Chapter 80: Medusa Appears, Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well
At the first light of dawn, Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan had already mounted their Horned Scale Horses, left Heaven Dou City, and galloped towards the Sunset Forest in the northeast.
The rhythmic sound of hooves kicked up a faint dust, leaving the bustling imperial capital far behind.
Prince Xuehan stood atop the city gate tower, watching their retreating figures with a profound gaze.
The Second Prince, Xuerong, stood by his side and whispered, "Uncle, is he just going to leave like this? We…"
Xuehan waved his hand, interrupting him, "This child has a firm will and is not a creature of the pond. Forcing him to stay is useless; it is better to establish a good relationship. Pass down the order: from now on, anyone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect within the territory of Heaven Dou, as long as they do not violate the laws of the Empire, should be given convenience."
After a pause, he added, "This kid is already at Rank 90; he is likely looking for a suitable Soul Beast to serve as his ninth Soul Ring. Do not be clever and assume he has some treasure."
"Yes," Xuerong replied with a bow.
If Yu Yuanchen knew this, he would surely be left speechless, wondering who was actually being too clever.
Several days later, Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan arrived at the edge of the Sunset Forest.
Unlike the primitive vastness of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Sunset Forest appeared more rugged and steep, with undulating mountains and crisscrossing ravines. The air was filled with a complex aura, at times chilly, and at times scorching.
According to clues obtained from the Royal Academy, the recorded "Mysterious Yin Earth Vein" was located deep in the far north of the forest, while the "Earth Fire Yang Vein" was in the east-central part. The two decided to head north first to investigate the status of the "Mysterious Yin Earth Vein."
After entering the forest, Yu Yuanchen no longer deliberately restrained his aura, and a faint, almost imperceptible True Dragon pressure naturally exuded from him.
This pressure might not be obvious to human Soul Masters, but to the Soul Beasts in the forest, it was like a lighthouse in the night, carrying fear and awe stemming from the depths of their Bloodline.
The Soul Beasts encountered along the way were mostly under 30,000 years of cultivation. Feeling this aura that made their Souls tremble, they were all thrown into a panic, fleeing in disarray from afar, and dared not approach at all.
This allowed the two to travel much faster, saving them from a lot of unnecessary trouble.
After several days of trekking and crossing many mountains, the two finally followed the rough markings on the ancient map and found a deep canyon located between two black mountain peaks.
Before they even got close, a bone-chilling cold rushed towards them. The rocks at the entrance of the canyon were covered with a thick layer of white frost, which was completely out of place with the lush surroundings.
"This is it, the 'Land of Mysterious Yin' mentioned in the 'Records of Northern Travels'," Yu Yuanchen said with certainty, feeling the pure Yin-cold energy in the air.
The two stepped into the canyon; the light suddenly dimmed, and the temperature dropped sharply.
The valley was deathly silent, with sparse vegetation, mostly cold-resistant moss and lichens.
Deep at the bottom of the valley, there was indeed a deep pool of spring water. The water was ink-black, overflowing with cold air, and the edge of the pool was frozen with mysterious ice that would never melt. This was the "Mysterious Yin Pool" formed by the leakage of the Yin-cold Earth Vein energy.
However, compared to the "bone-chilling cold, Soul Power stagnation" recorded in ancient books, the Yin-cold power here had clearly weakened significantly.
Yu Yuanchen carefully perceived with his Spiritual Power and discovered that the Yin vein, which should have been surging deep underground, had now become extremely weak, like an underground river about to dry up, leaving only a hint of pure coldness.
"The Earth Vein has dried up… or rather, the main body has shifted," Yu Yuanchen concluded, "However, the remaining Yin-cold 'conception' and the 'trajectory' where the Earth Vein once flowed are still clearly distinguishable."
He closed his eyes and focused. The thunder god mark between his eyebrows heated up slightly, and his powerful Spiritual Power seeped into the earth like a spider web, capturing the flow of that weak but pure Yin vein.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and traced a blurry dashed line on the newly drawn map he had brought, "The residual aura of the Yin vein extends roughly in a southeast direction."
After noting the clues of the Yin vein, the two did not stop, immediately turning east to find the "Earth Fire Yang Vein."
After several more days of travel, they found their target in a hilly area in the middle of the forest where vegetation was sparse and the surface appeared crimson.
The heat here was steaming, and the air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur. Hot air sprayed out from several cracks in the ground from time to time, forming small hot spring eyes. This was the place where the "Earth Fire Residual Vein" mentioned in the "Outline of Mountain and River Earth Qi" was revealed.
Similarly, the masculine, scorching Qi here was also far weaker than recorded. The Earth Fire Residual Vein also seemed to have dived deep, leaving only a little residual heat.
Yu Yuanchen perceived again and determined the direction of the residual aura of the Yang vein, "The residual Yang vein extends roughly in a southwest direction."
After marking the residual flow directions of the two Earth Veins on the map, Yu Yuanchen's gaze focused on the intersection area of the two dashed lines—that was an unknown region located in the hinterland of the Sunset Forest, with extremely complex terrain, marked as "Mist Valley."
"This is it!" Sharp light erupted in Yu Yuanchen's eyes, "The residual auras of both the Yin and Yang veins point here! If the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well truly exists in this world, it must be here!"
With the target locked, the two were greatly encouraged and immediately headed towards the "Mist Valley."
The closer they got to that area, the more eerie the surrounding environment became. The temperature was no longer stable; at times a gust of hot wind blew, as if standing on the edge of a furnace; at other times, a cold current struck, making one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
The energy in the air also became extremely chaotic, and the operation of Soul Power was slightly affected. The trees began to become sparse and withered.
"Brother Yuanchen, the energy here is so chaotic!" Ye Zhilan felt the eerie environment around her, and a look of seriousness appeared on her pretty face.
"Hmm, this means we have found the right place," Yu Yuanchen said with a solemn expression, "Only when extreme Yin and Yang energy intersect and collide here can such a strange scene be formed. Be careful; such places are often occupied by powerful Soul Beasts."
His premonition was soon confirmed.
When the two passed through a stone forest filled with pale pink miasma and jagged rocks, and were about to reach the entrance of the valley marked on the map, a cold, evil, and strongly mentally deterrent aura suddenly erupted from behind a giant rock in front!
"Hiss, hiss—"
A hair-raising hissing sound rang out, and a huge figure slowly slithered out from behind the rock.
That was a giant python over ten meters long, covered in ink-green scales! What was most heart-stopping was that its upper body was actually in the shape of a human, with a beautiful and evil female face on it!
A pair of vertical pupils appeared as eerie ink-green vertical pupils. Just being scanned by that gaze gave one the illusion that their body was about to stiffen! It had snake hair, like countless snakes coiled on its head, making those with trypophobia feel their scalps tingle.
A 60,000-year-old Soul Beast—Medusa! The Empress of Snakes!
This Medusa clearly regarded this place as its territory and was full of hostility towards intruders. It coiled its body, a ferocious look appearing on its beautiful human face. Its ink-green snake eyes locked onto Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan, and a powerful Spiritual shock mixed with lethal petrification power surged over like a tide!
"Watch out for its eyes!" Yu Yuanchen gave a low shout, stepped out, and protected Ye Zhilan behind him.
Purple-gold thunder light erupted from his body, and the majestic Thunder True Essence formed an extremely condensed Thunder Battle Armor, shrouding his entire body. Especially around his eyes, the thunder light was the most intense, resisting the invisible petrification rays.
At the same time, his powerful Spiritual Power condensed into a wall, blocking all of Medusa's Spiritual shock.
"Seventh Soul skills, Thunder Sacred Dragon True Body!"
Facing the Medusa with 60,000 years of cultivation and a rare petrification talent, Yu Yuanchen did not underestimate it in the slightest and directly used his Martial Soul True Body!
In an instant, his figure expanded rapidly, turning into a majestic Sacred Dragon over ten meters long, covered in purple-gold and wrapped in thunder light! The vast Dragon Might spread out like substance, actually suppressing the evil aura of the Medusa!
Feeling the terrifying pressure from the Bloodline level, a look of fear appeared on the beautiful face of the Medusa for the first time. It realized that the enemy in front of it was far beyond its ability to contend with!
"Hiss!" It let out a sharp hiss, its huge snake tail slammed against the ground, and it turned to slither into the stone forest behind to escape!
"Want to leave? Too late!" The Sacred Dragon transformed by Yu Yuanchen let out a heaven-shaking dragon roar. With a flap of its dragon wings, its speed was as fast as lightning, and it instantly caught up with the Medusa!
On the dragon claws, destructive thunder light condensed, and it grabbed fiercely at the Medusa's seven-inch spot!
In the critical moment, the Medusa turned its head sharply, and its ink-green snake eyes erupted with unprecedentedly bright blue light! This time the petrification ray condensed to the extreme, and even the air seemed to make a subtle solidification sound!
Yu Yuanchen did not dare to be careless. The thunder light on the dragon claws suddenly contracted, forming a solid thunder shield to block in front of him!
"Chi, chi, chi!"
The petrification ray and the thunder shield collided violently, making a harsh sound. The thunder shield fluctuated violently, and some areas even showed a slight grayish-white color, as if they were really about to turn into stone! Medusa's petrification eyes were indeed powerful!
Taking advantage of this gap, the Medusa opened its mouth to spray a thick purple poisonous mist, shrouding Yu Yuanchen, while its body accelerated to escape.
"Small tricks!" Yu Yuanchen opened his dragon mouth, and a thick purple-gold thunder breath sprayed out, instantly clearing away the poisonous mist!
His dragon tail whipped out like a lash, precisely striking the Medusa's waist!
"Bang!"
With a muffled sound, the Medusa let out a shrill scream. Its huge body was sent flying, knocking down several stone pillars, its scales shattered, and it was bleeding profusely.
It was completely panicked, desperately using its petrification eye technique again, trying to make a final struggle.
However, Yu Yuanchen would not give it another chance. His dragon body circled, avoiding the strongest direct glare of the eye technique. On the dragon claws, an extremely condensed "Thunder Emperor Annihilation Calamity Spear" instantly condensed, turning into a purple lightning bolt, and with incredible speed, precisely pierced through the Medusa's beautiful head!
"Pfft!"
The blue light dissipated, and the hissing stopped abruptly.
The Medusa's huge body twitched a few times, finally lying limp on the ground, lifeless. A pitch-black ten-thousand-year Soul Ring slowly condensed and appeared.
Yu Yuanchen dispelled his Martial Soul True Body and returned to human form, his breath steady, as if he had just done a trivial thing.
He walked to the Medusa's corpse and was about to deal with it, but was surprised to find that where the Medusa's head was pierced, in addition to the Soul Ring, it was actually emitting a strange energy fluctuation.
Thunder light flashed on his fingertips, and he carefully sliced open the snake skull. A strange bone, about the size of a fist, dark gold in color, irregular in shape, and with naturally formed patterns on its surface like snake eyes, suddenly appeared before his eyes!
A Soul Bone! And it was an extremely rare head soul bone!
"It's actually a head soul bone!" A trace of surprise flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes.
The head soul bone had a great amplification and protective effect on Spiritual Power, and its value far exceeded other parts of Soul Bones of the same Rank. This Medusa's petrification eye technique was so powerful that it was consistent with it dropping a head soul bone.
He picked up the Soul Bone, which was still warm, turned and walked to Ye Zhilan, and handed it directly to her, "Zhilan, this Soul Bone is suitable for you. Medusa's petrification ability is closely related to Spiritual Power. This head soul bone should be able to greatly enhance your Spiritual Power, and perhaps grant you the ability of Medusa's Gaze, which will be of great benefit to your Cultivation and the use of 'Mountain Splitting Force', and can also strengthen some self-protection capabilities."
Ye Zhilan looked at the precious Soul Bone in front of her, then looked at Yu Yuanchen. Her beautiful eyes were full of emotion, but more of it was for his sake, "Brother Yuanchen, this is too precious! You should absorb it; it will improve your strength more."
Yu Yuanchen shook his head, his tone brooking no refusal, "My Spiritual Power is already strong enough, and I have the thunder god mark for protection. This Soul Bone's age is too low, and the benefit to me is limited. But you need to strengthen your Spiritual Power. Be obedient and absorb it. I will act as your Protector."
Looking at Yu Yuanchen's firm gaze, Ye Zhilan did not refuse anymore and nodded heavily, "Hmm! Thank you, Brother Yuanchen!"
She immediately sat cross-legged, adjusted her state, and began to absorb this 60,000-year-old Medusa head soul bone. The process was quite smooth. Ye Zhilan's Spiritual Power was not weak to begin with, and with Yu Yuanchen by her side using pure Thunder True Essence to guide her energy and stabilize her mind, the Fusion was completed in just over half a day.
When Ye Zhilan opened her eyes again, her pupils became clearer and brighter, with a faint, imperceptible green halo flowing within them, and her entire temperament was more agile and refined. Her Spiritual Power had soared, and her Soul Power had naturally broken through to Rank 65!
"How do you feel?" Yu Yuanchen asked with concern.
"Very good!" Ye Zhilan happily felt the changes in herself, "My Spiritual Power is much stronger, my perception is sharper, and the operation of Soul Power is much smoother. This Soul Bone also granted me a Soul skills called 'Medusa's Gaze', which perfectly inherited Medusa's petrification eyes."
"Not bad, it suits you very well." Yu Yuanchen nodded with satisfaction. Don't think that he dealt with Medusa's petrification eyes easily; that was because his Thunder True Essence, while nourishing the God Position in his body, had also been contaminated with some properties of divine force. This made his resistance to this kind of curse-like ability extremely high. If an ordinary Titled Douluo were to carelessly get hit by this move, they would suffer a great loss.
After dealing with the Medusa's corpse, the two rested for a moment and then impatiently continued to head deeper into the valley.
The deeper they went, the more obvious the environmental anomalies became. At times they needed to operate their Soul Power to resist the extreme cold that could freeze blood, and at other times they had to open a barrier to isolate the high temperature that could melt gold and stone. Frost and scorched earth coexisted, which was extremely weird.
Finally, on a hill about five hundred meters high, the hill looked like an active volcano, but its exterior was covered with a layer of ice, appearing extremely miraculous. The periphery of the mountain was surrounded by Jade Scale Seven-Absolute Flowers, forming a natural poisonous miasma, making it difficult for ordinary people and animals to approach. Climbing to the top, one could see an inverted cone-shaped mountain col. Thick hot air rose inside the col, carrying moist water vapor and the smell of sulfur.
In the valley below the mountain col, there was a small lake. The lake was clearly divided into two parts; one side was ice-white, emitting a faint white gas, and the other side was fire-red, with light slightly distorted above it. The colors of the lake water were milky white and vermilion, distinct and non-infringing. The billowing water vapor made the surrounding water mist linger, as if it were a fairyland.
The sky of the valley was shrouded in colorful poisonous clouds. Sunlight shone through the poisonous clouds, adding a gorgeous color to the entire valley. The distant mountain walls were covered with deep blue vines, shining with faint colorful light, as if cast from sapphires. Various rare flowers and plants also grew in the valley, vying for beauty around the lake. Many plants emitted treasure light of different strengths, setting off against the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, forming a beautiful picture.
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! Finally found it!
Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan stood at the entrance of the valley, looking at this wonder of heaven and earth, their eyes filled with shock and joy.
"Found it… finally found it!" Yu Yuanchen let out a long sigh of relief, a heartfelt smile appearing on his face. After many twists and turns, the goal was right in front of him!
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