Chapter 93: Entering the Springs, Dugu Bo Arrives
A few minutes later, Lin Beiya arrived at the central region of the Sunset Forest.
Before him lay a conical valley—one side molten and lava-like, the other resembling an icy glacier.
This sight made Lin Beiya even more convinced that he had found the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
And as he drew closer, the ten-li-wide toxic mist that filled his vision confirmed his judgment. This must be the defensive barrier Dugu Bo set up to prevent intruders from entering his medicinal garden.
The Gold Cloth enhanced all of his physical attributes, naturally including resistance to toxins.
Even so, Lin Beiya didn't dare recklessly touch the green poisonous fog lingering visibly in the air. After all, this was a method employed by a Titled Douluo—weak or not, a Titled Douluo was still a Titled Douluo.
Fortunately, Lin Beiya did not need to make physical contact with the deadly poison. After sweeping the valley with his spiritual sense and confirming that Dugu Bo wasn't present, he wrapped his entire body in telekinesis and teleported consecutively, directly entering the conical valley.
The moment he stepped inside, terrifying waves of scorching fire poison and bone-chilling ice poison rushed toward him. Lin Beiya didn't dare take the slightest risk—his telekinesis formed a tight protective layer around him. Until he fully understood the situation, he would not gamble with his life.
Only after confirming that the alternating waves of cold and heat could not penetrate his protective barrier did Lin Beiya relax and begin observing the scenery within the valley.
At a glance, hundreds of rare plants and exotic herbs filled his sight.
Because normal flora could not survive in such an extreme environment, these rare herbs were not arranged as chaotically as one might imagine.
Thanks to the immortal herb catalogue he obtained from Yue Guan, Lin Beiya quickly recognized several key immortal herbs mentioned in the original story.
First was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, easy to identify due to Yue Guan's Martial Soul.
Next, Lin Beiya identified the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, the Beautiful Silk Tulip, and many others.
There was no need to rush in picking herbs. He still planned to negotiate with Dugu Bo upon his arrival—after all, using the spring to temper his body was one of his primary reasons for coming here.
If he picked the herbs prematurely and angered Dugu Bo, that goal would become impossible to achieve.
Looking toward the valley's center, he saw two springs—one blue, one red—standing opposite each other. They were extremely eye-catching.
This was the famous Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
From the two springs fused like a Tai Chi diagram grew one herb each. Lin Beiya recognized them instantly—Infernal Delicate Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, the two herbs required to temper one's physique.
Taking either alone was suicide, but consuming both simultaneously made one immune to both fire and ice.
Due to their potent medicinal properties, ordinary people can usually only consume one Immortal Herb.
Tang San was able to consume three in the original story only because the first two extreme herbs had greatly strengthened his body, allowing him to take the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew afterward.
And those three were precisely the herbs Tang San valued most.
Lin Beiya, however, did not care too much for herbs that merely increased cultivation talent. His talent was already exceptional, and he possessed the Gold Cloth to accelerate his cultivation.
It was instead the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, the Infernal Delicate Apricot, and the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew—which strengthened the physique and boosted spiritual power—that made his heart burn with desire.
After examining everything, Lin Beiya sat cross-legged in the medicinal garden and began quietly meditating.
He had no idea when Dugu Bo would return to the springs. If he waited too long, he might need to go seek the old man out himself.
By rough estimation, Dugu Yan was twenty years old during the original Soul Master Tournament. That put her about four years younger than him.
By now, she would have awakened the Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul and inherited its poisonous traits.
Dugu Bo would naturally be aware of this—and this weakness was precisely the leverage Lin Beiya intended to use.
Time passed slowly, bit by bit. Fortunately, Dugu Bo did not disappoint him. On the third day, he finally appeared outside the valley.
Dugu Bo entered the valley with practiced ease, intending to use the spring's power to suppress the toxins rampaging through his body—only to see a young boy dressed in golden armor sitting far in the distance, cultivating.
The sight nearly caused the old poison master's eyes to pop out.
This spring's fire and ice poisons were unbearable even for him. Even a Soul Douluo entering here would be courting death—yet right under his nose, a child had actually slipped into the springs and was cultivating?
But regardless of anything else, the first thing he needed was to question this boy's identity and figure out how he had entered the valley without Dugu Bo noticing. Dugu Bo's aura surged, pressing down sharply as he asked:
"Boy, who are you?"
Lin Beiya had sensed Dugu Bo the moment he arrived outside the valley. The only reason he didn't rise earlier was simple—he wanted to establish a certain level of presence first.
Hearing Dugu Bo speak, Lin Beiya finally stood up at an unhurried pace, eyes still closed, and cupped his hands politely.
"Greetings, Senior Poison Douluo. This junior, Lin Beiya, was discovered this spring by chance while training in the Sunset Forest. Finding the environment extremely suitable for my cultivation, I respectfully entered, not realizing this spring had an owner."
Wearing the Cancer Gold Cloth and with eyes closed the entire time, his appearance exuded the air of an expert.
Moreover, he had correctly addressed him as "Poison Douluo." This immediately put Dugu Bo on alert, as he was always cautious and suspicious by nature.
"Boy, how did you recognize me?"
"I have sensed the aura of a peak Soul Douluo, yet their pressure was far inferior to Senior's. Therefore, I believe Senior's cultivation must be beyond that level."
"A powerhouse who wields terrifying poison and possesses the cultivation of a Titled Douluo—this junior can only think of you, Senior."
Lin Beiya calmly recited the explanation he had prepared earlier. Dugu Bo came to the springs only to suppress his toxin; in this state, he could hardly restrain the poison rampaging in his body.
Although he found no flaw in the boy's words and could feel that Lin Beiya had some background, Dugu Bo would never trust a stranger so easily—especially in his current unstable condition. It was far safer to eliminate the possible threat and focus on suppressing his inner poison.
"You think I'll believe that? Stop talking nonsense and die for me, brat."
With that, Dugu Bo's right hand turned dark green as he grabbed toward Lin Beiya, a foul stench rushing forth.
Seeing this, Lin Beiya sighed inwardly. As expected, things would not go smoothly.
But he had already anticipated not being given a chance to speak and prepared accordingly.
The instant Dugu Bo attacked, Lin Beiya activated his telekinesis and shifted himself to the valley's edge. With just two more teleportations, he could leave the valley entirely.
His first strike missed. Dugu Bo was stunned. He let out a soft, surprised grunt and turned to glare at Lin Beiya.
"So you did come prepared. No wonder you dared stand before me."
"Speak. Who sent you?"
Having regained the right to speak on his own merits, Lin Beiya curved his lips into a faint smile.
"I have already made my reasons for coming here very clear, Senior. But as for you…"
"The backlash of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison must be… quite unbearable, isn't it?"
End of Chapter