zu muttered to himself. With a thought, he took out an alchemy furnace from his Storage Soul Tool.
This alchemy furnace is about half a person's height, its entire body a dark gold color, neither gold nor jade, with a warm, smooth touch. The furnace body is engraved with intricate and mysterious cloud patterns and auspicious Auspicious Beast designs, faintly resembling the form of Qilin. It has three legs and two handles, its shape simple and dignified. The lid is embossed with a lifelike Qilin riding on clouds. This is the reward I received during a previous monthly check-in—the [Auspicious Cloud Furnace].
According to the system description, this furnace is made of special materials that can conduct and stabilize Soul Power flames very well, providing an extra boost to the preservation and fusion of medicinal properties. Even more miraculously, if it is nurtured with auspicious energy for a long time or used as an aid during alchemy, it can further enhance the purity and quality of the elixir, causing unexpected positive mutations in the elixir.
Yan Zu placed the Auspicious Cloud Furnace in an open space near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where the energy was relatively mild and stable. Little Jade curiously approached the furnace, seemingly sensing the same aura, and affectionately rubbed the furnace body with her horn, making the dark golden luster of the furnace body seem to brighten slightly.
Yan Zu collected some leaves of "Soul-Returning Grass" and "Dew-Congealing Flower" and the roots of "Iron-Bone Ginseng". He sat cross-legged in front of the furnace, and a wisp of pure Nine Yin Soul Power ignited at his fingertips, turning into a pale golden flame, which he sent into the fire inlet at the bottom of the furnace.
"First, refine the most basic Qi-Replenishing Pill and Strength-Restoring Pill."