Chapter 34: The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well!

"Yan, we are going to the Tiandou Academy," Dugu Bo said as he stood up, his tone firm.

Dugu Yan was stunned. She looked at Dugu Bo's expression and demeanor with trepidation, a shock rippling through her heart. So, she really was poisoned? And it had been identified by a child of only seven years old? It was unbelievable that Ning Xi could determine she was poisoned based on such observations. Dugu Yan realized in an instant that it was all true; everything Ning Xi had said was real. And if that were the case, then her father and mother...

Without hesitation, Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan and set off immediately for the Tiandou Academy. Along the way, his mind was occupied with thoughts of potential antidotes, his heart heavy with worry for his granddaughter. He did not care if he himself died, but he could not abandon her.

Upon arriving at the Tiandou Academy, Dugu Bo went straight to find Ning Xi and Jun Han. He got straight to the point, stating his purpose without preamble. "Ning Xi, Jun Han, I heard from Yan that you noticed she has been poisoned?" Dugu Bo asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

Ning Xi and Jun Han exchanged a glance and nodded. "Yes, Senior Dugu. We discovered that poison is lurking within Dugu Yan's body. Although the symptoms are mild, the toxins have already seeped into her marrow."

Dugu Bo nodded, expressing his admiration. "You two are truly extraordinary. The poison Yan is suffering from has left even me helpless. I hope you have a way to help her."

Ning Xi smiled slightly and replied, "Do not worry, Senior Dugu. We will do everything in our power to help Dugu Yan."

"I have a method, but it requires many medicinal herbs to concoct an antidote. If I have those, I am eighty percent sure I can cure her, but those herbs are extremely difficult to find..." Ning Xi sighed, looking somewhat helpless.

"Hmm..." Dugu Bo's eyes lit up instantly. Medicinal herbs? Did he not have a place filled with them? "Medicinal herbs? That is wonderful! I have a garden, and while I do not know what many of the herbs there are, perhaps they will be of use to you." He indeed had many herbs there that he could not identify and dared not touch recklessly.

Ning Xi’s eyes widened, a wave of pleasant surprise washing over her. She curled her lips into a smile. "Senior Dugu, perhaps I have an even better way to completely purge the toxins from both you and Dugu Yan. However, it will take some time."

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan felt as if a great weight had finally been lifted from their hearts, and they felt much more at ease.

"In that case, there is no time like the present. I shall take you there." Dugu Bo was impatient to bring the two to his sanctuary. After all, they were members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and he knew he had to treat them with care, especially since they were good friends of Dugu Yan.

"Senior Dugu, do not be in such a hurry. Let us wait until our school break, and then we can go to your herb garden together with your granddaughter," Ning Xi said with a gentle smile. She could certainly understand Dugu Bo’s feelings.

Dugu Bo nodded. "Very well, I shall wait for you." He patted Ning Xi on the shoulder and smiled.

The school break was not far off, only a few days away. In truth, both of them had reached level 20 in soul power some time ago, but they had not yet gone to obtain their soul rings, feeling the timing was not yet right. But it was close.

Before they knew it, a year had passed since Ning Xi and Jun Han had arrived at the Tiandou Royal Academy. Once the break began, Dugu Bo could not wait to bring the two to the Sunset Forest. Ning Xi and Jun Han exchanged a nod and followed behind him. Ning Xi had long known that Dugu Bo was also poisoned, and she was determined to cure them both.

Dugu Bo scooped the two up, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at a place of breathtaking beauty. A massive natural lake lay silently before them, its waters magically divided in two.

One half of the lake was as blue as ice—the Ice Extremity Yin Spring, radiating a bone-chilling cold that made one’s heart tremble, as if the very air were frozen into a realm of silent frost. The other half was as red as fire—the Fiery Yang Spring, with rolling heat waves like molten lava beneath a volcano, surging and turbulent, as if it might erupt at any moment to consume everything in flames.

Around the edges of the lake, faint mists curled like a veil, adding a sense of mystery and tranquility. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the mist, dappled and shifting, weaving with the ice-blue and fiery-red of the lake to create a dreamlike, hazy, and exquisite world of light and shadow.

The trees surrounding the lake, eroded by these two extreme energies, presented a series of strange sights. On the side near the Ice Extremity Yin Spring, the trees were tightly encased in frost, crystal-clear like jade-carved ice sculptures, emitting a faint, cold light. On the side near the Fiery Yang Spring, the trees were scorched black, their branches and leaves curled as if licked by flames, giving off a charred scent and threatening to ignite at any moment.

Yet, in this extreme environment, many astonishing medicinal herbs grew. Amidst the interplay of ice and fire, these herbs did not wither; instead, they thrived. Their leaves, whether emerald green, brilliant gold, or deep, mysterious purple, each radiated a unique light and aura, like miracles bestowed by nature, silently telling the story of life’s resilience and defiance.

As soon as Ning Xi entered, she felt the incredibly dense and vibrant energy of the place. When she saw the lake, she immediately knew: this was the Icefire Yin-Yang Well! Ten thousand years later, the Sunset Forest would be shrouded in poisonous gas, and almost no one would dare step foot inside. The outer areas would become barren, with withered trees and no signs of life. In that future, no one would look for this place, let alone imagine that the Icefire Yin-Yang Well was hidden within the toxic fog. Even Jun Han was slightly astonished; he had not expected such precious treasures to exist in this place.

"Well? Is my garden not a sight to behold?" Seeing their reactions, Dugu Bo felt a surge of pride; this was his private sanctuary. With the thick toxic gas, the poisonous plants, and the terrifying soul beasts roaming the perimeter, no one would dare enter unless they had a death wish.

"Senior Dugu, this is truly a magnificent place for cultivation," Ning Xi could not help but exclaim in admiration. It was no lie to say she was excited to see these immortal herbs in person; it was something she had long looked forward to. Her heart was filled with excitement and joy.

"Haha, of course. Whenever my poison flares up, I rely on this place. It is a pity, though..." Dugu Bo laughed, but as he thought of something, his expression darkened for a moment.

"Senior Dugu, do not worry. We will cure you and Dugu Yan," Ning Xi reassured him. Through their time together, she had developed a favorable impression of Dugu Bo.

Several days prior, Ning Xi had already discussed the matter with Jun Han. Ning Xi recognized these immortal herbs, and Jun Han—needless to say—knew the properties of every single one of them. He had studied various texts, including those on immortal herbs, and he remembered every word Ning Xi had ever told him clearly.

Ning Xi looked at the immortal herbs with keen interest, her excitement plain in her eyes.

"Sigh, you have good hearts. I will wait for you over there with Yan. You know these herbs better than I do; as long as you do not destroy this place, feel free to use whatever you need. You may begin." Dugu Bo pointed to the entrance of a stone cave, then turned and walked away with Dugu Yan.

"Very well, Senior Dugu." Ning Xi nodded slightly and followed Jun Han toward the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. Before long, she spotted the immortal herbs she had only ever seen in books.