Chapter 52: Ice and Fire Alchemy Body, Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain to Distract Dugu Bo
"That's it? That simple?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked blankly.
"Yes. That simple. Just be as fast as you can."
Bai Lu folded his arms across his chest and watched quietly.
He could not help her with this part.
This clone still had other uses.
"Oh."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and took out the gold and jade tools she had prepared earlier.
Relying on the White Tiger Vajra Transformation, she endured the piercing cold and blazing heat as she rushed forward.
With two swift movements, she plucked the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, holding one in each hand.
"Eat them immediately."
Bai Lu instructed. "Then wait ten seconds and jump into the point where the two springs converge."
Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing stuffed both immortal herbs into her mouth and swallowed them.
Strangely enough, the taste was actually a little sweet.
But in the next second, two violent forces of extreme cold and extreme heat erupted inside her body, clashing wildly.
Her figure flickered between blue and red—an eerie sight.
Even though her physique had already surpassed that of an ordinary Soul Emperor, she still struggled to endure it.
"I hope… everything goes well."
Enduring the agony, she cast Bai Lu a deep look, as if trying to engrave him into her memory.
Then, without hesitation, she leapt into the point where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well converged.
Splash.
The spring instantly swallowed her, and in the blink of an eye, she sank beneath the surface.
The powers of ice and fire surged in from outside, resonating with the immortal herbs' energies within her, triggering a frenzied transformation.
Excruciating pain struck—as if countless icy needles and blazing flames pierced every inch of her flesh at the same time.
The explosive impact was so overwhelming that even Zhu Zhuqing's iron will could not hold out for more than a few seconds before she completely lost consciousness.
Yet her body continued to undergo qualitative changes under the tempering of ice and fire.
Her meridians grew wider and tougher. Her bones became denser and stronger. Impurities within her flesh were gradually burned away and frozen out.
Within her body, the power of the Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone was fully stimulated.
The healing ability of "Wildfire Cannot Destroy the Grass; It Grows Again With the Spring Wind" operated at full force, repairing the damage caused by the ice and fire energies while accelerating the forging of the ice and fire alchemy body.
Time passed second by second.
Bai Lu stood at a distance, quietly gazing at the spring where the girl had already disappeared.
His expression was calm, but a trace of anticipation lay deep in his eyes.
The Ice and Fire Alchemy Body was an enormous opportunity in the original story.
After this tempering, Zhu Zhuqing's physique would ascend to an entirely new level.
By then, even directly absorbing a forty- to fifty-thousand-year fourth soul ring might not be impossible for her.
"Since there's still time, let's pack up all the immortal herbs."
Bai Lu picked up the Spiritual Nourishing Earrings Zhu Zhuqing had crafted, along with the previous living-storage bracelet, and walked toward the various immortal herbs.
Although the storage space was limited, emptying all the precious medicinal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was entirely feasible.
"Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum… taken."
"Beautiful Silk Tulip… taken."
"Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia… taken."
As time slipped by, the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well soon looked as though locusts had swept through it, leaving behind only a few broken roots and withered remnants.
After finishing everything, Bai Lu stored the items properly and left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without hesitation, heading toward Heaven Dou City.
The Heaven Dou Royal Celebration was lively and grand.
Music performances, dances, and soul-fighting exhibitions—everything imaginable was present.
By the time the banquet ended, it was already late at night.
Seeing the hour, Dugu Bo abandoned the idea of returning to his medicinal garden.
Instead, he returned to his Dugu residence, intending to rest for the night. The next day, after handling some matters, he would visit Dugu Yan.
After that, he would return to the medicinal garden and continue researching methods to resolve the poison in his body.
All of his movements were observed by Bai Lu, hidden in the shadows.
The stars shifted, and dawn gradually rose.
"Now."
After sitting in meditation all night, Bai Lu opened his eyes. Before Dugu Bo left his residence, he slipped a letter through the crack of the door.
Then, his figure flashed and vanished.
A few minutes later—
Boom!
The gates of the Dugu residence were blasted apart, the doors flying dozens of meters away.
Dugu Bo stepped out, his expression dark, gripping the letter tightly.
The contents were simple:
[It's been several days since you've seen your granddaughter, hasn't it? Dugu Yan is in my hands. If you want her to return safely, prepare ten million gold soul coins within three days and place them in the cave beneath the large boulder thirty li north of Sky Water City. Otherwise… hehe]
"Bastard!"
Dugu Bo's eyes were as cold as blades. Poisonous aura surged around him as fury reached its peak.
Even an ordinary person would be enraged by such a kidnapping threat.
Let alone him, a Titled Douluo.
Ever since his son and daughter-in-law had died from poison, his granddaughter Dugu Yan had been his only remaining family.
A dragon has its reverse scale. Touch it, and death follows.
Dugu Yan was his reverse scale.
"Daring to threaten a Titled Douluo? You're courting death!"
With a furious shout, Dugu Bo transformed into a streak of green light and shot into the sky, flying toward the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
He needed to confirm his granddaughter's safety first.
However, Dugu Yan was nowhere to be found at the academy.
"Xue Xing! Tell me, where is my granddaughter Dugu Yan? Why isn't she at the academy?"
Dugu Bo stormed into the administrative building, confronting Prince Xue Xing and the three Education Committee members.
The oppressive aura of a Titled Douluo instantly froze the atmosphere.
"Mr. Dugu, please calm down. Whatever the matter, we can discuss it slowly."
Prince Xue Xing's heart trembled as he hurriedly tried to soothe him.
"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?"
Dugu Bo glared at Xue Xing and demanded,
"Tell me, where is Yan Yan?"
"Three Committee members, do you know Dugu Yan's current whereabouts?"
Xue Xing braced himself and turned to Meng Shenji and the others.
Bai Baoshan said, "Dugu Yan… you mean the one from the Heaven Dou Royal Team?"
Zhi Lin thought for a moment. "Two days ago, Teacher Qin Ming led the team out for training to broaden their horizons. Dugu Yan is not currently at the academy."
"Your Excellency need not worry. Teacher Qin Ming is a rare genius. In his early thirties, he is already a Rank 62 Soul Emperor. He can certainly protect Dugu Yan and the others."
Meng Shenji added reassuringly.
"Tell me, where did they go?"
Dugu Bo asked coldly.
"Qin Ming mentioned wanting to take the students out for experience and to visit his alma mater in Suo Tuo City."
Meng Shenji shook his head. "As for their exact location now, it's unclear… but they likely haven't gone far."
"Qin Ming… Suo Tuo City…"
Dugu Bo's face remained expressionless as he flicked his sleeve and left.
He turned into a streak of green light, searching city after city.
Filled with anxiety for his granddaughter, he moved at incredible speed.
At every city, he directly unleashed his martial soul true body, using the powerful sense of smell of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor to track Dugu Yan's scent.
"Found her!"
Only at dusk, when he sensed Dugu Yan's aura in a certain city, did the weight in his heart finally ease.
"So… someone was playing a prank."
A flash of poisonous light flickered in Dugu Bo's hand, and the letter was instantly corroded into nothingness.
However, when he followed the scent and found Dugu Yan—
He discovered that his precious Yan Yan was in a lovers' suite, being affectionate with Yu Tianheng.
"Yan Yan?!"
"Grandpa?"
"Dugu… Your Excellency!"
Inside the room, the three locked eyes. The atmosphere instantly froze.
"You brat! You dare flirt with my granddaughter? You're courting death!"
"Pfft! Ugh!"
"Grandpa, don't!"
"Move aside! Don't think just because you're that old dragon's grandson, I won't deal with you!"
"Pfft! Ugh!"
"Grandpa, stop!"
—
End of Chapter