Time passed bit by bit. After more than an hour, Yang Yunhai slowly stood up.
With Yiner's help, he had dug out more than ten immortal herbs. Some of them, he guessed, Tang San in the original story probably hadn't even recognized, like the Origin Energy Immortal Grass that could greatly boost soul power. Others, like the Star Lou Holy Pearl, required Martial Souls infused with the power of the stars to acknowledge their owner. Conditions that strict for picking and consuming weren't worth considering.
There were also some too poisonous to consume. He left those alone.
He also kept aside herbs that he planned to let Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan use later, so he couldn't touch those either.
Besides immortal herbs, he also dug up a few rare herbs with strong medicinal effects, less than ten in total. These, along with herbs needed for detoxification medicine and those to help Dugu Yan recover her foundation, were stored carefully.
Looking around, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was still lush and green, overflowing with medicinal plants. Unless you looked closely, you wouldn't even notice that anything had been taken. The amount of herbs here really was astonishing. A casual glance revealed hundreds of species, though most were poisonous.
As for why, in the original story, the place had become barren after Tang San's visit—it was simple. Tang San had dug out all the poisonous herbs to refine hidden weapons like the Yama's Invitation.
The ones without poison, he had dug out too, without bothering to replant.
Of course it ended up looking like a dog had torn up the place!
'Unfortunately, with all the medicine already in my body, I can't take any more immortal herbs.' Sighing softly, he strode back toward the spring of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Soon, he set up a cauldron and other tools from his Soul Tool and began bleeding himself to refine medicine.
Having just consumed immortal herbs, his energy was still abundant.
Beside him, Yiner floated gracefully, watching curiously. At least she made the long process of refining medicine less monotonous.
After all, she was beautiful enough to soothe the eyes.
Time passed in silence. By the second night, nearing midnight, Yang Yunhai finally felt weary. He headed toward a cave dug into the cliff face. Dugu Bo had written in his note that he could rest there when he was tired.
Inside was a simple setup: a stone bed, a wooden table, chair, and shelf.
He lay down on the stone bed and quickly fell asleep.
As for Yiner, because of a small incident earlier, he had sent her back into the soul bone to rest and get used to the inner space.
Before long, his breathing deepened.
Some time later, his right leg began glowing faint blue. His soul power was being drawn out. Yang Yunhai dimly noticed it, but in his deep sleep it felt like a dream. He struggled to open his eyes, his brows furrowing, eyelids twitching, until finally he snapped awake.
And then he felt something soft and smooth against his arm, with a weight resting on his chest.
Turning his head, he saw Yiner. Her head rested on his chest, arms hugging his waist, a happy and content expression on her face.
"Didn't I say, you can't come out without my permission?" Yang Yunhai frowned slightly.
Hearing his voice, Yiner lifted her head instinctively. In the darkness she saw the displeasure on his face, and quickly lowered her head again, timidly whispering, "Inside, I couldn't sleep. I saw no one was around, so I came out."
"And what if someone suddenly came while you were asleep?" Yang Yunhai countered, guiding her understanding.
"I… I was wrong," Yiner admitted immediately.
"Next time you must tell me in advance, understood?" Yang Yunhai's tone softened.
"Mm-hm. Yiner understands." She nodded like a pecking chick.
"Sleep," Yang Yunhai said gently. Yiner's situation was like a newborn unable to sleep without someone close by. He wasn't her mother, but he was her closest person, so naturally she wanted to cling to him.
Dugu Bo had only left for a day; it wasn't realistic for him to already return with a soul bone. Clearly, he wouldn't be back for some time.
'Seems like she still can't adapt to the soul bone's space yet. I'll let her be this once,' Yang Yunhai thought, closing his eyes again.
"Thank you, Yun." Yiner brightened, tightened her arms around him, and nestled closer, quickly drifting into sleep.
The night passed without incident.
By morning, Yang Yunhai woke early. Glancing down, he quietly pulled his hand free. Days of sleeping with a big cat at home had given him a bad habit; last night, it had shown again without him realizing.
'Sins, sins. When I get back, I'll have to explain Yiner to Zhu Zhuqing. There's no way to shake her off now.' He sighed quietly, casting a look at Yiner's sweet, smiling face as she slept, and gently shook her shoulder.
Though Yiner could use his soul power to maintain a form outside, she couldn't stray far. If she went too far from him, her body of soul power would slowly dissipate.
This he had discovered by accident the previous day. To keep her from being bored while he refined medicine, he had sent her wandering around the valley. But once she drifted a hundred meters away, she panicked and hurried back, explaining what had happened.
So he had told her to return to the soul bone and familiarize herself with its space. It was going to be her home, after all—whether she liked it or not.
"Mmm…" Yiner stirred, rubbing her eyes like a little girl.
"Time to get up," Yang Yunhai said, getting off the bed to wash.
After breakfast—though Yiner didn't need to eat—he returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to continue refining medicine.
By the afternoon, he had finished brewing the detoxification potion. He jumped into the spring to refine the remaining medicinal power in his body, then came ashore to meditate, cultivate, or practice his Martial Soul. With the valley's thick spiritual energy and abundance of herbs, it was a perfect environment for training even without Blue Silver Grass growing there.
At night, of course, he gave in again to Yiner's request and let her cling to him as she slept.
Outside, he had already scattered Parasite spores. If Dugu Bo returned, Yang Yunhai would immediately sense it.
After taking the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, his spiritual power had improved greatly. With a little experimentation, he had mastered this method of surveillance.
'So quick to figure out a way to avoid being discovered. I really am clever,' he praised himself.
—
A day later, in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"Clan master, a letter from Tianheng." A middle-aged man hurried to the study door and spoke softly.
"Oh?" A calm, strong voice answered. "Enter."
The man pushed the door open, handed over the letter, and stepped aside respectfully.
Yu Yuanzhen opened it. One glance was enough to make his brows furrow. "This Tianheng… how could he be so foolish? To misjudge priorities like this… Old Dugu is surely already dissatisfied." He muttered, then raised his head. "Summon the elders. Tell them I have an important matter to discuss."
A five-thousand-year soul bone? That wasn't worthy of a Titled Douluo. At least ten-thousand years was required.
And even then, a ten-thousand-year strength-type soul bone wasn't something he, as clan master, could decide on his own. Matters involving a Titled Douluo were too significant. Clan rules demanded a council.
"Yes, clan master." The man bowed and left.
Before long, in the clan's council hall, Yu Yuanzhen explained the situation and voiced his intent to provide a ten-thousand-year soul bone.
When he finished, a middle-aged man on the right side glanced toward the Grand Elder.
He was Yu Tianxin's father—and the first to disagree. And naturally, as Yu Tianxin's grandfather, the Grand Elder would back him.
The Grand Elder slapped the table.
"I disagree!"
(End of Chapter)
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