Chapter 28: Securing the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Li Zhe's Sincere Heart

Seeing his granddaughter’s anxious expression, Dugu Bo sighed helplessly.

"Sigh..."

He finally understood what people meant by the saying that a girl grown up can no longer be kept at home. The girl’s feelings were written all over her face.

"Zhexian, you have relieved the Dugu family of the curse of our snake venom. This kindness is as heavy as a mountain, and I have been fretting over how to repay you."

Dugu Bo smoothed the gloom from his aged face, revealing a surprisingly gentle smile.

"If this herb garden catches your eye, then I shall gift it to you."

He spoke with genuine sincerity, without a hint of reluctance. Although he did not fully grasp the specific miraculous properties of all the exotic flowers and plants in the garden, he knew they were no ordinary items simply by seeing them flourish in the extreme environments of heat and cold.

However, compared to the favor Li Zhexian had done for the Dugu family, this garden, no matter how precious, seemed insignificant. Perhaps fearing that Li Zhexian might refuse, Dugu Bo added, "These spiritual herbs are not worth the lives of my granddaughter and me. If you do not accept them, you are merely slighting my intentions."

Dugu Yan, standing by his side, was even more blunt. "Brother Zhexian, if you don't take them, I'll pull out every single one of these flowers and weeds."

Watching the grandfather and granddaughter working in such tacit coordination—one playing the good cop and the other the bad—a helpless smile tugged at the corners of Li Zhexian’s mouth.

"Sister Dugu, Senior Dugu, there is no need for this."

His gaze was clear and candid as he spoke frankly: "There are indeed spiritual herbs in this garden that I require. Even if you hadn't offered them, I likely would have had to swallow my pride and ask for them."

Seeing Li Zhexian’s open and straightforward demeanor, the anxiety in Dugu Yan’s eyes transformed into joy; her beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons, brimming with smiles. Dugu Bo’s tightly wound heartstrings also relaxed, and he nodded to himself. Since they had already spoken so plainly, if Li Zhexian had feigned a refusal, it would have seemed hypocritical. This current display of integrity only deepened his favorable impression of the young man.

Li Zhexian withdrew his gaze from the spiritual herbs, his expression turning solemn as he looked at Dugu Bo. "Let us set the spiritual herbs aside for now. Senior Dugu, I shall begin the process of purging the snake venom from your body."

Even though Dugu Bo had weathered many storms, upon hearing the words he had yearned for for years, he could hardly suppress the surge of emotion within him.

"Good!"

The snake-bile spirit wine, brewed from Dugu Bo’s own venom, emitted a pungent, medicinal aroma.

"Zhexian, I’m going for it!"

Dugu Bo downed it in one gulp.

It felt like molten lava sliding down his throat, and his face shifted dramatically. Wisps of dark green poisonous mist snaked up from Dugu Bo’s body, coalescing in the air into a terrifying, massive snake. The poison radiating from the serpent swept across the mountain hollow; wherever it passed, everything except the spiritual herbs within the range of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well withered into charred husks. Several mountain sparrows touched by a stray wisp of the venom were reduced to bleached bones before falling to the ground.

Seeing this, Li Zhexian’s pupils constricted, and he quickly took two gulps of wine. It was truly the venom accumulated by a Title Douluo over several decades. Had this erupted in the capital, it would have been a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions. Fortunately, at that moment, dense mist rose from the Yin-Yang Well, acting like two sharp blades that entwined the snake’s body, causing the venomous giant to dissipate bit by bit under the torment of the extreme heat and cold.

Dugu Bo threw his head back and let out a clear roar. Previously, he had to use his soul power every waking moment to suppress the venom in his body, causing his cultivation to stagnate at level 91. Now that his soul power was released, a majestic aura erupted from his frame. His wide gray robes snapped in the wind, and his wild, dancing hair began to transition from dark green to a hoary white.

"Hahahaha—!"

"I don't remember the last time I felt this comfortable!"

Dugu Bo’s aged eyes shone brightly as he spoke solemnly to Li Zhexian: "Little friend Zhexian, I owe you my deepest thanks!"

Li Zhexian returned the gesture with a smile. "You are too kind, Senior Dugu."

Watching the harmonious scene, Dugu Yan’s gaze was like snow melting in early spring, a tenderness nearly overflowing from her eyes.

"Right," Li Zhexian said, as if suddenly remembering something. "Sister Dugu, Senior Dugu, please wait a moment."

With that, he turned and walked toward the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. After searching for a long while, he returned holding a spiritual herb that looked like a swan bowing its head, with petals as translucent as blood jade.

"Sister Dugu, Senior Dugu..." Li Zhexian handed over the herb. "This plant is called the Blood-Colored Swan Kiss. For a soul master with a poison-type martial soul, it is a peerless treasure for tempering the spirit. But remember, while the plant itself is not poisonous, it can amplify any toxin it touches a thousandfold. You must be extremely cautious when using it."

Dugu Bo’s eyes widened with intense light. "There is such a miraculous herb? This will indeed be of infinite benefit to Yan-yan. I shall shamelessly accept it. Thank you, little friend Zhexian!"

"Tsk, tsk..."

Dugu Bo shifted his gaze from the Blood-Colored Swan Kiss and began to look Li Zhexian up and down. The burning intensity of his stare made Li Zhexian feel quite uncomfortable. Then, Dugu Bo sighed with admiration.

"I have roamed the continent for decades, yet I have never seen a monstrous sword-dao genius like you. Even Chen Xin of the Sword Sect was far inferior to you when he was young. What is even rarer is that you possess a heart of pure, unadulterated sincerity."

"In the future, your sword will only become more and more refined."

The more Dugu Bo looked at the boy, the more he admired him. He had already gifted this herb garden to Li Zhexian. Even if Li Zhexian had not produced this Blood-Colored Swan Kiss, he would have had no complaints. Yet, Li Zhexian had offered it freely. This magnanimous spirit, which did not hold favors for ransom, was the rarest form of integrity.

Li Zhexian was deeply embarrassed by Dugu Bo’s blunt praise. "Senior Dugu, you are too generous."

He was not a greedy or hypocritical person. The entire Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had been given to him; this Blood-Colored Swan Kiss, which was of no use to him, should rightfully be left to the Dugu family. It was not worth mentioning.

"Since my little brother has gifted me a spiritual herb, I, as your sister, must naturally return the favor." Dugu Yan smiled as she pulled a palm-sized green pouch from her bosom. "This is called the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch. It is a rare spatial soul tool, and its unique feature is that it can store living things."

Li Zhexian’s eyes brightened. Without any affectation, he reached out and accepted it. "Thank you, Sister Dugu."

Seeing Li Zhexian accept it so readily, Dugu Yan’s smile grew even more radiant. "We have plenty of time ahead of us; there's no need for such formalities between us."

At this moment, Dugu Bo asked, "Zhexian, what are your plans for the near future?"

Li Zhexian thought for a moment. "I plan to stay here and cultivate in seclusion for a while."

Dugu Bo nodded in approval. "With no outsiders to disturb you, this is indeed the best place for seclusion. As it happens, with the help of the Blood-Colored Swan Kiss, Yan-yan’s soul power will soon break through to level forty. I will take her to hunt for her fourth soul ring, and we shall meet again in a little while."

Hearing that they were about to part ways, a sense of reluctance welled up in Dugu Yan’s heart. She had been pestering Li Zhexian time and time again lately, and this sudden separation felt quite difficult to adjust to. However, Dugu Yan was not someone who couldn't tell the gravity of a situation. She arched her slender brows, regained her familiar, enchanting demeanor, and challenged Li Zhexian.

"Little brother Zhexian, you just wait. Once I obtain my fourth soul ring, I will definitely teach you a lesson!"

Li Zhexian gave a soft, amused laugh. "I look forward to it."

Watching the figures of Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo disappear beyond the swirling mist, Li Zhexian slowly turned around, his gaze burning as he looked at this land of treasures. He decided to build a hut and reside here for a time, to complete a crucial transformation.