Chrysanthemum Douluo's cry of "How foolish!" was filled with unconcealed heartache and deep disappointment.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the restaurant shifted—from sympathy toward Dugu Bo to helpless pity, as if everyone were looking at a clueless idiot.
"Old Poison really has lost his mind this time."
"Exactly. Those flowers and grasses in his herb garden probably aren't even as valuable as the scallions, ginger, and garlic Senior uses as seasoning."
Soft whispers spread through the crowd, carrying mockery and disbelief.
Devil Bear Douluo, ever straightforward, directly took out the imperial green jade ring he had "befriended" Emperor Xue Ye with from his storage spirit tool.
He blew on the warm jade surface, then vigorously wiped it against his chest until it gleamed brilliantly. Holding it up, he shook it toward Dugu Bo and said in a booming voice:
"Old Poison, did you see this?"
"If you want to curry favor with Senior—if you want Senior to do something for you—then at the very least… you should offer something on the same level as my treasure, right?"
As he spoke, he lovingly polished the ring twice more, as though it were the greatest trophy of his life.
Listening to the open discussion around him and watching Devil Bear Douluo's earnest display, Dugu Bo—still kneeling—showed no change in expression.
On his withered old face was only the resolute calm of someone who had already burned his bridges.
In his eyes, the most precious thing he owned was neither gold nor spirit bones, but that strange herb garden that had accompanied him for half his life.
Every single plant within it gave him an indescribable feeling. He had always believed they were far from ordinary.
Offering that place was the greatest sincerity he could muster.
Just as everyone assumed this farce would end with Dugu Bo being gently but firmly rejected—
Behind the counter, the young shop owner who had been lazily leaning back the entire time finally moved.
His gaze swept across the murmuring crowd before settling on Dugu Bo.
Then, he spoke.
"Your herb garden is filled with Immortal Herbs."
"Have you… thought this through?"
The words were light, almost casual.
Yet they struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, detonating across the entire Feng Ran Pavilion!
Immortal Herbs?!
Chrysanthemum Douluo's anxious expression froze solid.
Devil Bear Douluo's hand, midway through putting his ring away, halted in midair.
All the Titled Douluos who had still been whispering suddenly widened their eyes in perfect unison.
The vast restaurant fell into such profound silence that even a pin drop would have echoed.
After spending so long here, they understood better than anyone what the words Immortal Herb meant.
That was a supreme treasure—something capable of remolding a Spirit Master's body, triggering a second awakening of their Martial Soul, and rewriting destiny itself!
And Dugu Bo—that eccentric old freak—had an entire garden of them?!
Without revealing a shred of awareness?!
Was he hiding so deeply?!
Yet at this very moment, Dugu Bo—the center of all attention—looked utterly bewildered.
He slowly raised his head, emerald snake pupils filled with pure confusion, and asked blankly:
"Immortal Herbs?"
"What… what are those?"
Boom—!
If Lin Feng's words were heavenly thunder, then Dugu Bo's question was a cataclysmic explosion that obliterated everyone's worldview!
What the hell?!
You're sitting on an entire garden of Immortal Herbs—and you don't even know what Immortal Herbs are?!
This wasn't just wasting heavenly treasures—
This was blasphemy against fate itself!
Countless hearts began bleeding internally. Eyes burned with envy, jealousy, and murderous resentment.
"I… I…"
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised a trembling finger toward Dugu Bo, his lips quivering for a long while without forming a single word.
His vision darkened as a surge of blood—mixed with jealousy, heartbreak, and utter absurdity—rushed to his head.
The next instant, this elegant Titled Douluo rolled his eyes, his body went limp, and he collapsed backward.
"Hey—hey—hey?! Ju Hua Guan?! What's wrong with you?!"
Dugu Bo, closest to him, was startled and instinctively reached out.
But someone was faster.
Ghost Douluo appeared behind Chrysanthemum Douluo like a specter, catching him smoothly and pinching Yue Guan's philtrum with practiced precision.
Lifting his head, Ghost Douluo shot Dugu Bo a cold, disdainful glance.
"It's all because of you, you old freak. You angered him."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo bristled.
He was just about to retort—What does this have to do with me? This dead sissy just has terrible mental fortitude—
When—
"Whoosh!"
Yue Guan suddenly sprang up from Ghost Douluo's arms like a corpse revived.
Ignoring Ghost Douluo's startled look, he lunged forward and grabbed Dugu Bo's shoulders with iron-like fingers!
His narrow phoenix eyes were bloodshot with terrifying intensity.
"Old Poison!"
His voice was sharp, trembling from extreme agitation.
"Do you even know how precious the Immortal Herbs in your garden truly are?!"
Dugu Bo was shaken until his head spun.
"How… how precious?" he asked blankly.
"Precious?!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo let out a bitter laugh, then launched into a fervent, grief-laden explanation:
"One Immortal Herb—just one—is enough to transform a Spirit Master of mediocre talent, granting them the potential to reach Titled Douluo!"
"One can rapidly advance a Titled Douluo's cultivation and even mend innate flaws in their Martial Soul!"
"Some can directly trigger Martial Soul evolution!"
As the torrent of information poured out, Dugu Bo's mind buzzed loudly.
His expression slowly went blank.
"My… the herbs in my garden…"
"They're all… treasures like that?"
Seeing his face, Chrysanthemum Douluo felt another stab of pain in his chest.
He nearly wailed:
"The worst part is—you idiot—you're sitting on a mountain of treasure and don't even know it!"
"It's only because you met a Senior with a broad mind and enlightened you!"
"If it were someone with malicious intent, they'd have tricked you out of your entire garden today—and you'd probably still be thanking them while helping count the money!"
Dugu Bo's face twitched.
He stubbornly retorted, "Nonsense! How could this old man be that stupid?!"
Yet when he met the surrounding gazes—filled with envy, jealousy, hatred, and the unmistakable look reserved for fools—even he didn't quite believe his own words.
Chrysanthemum Douluo no longer wished to say another sentence.
He felt that if this continued, he would genuinely die of rage.
Dragging Ghost Douluo with him, he returned dejectedly to his seat, hugged the Enlightenment Tea Tree seedling he had obtained through his modest contribution, buried his face in its tender leaves, and took two deep breaths of immortal aura.
Mmm…
My own treasure still smells the best.
His heart finally felt slightly balanced.
At that moment—
Behind the counter, Lin Feng's calm voice, carrying a hint of amusement, rang out clearly once more.
"Now."
"Knowing the value of those Immortal Herbs…"
"Do you still intend to offer all of them to me?"