Chapter 30: The Immortal Garden
Surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was a lush, vibrant garden teeming with exotic plants. Each herb had its own unique form—twisting vines, radiant petals, bizarre stalks—and the entire area seemed less like a natural phenomenon and more like a sacred sanctuary of botany.
At this moment, Li Chang'an was like a mouse that had fallen into a jar of rice, eyes gleaming as he darted around the perimeter of the well, dragging Dugu Yan along behind him. Every few steps, he would gasp in awe.
"This—this is Snow Silk! A supreme variety of Cordyceps sinensis!"
"And this... Cinnabar Lotus? How is it this massive!?"
"By the heavens—Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Herb, the nemesis of all poisons!"
He pointed frantically as he continued around the garden.
"Fire-attribute Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower!"
"Qiluo Tulip!"
"Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid!"
"Velvet Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum!"
"Autumn-Penetrating Dew!"
"So many immortal herbs… actually growing here!"
By the time he'd made a full circuit, Li Chang'an was trembling from excitement. His voice had gone hoarse, and he was practically vibrating with energy. Finally, he sat down, trying to steady his racing heart.
Dugu Yan stood nearby, a little worried. "Chang'an-gege… Are you okay?"
She couldn't quite understand his excitement. To her, most of these herbs were just strange plants. She didn't know their names, let alone their value.
"I'm fine," Li Chang'an said after a deep breath. "Just… overwhelmed. I never thought I'd see so many legendary herbs in one place."
"These herbs are really that valuable?" she asked with a puzzled look.
"You don't understand," Li Chang'an said, trying to find words. "Each of these is… they're not just rare. They're priceless. To give you an idea: each one of these immortal herbs is worth at least as much as a hundred-thousand-year soul bone."
Dugu Yan's mouth fell open.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul bone? Are you serious?" she asked in disbelief. "That kind of soul bone is something most people never even see in their lifetime!"
"I'm serious," Li Chang'an said with a nod. "And it's not just about their rarity. These herbs have miraculous properties. Taken correctly, they can evolve your martial soul—or at the very least, drastically improve your cultivation aptitude and correct flaws in your soul foundation."
Dugu Yan was speechless. Her expression wavered between awe and confusion.
She had grown up in a prestigious family. She'd seen her grandfather use rare herbs in his alchemical and poisonous concoctions. But this… this was something else.
"But how do you even know this?" she finally asked.
Li Chang'an smiled faintly. "Back when I was little, I came across an old book at a street stall. It was practically falling apart—pages rotted, ink faded. Most of it was unreadable. But there was one section that talked about the three 'Treasure Basins'—legendary places where the most powerful herbs in the world could grow. The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was one of them."
He gestured toward the strange lake, where the vermilion and milky-white waters remained perfectly divided.
"I didn't believe it at the time. I thought it was just some mythical nonsense… but now, seeing it with my own eyes…"
Dugu Yan stared out at the lake, her earlier skepticism melting away.
"This really is… something else."
She turned to him again. "You said these herbs can evolve martial souls. That's... kind of hard to believe."
"I get it," he replied with a shrug. "I probably wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't read it myself. But think about it—would ordinary herbs be able to grow in a place like this? The Yin-Yang polarity, the concentrated spiritual energy… it's not just unusual. It's unnatural."
He looked back out over the garden, his voice softening with reverence.
"If that book was even halfway accurate… these herbs are the real thing."
Li Chang'an stood up, eyes serious. "Yanzi, this is too important. We need to tell your grandfather right away."
Dugu Bo had stayed behind in the cave, deliberately giving the two youngsters some time alone to "bond." At the moment, he was busy refining some kidney-tonifying pills—a casual project for someone of his skill. He'd always practiced both poisoncraft and medicine; the two disciplines were inseparable, after all.
When Li Chang'an and Dugu Yan returned and explained what they had found, Dugu Bo's reaction was... mixed.
He frowned. "Immortal herbs? Never heard of them. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?"
In response, Li Chang'an told him the story of the old book: how he'd found it by chance as a child, half-rotted, sold for next to nothing at a back-alley stall. He hadn't thought much of it at the time. The pages were brittle, the ink nearly gone. He read what he could, then tossed it aside and forgot about it—until now.
"I didn't keep the book," he said. "It was falling apart. But I remember some of the things it said. Especially about the three Treasure Basins, and the herbs that grow in them."
Dugu Bo scowled. "You threw it away?"
"I was a kid. I didn't know it was real," Li Chang'an said with a wry smile. "But I memorized parts of it. I can still identify some of the herbs."
Dugu Bo looked equal parts disappointed and intrigued. On one hand, the thought of losing such an ancient text made his heart ache. On the other, this boy's memory might still prove invaluable.
More importantly… if what Li Chang'an said was true, then they had been sitting atop a treasure trove for years without even realizing it.
He stood silently, staring out at the well with a complicated expression.
Had he really been guarding a mountain of treasure without knowing its worth?
He looked back at Li Chang'an. The boy seemed calm now, thoughtful, but still slightly flushed with excitement. Clearly, he understood the value of what he'd found.
And Dugu Bo realized something else, too.
If Li Chang'an truly recognized these herbs… then the boy wasn't just some lucky genius.
He might be a once-in-a-lifetime miracle.
*********
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