Lin Rong didn't need to think to know that after Ning Rongrong absorbed the soul ring of the Green Demon Bird, her Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, must have solidified its eighth layer shadow once again.
That's why Ning Fengzhi had sent him this fan, along with two million gold soul coins as a token of appreciation.
"Ning Fengzhi is truly a sly fox. He would rather spend two million gold soul coins to pay off a favor than owe it," Lin Rong thought to himself. "But I can understand. A man who can handle both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo with ease surely wouldn't want to be in debt."
After all, Ning Fengzhi was also praised by Tang Hao as a "talented person," which held considerable weight.
As for whether this statement was mocking Ning Fengzhi for only being good at navigating the complex world of soul masters, or whether Tang Hao genuinely thought he had great talents, well, it was up for interpretation.
Lin Rong casually placed the fan back onto the tray, signaling to the old butler to handle it.
The autumn heat had lasted for over ten days, and the time was getting closer to the beginning of the final month of autumn.
"The closer we get to that day, the more excited I become," Lin Rong thought, trying to adjust his mood. "It seems like my mental state needs some work!"
After calming himself, Lin Rong continued his cultivation.
Several days later.
Late at night, the silence was deafening.
Time passed, and midnight arrived—the first day of the final month of autumn was upon them.
At this moment, Dugu Bo was accompanying his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, at home, waiting for the New Year.
At the same time, outside the city of Tiandou.
A faint spatial fluctuation stirred, and Lin Rong, dressed in black, along with the old butler, appeared near the outskirts of the city.
Without speaking, the old butler immediately led Lin Rong at full speed toward the Sunset Forest.
After a short time, the two of them arrived at the poison formation set by Dugu Bo.
After taking the antidote and passing through the formation, they found themselves in front of a hill about 500 meters tall.
As they approached the Ice and Fire Eyes, Lin Rong could already sense a faint, extreme cold and heat energy.
Recalling the descriptions of the Ice and Fire Eyes from the original text, Lin Rong activated his Vine Dragon Domain, enveloping himself and the old butler before they began to climb the hill.
Under the cover of night, the two soon reached the summit.
A dense, heated mist was rising from a ravine, obscuring their view of the cliff below.
Seeing this, the old butler spoke:
"Master, the situation below is unclear. Let me go down first to investigate, and once I confirm everything, I'll bring you down."
"Don't worry, Grandpa Yu," Lin Rong shook his head slightly and spoke softly.
"Ancient texts say that the Ice and Fire Eyes are filled with extreme cold and heat, two opposing types of celestial energy. Normally, even a Title Douluo couldn't stay there for long."
"Thus, Dugu Bo wouldn't leave any hidden traps below—there's simply no need for it."
"And right now, Dugu Bo is at home with his granddaughter, celebrating her birthday. The Ice and Fire Eyes are empty at the moment."
"So, Grandpa Yu, you can take me down directly."
"My Vine Dragon Domain can isolate and convert the extreme cold and heat, so with this protection, we don't need to worry about our safety for a while."
The old butler, hearing this, no longer insisted.
However, to be cautious, he activated his Martial Soul, and with Lin Rong in tow, they began descending.
Amidst the thick heat, the old butler swiftly descended with Lin Rong in his arms, eventually landing steadily at the valley floor.
Once on the ground, the old butler first scanned the surroundings habitually. After confirming it was safe, he gently set Lin Rong down.
Lin Rong barely glanced at the milky red and white hot springs in the center of the valley, then looked back at the old butler, softly instructing:
"Grandpa Yu, we must act quickly. Please collect all the herbs here, including the soil up to three feet underground."
Saying this, Lin Rong handed the Soul Guidance Device "Green Dragon Vine" to the old butler.
The twelve storage beads of the Green Dragon Vine, like Dugu Bo's Ruyi Treasure Bag, could store living creatures as well.
The herbs here would remain alive within it.
Without a word, the old butler took the Green Dragon Vine and immediately began his task.
Lin Rong, on the other hand, didn't idle. After a brief sense, he headed straight for a specific spot.
Soon, Lin Rong arrived at a plant.
It was a snow-white herb, its leaves so crystalline they seemed to be dripping with water.
From a distance, the plant looked long and curved, resembling the neck of a swan.
This herb had a beautiful name: Snow Swan Kiss.
It was non-toxic in itself but could amplify any toxins a hundredfold.
In the original story, Tang San had used this plant to destroy Slaughter City.
Lin Rong squatted down and, enveloping it in pure life force, carefully harvested the plant, following the method described in the herbal guide.
"This plant is too dangerous. Since Grandpa Yu doesn't have effective defensive measures, it's safer if I handle it personally."
Afterward, Lin Rong glanced at the hot springs in the distance and suddenly had a thought.
"If Snow Swan Kiss could destroy Slaughter City after being discarded on Hell Road, what would happen if I threw it into the Ice and Fire Eyes?"
"I'm curious, I want to try!"
Lin Rong quickly shook his head, mentally suppressing this dangerous thought by chanting the Body Cleansing Sutra.
"This herb will be useful in the future. It's better not to do anything reckless now."
About an hour later.
The old butler finished his task, having dug up the entire Ice and Fire Eyes area up to three feet deep.
Besides the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Blazing Fire Apricot Blossom, all the herbs and the energy-charged soil had been stored in the Green Dragon Vine.
The valley was now pristine, with the soil neatly dug up.
Near the hot springs.
Lin Rong knew the time had come. He took out two daggers.
The daggers were made from different materials—one from fine iron, and the other from jade.
According to the herbal guide, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass could only be harvested using iron or metal tools, while the Blazing Fire Apricot Blossom could only be harvested with jade tools, without losing its medicinal properties.
Although Lin Rong didn't intend to absorb them, since he planned to temporarily disrupt the Ice and Fire Eyes, he had to ensure the complete preservation of the herbs' properties.
In mid-air, two roots of the banyan tree appeared.
Under Lin Rong's control, they wrapped around the two daggers and perfectly harvested the two poisonous immortal herbs.
Then, he threw the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass into the boiling hot spring and the Blazing Fire Apricot Blossom into the cold spring.
As soon as they entered the springs, the hot springs emitted a piercing noise.
The extreme cold and heat energies collided, generating a cloud of mist that billowed into the air. Even some of the extreme cold and heat springs splashed out.
Fortunately, Lin Rong had anticipated this and retreated, avoiding the splashing water.
"Done. It'll take decades for the Ice and Fire Eyes to recover their original power."
Finally, Lin Rong took out a large purple-golden chrysanthemum, the Heavenly Fungus Chrysanthemum, one of the immortal-grade herbs.
Controlling it with a bit of soul power, Lin Rong gently shook off a few petals.
Though small, the petals were striking against the meticulously dug-up soil.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo Yueguan, this one's on you," Lin Rong thought with a smirk.