Chapter 30: Harvesting Immortal Herbs

"Cough cough~" Dugubo watched the pair's clingy behavior with a sour feeling, deliberately coughing once. Then his complexion darkened slightly as he glared at them dissatisfied and said:

"How long are you two going to keep hugging? Can't you see the old man is still here beside me? You really have no respect for elders."

Duguyan also let go of Yu Tianyun at the right moment, her pretty face blushing, yet the gaze she cast at Dugubo clearly carried a reproachful tone!

Yu Tianyun, as Duguyan let go of his embrace, still clutched the other's jade hand, and with a nonchalant look turned toward the meddlesome old fool, exuding a "old man, what can you do to me?" vibe.

Dugubo observed their conduct, especially Duguyan's reproachful stare, and his heart swelled with grievance and indignation.

The cabbage I've cultivated for years still has to be cheap for this pig Yu Tianyun; although Yu Tianyun pleases him in many respects, his heart remains uncomfortable.

He replied in a sour tone, "You stinky kid, didn't you say you'd also fetch me an immortal herb? All you do is talk about love! Hand it over to this old man right now!"

Yu Tianyun gave Dugubo a sideways glance, then led him to a snow‑white, uncanny flower shaped like a swan; recalling this herb's traits, he felt a pang of pity for the solitary old fool who lost an immortal herb and gave away his granddaughter.

He said calmly, "Grandpa, this immortal herb is called Snow-colored Swan Kiss. Unlike other herbs, it itself contains no toxins, but it can infinitely amplify toxic effects; even a trace of ordinary poison will be catalyzed into a lethal toxin."

Dugubo, hearing this, promptly jumped back ten meters, and compressed his soul power to the extreme, appearing very composed.

If he were to release even a sliver of emerald phosphor snake venom, and it were amplified by this Snow-colored Swan Kiss, the three of them would likely succumb to poison at once, and the entire Sunset Forest would suffer as well.

Dugubo, recalling this, felt a lingering dread, glanced at Yu Tianyun and quickly cut him off, muttering angrily, "You stinky kid, you aren't trying to poison me so you can inherit my estate with Duguyan, are you? Is this damn medicine even fit for a human to eat?"

"Grandpa, hear my clever defense... no... Grandpa, hear my explanation."

This immortal herb is indeed dangerous, but if grandpa consumes it gradually, a little each time, merging its effect with his soul bone, his poison will become terrifyingly potent. Moreover, grandpa truly cannot take it now; his body already harbors a massive influx of toxins invading the marrow unchecked, so ingesting it now would indeed cause fatal poisoning.

However, once you transfer all toxins into the soul bone, leaving your flesh and bones toxin‑free, you can then gradually refine this immortal herb!

"However, this process may involve a little pain," Yu Tianyun explained to Dugubo attentively, yet he concealed that the process might not be merely a little pain.

Upon hearing Yu Tianyun, Dugubo's eyes glittered with sharp light, clearly stirred, yet recalling his toxins were not yet cleared, he felt helpless, still having to wait six months!

He said absentmindedly, "In that case, let's head back first! Let Duguyan absorb that herb."

"Grandpa, don't rush. This Lovesickness Red is extremely mystical; it will protect itself automatically, so Duguyan can absorb it here without any effect. Also, Grandpa, may I take some of the herbs?" Yu Tianyun hurriedly interjected, eyes hopeful toward Dugubo, since his family had many people needing the herbs.

"Take whatever you like, just don't wreck this place; besides, I don't recognize any of those herbs, leaving them here is pointless, and eventually they'll be given to you and Duguyan as Duguyan's dowry. As long as you treat Duguyan well thereafter, that's all." Dugubo, with a nonchalant expression, readily agreed.

Yet he lingered, his eyes blazing at Yu Tianyun, as if trying to regain face for the earlier matter, swaggering, he threatened Yu Tianyun, "If I find out Duguyan suffers any slight, I will absolutely not spare you!"

Yu Tianyun nodded gravely, his expression resolute, and earnestly replied to Dugubo, "Grandpa, rest assured, I will never fail Duguyan; I will devote my life to protecting Duguyan."

But then, Duguyan ceased, gliding lightly, moving to Yu Tianyun's side, arms embracing his sturdy right arm, eyes blazing like an angry she‑leopard, she glared at Dugubo, "Old man, if you keep bullying Tianyun, I will no longer pay you any mind; Tianyun would never let me suffer injustice, I believe Tianyun."

Confronted with Duguyan's protective behavior, Dugubo's complexion instantly darkened like a pot's bottom, and he wanted to erupt in anger.

Yet upon seeing Duguyan's fierce eyes, he dared not utter a word, fearing his beloved granddaughter would forever ignore him; a surge of resentment welled inside, and he, alone, trudged gloomily into a corner.

Yu Tianyun looked at Duguyan, gently comforting, "Duguyan, don't say that, Grandpa is also doing this for your sake; go and take the Lovesickness Red. Once you refine the Lovesickness Red, you should be able to break through to level forty, and then we'll hunt for Soul Rings together!" "Okay, I'll refine it right away," Duguyan replied obediently, then softly asked, "By the way, how should I eat it?"

"The way to consume Lovesickness Red is simple—just eat the flower whole," Yu Tianyun answered in a gentle tone.

"Oh, I'll go refine it right away, *kiss*!" Duguyan replied obediently, then gave Yu Tianyun's handsome face a light "kiss," and happily ran off to absorb the herb.

Yu Tianyun's excited gaze then swept over the herb‑strewn ground.

The first thing that caught his eye was a massive chrysanthemum, its petals a gorgeous violet, each seeming fuzzy and adorable. The whole flower formed a seamless whole, emitted no scent, and its central pistil rose more than half a foot above the petals! Its tip shimmered with a faint golden light—indeed the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum! Consuming it grants swift Qi flow to the limbs, blood through the eight vessels, forging an indestructible Vajra body. Yu Tianyun did not hesitate to pluck it, placing it into a jade box; he decided this herb would be given to his father.

Then Yu Tianyun went to the spot of the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, harvested it, and placed it into an iron box; this herb complements the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, and Yu Tianyun intends to give it to his mother.

An eight‑petaled orchid, its petals trembling faintly, entirely snow‑white and crystalline, evoking a sense of lofty purity, its fragrant scent pervading the air—the Eight‑Petal Immortal Orchid!

Possessing the effect of solidifying the foundation and eliminating impurities, Yu Tianyun had not yet found a suitable recipient, as this herb is indiscriminate—anyone can use it. He didn't overlook it, harvested it, and will distribute it later.

Yu Tianyun also eyed another herb that appeared simple, composed of red rooster‑comb‑shaped foliage. Yet a closer look revealed its leaves to be crimson‑gold, the Rooster‑Comb Phoenix Sunflower! He had no suitable recipient for this one either, but he stored it away.

Later, Yu Tianyun discovered a blood‑red herb, its top shaped like a cap, its stem jade‑green, bearing nine leaves, called Ninth‑grade Dragon Fungus; similar in shape to Ninth‑grade Purple Fungus, differing only in color, yet classified as a celestial grade, it solidifies the foundation, breaks bottlenecks, especially enhancing dragon‑type martial souls! Yu Tianyun plans to reserve this herb for his grandfather Yu Yuanzhen, to help him ascend to level ninety‑seven, with the possibility of reaching ninety‑eight in the future.

After stowing away the Ninth‑grade Dragon Fungus, Yu Tianyun prepared to seek more herbs.

But at that moment, he spotted a strange herb; its roots and leaves formed a vine‑like canopy, finely woven, while its tip bore a golden‑bright saffron flower, its fragrance intensely rich, exuding a lavish aura. It was the Qiluo Saffron!

This herb was destined for Rong Rong's wife, and Yu Tianyun seized it without hesitation.

Yet a pang of guilt rose toward Duguyan, for taking Duguyan's wife's dowry to present to Rong Rong's wife—undeniably a scumbag move! He resolved to compensate Duguyan's wife more in the future.

With this in mind, he felt a trace of shame toward the old man lurking in the corner, having whisked away his granddaughter and using the dowry prepared for her to court another girl.

Yu Tianyun felt that if he were to seek the Lovesickness Red's approval, perhaps even spitting out all his blood wouldn't make the flower quiver once!

Without further thought, Yu Tianyun resumed his herb‑harvesting, the Hun Yuan Immortal Herb, Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, Earth Dragon Golden Gourd, Star Net Spirit Pearl, Ninth‑grade Purple Fungus—each entered Yu Tianyun's Storage Soul Conduit.

Among them, the Hun Yuan Immortal Herb was Yu Tianyun's top priority; its greatest function is to boost soul power and compress it into a soul core. Knowing future history, Yu Tianyun understood the importance of a soul core; he planned to wait until the effects of the Eight‑corner Mysterious Ice Herb and the Blazing Fire Apricot Delicate Herb were fully digested before absorbing this herb.

……

Finally, Yu Tianyun gazed at an unremarkable herb, its entire body emerald green, oddly bearing three snow‑white leaves at its center, each leaf dotted with a few droplets like morning dew.

"Yearning Dew!" Consuming it can forge a pair of fire eyes and golden pupils, granting the ability to see through all things; moreover, its unique properties prevent conflict with other herbs, making it exactly the herb Yu Tianyun needs on this trip, the key to breaking his fourth Soul Ring's ten‑thousand‑year limit.

However, recalling that this herb grants the ability to see through all things after consumption, Yu Tianyun couldn't help but flash a slightly lewd grin.

Now he'll be able to feast his eyes, and he couldn't help but sneer at some self‑styled "pristine and immaculate" wimp! (End of chapter)