"Brother Junting…"
"Don't ask anything."
Chen Junting cut Huo Yuhao off, his gaze heavy with unspoken meaning.
"I didn't say a word. You didn't ask a thing. And remember—you know nothing."
"But…"
Huo Yuhao hesitated for only a heartbeat—then nodded with sudden clarity.
"Got it. I understand."
"So… what do we do now?"
"What do we do?" Chen Junting let out a derisive chuckle, a cold smirk curling his lips.
"We play along with his script!"
…
After securing leave from the academy, Chen Junting, Huo Yuhao, and Gu Tianchen set out immediately. Ning Tian and the others wouldn't accompany them.
With the next Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament approaching, Chen Junting had ordered all Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples still training at Shrek Academy to take leave and return to the sect for team formation and intensive drills.
Once the trio retrieved what they needed from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they'd head straight back to the sect to join the training.
Located within the Tianhun Empire, Sunset Forest wasn't far from Shrek Academy. At Chen Junting and Huo Yuhao's speed, they reached Sunset Town in less than two hours.
After brief preparations, the three stepped into Sunset Forest.
Chen Junting had traversed this forest and reached the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well multiple times. With Snow Empress and Ice Empress—two Ultimate-Attribute Great Beasts—now his soul spirits, and aided by array-type soul guidance devices crafted from Qiluo Heart properties, their path was utterly unobstructed.
In under half an hour, they arrived at a hidden valley—a paradise untouched by time.
Beneath a sky shimmering with seven hues, the valley pulsed with dense life energy and heaven-and-earth spiritual essence, nurturing countless rare herbs—each a heavenly treasure of supreme quality.
At the valley's heart lay a lake split cleanly in two:
glacial white and crimson fire, their luminous energies swirling in mystical harmony.
The moment they entered, Chen Junting had Electrolux seal off all perception of the area—no divine gaze would witness what came next.
"This is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?!" Gu Tianchen's pupils shrank, staring in awe.
The divine herb I consumed… came from here?
"Exactly. Follow me."
Chen Junting strode to a large pale-pink flower—then kicked it without mercy!
"Aromatic Silk Beauty—WAKE UP!"
"Ow—ouch!"
The flower's stem bent sharply left. A light, melodious voice yelped in pain:
"Qiluo! Didn't you just beat me up yesterday? How can you—?!"
Startled awake, Youyou instinctively tightened its already closed petals. A pink barrier flared outward, scanning the area within ten meters.
Then—
"Ah! It's you again!"
Youyou shrieked—a reaction so ingrained it was reflexive. Its petals snapped open, and it oozed with obsequious flattery:
"R-Respected Sir… you're here?!"
Gu Tianchen gaped. A Great Beast-tier plant soul beast… groveling like this?
Huo Yuhao quickly explained the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's… complicated history with the Yin Yang Well' divine herbs.
Meanwhile, Chen Junting rolled his eyes.
Honestly—how does a flower, no human form at all, pull off such a slimy expression?
"Sir," Youyou quivered, its voice dripping with forced humility, "what brings you here?"
Secretly, it began releasing scent particles—
not to attack, but to alert the other sentient, speech-capable divine herbs:
"The Reaper's here! Brace yourselves!"
Chen Junting's spiritual sense flared—he felt the Yin Yang Well' mighty herbal Great Beasts rousing from slumber.
But he couldn't care less.
"I'm here for one thing: to take something."
"Take something?!" Youyou screeched, caution abandoned. "Wait—you're not here to harvest more herbs, are you?! Didn't we agree? The rule set by that person allows only seven herbs per visitor!"
Instantly, the entire Yin Yang Well trembled in panic.
"Hmph."
Chen Junting's cold snort echoed—and under Electrolux's veil, the Undead Demiplane's gate creaked open. The tyrannical aura of the Bone Dragon surged forth, suffocating all resistance.
"Silence. All of you."
The valley fell deathly still.
Chen Junting turned his gaze back to Youyou.
"Need I remind you of the rule? Anyone who enters may take seven herbs. Even if we've already claimed ours… we have a newcomer."
At that, Gu Tianchen stepped forward.
Youyou sensed him—and whined: "But he only absorbed the Seven Aperture Heaven-Piercing Chrysanthemum a few years ago! Does he need another divine herb?!"
"We're not taking it for ourselves," Chen Junting snapped, his patience gone. His eyes hardened. "Will you hand it over—or not?!"
"I… I… I…"
Hidden from sight, the Tyrant Bone Dragon amplified its killing intent, now laced with Destruction's essence.
Youyou wilted completely. "I agree! I agree!"
Herbs are nothing—survival is everything!
A wise soul yields to the strong!
"Good." Chen Junting nodded in approval. "The first herb I claim is the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. And this time, you'll hand over the Tang Sect Manual as well."
"What?! Sir—the manual is impossible!" Youyou wailed, utterly despondent.
This man is a living Reaper! A pure, unfiltered grim reaper!
It could negotiate other herbs—but these two? Absolutely forbidden! That person had sworn them to secrecy a thousand times over.
If it surrendered them… Youyou shuddered at the thought of the consequences.
"Don't worry," Chen Junting said lightly, beckoning Huo Yuhao. "I won't make you break your vows."
This human…
Youyou's attention shifted to Huo Yuhao—and a flicker of resentment sparked within.
It was this Ultimate Ice soul master who first breached the Yin Yang Well… reducing us divine herbs to this pitiful state!
But one icy glance from Huo Yuhao—and Youyou instantly cowered.
Meanwhile, Chen Junting took the vellum parchment from Huo Yuhao's outstretched hand.
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