At the mouth of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the heavy mist was stirred.
"Someone's coming, Yiner." The parasitic spores within the mist were blown about, and Yang Yunhai immediately gave a reminder.
The next second, the graceful figure at his side instantly dispersed.
"Xiao Hai, Grandpa is back." A hearty voice rang from the sky, and a green shadow descended gracefully.
Yang Yunhai smiled and went forward to greet him.
"Xiao Hai, your hair…" The moment he landed, Dugu Bo noticed the change in Yang Yunhai's hair color and couldn't help but show surprise.
"Strange treasures with miraculous effects often leave changes on the body. That's nothing unusual." Yang Yunhai smiled as he approached, sweeping a hand across his chest. Several porcelain bottles appeared in his palm. "Grandpa Dugu, I did not let you down. The medicine is finished."
"You've refined it already?" Dugu Bo's face lit up with joy, his eyes burning as he stared at the porcelain bottles offered to him.
"Yes." Yang Yunhai nodded.
"Not only the detoxifying medicine, but also the tonic to help Sister Yan rebuild her foundation and restore her body. The only issue is, I've never used such precious herbs in alchemy before. I wasn't sure of the exact potency, and wasted quite a few plants."
"A trivial matter. Wasted is wasted." Dugu Bo waved it off, studying the bottles with the usage notes stuck on them.
'Besides, after my granddaughter and I take the immortal herbs you've chosen, we won't be able to take others anyway.' He thought to himself.
He carefully took the bottles, turning them over in his hands.
Yang Yunhai continued, "Grandpa Dugu, as I said before, with my current body I can't fully digest the medicinal power of those two immortal herbs in a short time. That means my blood still contains some residue. Fortunately, refining antidotes only requires diluted blood as a catalyst, so the potency is greatly reduced. Once the medicine is taken, the residual power should dissipate quickly, without much harm."
"But to be safe, I suggest you have Sister Yan purge all the toxins from her body first, then wait a few more days before she takes the restorative medicine—or the immortal herbs I picked out for you."
'That way, the medicinal power from the Black Jade Divine Bamboo in my own body won't influence them,' he added silently in his heart.
"Also, your martial souls are Jade Phosphorus Serpents, venom-type. The innate serpent poison of your martial souls is most likely tied to your strength. So after the toxins are transferred out, you should only purge the external poison."
"As for the Jade Phosphorus Serpent's innate poison, you should keep it. Otherwise, it may weaken your power. You can store it within a soul bone or condense it in another form, as long as it doesn't seep into your flesh, bones, or organs to damage your body."
"My idea is, snakes all have poison sacs. Humans don't, but with soul power you can condense something similar—a poison bead, a poison core—that functions the same way. This way, even if the poison in your soul bone exceeds its limit, your innate poison can continue to accumulate, ensuring no loss of power, perhaps even increasing it."
"You mean like this?" Feeling quite proud, Dugu Bo immediately spat out a poison bead.
Yang Yunhai feigned surprise, then smiled. "Grandpa Dugu, it seems my worry was unnecessary."
Dugu Bo felt quite pleased, smiling as he praised, "Xiao Hai, for you to even think of condensing a poison core is already impressive."
"Grandpa flatters me. I only observed nature and drew a simple conclusion." Yang Yunhai kept a modest tone.
"Still, even that, very few in this world can do." Dugu Bo sighed. "So you deserve the praise."
Yang Yunhai smiled awkwardly, then said, "There's one more thing."
He lowered his voice, "Grandpa Dugu, I found an immortal herb suited for Zhu Zhuqing. Do you think I could…?"
"Why even ask? Take it! Xiao Hai, you saved both my life and Yan'er's. Even if you wanted the entire medicine garden, I wouldn't frown." Dugu Bo tucked the bottles into his soul tool and agreed readily.
'If he becomes my grandson-in-law one day, we'll all be family anyway. What's there to fuss over?'
'There's actually such good fortune?' Yang Yunhai was secretly surprised. He explained about the Nine-Grade Dragon Ganoderma, Nine-Grade Violet Ganoderma, and Land Dragon Golden Melon. Dugu Bo certainly wasn't blind to the potency of other herbs in this place. Yet he was willing to give the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to him.
'This man—he's worth keeping ties with,' Yang Yunhai thought.
"Is it that they can't be taken out? I happen to have a soul tool that can store living things. I'll give it to you." Dugu Bo reached for the pouch at his waist as he spoke.
"Grandpa Dugu, no need." Yang Yunhai waved quickly. "That Aromatic Silk Beauty—you still need to keep it with you often. Strange herbs like these must stay fresh to retain their properties. As for Zhu Zhuqing's herb, you can just bring it out for me."
'What a good child…' Dugu Bo was moved.
That bamboo-like herb at the edge of the valley had remained untouched. Only footprints told that Yang Yunhai had checked it, realized he couldn't take it, and left it there—saving it for his little lover. With no soul tool capable of storing living herbs, and not wanting to risk exposing the valley, he had simply waited for him, a Titled Douluo, to return.
Not asking for himself, yet thinking always of others. Where else could he find a grandson-in-law like this?
Righteous, loyal, and gifted. Even if he had to trick him, he must secure him. Too young? That wasn't a problem!
'He must be taken!'
Relaxing his thoughts, Dugu Bo nodded slightly, hanging the pouch back at his waist. "All right then."
Seeing this, Yang Yunhai went on, "Grandpa Dugu, by my estimate, Zhu Zhuqing should be past rank 28 by now, still some way from rank 30. If she takes an immortal herb now, I believe it'll push her straight to rank 30."
"That would definitely arouse suspicion."
With her martial soul activated, her three soul rings would appear underfoot—exposing her rank immediately. Dugu Bo nodded.
'But… can immortal herbs really be that miraculous? To raise soul power straight to rank 30?' He was astonished, yet expectant. After all, he and his granddaughter would be eating theirs too, in time.
'Ah, forgive me, Xiao Hai.' Thinking of how Yang Yunhai had sacrificed his chance to take the bamboo-type herb most suited to him, just to save him and his granddaughter, guilt pricked his heart.
Fortunately, the garden held one suited for Zhu Zhuqing too. At least it was some compensation.
As for what might happen later between Zhu Zhuqing and his granddaughter, he wasn't worried. On this continent, such things were common—two consorts in one house, nothing unusual. Both empires' emperors were prime examples.
Besides, it wasn't his problem.
All he cared about was this: Yang Yunhai was loyal and responsible. He would never mistreat his granddaughter. That was enough.
Compared to Yu Tianheng, he was leagues better!
"So I thought to leave the herb in your care for now." Yang Yunhai continued.
"Once Zhu Zhuqing and I go with the team to other major cities for training, she can wait a few months. Then, even if the herb raises her to rank 30 instantly, and even a few more ranks after absorbing a ring, as long as she doesn't flaunt her level, no one will suspect. By the time the tournament begins, there'll still be time."
"Even if she breaks through rank 40 before the tournament, we can say it was from hard training."
For Zhu Zhuqing, he had chosen the Yearning Heartbroken Red. Given their current relationship, he believed the herb would recognize her.
And if she succeeded, she'd gain the ability to conceal her aura. Even a Titled Douluo couldn't sense her exact level without direct contact. Safe and sound.
As for himself, his spiritual power and soul power control had risen further. He could suppress his aura at will. If asked why he had so much soul power? Well, his martial soul had evolved. His body was stronger. Nothing strange about that.
And once Zhu Zhuqing reached rank 30, with her enhanced talent, she could definitely absorb soul rings above her level. After taking the Yearning Heartbroken Red, her abilities would rise across the board.
'Yes. I'll need a trustworthy person to help her hunt the ring, to keep the secret of her crossing levels. Especially not Yu Tianheng. As a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon heir, he would surely report it.'
'Last time I told that story about stumbling across rare herbs… I wonder if…' His gaze flickered.
'So—should I ask Elder Chrysanthemum for help? Or Grandpa Dugu? Or should I take her myself…' His mind sank into thought.
(End of Chapter)
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