Chapter 12: Senior Sister is so fair
The Eye of Ice and Fire.
The scalding heat and biting cold of the twin springs intertwined, seemingly unchanged for millennia.
Dugu Chen sat cross-legged beside the spring, quietly refining the effects of the Autumn Water Dew he had consumed.
Before long, a cool sensation flowed through his limbs and bones, threading through his meridians. Unlike soul power, however, the medicinal essence didn't follow those paths. Instead, it fused directly into his bloodline, coursing through his veins.
It passed through his heart and cervical spine before erupting in his mind.
In that moment, Dugu Chen felt his thoughts clearer than ever, his mind sharper and more agile than before.
When he finally opened his eyes, they had become even deeper—two black gemstones gleaming with faint flashes of violet light.
As his gaze swept across the Eye of Ice and Fire, the world around him appeared brighter, clearer, as if all haze had been swept away.
"You're done refining?"
Dugu Bo's voice rang out behind him.
Pulling Dugu Yan by the hand, he approached Dugu Chen and studied his eyes with surprise. He had never seen such clarity in someone's gaze. It seemed the Autumn Water Dew was indeed extraordinary.
Seeing them, Dugu Chen felt a warmth rise in his chest. Dugu Bo had clearly returned earlier and quietly stood guard behind him.
"The Autumn Water Dew nourishes the spirit and enhances the clarity of the eyes. I'm grateful to Master for bringing me here—without this sacred ground, such a blessing would've been impossible."
"If you understand its value, then it's fate."
Dugu Bo sighed. "Unlike me, who possesses a mountain of treasures but cannot enter it freely. Besides, this also helps resolve the issues plaguing our Dugu Clan. I should be thanking you instead."
Dugu Chen shook his head and shifted the topic.
"Master, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass must be picked with gold and iron, while the Fiery Delicate Apricot requires jade. Only that way can their medicinal essence be preserved."
Then he turned to Dugu Yan.
"Senior Sister, once Master picks the herbs, their auras will counteract each other. Within ten breaths is the optimal window to consume them. After taking them, you must immediately enter the spring to refine their effects. The spring water will temper and fuse the herbs within your body."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo frowned with concern.
"She has to enter the spring to refine it? Even I don't dare soak in it. Won't there be danger?"
"Don't worry, Master," Dugu Chen reassured him. "After consuming the two immortal herbs, the spring water will no longer harm Senior Sister."
Previously, he might have hesitated. But with that ten-thousand-year Whale glue, Dugu Chen was confident in Dugu Yan's ability to endure the process.
"Grandpa, if Junior Brother says it's safe, then it is. I believe in him."
Dugu Yan stepped forward and comforted Dugu Bo with a smile.
Her cultivation had recently stagnated under the shadow of Dugu Chen's monstrous talent. Now that a rare opportunity presented itself to resolve the flaws in her Martial Soul, how could she let it pass?
She now understood the truth of her parents' deaths—something Dugu Bo had just shared with her. Not only was this a chance to grow stronger, it was a step toward one day healing her beloved grandfather.
Dugu Bo glanced at the two of them, then nodded solemnly. He summoned his soul power, retrieved jade and gold-iron tools, and delicately picked the two immortal herbs.
He handed them to Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan took a deep breath, stared at the herbs with resolve, then swallowed them both and leapt into the spring.
Seeing that she showed no signs of pain or discomfort, Dugu Bo finally relaxed.
Soon, however, the extreme temperatures tore Dugu Yan's clothing apart. Dugu Bo quickly turned away, but when he noticed that Dugu Chen was still staring intently at her, he gave the boy a resounding slap on the back of the head.
"Still looking? You brat, haven't you taken enough advantage of my granddaughter already?!"
Rubbing his head, Dugu Chen averted his gaze. Inwardly, he grumbled:
When I'm useful, I'm 'good disciple.' When I'm not, I'm a 'stinky brat.' This master is so biased. I only glanced a billion times—at most, I'll just marry her and take the loss. Still... as expected of the Jade Phosphor Serpent's bloodline, Senior Sister's waist really is fair.
Realizing it was best not to provoke his petty old master, Dugu Chen sat cross-legged and began cultivating once more. He wouldn't touch his own immortal herb until Dugu Yan came out safely.
Dugu Bo, meanwhile, glanced at the boy cultivating beside him. Seeing the worry etched in his expression, the old man's irritation melted. A gentle light flickered in his eyes.
The sun rose and set; an entire day passed without any sign of Dugu Yan.
Dugu Bo paced restlessly along the spring's edge, and even Dugu Chen grew anxious.
What if she couldn't endure it?
She's not Tang San—what if I just killed my Senior Sister? How could I ever face Master again? Would there even be a future?
Splash!
Water rippled behind them.
"Yan Yan, are you alright?!"
Dugu Bo called out anxiously.
"I'm fine, Grandpa. It's just…"
Dugu Yan's voice trailed off.
"What? What's wrong?"
Dugu Bo pressed urgently.
"My… clothes are all torn…"
Only her head emerged above the surface. Embarrassed, she kept the rest of herself hidden underwater.
Realizing what had happened, Dugu Bo immediately took out a set of clothes from his soul tool and floated them to her with soul power. He made a mental note to give her a soul tool of her own earlier than planned.
Once Dugu Yan emerged from the water and dressed, Dugu Bo eagerly asked, "How do you feel, Yan Yan?"
"I… can't really explain it," she said softly. "But Grandpa, see for yourself."
She summoned her Martial Soul.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent appeared, but now its body bore alternating red and blue stripes, and its eyes had transformed—one red, one blue. It looked mesmerizing and powerful.
Dugu Bo was stunned. "It mutated?"
Dugu Chen stepped closer, observing carefully.
"Senior Sister's Martial Soul has likely absorbed the extreme heat and cold attributes of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Fiery Delicate Apricot. She's probably immune to poison, fire, and water now. Honestly, this is already a top-tier Martial Soul in the current world."
As she experimented with it, Dugu Yan discovered he was right—and even more than that, her soul power had reached level twenty!
She squealed with joy, threw herself at Dugu Chen, and kissed his face repeatedly.
"Junior Brother, I broke through! Level twenty! You're seriously my lucky star—I gained five levels in less than half a year! Mwah mwah mwah!"
Dugu Chen was caught off guard, his face smeared with lipstick and saliva again. When he glanced at Dugu Bo, the old man's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Dugu Chen silently raised his hands in surrender, as if saying:
Senior Sister initiated it. I was… willingly forced.
Dugu Bo could only grit his teeth and glare at Dugu Chen.
"Alright, alright. You're going to strangle that brat if you keep hugging him," he muttered.
Dugu Yan released Dugu Chen—but kept holding his arm, unwilling to let go.
What else could Dugu Bo do? He pretended not to notice. Less than half a year had passed, and his little cotton jacket was already leaking warmth.
Dugu Chen also became serious.
"Master, Senior Sister's problem has been solved. Now it's your turn. I suspect you still have a soul bone—but this will take time. It looks like we'll be staying here for a while."
"I do have a head bone," Dugu Bo said proudly. "The Medusa's Skull that dropped when I got my eighth soul ring. It's at least fifty thousand years old."
Hearing this, Dugu Chen gave him a strange look.
Head bones were the hardest to replace. If poison built up in one, replacing it meant replacing the head—certain death.
"Master, if anything goes wrong… you don't expect me to replace your head, do you?"
Dugu Chen sighed. "This disciple doesn't have that kind of ability."
Dugu Bo's smile froze.
Clearly, he hadn't considered that risk.
But soul bones were rare. Where would he even find another one?
After a moment's thought, Dugu Chen walked over to a light purple herb that resembled a ganoderma. Its head was like a lid, and its stem jade-like. It had nine leaves: the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma.
"Master, this isn't quite an immortal herb, but it strengthens the foundation, boosts qi, and aids cultivation. If you trade it with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you might get a ten-thousand-year soul bone."
"Would they really trade?" Dugu Bo asked doubtfully. He didn't have the power to force a deal.
"They will," Dugu Chen said with a faint smile. "Ning Fengzhi has been looking for a way to break through level eighty. This ganoderma offers that possibility. Even if not for himself, it could help Bone Douluo reach level ninety-six. If he's skeptical, just let him test it first."
A man like Ning Fengzhi wouldn't risk burning bridges—especially not when more immortal herbs might be at stake. Cooperation was the only logical path forward.
This was precisely why Dugu Chen didn't offer the Qiluo Tulip for trade—how could he fleece such a fat sheep only once?
Dugu Bo stared at his disciple in awe.
How could a child be so thoughtful? So shrewd?
But he didn't question him. Dugu Chen had his secrets—Dugu Bo had long sensed as much. But as long as his heart remained true toward him and Yan Yan, that was enough.