Digging, digging, digging in the tiny herb garden…
Dusk fell.
Yao Lao harvested all the divine herbs Yang Fan would need for future cultivation:
Beautiful Silk Tulip, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew…
But he left untouched any herbs they wouldn't use—and carefully preserved the roots of every plant he took, ensuring they could regrow.
"Those two old men even developed mutual respect through fighting," Yang Fan mused.
He understood Yao Lao's mindset as a top-tier alchemist.
Uprooting these divine herbs entirely would hurt Yao Lao more than death itself.
Yao Lao's gaze settled on the two most prominent plants in the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well: a fiery-red herb and an icy-blue one.
According to Yang Fan, they were called Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
"Master, is it finally my turn to shine?" Yang Fan asked eagerly. "Time to consume these two divine herbs?"
He was practically vibrating with anticipation.
The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record claimed that consuming these herbs would temper the body and even grant immunity to fire and ice damage.
"Consume them directly?!" Yao Lao scoffed. "You're like a wild boar trying to eat fine grain!"
"This fire herb burns hotter than beast flames—yet you think you can just eat it?"
Yang Fan's eyes lit up instantly.
His Flame Mantra didn't just devour Heavenly Flames—it could absorb any flame, including beast flames.
If he devoured the Infernal Delicate Apricot, his technique could evolve.
Compared to the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record—which was basically a suicide guide—Yang Fan trusted Yao Lao without question.
"Master… if I eat just one, will I turn to ash?"
Even standing at the edge of the Infernal Delicate Apricot's radius, he felt terrifying heat.
"You're not completely stupid," Yao Lao conceded. "Eat it raw, and you won't even leave ashes. But your master has a solution."
With a flick of his wrist, Yao Lao severed the Infernal Delicate Apricot using a flying blade. Using his soul power, he sealed it in a special container, then locked it with Bone Chilling Cold Flame.
As a fire-element divine herb, the Infernal Delicate Apricot was perfectly suppressed by the King of Flames.
Next, Yao Lao used a jade tool to harvest the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
Storing it was even simpler—Heavenly Flame was its natural counter.
"Time to go, you foolish boy," Yao Lao said, casting one last look at the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well from the mountaintop.
Leaving such a sacred herb garden pained him—but he'd never destroy it.
There was one thing he hadn't told Yang Fan: the longer he stayed here, the more his soul destabilized uncontrollably.
Under cover of twilight, master and disciple slipped out of Sunset Forest.
…
"Damn it!"
"I'll find out who you really are!"
Dugu Bo returned a full day later.
Seeing half his meticulously cultivated garden stripped bare by that mysterious cloaked figure, he fumed so hard green mist erupted from his pores.
But when he noticed the intact roots left behind, his anger cooled slightly.
He could tell Yao Lao was a true herb lover—otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on fighting outside, wouldn't have preserved the roots, and certainly wouldn't have taken only half.
"I'll still find you," Dugu Bo muttered.
Even with their fleeting mutual respect, he couldn't forgive the theft.
…
An unnamed mountain range in the soul beast forest.
Yang Fan lay in a secluded valley—small, only about a thousand square meters, surrounded by sheer cliffs hundreds of meters high.
For him, this was the perfect safe haven.
It was his third day here.
The Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well expedition had been a resounding success: Dugu Bo routed, divine herbs secured.
His year of preparation had finally paid off!
"Aaah~" Yao Lao yawned, drifting out lazily.
"Good morning, Master!" Yang Fan greeted, having just finished his night cultivation.
"Bring out the Snow Lotus Seeds, Hundred-Herb Dew, and Yin Spirit Flower I had you prepare."
As he spoke, Yao Lao hauled out his prized Black Demon Cauldron.
"Master… are we refining pills?"
Yang Fan knew Yao Lao only used the cauldron for Tier-3+ pills.
Tier-1 and 2 pills? He could refine those casually in his palm.
"You little fool," Yao Lao chuckled. "Don't you want your Flame Mantra to evolve?"
Now Yang Fan understood—the expensive herbs he'd gathered in Tian Dou City were all for today.
"Thank you, Master," he said, voice thick with emotion.
"Did you think I've been napping this whole year?" Yao Lao chided. "If your strength doesn't improve, that's your problem. But if I can't help when you need it most—that's my failure."
After three days of rest, Yao Lao's soul had mostly recovered. Today, he'd refine the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
Yang Fan was right:
To safely devour the Infernal Delicate Apricot, he needed the ice herb to counterbalance it—or he'd burn to ash.
Just like Yao Lao's own absorption of Bone Chilling Cold Flame—he'd prepared mountains of pills before daring that step.
Both herbs carried lethal toxins: fire and frost. Consuming them together would neutralize the dangers—but also dilute their potency, leaving a weak, muddled result.
Unacceptable!
Yao Lao's plan? Purify the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass—remove its frost toxin while preserving its pure cold attribute.
When he explained this theory to Yang Fan…
"I understand, Master!" Yang Fan exclaimed.
The purified ice herb would shield him from the Infernal Delicate Apricot's burning heat—without weakening its explosive fire essence.
Refinement began.
Though Yang Fan had watched Yao Lao refine countless times, he never tired of it.
…
Yao Lao pulled a small black box from his ring. Its surface was coated in thick frost—a side effect of the Bone Chilling Cold Flame's sealing, and the proper storage method for the ice herb.
Under the flame's suppression, Yang Fan finally saw the legendary herb up close.
A white eight-petaled flower, its center glittering like ice crystals—utterly scentless.
All he felt was cold. Bone-deep, soul-numbing cold.
The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record stated:
"Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass is a supreme cold herb. It freezes the heart, paralyzes the nervous system, and forbids anyone within ten meters. Absolutely inedible."
Now, looking at it…
The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record clearly had a path to death!
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