After settling all affairs, Gu Xuan reunited with Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. His return this time had been for two primary reasons: securing the soul bone for Dugu Yan and providing Yang Wudi with the materials for alchemy.
As for the distribution of the other pills, Gu Xuan only needed to mention it once; Ning Fengzhi, as the Sect Master, naturally handled the arrangements perfectly. Gu Xuan didn't need to worry about such details.
It was worth noting that after absorbing the Sea Viper Right Arm Bone, Dugu Yan's soul power had increased by one rank, reaching Rank 39. Thus, she had not only gained a powerful soul bone skill but also made progress in her cultivation—a bountiful harvest indeed.
Before they left, Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi had a private conversation with Dugu Bo. Gu Xuan didn't listen to the specifics, but it was clear that Dugu Bo now considered himself half a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. He had agreed to let Yang Wudi manage the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, with only one condition: any good things found must have a share reserved for him and Dugu Yan.
Ning Fengzhi, without needing any prompting, patted his chest and guaranteed there would be no issue. With this, the two families were truly joined in a perfect alliance.
Dugu Bo was in high spirits as they departed. Not only had he secured a 35,000-year-old soul bone for Dugu Yan, but his granddaughter's future was now effectively settled.
Gu Xuan naturally followed them back. He didn't wait for Ning Rongrong or stay to see Grandpa Chen Xin because time was tight, and he had no extra hours to spare for waiting. Besides, they had only been apart for a month; he didn't feel any overwhelming sense of longing yet.
By evening, the trio had returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo stayed in the stone house to refine the toxins in their bodies, while Gu Xuan went into the well to cultivate. No matter the circumstances, strength was always the foundation.
The next day, Gu Xuan began refining pills for Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. They continued their refinement of toxins, but this didn't interfere with his alchemy. The primary "ingredient" for the pills was already available: Gu Xuan's own blood. Having achieved a body immune to all poisons, his blood was the ultimate detoxifying holy medicine.
Pairing it with top-tier spiritual herbs for solidifying foundations, Gu Xuan performed his alchemy right at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
For the next week, Gu Xuan spent his days refining pills. When his Spiritual Power was exhausted, he would cultivate to recover soul power, and at night, he replaced sleep with cultivation.
A week later, Dugu Yan had completely concentrated the toxins in her body into her right arm's soul bone. After all, her poisoning was negligible compared to Dugu Bo's and had not yet reached the marrow. Gu Xuan handed the refined antidotes to her for absorption and refinement; in her current state, one month would be enough for a full recovery.
In the future, once her strength was sufficient to condense her toxins into a Poison Core, her body would be completely safe from any risk of erosion.
After finishing the pills for Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo, Gu Xuan began his bitter cultivation at the well. He didn't plan to consume the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew immediately to boost his Spiritual Power. He wanted some time for the effects of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot to fully settle, intending to take the dew later to avoid any medicinal conflict.
Though the dew was mild and rarely conflicted with other Immortal Herbs, he dared not be overly ambitious; every step had to be steady and solid.
Time spent in cultivation always passes quickly, slipping through one's fingers unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. During this time, Gu Xuan's soul power increased by one rank. Dugu Yan's soul power broke through from Rank 39 to Rank 40; her toxins were completely cleared, and her body was no longer troubled by them.
Gu Xuan planned to give Dugu Yan another Immortal Herb before she absorbed her fourth soul ring to boost her physical fitness and talent, ensuring her fourth ring could reach the highest possible age. However, since she hadn't undergone rigorous physical training before, it would be difficult for her fourth ring to exceed ten thousand years.
Still, over these nearly four months, Dugu Yan had consumed a total of three pieces of Whale Glue and absorbed a 35,000-year soul bone. If an Immortal Herb were added to the mix, her fourth soul ring could reach at least eight thousand years, and it could come from a top-tier bloodline soul beast. With such a ring, she could overcome the limitations of her previous poison-focused rings and become a truly powerful Soul Master, capable of being invincible among those of the same rank and even fighting across tiers.
The herb Gu Xuan selected for her was the Yearning Heartbroken Red. This Immortal Herb truly possessed the quality of changing one's destiny. It also had another name: the Emperor of Immortal Herbs, the most top-tier existence among them.
At this moment, Gu Xuan stood before Dugu Yan holding a strange-looking plant. It was a seemingly ordinary white flower, the size of a palm, resembling a peony but without leaves. Its stem was connected to a large black stone. From the way Gu Xuan held it, the weight was clearly immense. On the white flower were several striking splashes of crimson, looking like bloodstains that gave one a heart-stopping sensation.
This was the Yearning Heartbroken Red, the Emperor among Immortals.
Gu Xuan introduced it to her. "Yan Yan, this Immortal Herb is called the Yearning Heartbroken Red. It is a divine-grade treasure among Immortal Herbs."
Dugu Yan's eyes shifted, staring at Gu Xuan with brilliance, knowing he had chosen this specifically for her.
Gu Xuan continued. "It also has a legendary story."
"Long ago, there was a youth of indifferent nature who loved nothing more than tending to flowers and trees. His garden was filled with lotus, lilies, and every variety of flora. He loved flowers to the point of infinite sorrow whenever a petal fell; he would gather them, bury them, and weep before he could find peace."
"As the saying goes: 'Heaven and Earth are moved by emotion, but it is lost to fate.' His bone-deep love for flowers moved a flower fairy from the heavens. She descended to the mortal world and became his wife. From then on, they shared a life of bliss."
"But joy was short-lived. The Celestial God learned of this and was enraged, declaring that immortals and mortals could not wed. He ordered the fairy back to the Divine Realm. Having lost his love, the youth sighed all day, falling into deep melancholy and neglecting his garden. The walls crumbled, the flowers withered, and the garden became a place of desolation."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan's eyes turned red, and a glimmer of tears appeared.
"One day, a white-haired old man arrived. He told the youth that the white peony he loved most was the incarnation of his wife. He said that if he destroyed the flower, the fairy would lose her immortal body and be cast down to the mortal world to be his wife again—but he must never neglect the garden again. After speaking, the old man vanished like a breeze."
"The youth realized his error and began to care for his flowers again with devotion. Though he loved his wife, he could not bear to burn the peony. He cared for it even more, weeping before it night and day until his heart broke. At the moment of his death, he spat out his lifeblood onto the petals of this flower."
Gu Xuan pointed to the vivid red spots on the white petals.
"Look. This crimson bloodstain is the youth's lifeblood."
Listening quietly, Dugu Yan was already weeping. She looked at the Yearning Heartbroken Red with a dazed, swaying heart.
She choked out a sob. "Is that the origin of the name Yearning Heartbroken Red?"
(End of Chapter)
---
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.