Chapter 3: Consuming the Immortal Herbs—Ice and Fire Alchemy Body
Ghost Douluo and Yue Guan landed at the bottom of the valley.
The sight before Yue Guan left him stunned.
At the valley floor lay a hot spring—not large, but divided neatly into two halves.
The oval-shaped pool was split perfectly: one side milky white, the other a deep vermilion; the two colors remained completely separate, never mixing.
From the springs rose alternating waves of scorching heat and chilling cold, intertwining in the air and slowly rising skyward.
This was the legendary Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a place of twin extremes and opposing forces!
Around the well, an array of strange and exotic plants thrived.
Some were vibrant and multi-colored, while others were monochrome—but all radiated an aura of rarity.
Yue Guan struggled to contain his excitement.
Among these herbs were some that had absorbed the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, growing into immortal-grade herbs seldom seen in the world.
At the very center of each spring, the immortal herbs stood out.
In the icy, cold Yin spring, a massive white flower quietly bloomed. Its eight-pointed petals radiated with an otherworldly symmetry, the central stamen like a flawless ice crystal, flickering cold light in the dim glow.
This was the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, containing a deadly, extreme-cold poison.
In the blazing, boiling Yang spring, another immortal herb stood tall. Though it looked like a common cabbage, it exuded an ethereal aura, its leaves bright crimson as if ablaze.
This was the Internal Delicate Apricot Herb, harboring an extreme heat poison.
Consumed alone, either of these herbs would destroy the body, killing the user instantly.
But taken together, they could forge a golden body capable of withstanding all poisons.
These two herbs could also cure Dugu Bo's toxins—but he could not recognize their value.
Such priceless herbs, naturally, would not be given to him lightly.
"By the aura… It's the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."
Yue Guan's excitement surged, but he suppressed it.
"Old poison, this place isn't bad at all. These herbs are extremely rare. Your granddaughter is still young; her poison should be curable. Your poison is deep, so it will be more difficult, but I'm at least fifty to sixty percent confident I can help."
Dugu Bo was shocked to hear this.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo… you really mean that?"
"Of course! At a time like this, why would I lie?" Yue Guan replied confidently.
He approached a nearby herb. Its cap resembled a lingzhi mushroom, pale purple in color, the stem crystal-clear like jade, and nine leaves grew from it.
"Old poison, do you recognize this herb?"
Dugu Bo shook his head,
"I only know it's a lingzhi variety. I'm not sure which type it is."
Yue Guan smiled proudly.
"This is the Ninth-Rank Purple Lingzhi, a top-tier herb. Its effect is gentle yet potent, nourishing the root and consolidating your foundation, enhancing both vitality and power. Consuming it will help ease the pain when your poison flares."
Without hesitation, He plucked the herb and handed it to Dugu Bo.
He wanted the old man to consume it quickly so he could enjoy the sight of the other immortal herbs.
"Chew it, swallow, then cultivate your soul power to refine its medicinal effect," he instructed.
Dugu Bo hesitated slightly.
All the herbs in this garden were extraordinary. One wrong move could be fatal.
If Yue Guan intended to harm him, even a single poisonous plant could end his life.
Ghost Douluo, noticing Dugu Bo's thoughts, teased him lightly:
"Old poison… looks like you still don't trust us."
"Chrysanthemum Douluo, help me pick these two poisonous herbs. I'll use them to temper my body," Dugu Bo finally said.
Ghost Douluo pointed toward the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass in the icy spring and the Internal Delicate Apricot Herb in the scorching spring.
Yue Guan's eyes widened as he finally understood his old partner's intention.
Yet a question lingered in his mind: How could Ghost Douluo possibly know that these two deadly herbs could be consumed together safely?
Could he have learned it in that dream as well?
Without overthinking, Yue Guan stepped forward toward Ghost Douluo.
"Be careful!"
Dugu Bo shouted suddenly.
"I don't know the names of these two herbs, but I do know they're extremely poisonous! Old Ghost, can you even withstand them? The energy contained in these springs is strange and immense. Anyone or any soul beast who falls in will be dissolved to nothing in moments."
"Old poison, don't worry about that," Ghost Douluo said calmly. "I've already died once. If I die again, so be it."
He gave Yue Guan a slight nod.
Yue Guan immediately understood. After so many years fighting side by side, the two shared a perfect tacit understanding.
Ghost Douluo moved toward the Yin (cold) spring while Yue Guan approached the Yang (hot) spring.
Simultaneously, they channeled their soul power, each forming a blade of energy—one black, one golden—and struck down the Internal Delicate Apricot Herb and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
The herbs fell to the ground together, side by side.
The extremes of heat and cold instantly neutralized each other, achieving perfect balance.
A faint white mist enveloped the Internal Delicate Apricot Herb, while a soft red glow surrounded the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
Without hesitation, Ghost Douluo picked up both herbs and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing vigorously.
The opposing energies of the herbs balanced one another, causing no discomfort at all.
After only a few shallow breaths, their hidden medicinal powers surged violently, erupting like a tidal wave within him.
Ghost Douluo's body trembled involuntarily.
A crimson-red flame rose from his feet, scorching like the fires of hell, wrapping his body entirely in a brilliant red glow.
But the radiance was fleeting.
Almost immediately, an icy-blue light snaked up from his feet.
Red and blue—two diametrically opposite energies—flashed alternately across his body.
At that moment, Ghost Douluo's body endured the relentless assault of extreme heat and extreme cold.
The strange, immense energies tore through his mortal frame as if trying to rip it apart.
"It's time!"
Suddenly, Ghost Douluo plunged headfirst into the confluence of the Yin and Yang springs.
In an instant, his entire body was submerged.
Dugu Bo was dumbfounded.
An ordinary person falling into these springs would be instantly annihilated.
Yet the herbs Ghost Douluo consumed had already taken effect.
Under their influence, all external sensations were temporarily blocked.
Yue Guan knew that the twin springs would greatly enhance the herbs' effect, accelerating Ghost Douluo's absorption and refining of their power.
After undergoing this trial by fire and ice, Ghost Douluo would gain a dual immunity to both ice and fire, becoming impervious to all toxins.
"Yue Guan… old ghost, he—"
"Relax. He's fine. He's already testing the herbs on himself. What else could you be worried about?"
Yue Guan handed the Ninth-Rank Purple Lingzhi once more to Dugu Bo.
This time, Dugu Bo did not hesitate and took it.
"I can't stay here long. Use whatever herbs you need, but don't recklessly destroy anything."
"I treasure these plants as if they were my life," Yue Guan replied. "I'll just take some for backup. Not many—about a dozen. Is that acceptable?"
"Do as you please. I, Dugu Bo, am not petty. If you can really cure me and Yan Yan, you may even consider this entire herb garden yours," Dugu Bo said.
With that, he transformed into a green streak and left the valley.
—
End of Chapter