Chapter 45: A Walking Elixir

"Have you figured out how to remove the poison?"

"Yes, I have a plan. Your Grace, your granddaughter's poison isn't too severe," Yang Wudi replied calmly.

"However, I still need time to gather some of the required herbs."

"Forget it. That's a waste of time," Dugu Bo said impatiently.

He just wanted the poison in Dugu Yan's body gone as soon as possible.

"Come with me," Dugu Bo said.

He was about to take Yang Wudi to his secret medicine garden — the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Having already harvested what he believed were the most valuable herbs, he felt confident in allowing Yang Wudi into the place.

Dugu Bo had never held the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in absolute reverence — he had always seen it as a tool to suppress the poison in his own body.

Now that he had a possible cure, his mindset had changed. Besides, he'd investigated the Yang Clan's reputation and found it excellent — loyal, but not blindly so.

When Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi arrived, the valley looked noticeably emptier than it had before.

But even so, the moment Yang Wudi laid eyes on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his eyes lit up with pure astonishment.

"This is... this is..."

His voice trembled with excitement as he looked at the surreal landscape.

A naturally formed wonder — blazing heat like a volcano on one side, and bone-chilling frost on the other.

Opposing forces met and coexisted here in a delicate and incredible balance.

"This is the legendary Ice and Fire Dual Extremes! Truly a miracle of nature — an ideal place for medicinal herbs to grow!"

Yang Wudi's eyes were full of blazing passion — the look of a man who'd just stumbled upon a treasure trove.

As an alchemist, he deeply understood what a place like this could cultivate — rare and mystical herbs capable of curing any poison or enhancing cultivation tremendously.

"No wonder the outside is shrouded in poisonous mist and home to the Jade Scale Sevenfold Flower, yet here inside it's calm. The dual extremes of fire and ice suppress poison naturally."

Dugu Bo, seeing Yang Wudi's awestruck reaction, was both proud and surprised.

He hadn't expected someone to be even more impressed than he had once been.

"Yes," Dugu Bo said smugly. "This is my personal medicine garden — the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Yang Wudi, with these herbs, do you think you can cure my granddaughter?"

"Normal people wouldn't even survive in this place," Yang Wudi replied with reverence.

"Only someone like Your Grace could enter freely. This is a fateful opportunity if I've ever seen one."

He began walking slowly around the perimeter of the well, savoring the rhythm of heaven and earth in every step.

His eyes scanned countless strange plants — red like flame, blue like ice, some glowing faintly like stars in the night sky.

"Every plant here contains the purest energy of nature," he finally said in awe.

"If I'm to cure your granddaughter, I'll need certain key ingredients — and it looks like everything I need is here."

As he followed behind Dugu Bo, he couldn't help whispering names under his breath as he recognized one miracle plant after another:

"...Blazing Grass… Iceheart Fruit…"

"Snow Silkworm!"

"Cinnabar Lotus!"

"Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King!"

The deeper they went into the Yin Yang Well's domain, the rarer the herbs became — including the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King, which Yun Yibai had missed earlier.

Eventually, they reached the central spring, where they spotted a figure sitting in meditation.

"Hmm."

Seeing Yun Yibai cultivating diligently, Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction.

But when he glanced toward where the Fiery Apricot Petal and Eight-Spoked Ice Grass had once been — his expression froze.

"Where are they?!"

Yang Wudi followed his gaze — and also saw the leftover roots at the spot.

"That's… that's…"

After a moment of observation, he identified them.

"The Fiery Apricot Petal and the Eight-Spoked Ice Grass?! Only the roots are left?!"

Yun Yibai had sensed their arrival earlier and opened his eyes from cultivation.

"Clan Leader Yang, Senior Dugu," he greeted calmly.

"Kid, where'd you hide the herbs?" Dugu Bo demanded.

"Hold on," Yang Wudi said, quickly walking over. He grasped Yun Yibai's wrist and began checking his pulse.

Moments later, he looked at Yun Yibai with a complicated expression.

"You ate them, didn't you? Both the Fiery Apricot Petal and the Eight-Spoked Ice Grass."

He wasn't angry. On the contrary — as someone who had studied the Celestial Herb Codex for years, he knew these two poisonous herbs could be consumed safely — if taken together and properly neutralized.

"I merely remembered something from your Celestial Herb Codex," Yun Yibai said modestly.

"'Hold the yin, embrace the yang.' These two herbs are opposites — alone, they're lethal. Together, they cancel each other out."

"You've got guts, kid." Yang Wudi chuckled.

"Even if they cancel each other out, the pain from their internal fire and frost is real. And that immense power could destroy most people."

"The greater the risk, the greater the reward, right?" Yun Yibai smiled.

"Well said," Yang Wudi nodded approvingly.

"You gained a lot from those two herbs. Grown in this dual-element zone, their effects are extraordinary. Your body is likely immune to most toxins now — and possibly even resistant to extreme temperatures."

"You've earned more than you know."

"Your Grace," Yang Wudi added, turning to Dugu Bo, "this changes things. I now have even more confidence in treating your poison."

"Oh?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Yang Wudi pointed at Yun Yibai, grinning.

"That kid is now a walking elixir."

"He's absorbed the medicinal essence of both the Fiery Apricot Petal and the Eight-Spoked Ice Grass — neutralized their toxins. His blood is now a high-grade medicinal ingredient that could assist in your treatment."

Dugu Bo looked at Yun Yibai with surprise.

In the days that followed, Yang Wudi began concocting an antidote using the unique environment of the Yin Yang Well and its rare herbs.

With the Immortal Fragrant Kilo on hand, he no longer feared any toxins. His alchemy was now flawless.

Dugu Bo and Yun Yibai soon left the valley.

As always, Dugu Bo didn't obsess too much over the Yin-Yang Well. The important herbs had already been harvested — what remained could be left for Yang Wudi.

Yun Yibai had once told him:

"If you use someone, trust them. If you don't trust them, don't use them."

Dugu Bo dropped Yun Yibai off at the edge of the Sunset Forest, then flew back alone to handle more urgent matters.

Yun Yibai looked in the direction Dugu Bo had gone, then muttered:

"Three minutes of silence for the poor soul beasts."

Yun Yibai had timed things well.

The Senior Spirit Master Academy enrollment season across the continent was still two months away.

"Back already, busybody?"

A playful voice called out from behind.

Yun Yibai turned — it was Dugu Yan, smiling brightly at him.

He walked over and ruffled her hair.

"You've gotten chubbier."

"No I haven't!" she pouted.

"You little brat! I'm older than you, remember?"

She raised her delicate fist.

"It's only been a few days, but you've gotten taller again."

She stood up to compare their heights.

"You did grow. What have you been eating?!"

Yun Yibai didn't answer directly.

"Yan-zi, I have to leave for a while. After Senior Dugu finishes treating you, we'll go get your next spirit ring together."

"So mysterious, aren't you?"

"Come on — let's go for a walk!"

"An honor to accompany such a lady. I wonder how many jealous eyes I'll attract today," he grinned.

"..."

That night, Yun Yibai left once again.

Before he left, he gave Dugu Yan three gifts:

A vial of his blood

A Lovesick Heartbroken Scarlet herb

A Golden Aromatic Tulip

After some travel, Yun Yibai reached the Fasno Province in the western part of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Disguised as a traveling merchant, he arrived in Notting City, just as the sixth-year students at the Junior Spirit Master Academy were about to graduate.

From his inn across the street, he soon saw a young boy and girl waving goodbye to a middle-aged man.

"The root of the continent's turmoil — the youngest son of Clear Sky Clan Patriarch Yu Yuanzhen... Yu Xiaogang."