Chapter 79

After settling all matters, Gu Xuan met up with Dugu Bo and Du Gu Yan; this time, besides fetching a soul bone for Du Gu Yan, he came back to refine medicine using herbs for Yang Wudi.

As for other medicinal distribution matters, Gu Xuan only needed to mention them briefly; the minor sect leader Ning Fengzhi naturally had them settled and secure, so Gu Xuan didn't need to worry about it.

It is worth mentioning that after absorbing that sea viper's right arm bone, Du Gu Yan's soul power increased by one level, reaching level thirty‑nine.

Thus, she not only gained a powerful soul bone skill, her soul power also improved; it can be said that she reaped a bountiful harvest.

Before leaving, Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi also spoke with Dugu Bo; Gu Xuan didn't listen to what they specifically said, but it can be seen that Dugu Bo now indeed regards himself as half a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.

Because he had already agreed to let Yang Wudi manage the Binghuo Liangyi Yan, his only request was that any good things must be reserved a share for him and Du Gu Yan.

As for this, no one needed to remind him; Ning Fengzhi naturally patted his chest and abdomen, guaranteeing there would be no problem.

Thus, the two families could truly be said to have formed a Qin‑Jin alliance.

When Dugu Bo departed, he was full of vigor; this time he not only fetched a thirty‑five‑thousand‑year‑grade soul bone for Du Gu Yan, but also secured his granddaughter's future.

Gu Xuan naturally left with them as well; he did not wait for Ning Rongrong, nor did he go to see Second Uncle Chenxin, because time was pressing and he had no extra time to wait.

Moreover, they had only been separated for a little over a month, so there was really nothing to speak of special longing.

So in the evening, the three of Gu Xuan returned to the Binghuo Liangyi Yan; Du Gu Yan and Dugu Bo refined internal toxins in the stone house, while Gu Xuan cultivated inside the Binghuo Liangyi Yan.

At any time, strength is fundamental.

The next day, Gu Xuan began refining medicine for Dugu Bo and Du Gu Yan; they continued refining internal toxins, but this did not affect Gu Xuan's medicine refining.

Because the main ingredient of the medicine was already available—Gu Xuan's blood; Gu Xuan now possessed a body immune to all poisons, and his blood was the finest holy detox remedy.

Combined with top‑grade foundation‑consolidating, origin‑nurturing spiritual medicine, Gu Xuan directly refined pills on the Binghuo Liangyi Yan.

During the following week, Gu Xuan refined pills by day; when his mental power was greatly consumed, he cultivated to restore his soul power, and at night he cultivated instead of sleeping.

After one week, Du Gu Yan had completely refined her internal toxins into her right arm soul bone; after all, her poison was negligible compared to Dugu Bo's and had not yet penetrated deep into the marrow.

Gu Xuan directly handed her the prepared antidote, letting her consume and absorb it; given Du Gu Yan's current condition, only one month was needed for her to fully recover.

In the future, once her strength is sufficient, refining the internal deadly poison into a poison pill will make her body safe, with no need to fear corrosion by deadly poison.

After refining medicine for Du Gu Yan and Dugu Bo, Gu Xuan began arduous cultivation in the Binghuo Liangyi Yan.

He did not plan to take Forget‑wearing Autumn Water Dew now to boost his mental power, because he needed some time to assimilate the medicinal effects of the Eight‑cornered Profound Ice Grass and Flaming Apricot Delicate Herb within his body; he intended to take the Forget‑wearing Autumn Water Dew after a while to avoid medicinal conflict.

Although Forget‑wearing Autumn Water Dew is mild in nature and basically does not clash with other immortal‑grade herbs, he still dared not rush for quick success; every step was steady and solid.

The time spent cultivating always passes quickly; time always slips away unnoticed between the fingers.

In the blink of an eye, three months passed; during this period, Gu Xuan's soul power rose by one level, Du Gu Yan's soul power broke through from level thirty‑nine to level forty, her poison had been completely resolved, and her body was no longer troubled by toxins.

Gu Xuan planned to give Du Gu Yan another immortal‑grade herb before she absorbed her fourth Soul Ring, to enhance her physique and talent, maximizing the increase of her fourth Soul Ring's year.

However, because Du Gu Yan had not undergone much arduous physical training beforehand, the year limit of her fourth Soul Ring would be hard to exceed ten thousand.

But in the nearly four‑month period, Du Gu Yan had taken three blocks of whale gelatin in total and absorbed a thirty‑five‑thousand‑year right arm soul bone; if one also adds an immortal‑grade herb, her fourth Soul Ring's year could reach at least eight thousand years, and it would be that of a top‑bloodline powerful soul beast.

With such a Soul Ring, it would be enough to compensate for Du Gu Yan's earlier first and second Soul Rings' poison attribute, making her a true powerhouse capable of being invincible among peers and even fighting above her level.

The immortal‑grade herb Gu Xuan selected for Du Gu Yan is Lovesick Heartbreak Red; this herb can truly be said to possess the characteristic of defying heaven and changing fate.

Lovesick Heartbreak Red also has another name, Immortal‑grade Emperor, and it is the supreme existence among immortal‑grade herbs.

At that moment, standing before Du Gu Yan, Gu Xuan held in his hand an extremely strange immortal‑grade herb: it was a white flower that looked quite ordinary, the size of a palm, resembling a peony, with no leaves; its root and stem were connected to a large stone, the stone completely black, and from the way Gu Xuan held it one could see its weight was astonishing.

On that white flower were several streaks of shocking crimson, the blood‑like marks giving a somewhat heart‑pounding feeling.

This is Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the Emperor among immortal‑grade herbs.

Gu Xuan introduced to Du Gu Yan: "Yanzi, this immortal‑grade herb is named Lovesick Heartbreak Red; it is a divine‑grade supreme treasure among immortal‑grade herbs."

Upon hearing this, Du Gu Yan's eyes flickered, she gazed at Gu Xuan with spirited vigor, for she knew this was the immortal‑grade herb Gu Xuan had selected for her.

All that could be heard was Gu Xuan continuing: "It also has a legendary story."

"It is said that long ago there was an unparalleled youth, of a placid nature, who loved most to tend flowers and plant trees, filling the garden with green lotuses and rhizomes, a myriad of purples and reds."

"He usually liked to chant to the flowers, raise a cup to invite the moon; whenever fallen petals and red remnants covered the ground, he would feel endless sorrow. He must gather the petals, bury them in the earth, and shed tears three times before the matter could be considered settled."

"As the saying goes, 'When emotion moves heaven and earth, loss is due to fate.' His quality of loving flowers to the marrow moved the heavenly flower fairy, who secretly descended to the mortal realm and became his wife; thereafter they enjoyed bliss like fish and water, sharing peaceful years, needless to say."

"But who would have thought the good times would not last? When the heavenly deity learned of this, he flew into a rage, decreeing that immortals and mortals may not be matched, ordering the flower fairy to be summoned back to the divine realm. The youth, having lost his beloved, spent all day sighing, depressed and joyless, abandoned his flower pursuits; thus walls collapsed, fences fell, flora withered, and the garden lay in utter desolation."

Upon hearing this, Du Gu Yan's eyes already showed a faint reddish sheen, with a crystalline glimmer appearing within.

"One day a white‑haired old man came and told him that the white peony he loved in his garden was the incarnation of his beloved wife; if he destroyed the flower, the flower fairy would lose her immortal form, be demoted to the mortal realm, and could reunite with him as husband and wife—but he must never abandon his flower pursuits."

"Having spoken, the old man turned into a breeze and departed."

"At that moment the youth suddenly awakened, deeply regretting his neglect of the flowers, and began to tend them with care; although he loved his wife, he could not bear to burn the peony, and thus he cherished it all the more, weeping over the flowers day and night until his tears dried and his heart broke, dying of lovesickness; at his death he shed blood upon the petals of this Lovesick Heartbreak Red, upon the petals."

Saying this, Gu Xuan raised his hand and pointed to a speck of deep red on the white herb's leaves of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, saying:

"Look, this deep‑red bloodstain is the youth's heart‑blood."

Listening quietly to Gu Xuan's words, Du Gu Yan had already tears streaming, her gaze upon the Lovesick Heartbreak Red became somewhat entranced, her heart swayed uncontrollably.

Du Gu Yan choked up and asked: "Is this the origin of the name Lovesick Heartbreak Red?"

ps: Typos will be corrected later.

(End of chapter)