"So quick to decide, don't you think that's a little too reckless?"
"This is your life we're talking about. Are you sure you don't want to think it over more carefully?"
Dugu Bo gripped the jade shard, speaking gently and with concern.
He genuinely wanted to see whether Fang Ling's intuition had more hidden depths. After all, detoxifying poison was a matter of life and death and should be approached with the utmost caution.
But that didn't mean he wanted the boy to throw his life away immediately.
Fang Ling shook his head slightly, his eyes resolute and unwavering.
"My knowledge is limited, and I couldn't think of any other way. But the moment I saw those two herbs, inspiration struck like lightning."
"I choose to trust my intuition, I'll bet my future on it again!"
"But there are only two herbs. If I take them, there'll be none left for you. Senior, would you like to try?"
Dugu Bo's mouth twitched.
Are you trying to get me killed?
If those extreme powers were to erupt inside his body, even a Title Douluo like him wouldn't be able to resist.
Just as that thought surfaced, Fang Ling continued, his tone speculative:
"Given how ice and fire energies suppress poison, if you take these, wouldn't it be like having a mini ice-fire spring constantly circulating inside your body? That might completely resolve your toxin issues."
Dugu Bo's expression shifted. He recalled the overwhelming sensation those two herbs gave off, but he ultimately said nothing.
He was a Title Douluo. Of course he had thought of this possibility.
But he didn't dare try it.
Ice and fire were diametrically opposed elements. Trying to forcibly absorb both would be like juggling explosives. There was a 99% chance they couldn't be reconciled.
If they went out of control and raged through the body, not even bones would remain.
Half frozen into ice, half reduced to ash, if you were lucky, maybe half your body would survive.
And that's being optimistic.
This violent conflict of opposing extremes was something he couldn't suppress.
If he were to eat both herbs, even the great Poison Douluo might silently die here, with no trace left behind.
And without his protection, what would become of Dugu Yan? The outcome was obvious.
Dugu Bo exhaled slowly and thought to himself: if he were alone, would he dare try?
Still no. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.
Clinging to life was human nature, who would willingly risk it all for a slim hope?
He lowered his gaze and asked Fang Ling,
"Why do you use different tools to harvest them? Why specifically a jade shard?"
Fang Ling paused, his tone uncertain:
"I once came across some ancient miscellaneous records. They said that cold herbs should be harvested with metal, and hot herbs with jade."
"I don't know if it's true, but better safe than sorry. Besides, the dagger won't hold up well against high temperatures."
"Alright. I'll help you," Dugu Bo said without further questioning.
According to Fang Ling's instructions, he swiftly harvested the two herbs.
Since the icy one was more stable, he used the dagger first to cut the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Herb.
It was a white, flower-like plant with eight pointed petals and shimmering, crystalline stamens at the center.
It gave off no scent, but within ten meters, the intense chill was palpable.
This wasn't just any ice element, this was the extreme of ice.
The current Douluo Continent didn't yet have a formal name for it, but strength needs no label.
Stay near it too long, and you'd freeze solid.
That's why Fang Ling had to rely on Dugu Bo.
He didn't have Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hand or the orthodox Taoist technique Xuan Tian Skill from the Tang Sect's Assassin Branch.
With his own meager soul power, he couldn't withstand both the cold and the heat, let alone absorb them afterward.
He also had to prepare his body to absorb the medicinal power.
Dugu Bo was a Title Douluo. Helping with a small task like this while experimenting with Fang Ling's intuition? No big deal.
He cut the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Herb at the root and left it there. Even cut, in the right environment, it would stay potent for a while.
Then he harvested the second herb: Fiery Apricot Tender Leaf.
It looked like a head of red cabbage, located in the heart of the scalding hot spring area.
This herb represented the extreme of fire, its essence was combustion and eruption.
But to Dugu Bo, it was nothing.
He deftly sliced the root with the jade shard and simply held it in his hand.
At this point, Fang Ling tossed aside his Frost Ring and ran over to pick up the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Herb, quickly placing it on the ground.
It was indeed freezing. The moment his weak soul power touched it, it dissolved like frost under the sun.
Within moments, just from the passive cold release, one hand was already frozen stiff.
Dugu Bo handed him the Fiery Apricot Tender Leaf, then stepped aside to observe silently.
Feeling the scorching heat that could nearly cook his hand, Fang Ling immediately placed both herbs down, nearly touching.
He didn't remember much about the other herbs, but these two, he remembered well: their energies had to be merged.
Their extreme attributes needed to collide and mix for safe absorption.
A faint red glow appeared over the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Herb, while the Fiery Apricot Tender Leaf was shrouded in a thin white mist.
Now was the moment!
Fang Ling didn't hesitate for even a second.
He picked them up and swallowed them whole, without even chewing.
Because of their conflicting properties, the extreme energies had neutralized each other and were no longer overwhelming.
They melted instantly in his mouth, turning into a cool liquid that slid down his throat.
A refreshing fragrance filled his senses, as if he were walking through a field of blooming flowers, calming and peaceful.
Moments later, his body began to tremble violently.
A layer of icy blue light burst from him, the extreme ice energy coursing through every inch of his body.
Then, a wave of fiery red light followed, like a volcanic eruption, the extreme fire replaced the ice.
Ice and Fire Dual Extremes!
The two lights flashed alternately.
Such extreme changes in elemental energy heightened every nerve, his skin began to crack and split.
Fissures spread across his body, horrifying to witness.
"Looks like things aren't going well," Dugu Bo muttered, lips tightly pressed.
He knew it, this wouldn't be easy.
Not only did ice and fire naturally conflict, even consuming them at the same time would subject a person to unbearable pain.
Still… let's wait and see.
Fang Ling could still move. His life force had weakened slightly, but he was still standing.
Still alive.
Where there's life, there's hope.
If Fang Ling had heard him, he'd probably reply: "There's more than hope, there's a damn good chance!"
It looked dangerous, more intense than when Tang San did it, like he was on the verge of exploding.
But that's just because his body didn't have a thousand-year soul ring to support it.
Years of relentless training had improved his body somewhat, not enough, but it didn't matter.
Because in its place, he had a unique trait: Digestion Lv2!
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