Lin Rong knew without even thinking that after Ning Rongrong absorbed the Emerald Bird's Spirit Ring, the eighth layer of her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's phantom image had definitely solidified considerably.
This was why Ning Fengzhi had someone send him this fan, along with two million Gold Soul Coins as a thank-you gift.
"Ning Fengzhi truly is an old fox. He'd rather spend two million Gold Soul Coins to repay a favor than owe one."
"But then again, someone who can keep Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo in line, how could he easily owe something as troublesome to repay as a favor?"
After all, Ning Fengzhi was described by Tang Hao as a "man of great talent."
To receive such an evaluation from Tang San's own father carried significant weight.
Whether this statement was meant to mock Ning Fengzhi for being an auxiliary-type Spirit Master who could only be diplomatic and play both sides, or if it was a genuine acknowledgment of his great talent, was a matter of opinion.
Lin Rong casually placed the fan back on the tray and waved his hand, signaling the old butler to handle it himself.
The lingering heat of autumn had persisted for nearly ten days, and the beginning of the next month was drawing closer.
"The closer it gets to that day, the more agitated I become."
"It seems my mindset still needs improvement!"
Lin Rong calmed his emotions and, settling down, continued his cultivation.
...
Several days later.
It was deep into the night, silent and still.
After some time, midnight arrived, signaling the start of the new month.
At this moment, Dugu Bo was keeping watch with Dugu Yan at home.
Simultaneously, outside Heaven Dou City.
A faint spatial ripple emerged, and Lin Rong, dressed in black, appeared with the old butler near the outskirts of the city.
The two did not speak. The moment they appeared, the old butler took Lin Rong and rushed towards Sunset Forest at full speed.
Before long, Lin Rong and the old butler arrived at the poison array set up by Dugu Bo.
After they took the antidote and passed through the poison array, a hill approximately five hundred meters high appeared before them.
Approaching the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, Lin Rong had already sensed a faint aura of extreme cold and extreme heat, utilizing his Martial Soul's characteristics.
Recalling the introduction to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye in the original work, Lin Rong deployed his Vine Dragon Domain to cover himself and the old butler before heading towards the summit.
Concealed by the darkness, Lin Rong and the old butler soon reached the mountaintop.
Thick heat continuously rose from the depression in the mountain, obscuring the view of what lay below the cliff.
Seeing this, the old butler said:
"Young master, the situation below the cliff is unclear. Perhaps this old servant should go down first to investigate and then come back up to fetch young master."
"Don't worry, Grandpa Yu," Lin Rong said, shaking his head slightly and speaking softly.
"Ancient texts record that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye is filled with extreme cold and extreme heat spiritual energy. Under normal circumstances, even a Titled Douluo cannot stay inside for long."
"Therefore, Dugu Bo wouldn't leave any hidden traps below, as there's no need for it."
"Moreover, Dugu Bo himself is currently at home celebrating his granddaughter's birthday. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye is empty right now."
"So, Grandpa Yu, you can just take me down directly."
"The effect of my innate domain can isolate and transform both the extreme cold and extreme heat spiritual energy."
"With this protection, neither of us needs to worry about our safety for a short period."
After hearing Lin Rong's explanation, the old butler no longer insisted.
However, out of caution, he activated his Martial Soul before taking Lin Rong down with him.
Amidst the thick heat, the old butler, holding Lin Rong, plummeted rapidly through the air, finally landing steadily on the valley floor.
Upon landing, the old butler habitually scanned his surroundings. After confirming the area was safe, he carefully set Lin Rong down from his embrace.
Lin Rong merely glanced briefly at the two-colored spring, milky white and crimson, in the center of the valley before shifting his gaze back. He then quietly instructed the old butler:
"Grandpa Yu, there's no time to lose. Please take all the medicinal herbs here, including the soil within three feet underground."
As he spoke, Lin Rong handed the Spirit Tool on his wrist, "Azure Dragon Vine," to the old butler.
Among the twelve storage jade pearls of the Azure Dragon Vine, the three with dragon patterns, much like Dugu Bo's Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch, were capable of storing living things.
The medicinal herbs stored within could maintain their vitality.
The old butler said nothing more. After taking the Azure Dragon Vine, he immediately began his work.
Lin Rong did not remain idle either. After a brief scan, he walked directly in a certain direction.
In a short while, Lin Rong arrived in front of a medicinal herb.
It was a crystal-clear, snow-white herb, with each leaf appearing as if it were about to drip water.
From a distance, the snow-white herb looked slender and curved, resembling the neck of a swan.
This herb had a beautiful name: Snow Swan Kiss.
It's not poisonous itself, but it can make any poison multiply a thousandfold.
In the original work, Tang San used this item to destroy the City of Slaughter.
Lin Rong looked at the Snow Swan Kiss before him, crouched down, and with his hands wrapped in pure life force, he carefully plucked it from the soil according to the method in the herbology guide.
"This thing is truly too dangerous. Grandpa Yu doesn't have effective defensive measures, so it's safer for me to pick it myself."
After speaking, Lin Rong turned his head to look at the hot spring not far away, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind.
"The Snow Swan Kiss destroyed the City of Slaughter after being thrown onto the path to hell. So, what would happen if I threw it into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye?"
"I'm really curious, I really want to try it!"
Lin Rong shook his head violently and quickly recited the Marrow Cleansing Scripture to suppress this terrifying thought.
This item still has great use in the future, so it's better not to do something suicidal like this.
About an hour later.
The old butler completed his task, digging up the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye three feet deep.
In the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, apart from the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
All other herbs, as well as the soil that had absorbed the spring's energy, were stored within the Azure Dragon Vine.
Leaving behind the neatly dug-up land in the valley, which was exceptionally clean.
At the edge of the hot spring.
Lin Rong, who was standing there, took out two daggers when he saw that the time had come.
These two daggers were made of different materials: one was forged from fine iron, and the other was made of jade.
The herbology guide recorded.
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass could only be picked with metallic objects.
The Infernal Delicate Apricot could only be picked with jade objects without reducing its medicinal properties.
Although Lin Rong himself did not intend to absorb them, since he had already decided to temporarily damage the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, he naturally had to ensure the medicinal properties of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot were perfectly preserved.
In the void, two banyan tree roots appeared in mid-air.
Under Lin Rong's control, they wrapped around the two daggers and cleanly cut down the two highly poisonous immortal-grade herbs.
Then, he threw the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass into the extremely hot spring and the Infernal Delicate Apricot into the extremely cold spring.
The moment they were thrown in, the hot spring erupted with a piercing sound.
The collision of the extreme cold and extreme heat energies produced a large amount of mist that rose into the sky, and even some of the extremely cold and extremely hot spring water splashed out.
Fortunately, Lin Rong had the foresight to retreat, so he was not splashed by the spring water.
"Done. It will probably take decades for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye to recover its former efficacy."
Finally, Lin Rong took out a large purplish-gold chrysanthemum, which was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, one of the immortal-grade herbs.
Controlling his strength, Lin Rong used his weak Soul Power to shake off a few petals.
Although the petals were tiny, they stood out conspicuously in the neatly dug-up land.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo, Guang Yue, I'll have to trouble you to take the blame for this."
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