Seeing Dugu Bo glance his way, Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke:
"Naturally. What Xiao Feng says is the same as if I said it myself."
Dugu Bo's eyes shifted and pointed at Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Swear it."
Chrysanthemum Douluo widened his eyes and gave a look of annoyance:
"What are you, a child? Swearing? Really? And to think you actually came up with that."
Dugu Bo chuckled:
"With your personality, I doubt you'd go back on your word. But I need a little peace of mind. A titled Douluo wouldn't be afraid to make a simple oath, would he?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo glared with his beautiful eyes:"Who are you calling old man? You're a few years younger than me!"
"Fine, I'll give Xiao Feng some face. I, Chrysanthemum Moon Pass, hereby—"
Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction and turned eagerly to Lin Feng:"So, when do we start? Do I need to prepare anything?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Senior Dugu, a contract should be fair and mutual. You should also make a vow."
Dugu Bo paused, stroked his beard, and nodded slightly:
"That's true. Kid, I like how you think.If you really can detoxify me, I don't mind making a genuine friend.I, Dugu Bo, swear—if these two can truly remove the hidden dangers in my martial soul, I will serve the Spirit Hall faithfully for three years, with no second thoughts!"
Lin Feng was a little moved. In terms of true character, Dugu Bo could indeed be a friend worth getting close to.
"Senior Dugu, my method requires some special herbs. I imagine, given how long you've suffered, you must have gathered some resources?
Why not take them out and let me have a look? If you have what I need, all the better."
Dugu Bo frowned. He didn't really have any medicinal stockpiles—his survival had relied entirely on poison countering poison.
A few years ago, he had stumbled upon a wild herb garden, but unfortunately, he didn't recognize most of the herbs.
He carefully picked one and ate it—only for the poison in his body to go berserk. He never touched the place again.
He glanced at Lin Feng, debating whether to take them there directly.
That land, nurtured by the forces of heaven and earth, clearly had a spiritual vein. The poisonous herbs he planted there grew rapidly and even helped suppress his internal toxins.
But if he just exposed it like this... wouldn't he be at a loss?
Thinking of the lives of three generations of his family, Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and said:
"I have an herb garden in Sunset Forest. I can take you there. It has many herbs."
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an eyebrow:
"An herb garden? All the way in Sunset Forest?"
Dugu Bo snorted:"That garden is where I really reside. I only came here for my precious granddaughter.You fake man—still no son even now. What would you know!?"
"Hey! You're trying my patience."
Normally, Chrysanthemum Douluo wouldn't care about such remarks, but somehow, hearing it from this old poison freak just ticked him off.
"Alright, alright," Lin Feng intervened. "Let's just go to the herb garden first. The sooner we resolve Senior Dugu's martial soul issue, the sooner we'll have another powerhouse for Spirit Hall."
Chrysanthemum Douluo dropped his raised soul power hand and gave Dugu Bo a light glance:
"Fine."
On the road to Sunset Forest, Dugu Bo asked more than once:
"Kid, are you really sure you can solve my martial soul problem?"
"Of course, senior. When it comes to martial soul research, I do have some real insight."
"Oh?" Dugu Bo glanced at Lin Feng. "You're what—ten years old? And you dare say you're an expert in martial soul theory?"
Lin Feng and Chrysanthemum Douluo said nothing, but the smiles on their faces were loaded with meaning.
That made Dugu Bo even more uneasy. This feeling of being left in the dark was uncomfortable.
"We're here. Up ahead is the poisonous barrier I set up. Here's the antidote—take it before we go in."
Dugu Bo produced a porcelain bottle, took a pill himself, and then handed it to the other two.
Lin Feng swallowed it without hesitation.
Chrysanthemum Douluo hesitated for a moment before also taking the pill.
Dugu Bo sneered:"That broken chrysanthemum—you've got less guts than a child."
Chrysanthemum Douluo coldly snorted and said nothing.
"You wait here," Dugu Bo added. "I really don't feel comfortable letting a titled Douluo into the place."
Seeing Chrysanthemum Douluo's dark expression, Dugu Bo sneered again:"Don't take it personally. You're not the one who needs detoxifying. What would you go in for? It's just picking some herbs."
Chrysanthemum Douluo crossed his arms:"As if I care. Your so-called herb garden—what treasures could it possibly have?Probably a bunch of trash you treat like gold. Go on, go!"
"...Hm?" Dugu Bo was actually a bit surprised at how readily he agreed.
"Aren't you worried I'll kidnap the boy?"
"Feel free to try," Chrysanthemum Douluo said lazily, leaning against a tree. "Just don't blame me when it costs you your life."
Dugu Bo glanced at Lin Feng, who smiled cheerfully:"Looks like Spirit Hall values you quite a bit."
Lin Feng returned the smile and winked.
After passing through the poisonous barrier, winding around for miles, and passing through another layer of poison mist, they reached a cliff. Dugu Bo took Lin Feng and jumped down.
During the fall, Lin Feng felt a surge of incredibly rich spiritual energy.
His whole body felt refreshed, and even his soul power increased slightly.
Upon landing, even Lin Feng, who had mentally prepared himself, couldn't help but sigh in awe.
In the valley was a spring, with rising steam forming a light mist.
The spring water swirled in red and white—clearly separated—each releasing extreme heat and absolute cold, yet mysteriously coexisting.
It was the legendary Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Lin Feng scanned the surroundings.
Flowers bloomed chaotically, dazzling the eye. With the herbal guides he'd seen from Chrysanthemum Douluo, and memories from his past life, he quickly began to identify them.
Peerless rare treasures. Immortal-grade herbs. Everywhere he looked.
Mine. All mine…
Lin Feng shook his head, calming the excitement in his heart.
"Kid, get started. If you see any herbs you need, take them.
But let me warn you—just because these rare plants look pretty doesn't mean you can use them.
I've been burned before."
Lin Feng nodded.
Good thing you didn't try to ingest the Snow-Kissed Swan's Kiss that grows beside the Fragrant Silk Beauty.
That would've killed you on the spot.
"Senior, is it alright if I pick the herbs myself?"
Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow:"If you have the skill, pick all you want. But most of these are poisonous.If you die, it's on you.
And that spring over there—don't even think about getting close.The energy it contains isn't something a human can endure."
Lin Feng nodded.Dugu Bo had been guarding this treasure mountain for years but didn't dare to use it—what a waste.
Lin Feng had no intention of using soul bone transference to cure Dugu Bo. That was a last resort.
In the original story, Tang San took at least 12 immortal herbs and all the high-grade ones, without leaving a single one for Dugu Bo—what a bandit.
Dugu Bo's issue, at its core, was with his martial soul. If the martial soul could be enhanced and his aptitude transformed, the problem could be solved permanently.
From what Lin Feng knew, among the immortal herbs, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, with its earth attribute, would be perfect for Dugu Bo.