Yang Xiong summoned his martial spirit and spirit rings, activated his second spirit ability Golden Heart, and even summoned the Black Tortoise Armor. Although the turtle shell on his back looked a bit awkward, his chest and abdomen were fully covered in thick turtle armor, maximizing his physical condition.
Holding an iron dagger, Yang Xiong approached the Octagonal Ice Grass. Despite his boosted state, the extreme cold from the herb instantly spread through his body, making him feel like he was freezing solid.
Gritting his teeth, Yang Xiong slashed the Octagonal Ice Grass with one stroke. As he held it in his left hand, his entire hand felt as if it had turned to ice, rendering all forms of protection useless.
At this moment, Yang Xiong's face was resolute. He had no way out now. No matter how intense the pain, he had to endure it.
He quickly ran to the Fiery Apricot Delicate Leaf and used a jade knife to cut it off at the root, grabbing it with his right hand.
As soon as he held the herb, the iron glove on his hand turned red, almost melting. Even his gloves made of silkworm silk couldn't withstand the heat. A burnt smell started wafting from his hand.
Even though Yang Xiong had activated his second spirit ability Golden Heart, rapidly healing his body with spirit power, both his hands were still in unbearable pain ,the left like solid ice, the right as if burning in magma.
Clenching his teeth again, Yang Xiong quickly placed the Octagonal Ice Grass and Fiery Apricot Delicate Leaf together. In the collision between extreme cold and heat, both the icy and fiery energies vanished temporarily, like red and white auras clashing.
Without hesitation, Yang Xiong stuffed both herbs into his mouth, chewing and swallowing them as quickly as possible. The cold and hot forces only suppressed each other briefly and would erupt in ten breaths' time, possibly with even greater intensity.
As soon as both herbs entered his body, their opposing forces exploded within his abdomen.
First came a wave of intense cold, making his entire body turn blue. It felt like he was encased in ice. His flesh, skin, cells, even his bone marrow, all seemed frozen, far colder than when he tempered his body before.
In the next instant, the blue aura disappeared, replaced by searing heat. His body turned red like molten lava, radiating waves of heat, his hair nearly catching fire.
His body alternated between red and blue, freezing like eternal ice one moment, then scorching like magma the next. Even his spirit power began to fluctuate under the opposing forces, as if he were on the verge of collapse.
Enduring immense pain, Yang Xiong felt like he had completely lost control of his body, suffering as if being torn apart inch by inch.
Using the last bit of rationality, he stumbled toward the Eye of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and leapt into the spring without hesitation.
The pain didn't lessen upon entering the spring. Instead, it intensified. The opposing energies of ice and fire had no outlet, twisting his body in agony.
Once the dual powers entered the spring, their intensity increased further. His body felt like it was being pulled by two forces, on the verge of being torn apart.
Although Yang Xiong had his second spirit ability to heal and suppress side effects, it was too weak compared to the powers within his body and the spring.
Unlike Tang San from the original story, Yang Xiong didn't have the endless regenerative power of the Mysterious Heaven Technique. But after years of tempering, his body was definitely more robust, especially since his body was his martial spirit.
In his understanding, ice and fire represented the world's extremes. To truly withstand both forces, he had to make them merge and rotate together.
Using meditation, Yang Xiong guided his remaining consciousness to circulate his spirit power throughout his torso, forming a circular loop.
In this extreme state, Yang Xiong seemed to see the essence of his martial spirit. He could visualize every meridian, with his spirit power surging through them in endless waves.
What he didn't realize was that, as he guided his spirit power, the Eye of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well began to respond. The red and blue energies that were once clearly separated now began to merge and swirl together.
To someone from Earth, the image in the spring resembled the symbol of Taiji, the Yin-Yang.
As Yang Xiong's final sliver of consciousness worked to circulate his spirit power, it eventually faded. Yet, his spirit power continued to flow on its own, like an unstoppable river. The ice and fire forces from the herbs had formed a massive cycle.
Meanwhile, under the corrosion of the spring water, the turtle shell on his back began to dissolve. However, the Black Tortoise Armor, a spirit bone attached to his back, had already become one with his skeleton. It continually dissolved and regrew, gradually transforming into plate-like armor on the surface of his torso.
No one knew how much time had passed before Yang Xiong slowly regained consciousness. Though still lying in the Eye of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, he no longer felt any pain. In fact, he felt an unprecedented sense of comfort. The powers of the two herbs seemed to have merged into every cell in his body.
Unable to hold back, Yang Xiong let out a mighty roar. He had risked his life and succeeded, not only had he completed the Ice and Fire Body Tempering, but also achieved a true transformation. Even the experiment he had long imagined had succeeded.
Without delay, Yang Xiong climbed out of the spring, quickly changed into fresh clothes, packed his belongings, and began climbing the iron chains out of the Eye of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. This was Dugu Bo's domain, and he had no idea how long he had been down there. If Dugu Bo returned, it would spell trouble.
After the tempering, Yang Xiong was no longer afraid of any poisonous mists. He moved swiftly out of the poison array and headed straight toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. At times like this, it was best to take shelter within the sect.
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