"Grandfather, what happened to me?" Dugu Yan regained consciousness and looked around, noticing signs of a struggle.
She remembered Dugu Shuo threatening her grandfather before she blacked out.
She glared at Dugu Shuo and the others.
"Yan Yan, it's alright now. Come, you've never been to the medicinal garden at the center of Sunset Forest. I'll take you all there together!"
Dugu Bo smiled at his granddaughter.
Though confused, Dugu Yan obeyed her grandfather's words.
During her unconsciousness, her grandfather must have reached some agreement with Dugu Shuo.
Ever since witnessing Dugu Feng defeat Yan in battle,
Dugu Yan had lost confidence, no longer believing she could ever surpass Dugu Feng.
This was followed by a growing curiosity about the Poison Cultivation Lineage.
Now was the perfect opportunity to learn more about it, she thought to herself.
The group of five left Heaven Dou City and headed toward Sunset Forest.
No one spoke along the way as they made straight for the forest's center.
At the heart of the forest stood a hill about five hundred meters high.
Upon reaching its base, Dugu Bo effortlessly ascended with Dugu Yan as if walking on flat ground.
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng summoned two Emerald Dragon Snakes—one for Dugu Shuo to ride, while he and Old Snake took the other.
They quickly caught up to Dugu Bo.
At the summit, they saw an inverted cone-shaped depression ahead, from which thick steam rose.
The warm, moist air carried a faint sulfuric scent.
Without pausing, Dugu Bo leaped down into the misty abyss, vanishing instantly with Dugu Yan into the vapor.
The trio—Dugu Feng, Dugu Shuo, and Old Snake—followed without delay.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the valley floor.
The valley wasn't large, but its most striking feature was the oval-shaped hot spring at its center, divided into two distinct halves—one milky white, the other vermilion red.
Within the same pool, the two colors remained sharply separated, neither encroaching upon the other.
This extraordinary sight immediately captivated everyone.
What a peculiar place!
Twin phenomena coexisting, opposing forces in perfect balance—a truly unique treasure trove!
Gazing at the scene, Dugu Bo's expression turned nostalgic. "When I left the family years ago, searching for a cultivation site,
I took a liking to this hill in Sunset Forest and carved out a cave halfway up for my practice.
By chance, I discovered this hot spring in the valley, which surprisingly suppressed the toxins in my body. Moreover, all kinds of medicinal plants grow here naturally—both poisonous and restorative.
It's thanks to this blessed land that I've cultivated to this day.
The air here contains intense cold and fire toxins. Those with insufficient cultivation can't endure it. I only come here to train during severe toxin flare-ups."
Dugu Bo reminisced about finding this sanctuary.
Meanwhile, Dugu Shuo and Old Snake surveyed their surroundings, noting the abundance of herbs.
To Old Snake, most were unfamiliar.
But Dugu Shuo recognized them—and was utterly stunned.
Secluded Fragrance Kirin Immortal!
Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb!
Blazing Apricot Delight!
Marvelous Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum...
What kind of place was this?
Every legendary herb one could imagine was present here.
Among the family's inherited texts, the most precious volume could only be read by the clan leader. Within the clan, only he and Dugu Feng had seen it.
He immediately looked toward his son.
His son's expression remained calm, showing no signs of abnormality.
Dugu Shuo smiled knowingly—Feng had truly inherited his skills!
My second uncle sits atop a treasure mountain yet remains unaware.
Blind and ignorant!
"Old Snake, have the Soul Masters in our family, those ranked Soul King and above, come here to cultivate for one hour each month!" Dugu Shuo ordered.
"Yes, Clan Leader!" Old Snake quickly acknowledged.
With such a blessed land now available and the young master's ability to neutralize poisons, the family's Soul Masters were about to soar.
"Yan Yan isn't ready to cultivate here yet. Grandfather will first take you to find a Soul Bone!" Dugu Bo said.
He possessed a Soul Bone, but Dugu Yan did not, and he was growing impatient.
As for the herbs here, Dugu Bo sneered coldly.
Most of them were poisonous.
If you can't resist using these herbs and end up dying here, don't blame me.
Dugu Bo had no intention of warning them.
"Second Uncle, take care!" Dugu Shuo said with a faint smile.
With a frosty expression, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan away, disappearing into the valley.
As for where he would obtain a Soul Bone, Dugu Feng and the others weren't the least bit curious.
As a Titled Douluo, whether he stole it, bought it at an auction, or traded with another faction—that was his business.
After Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had left, Dugu Shuo began walking around the valley. He traced the edges of the valley and circled the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Finally, he stopped beside the pool of the Yin-Yang waters.
"The hot spring contains both scorching and freezing energies—too violent. Do not approach it!"
The family's texts documented various herbs but made no mention of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Dugu Shuo had judged its dangers based on his own perception.
Hearing Dugu Shuo's words, Old Snake found a spot to sit and began cultivating, eager to experience the benefits of this blessed land.
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng focused on sensing the ice and fire energies here.
The extreme fire and extreme ice carried potent frost and flame toxins.
This was why lower-ranked Soul Masters couldn't cultivate here.
With each breath, Dugu Feng felt a burning sensation in his throat.
Even the air here was unfit for breathing.
After another quarter-hour, Dugu Shuo nodded at him.
Dugu Feng no longer held back—his father's signal confirmed that Dugu Bo had truly left, so there was no need to hide anymore.
He stripped off his upper garment.
The Scorpion Pincers on his shoulders and the Eight Spider Lances on his back burst forth from his body.
The eight razor-sharp tips of the spider legs pierced the ground, lifting Dugu Feng over a meter into the air.
With the emergence of his External Soul Bone, Dugu Feng exhaled deeply, feeling much more at ease.
The chilling energy entering his body was absorbed by the Scorpion Pincers.
When fully extended, the pincers stretched three meters long, resembling crystalline silver constructs.
They greedily drank in the cold energy from the air while also purging the frost toxins from Dugu Feng's body.
Not to be outdone, the Eight Spider Lances absorbed all the flame toxins.
Each performing its role, Dugu Feng fully adapted to the energies here.
"Father, the extreme temperatures here can't harm me," Dugu Feng said.
Dugu Shuo nodded, excitement flashing across his face. "Feng, this herb garden is a blessed land for our Dugu Family. In Second Uncle's hands, it was wasted."
"You recognize these herbs, don't you!"
Dugu Feng chuckled twice: "If Second Grandfather recognized the herbs here, he would never have let us stay so carefree. These Immortal Herbs could completely transform our family's strength."
"Hahaha."
Dugu Shuo burst into wild laughter, losing his usual composure. Such intense emotional fluctuation hadn't even occurred when he broke through to become a Soul Douluo.
"We don't know when he'll return. Let's act now—first collect some herbs useful to our family!"
As he spoke, Dugu Shuo took out a pouch hanging at his waist.
This was a Soul Tool capable of storing living plants.
Dugu Shuo used it specifically for carrying herbs.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!