Chapter 26

After passing through the poison array, a hill about five hundred meters high appeared before the three of them. At this time, because it was night, they could not see much of the outside scenery.

Dugubo brought the two with a leap and arrived at the mountaintop. Upon arriving, Yu Tianyun and Duguyan couldn't help being startled by the terrain before them; they faced a funnel-shaped mountain depression, and the mountaintop they stood on was precisely the edge of that depression, with thick heat carrying a sulfur smell rising from within the depression.

At this moment, Dugubo earnestly reminded: "Yanyan, Tianyun, below is my medicinal garden. Remember what I said earlier; if your body feels off, leave immediately. Moreover, you two both have beast martial souls, so directly let your martial souls possess your bodies—this will greatly increase your bodily resistance, allowing you to endure longer inside."

Dugubo's words made sense, so Yu Tianyun directly summoned his martial soul; his whole body flashed with lightning, and one yellow, two purple, three soul rings rose silently from beneath his feet.

Although his own soul ring configuration shouldn't be leaked, Dugubo brought him to the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Eye, showing he values and acknowledges him; moreover, Dugubo is truly a man of his word to friends—Xuexing once helped him, and he served as a Grandmaster in the Heaven Dou Empire for over ten years, so letting him know is fine! Indeed, upon seeing Yu Tianyun's soul rings, Dugubo stared wide-eyed and hurriedly asked: "Tianyun, your soul rings"

Beside her, Duguyan witnessed Yu Tianyun's soul rings; her cherry-small mouth involuntarily opened slightly, she gazed at Yu Tianyun with a face full of astonishment, and in an instant, she broke into a beaming smile.

Yu Tianyun did not elaborate, merely giving a rough outline: "I have been training my physique since age three, and after awakening my martial soul at six, I train daily in the gravity chamber. Therefore, my physique far exceeds that of peers of the same rank, and each soul ring can absorb beyond its level."

Upon hearing Yu Tianyun's words, Dugubo looked at him with a hint of admiration; what Yu Tianyun said sounded simple but would surely be difficult to achieve—one can imagine how much sweat this child has poured, how much perseverance he must have, to persist in such high-intensity training, and Dugubo couldn't help but feel even more satisfied with him.

Duguyan's eyes also filled with pity; Yu Tianyun's excellence is not solely due to talent, but also to such diligent training—he must have endured much hardship! After a brief shock, Dugubo unfolded his figure and leapt with the two of them down from the black, bottomless mountainside before them.

Moist air currents continually struck Yu Tianyun's face, preventing him from opening his eyes; after about ten breaths, he felt the steadiness of landing on the ground, and Yu Tianyun opened his eyes.

Before their eyes lay an oval pond; the water's colors were milky white and crimson red, and although they were in the same pond, the waters were clearly distinct, never infringing upon each other, always remaining on their own sides—truly miraculous. The pond exuded icy and fiery energy that permeated the entire valley, constantly forming rolling steam. This was precisely the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Eye that Yu Tianyun had longed for! Around the pond, various plants flourished in myriad forms, swaying gracefully, making it seem as if they had entered a botanical kingdom. These plants, if placed outside, would each be priceless rarities.

Yu Tianyun cautiously stood among the flowers and grasses, gazing at the abundant rare medicinal herbs with fiery eyes. According to the herb catalog given by Yang Wudi, he had already discovered several immortal herbs: the most conspicuous Eight-Corner Profound Ice Grass, Blazing Fire Apricot Herb, as well as Marvelous Velvet Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, and Lovesickness Red—immortal herbs mentioned in the original work—and even some immortal herbs not found in the original.

Duguyan was also greatly surprised; she never expected that at the heart of the Sunset Forest there would be such a beautiful place, like a utopia apart from the world—no wonder her grandfather chose this spot as his medicinal garden.

Dugubo looked at the excited Yu Tianyun, his eyes full of anticipation: "This is my medicinal garden, also my secluded cultivation ground. Tianyun, what will you do next?"

"Senior, Sister Yanyan, I already have a method for the poison on your bodies. Senior, this medicinal garden of yours is truly a blessed treasure land; the pond's ice and fire energies mingle together, forming an extremely nourishing environment for plants. The plants growing here grow at least ten times faster than those outside; all the surrounding plants are extraordinary, just as you said—most of the flora here contain deadly poison, yet there are also immortal herbs that can transform one's bones and marrow."

"For example, those two herbs—one called Blazing Fire Apricot Herb, the other Eight-Corner Profound Ice Grass—are immortal herbs nurtured from the essence of the pond's ice and fire energy; they contain pure ice and fire energy within. A single stalk is a rare deadly poison, but when used together they can forge a rare physique immune to ice and fire, and moreover become invulnerable to all poisons."

"Senior, Sister Yanyan, whether either of you consumes it, the deadly poison on your bodies will be neutralized; however, neutralizing the poison will also dispel your poisonous techniques, after which your martial soul will no longer carry any toxicity."

After hearing Yu Tianyun's words, their emotions were like a roller coaster—first shocked, then plunged into deep contemplation.

Dugubo's complexion turned utterly grim as he broke the silence first; he gazed complexly at the two immortal herbs and said slowly: "Tianyun, this matter is of great importance; I have devoted my life to poison techniques, and this poison has long fused with my martial soul. If we neutralize it now, although I could save my life, it would also mean abandoning the fruits of years of cultivation."

Duguyan bit her lip, a hint of hesitation showing on her face: "But if we don't neutralize it, this deadly poison constantly threatens our lives and also limits our future development."

For a moment, the two were indecisive.

At this moment, Duguyan furrowed her brows, turned her gaze toward Yu Tianyun, and softly said: "Tianyun, since you know so many of the medicinal herbs here, is there truly no other way to resolve the poison in our bodies?"

Seeing Duguyan's pitiable expression, Yu Tianyun no longer hid anything, speaking solemnly: "There is indeed a method: the Ice-Fire Immortal Herb can neutralize your poison, but for you its potency is too strong—it would completely dissolve all the poison. If you trust me, I will take the Ice-Fire Immortal Herb; once its effects fully merge within my body, my blood will possess the diluted effect of that herb. Then, combined with some poison-neutralizing and foundation-strengthening medicines, I will gradually separate the toxins from my flesh, blood, and bones, forcing them into my soul bones—this is the safest approach."

After his words fell, Dugubo looked at Yu Tianyun, his eyes slightly narrowed; recalling Yu Tianyun's various performances since they met, especially how Yu Tianyun had candidly told him the importance of the immortal herb, he no longer doubted his motives, gave a slight nod, preparing to agree—but just then, Duguyan behind him spoke first.

Duguyan looked at the earnest Yu Tianyun, gently nodded her head, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, her gaze tender, her voice clear: "Tianyun, I believe you."

At this moment, Dugubo's face twitched slightly, his emotions a tangled mix—he felt like the cabbage he had nurtured for years had been rooted up by a pig.

(End of chapter)