As a frequent visitor to this place, Dugu Bo's aura was familiar to the soul beasts.
None of them were foolish enough to provoke him.
Their journey was smooth and unobstructed, leading them directly to the heart of the Sunset Forest.
Passing through the poisonous barrier Dugu Bo had set up,
They reached the summit of a mountain.
Before they even got close—
Thick heat was already rising from within the mountaintop.
Upon a closer look—
The entire peak had collapsed inward, resembling a volcanic crater.
The rising mist carried a hint of sulfur but was neither scorching nor dry.
Instead, it was humid—
The distinct warmth of a hot spring.
The four of them descended directly into the crater.
What greeted them—
Was a large spring, several meters in diameter, with its waters divided into two distinct halves: one milky white, the other crimson red—
Forming a perfect Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol.
This was—
One of the Three Great Treasure Troves of Medicine—The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
Legend had it that among the Nine Dragon Kings of the Divine Realm, the Water Dragon King and Fire Dragon King perished here.
Their fall gave birth to this miraculous land, nourishing all things with its energy.
Tang Lan swept his gaze around.
Surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was an astonishing variety of exotic plants.
His memory of medicinal herbs allowed him to identify them instantly—
Fiery Apricot Delicate, Eight-Petal Mystic Ice Herb, Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Autumn Dew Enchanting Tear.
These four were his primary targets.
Beyond them,
He also spotted Snowy Swan Kiss, Lovesick Heartbroken Red, Glorious Qiluo Tulip, Phoenix Crown Marigold, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, and Nine-Grade Purple Mushroom.
Further out, the area was filled with ten-thousand-year-old spirit herbs.
As for those around a thousand years old? Too many to count.
This—
Was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
The glorious bounty of one of the Three Great Treasure Troves!
Tang Lan's eyes gleamed with excitement, but he forced himself to remain calm.
Sooner or later, everything here would belong to him.
No need to rush.
Under Dugu Bo's watchful gaze, Tang Lan approached the Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb.
No need for any special harvesting technique—
He simply materialized his spiritual energy into a sharp blade, severing the stalk cleanly.
Simple and direct.
Leaving the root behind to grow again,
He then picked the Snowy Swan Kiss.
Moving to the Fire Yang side, he cut down three ten-thousand-year-old Fire Lingzhi mushrooms.
Only then did he return to Dugu Bo.
Handling the Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb, he carefully sliced off two petals, storing the rest inside his Blue King Space—
A small separate air-preserving pocket dimension he had specifically created for storing immortal herbs.
Next, he cut off two long segments of the Snowy Swan Kiss.
Then, he handed one to Dugu Bo and the other to Dugu Yan.
"This pink one is called Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb. It can't detoxify, but it can neutralize poisons."
"I'm sure you can already feel it—"
"The Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom hidden within your bodies is being forced out."
"At this moment, guide your serpent venom into your soul bones."
"This method is slow, but it ensures your venom remains potent, preventing any decline in combat strength."
The grandfather-granddaughter duo closed their eyes,
Feeling the flowing Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom, carefully guiding it into their soul bones.
It worked!
Dugu Bo reopened his eyes, staring at Tang Lan with a complex expression.
No wonder Tang Lan insisted on treating them here!
So, in the end…
He had solved their poison issue using a single herb from his own garden.
And the cost?
The entire medicine garden!
…
He was here first!
Yet he had watched over this treasure trove for decades without understanding its value…
The feeling of being crushed by superior knowledge left him utterly suffocated!
"And what about the white leaves?" Dugu Bo's voice was hoarse. "You said they'd help me break through?"
"This is called Snowy Swan Kiss." Tang Lan grinned. "It's non-toxic itself, but just a tiny bit can make poisons multiply a hundredfold or more."
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan snapped their gazes toward him!
Making poison multiply a hundredfold?!
That meant their Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom—
"That's right," Tang Lan confirmed. "When your venom is nearly depleted, release a small amount, then consume a bit of Snowy Swan Kiss—and your entire body will be flooded with venom once again."
Holy shit!
Tang Lan was telling them to use their own bodies as venom incubators, constantly regenerating and amplifying their poison?!
That process—
Would be excruciating!
Yet, ironically…
Neither of them could refuse.
—The stronger their venom, the stronger their combat power!
"But that alone won't help me break through!" Dugu Bo insisted.
"Don't be impatient, Old Poison," Tang Lan chuckled, tossing over a mental energy sphere. "Take a look at this."
Dugu Bo cautiously absorbed it.
His expression changed instantly!
He blurted out—
"Nine Yang Divine Skill?! But that's a fire-attribute soul power technique! Can I even practice this?!"
Indeed.
Tang Lan had given him the first two levels of the Nine Yang Divine Skill.
Enough to refine his body and cleanse his marrow—allowing him to break through his bottleneck.
As for Dugu Bo's concern—
Tang Lan spread his hands.
"You've already expelled your Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom into your soul bones, so your soul power is now neutral."
"Why not convert it to fire-attribute?"
"Fire poison—is far more vicious than snake venom."
Dugu Bo froze completely!
Wait… I can do that?!
Thinking it over carefully—
It made perfect sense!
He was about to say something else—
But Tang Lan shoved the three Fire Lingzhi mushrooms into his hands.
"When you practice the second level, consume one of these. It'll speed up the process."
"At best, you'll break through in half a month."
"As for the second level of the Nine Yang Divine Skill—I'll allow one person per generation of your Jade Phosphor Serpent lineage to learn it."
"If I ever find out you've leaked it, don't blame the Tang Sect for turning hostile."
Dugu Bo held the Fire Lingzhi, his expression extremely complicated.
What Tang Lan gave him—
Still didn't match the value of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
But!
A guaranteed treasure in hand is better than an uncertain fortune.
After all, he didn't even recognize those immortal herbs.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have suffered under his own poison for decades.
Taking a deep breath,
Dugu Bo declared seriously—
"This medicine garden is yours now."
No hesitation.
Without a backward glance, Dugu Bo turned to leave with Dugu Yan.
But Tang Lan grinned—
"Old Poison, why don't you become a Tang Sect Elder?"
Dugu Bo instantly wanted to refuse.
But then—
"I can let Dugu Yan become an Inner Sect Disciple of Tang Sect." Tang Lan added. "And from now on, every generation of your Jade Phosphor Serpent lineage may send one person into the Inner Sect and one into the Outer Sect—no conditions attached."
Dugu Bo froze mid-sentence!
The Tang Sect's power…
He knew exactly how terrifying it was.
After great hesitation—
Dugu Bo stiffly muttered,
"…I'll consider it once I confirm your method works!"
Then, dragging Dugu Yan, he fled at full speed.
Too terrifying!
This kid had not only stolen his medicine garden—
Now he was trying to recruit his entire bloodline?!
And worst of all…
He couldn't refuse!
Watching them leave,
Tang Hao finally spoke, his voice trembling—
"Xiao… Xiao Lan, where should we bury A'Yin?"
…
Why did that sound so wrong?
Tang Lan turned toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, stopping precisely at the border of fire and ice.
"This is the best place—the safest as well."
Tang Hao swallowed hard,
Gingerly placing the Blue Silver Emperor into the soil.
Slowly, carefully—
Burying her.
His eyes never blinked, not even once.
Afraid something might go wrong.
But instead—
A'Yin's leaves stretched out, as if lazily waking from a long slumber.
Her surface shimmered with life, her aura growing stronger.
Tang Lan activated his Blue Silver Domain, unleashing his Life Soul Core,
Expending vast amounts of inner energy as he sent out a message.
Moments later—
Countless tiny specks of light surged in from all directions of the Sunset Forest.
The Blue Silver Grass was offering tribute to its Emperor!
A'Yin absorbed everything without hesitation, devouring all the Blue Silver energy.
Her form began to grow—
From knee height to waist height, to chest height—
Finally surpassing Tang Lan!
Tang Hao's eyes widened with joy—
Just as he was about to exclaim in excitement—
He suddenly felt something wrapping around him.
Not A'Yin—
But Tang Lan.
Realizing what was happening,
Tang Hao instinctively channeled Nine Yang Divine Skill, feeding his inner power to sustain Tang Lan's Blue Silver Domain.
Watching A'Yin flourish and thrive—
Tang Hao burst into tears of joy!
"It's really working!"
"A'Yin… You can really come back!"
"My A'Yin!!!"
"Waaahhh—!"
Tang Lan had no interest in watching a grown man cry.
Maintaining his Blue Silver Domain, he turned away.
And grinned with satisfaction.
Harvest time begins!
(Chapter End)