The scene at the center of the valley was truly breathtaking.
On the left was an ice spring shrouded in cold mist.
The spring water was a deep, ice blue, its surface covered by a thin layer of ice that never lted.
Cold air rose continuously, condensing into fine frost flowers that drifted gently through the air.
On the right was a fire spring radiating intense heat.
The water was blood-red, bubbling constantly with rolling bursts of steam.
Waves of heat rushed forward, scorching the faces of anyone nearby.
These two extre energies intertwined and collided, forming a visible energy fluctuation at the center.
The fluctuation shimred with flowing light — sotis icy blue, sotis crimson red.
It was breathtakingly beautiful, yet filled with hidden danger.
If an ordinary Soul Master rashly approached and entered the spring water, they would likely be lted away by the combined forces of ice and fire.
Even Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, did not dare enter these springs.
Around the Ice and Fire springs, dozens of rare flowers and exotic herbs grew in the surrounding dicinal garden.
Each plant radiated dense spiritual energy, with brilliant colors and unique forms.
So were crystal-clear like gemstones.
So had layered petals like embroidered silk.
So bore pearl-like fruits.
Others had leaves shimring with starlight.
Nurtured within this environnt where ice and fire intertwined, they had grown strong over countless years and were no longer ordinary plants.
"This… this is practically a fairyland!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stood at the edge of the herb garden, staring wide-eyed.
His mouth hung open, and his face showed an expression of obsession bordering on madness, as though his soul had left his body.
When his gaze landed on a golden chrysanthemum, whose layered petals rose like a pagoda, his body suddenly froze.
Tears began to fall without warning.
"It's actually here!"
His voice trembled as he stretched out a white-gloved hand, wanting to touch it but not daring to, afraid of desecrating such beauty.
"Beautiful! Truly beautiful! How can such a perfect creation exist in this world?!"
That was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!
An immortal herb sharing the sa origin as his martial soul — a legendary treasure he had dread of and searched for over decades.
He had once believed it was rely sothing fabricated in ancient texts.
Yet today, he saw it with his own eyes.
Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly turned and, without warning, knelt before Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness, the Pope!"
His voice choked with emotion, his forehead pressed to the ground.
"To allow to witness such an immortal herb with my own eyes — I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!"
"From this day forward, I am willing to serve you with my life! Even if you order to die right now, I will have no complaints!"
His words were utterly sincere, tears streaming down his face.
Dugu Bo, standing nearby, clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Is that really necessary?"
He muttered quietly, his face full of disdain.
"It's just a plant. You're acting like you've seen your long-lost father."
"Yue Guan, you half-man-half-woman really have no backbone."
The voice was not loud, but everyone present was a Titled Douluo — how could they not hear it?
Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly lifted his head.
Tears still lingered in his eyes, but his expression beca colorful.
"So people…"
He slowly stood up and brushed the dust off his knees, his tone turning sarcastic.
"…sit atop a mountain of treasure yet don't know how to use it. What a waste of heaven-sent gifts, utterly foolish! These immortal herbs have been completely squandered."
"What did you say?!"
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in fury, poisonous mist beginning to swirl around him again.
"Am I wrong?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an eyebrow, gesturing lightly with delicate fingers.
"You've guarded the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for decades. Aside from using poisonous herbs to cultivate poison techniques, what else do you know?"
"The true value of these immortal herbs — their effects, their uses — do you understand any of it?"
The more he spoke, the more excited he beca, his voice growing sharp.
"I'd bet at least half the immortal herbs in this garden — you can't even na them!"
"If that's not wasting treasures, then what is? If that's not foolishness, then what is?"
"You—"
Dugu Bo's face turned green with anger, his fists cracking loudly, but he could not refute it.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was right.
He truly did not recognize most of the immortal herbs here.
So looked dangerous enough that he dared not touch them.
Others he had tried before — only to nearly poison himself to death.
In the end, he could only pick obviously poisonous herbs to cultivate with, while searching for others that could suppress the toxins in his body to prolong his life.
For all these years, he had been like a beggar guarding a mountain of gold.
Sitting on a treasure vault, yet surviving only on scraps.
"Enough."
Bibi Dong's cold voice cut through their argunt.
Standing at the center of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, she lightly tapped the ground with her staff, her voice echoing through the valley.
"Dugu Bo. Since you have agreed to serve , this herb garden belongs to from today onward."
Dugu Bo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger stirred by Chrysanthemum Douluo's mockery.
He looked at Bibi Dong with a heavy gaze and said in a low voice:
"I can serve you. This herb garden can also be yours."
"But you must keep your promise. You must cure Yan Yan's poison."
"Rest assured."
Bibi Dong cast him a cold glance.
"Do as I say, and your granddaughter will live — and live better than anyone."
She turned and gave an order to Chrysanthemum Douluo, who was still imrsed in excitent.
"Yue Guan, you will remain here as well."
Her tone left no room for refusal.
"Record every immortal herb and dicinal plant you recognize in detail. Draw them into a catalog."
"Mark clearly the effects, usage thods, and harvesting precautions of each one."
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was overjoyed and imdiately bowed in acceptance.
Being able to closely observe and study so many immortal herbs was an unimaginable blessing to him.
This assignnt was exactly what he wanted!
Dugu Bo watched his triumphant expression and felt deeply frustrated.
He had no desire to stay with this "half-man-half-woman."
But when he thought of his granddaughter's life in Bibi Dong's hands, he swallowed his words.
Endure.
For Yan Yan, he could endure anything.
…
Bibi Dong left the valley with Ghost Douluo.
After walking beyond the poisonous barrier, she stopped and looked back toward the depths of the Sunset Forest.
"Gui i."
"I am here," Ghost Douluo's voice drifted from within his black robes.
"Keep an eye on Dugu Bo in secret," Bibi Dong said calmly. "He may have pledged loyalty, but that does not an sincerity. Report any unusual movents imdiately."
"Yes."
"And…"
She paused.
"Send people to Heaven Dou City to secretly protect Dugu Yan. Make sure nothing happens to her and do not allow anyone else to approach her."
Ghost Douluo was slightly surprised.
"Your Holiness, why? If we want to control Dugu Bo, wouldn't his granddaughter's safety be the best leverage?"
Bibi Dong shook her head.
"Leverage should be used at the critical mont."
Her gaze was deep.
"What we need now is his genuine allegiance. Protecting his granddaughter is more effective than threatening her."
From what she had learned from Ah Qing, combined with her own testing, Bibi Dong had already understood Dugu Bo's character.
Ghost Douluo suddenly understood.
"Your Holiness is wise."
"Go."
With a flicker of shadow, Ghost Douluo vanished into the forest.
Bibi Dong stood alone, a faint smile forming at the corner of her lips.
"Ah Qing, the immortal herbs you wanted — I've prepared them for you."
She murmured.
"Now, let's see how far you can go on your own."
—
End of Chapter
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