After a friendly and heartfelt exchange, the relationship between Dugu Bo and Shen Hanyu had clearly grown much closer. The way Dugu Bo looked at Shen Hanyu was no longer like that of an elder toward a junior; inexplicably, there was now an attitude of regarding a confidant and friend.
In life, nothing is harder to find than a true confidant.
Dugu Bo was no longer young and naturally understood this principle deeply.
Shen Hanyu naturally sensed it as well. However, this was a good thing, and he had no intention of stopping it. As his cultivation grew higher and higher, there would come times when he truly needed a helper with profound cultivation to assist him with certain matters.
For example, his fifth soul ring. This soul hunt would require at least a soul beast between forty thousand and fifty-five thousand years old, and one of extremely high quality. Such a soul beast was something even some Titled Douluo would not lightly provoke. As a quasi-Soul King, he naturally felt a bit uncertain in his heart.
But with a Titled Douluo as a helper, things would be different—at the very least, much easier.
This could not be called exploiting Dugu Bo; it was simply each taking what they needed.
If one were to truly use the word "exploitation," then all the hustle and bustle in the world was for profit, and all the comings and goings were for gain. This could be considered a relatively fair exchange of interests, with neither party right nor wrong.
The two chatted casually for a few more sentences before Dugu Bo said with some emotion:
"I never expected that someone in this world who understands this old man so well would be a mere thirteen-year-old boy. It truly is fate. Kid, your original purpose from the start was the pool of water behind this old man and the medicinal herbs around it. This old man didn't guess wrong, did he?"
Shen Hanyu answered truthfully:
"What Senior Dugu said is correct; this junior came precisely for these reasons."
Dugu Bo laughed heartily twice, not particularly minding the answer to this question. He was merely somewhat curious as he asked:
"Could you explain to this old man what exactly this pool water and these medicinal herbs, unheard of in the outside world, are used for? Even a genius like you is so moved by them; their extraordinariness is evident."
Shen Hanyu smiled, then slowly walked within ten meters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Immediately, he felt a strange energy surge into his body, and the surrounding heaven and earth origin force was so dense it seemed solidified.
"Senior Dugu, every single herb here has its own uses. Some have extreme medicinal properties, while others are extremely neutral and mild. Their uses vary, but there is no denying that nearly every herb here can create a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse. Rather than calling them medicinal herbs, it would be better to call them... immortal herbs!"
Dugu Bo slowly walked in as well, his face filled with no small amount of solemn shock. He said softly:
"To think there are medicinal herbs in this world with such effects. Truly, hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once. However, how did you come to know about these things?"
Shen Hanyu smiled lightly, then casually plucked an elegant immortal herb from the nearby grass that resembled a beauty's fair skin and jade bones. He tossed it to Dugu Bo and said:
"It's not that I know so much; it was simply destined by heaven. The specific reason is hard to explain. Senior Dugu, you only need to know that I, Shen Hanyu, never cheat my own friends."
Dugu Bo caught the Water Immortal Jade Skin and Bone, chuckled, and examined the immortal herb in his hand with some curiosity. He did not probe too deeply and simply asked:
"What is this?"
While slowly searching for other immortal herbs, Shen Hanyu explained:
"Water Immortal Jade Skin and Bone, a type of neutral immortal herb. Its effects are to nourish the tendons and supplement the bones, open the seven meridians and eight veins, solidify the foundation and cultivate the origin, increase cultivation speed, and provide a massive soul power boost with absolutely no side effects. It also washes away impurities in the martial soul, improving the martial soul's quality."
"It is very suitable for your granddaughter; leave it for her to consume."
Dugu Bo's face revealed shock, and then he carefully took out a jade box and placed the Water Immortal Jade Skin and Bone inside.
...
Not long after, Shen Hanyu had collected almost all the immortal herbs that could be gathered on the spot and handed Dugu Bo three jade boxes.
"Senior Dugu, the first jade box contains a stalk of Dragon Blood Grass. Ordinary Dragon Blood Grass can only be considered a top-tier medicinal material, but the Dragon Blood Grass here is extraordinary due to the environment and has entered the ranks of immortal herbs. Leave it for your granddaughter as well; if not transforming into a dragon, it can at least evolve her martial soul into the same Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor as yours."
"The second jade box is for you, a stalk called Fragrant Beautiful Luo Immortal Grade. Although it cannot be consumed, its fragrance can harmonize and suppress all poisons. Carry it with you, and it can help you suppress the toxins in your body until you successfully condense your poison core."
"The third jade box contains an immortal herb called Ninth-Grade Purple Mushroom, the supreme existence among lingzhi mushrooms. It has the effects of solidifying the foundation and cultivating the origin, benefiting qi and increasing power. Although it is not an immortal herb, its effects are no less than those of an immortal herb. Keep it for yourself to consume; it can at least make you a level 93 Titled Douluo."
"As for the immortal herb in the fourth jade box... it is called Blood-Colored Swan Kiss. Its effect is to amplify the toxins in any contaminated area by at least a hundred times. This is also left for you as a primer when the time comes to condense your poison core. Its value to you is no less than the three immortal herbs. Do not open it casually, or the consequences... well, you understand..."
Dugu Bo carefully put away all the jade boxes and looked at Shen Hanyu seriously as he said:
"Little friend, thank you."
Shen Hanyu shook his head and said:
"Senior Dugu, there is no need for thanks. I also took numerous immortal herbs, so one could say I profited greatly. Moreover, I only gave you all those that were suitable for you. In the end, this is still your territory right now. I took your things, so the one who should thank is me instead."
He was not bootlicking Dugu Bo; it was simply mutual help between friends. Having taken someone's things, one should at least show some reciprocity; otherwise, even a bit of conscience would not allow it.
Look at the original story: Tang San at least helped Dugu Bo suppress his toxins for a while, even though the ending was not great. But at the very least, it counted as repayment, just not entirely positive.
Dugu Bo laughed heartily and said:
"This old man has been guarding this vegetable garden only to guard it uselessly. Using a vegetable garden whose uses I myself did not know to exchange for the friendship of a peerless genius in the end, it is a deal that is not a loss. I only hope that a hundred years from now, you can help look after Yan Yan and her descendants. Then this old man will have no other requests."
Shen Hanyu solemnly cupped his fists and said:
"You can rest assured on this point; I guarantee I will do it."
Dugu Bo nodded. Looking at the now barren vegetable garden, he inexplicably felt a touch of sentimentality for a moment. After a long while, he said:
"For an outstanding talent like you, if Yan Yan did not already have someone she fancies, this old man would truly want to entrust Yan Yan to you. What a pity... what a pity..."
Shen Hanyu's brows furrowed, and then he silently calculated their ages. When Dugu Yan first appeared, Shui Bing'er was around sixteen years old. A Yu was two years older than Shui Bing'er, and he was four years older than A Yu; that is to say, Dugu Yan was at least the same age as him, or perhaps one or two years older or younger.
At this age, talking about romance was not too early; it was even quite common. On the Douluo Continent, it made sense.
It was just a pity for a great beauty like Dugu Yan, who ended up with that electricity-discharging foolish dragon Yu Tianheng...