The moment Oscar leapt into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his clothes disintegrated into ash. Anticipating potential damage, he had already removed the soul tool from his right hand.
Now submerged within the well, Oscar felt as though his entire body was being reforged from the inside out. Although the twin forces of extreme ice and searing fire had partially neutralized each other, once they entered his body, they violently surged and collided. The medicinal power of the immortal herbs was unimaginably potent. Under the explosive clash of ice and fire, Oscar could only endure through sheer willpower.
He was like an ordinary piece of iron being reforged into refined steel through the medicinal effects of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, empowered by the mystical energy of the Yin Yang Well.
Time passed. A full day slipped by. When Oscar opened his eyes again, his entire being had undergone a profound transformation.
Thanks to the catalyzing effect of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Oscar had begun absorbing the immense medicinal power of the two immortal herbs into his body. Although he did everything he could to temper and refine himself, most of the remaining energy settled into his meridians and bones.
Indeed, while he had refined some portion of the herbs, it was only about one third. The remaining power was simply too vast to assimilate in such a short time. Further absorption would require gradual refinement over a longer period.
Even so, the benefits were enormous. Oscar's physical attributes alone had reached the equivalent of a Spirit King (Level 55). Due to the process of forging his body through extreme Yin and Yang forces, Oscar had essentially acquired a special constitution Immune to All Poisons. Under the dual effects of the two herbs, he would no longer fear any form of toxin. In fact, his blood had become a universal antidote, akin to a divine detoxifying elixir.
Now, even a single drop of Oscar's blood could act as a panacea. He had become a walking treasure.
Furthermore, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well no longer posed any danger to him. The chilling Yin Spring felt like cool water, and the scorching Yang Spring felt merely warm. Not only did it not harm him, but it brought a sense of comfort. His body now required prolonged exposure to the well's environment to fully integrate and refine the remaining medicinal energy to ultimately achieve Perfection in the Ice Fire Tempered Body.
Yet while Oscar was reaping a miraculous transformation, the same could not be said for Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.
The previous morning, Dugu Yan had followed her grandfather to the stone hut. That afternoon, wanting to bring Oscar a meal, she returned to the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well only to find him missing.
Panic surged through her. She called out desperately, her voice echoing into the abyss. But no matter how she shouted, there was no response. Dugu Bo, hearing her cries, quickly came down to investigate.
Finding no trace of Oscar, even Dugu Bo began to worry. He had grown fond of this unusually talented youth, and more importantly, Oscar had promised to help cure Dugu Yan's poison. Now that Oscar had vanished without a trace, how could Dugu Bo not feel alarmed?
As he inspected the scene, Dugu Bo noticed something odd three immortal herbs had disappeared from around the well. At first, he suspected Oscar had stolen them and fled. But then he remembered Oscar's character and the fact that he himself had laid out a poison array around the mountain that even Spirit Douluo's would hesitate to enter.
There was only one possibility left: Oscar had entered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo knew exactly how terrifying the well's energy was. Even he dared not remain exposed to it for long. If Oscar had fallen in… wouldn't he have been vaporized instantly?
Dugu Bo had originally intended to warn Oscar, but the boy had demonstrated knowledge of the well by name clearly he understood the risks. Dugu Bo hadn't expected Oscar would actually dive in.
He confirmed his suspicion when he found two soul tools lying near the edge of the well Oscar's.
Staring into the seemingly bottomless waters, Dugu Bo couldn't sense Oscar's presence at all. The extreme energies blocked his spiritual perception entirely. As much as he didn't want to admit it, the only conclusion was: Oscar was gone.
When he informed Dugu Yan, she froze.
Then, heartbreak surged.
That very morning she had still been overjoyed for the first time in her fifteen years of life, she had found a true friend. One who understood her, accepted her, supported her, and even promised to help detoxify her body.
She had even told her grandfather that once she obtained her third spirit ring, she wanted to attend Shrek Academy with Oscar. Dugu Bo had agreed half joking that although Oscar was only eleven, his height made him look older, and no one would question their closeness unless they mentioned their ages.
He had even teased that Oscar was handsome, talented, and promising. If Dugu Yan could spend time with him, who knew what the future might bring?
At the time, Dugu Yan had blushed and scolded her grandfather for being improper she was the older one, how could she possibly harbor "those kinds" of thoughts about a younger boy?
But now… not even half a day had passed, and that friend, that "little brother," perhaps even something more, was simply… gone.
Though they had only known each other for hours, Dugu Yan felt genuine, piercing pain.
She collapsed in place, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Dugu Bo could only sigh as he brought Oscar's soul tools to her, gently comforting her:
"Yan Yan… life is unpredictable. There are things we cannot control. I don't want to believe it either, but…"
Before he could finish, Dugu Yan lifted her tearful eyes and cried out:
"Grandfather! Why?! Why must the heavens play such cruel games with me?! Just when I had hope, all I'm left with is despair…"
Dugu Bo, too, was grieving but even as a Title Douluo , he had no power to raise the dead.
He gently patted her back. After a long silence, he said:
"Yan Yan, tomorrow I'll go to Barak Kingdom to inform the teachers at Oscar's academy. I'm partly to blame for this. We must take responsibility and offer compensation where we can."
Dugu Yan nodded faintly, but the tears kept falling.
She didn't know exactly what she felt for Oscar.
But in the end… none of it mattered anymore.
Because the person who meant so much to her was gone.
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