Word Count: 2,863 Words
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The Aromatic Silk Beauty's shriek detonated through the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well like a bomb. Streaks of radiant light shot out from both banks.
"Kill him!"
A voice dripping with murderous intent rang out as a female figure burst forth. Her features were sharp and heroic, a fiery red braid hanging all the way to her feet while blistering heat rolled off her body.
The Infernal Delicate Apricot!
"You You, you were too careless. The one beside the Seraphim is a Jade Phosphor Serpent."
A blue-clothed youth spoke in cool, clear tones.
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass!
"Another Jade Phosphor Serpent. It's been decades since they last came."
A purple-clad man smiled as he spoke.
The Beautiful Silk Tulip!
"The poison in that little girl's body is far more potent than other Jade Phosphor Serpents. The Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Nine Absolutes are in for a treat."
A stunning woman with snowy skin and crimson lips laughed until she swayed.
The Snow Swan Kiss!
"Scree—"
A phoenix's cry split the air as a fire phoenix soared skyward in magnificent display.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower!
The Aromatic Silk Beauty, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Beautiful Silk Tulip, Snow Swan Kiss, and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. The six great 100,000-year immortal herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had all assembled!
"Just the six of you dare speak of slaying an angel?"
Ling Bai swept his gaze over the encircling spirit beasts and let out a cold sneer. Boiling waves rippled through his brilliant golden eyes. The immortal herbs that dared meet his gaze felt thunder crash through their minds. Their bodies instinctively recoiled, as though trying to escape that godlike majesty!
"We are more than enough!"
The six 100,000-year spirit beasts heard that naked mockery and roared in unison as they charged toward Ling Bai.
The Infernal Delicate Apricot and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, both fire-attribute immortal herbs, were impulsive and quick to anger, yet together they wielded devastating combination techniques.
The Infernal Delicate Apricot, in her fire-woman form, flipped lightly onto the fire phoenix's back. Their twin torrents of blazing flame merged, violently distorting the surrounding air as the valley's temperature spiked.
Accompanied by the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower's piercing cry, the Infernal Delicate Apricot spread her hands to either side. A flaming long saber materialized in each palm. She raised both weapons high and hacked down fiercely.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well brimmed with immense quantities of ice and fire elements. As the foremost fire-attribute immortal herb, the Infernal Delicate Apricot naturally drew strong augmentation from the well. Countless fiery-red motes of light rapidly converged on her twin sabers. By the time she struck, the flame blades extending from the tips had already stretched over ten feet long.
"With such pitiful combat skills, you'd best not embarrass yourselves."
Ling Bai's third, fourth, sixth, and seventh spirit rings shone simultaneously. He lifted his hand slightly, and countless golden sword energies materialized above the valley. Holy Sword Energy surged and raged across the sky.
The entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well trembled. The charging Infernal Delicate Apricot and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower slowed, as if the world now contained nothing but that endless expanse of sword energy. Above them, the Jade Phosphor poison miasma shattered instantly under the crushing sword intent.
Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory erupted. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well seemed drenched by a torrential downpour, yet this was a divine rain of swords that scoured all things. Ling Bai's control over his spirit skill was exquisitely precise. Not a single stray strand of sword energy touched any other plant; every blade fell solely upon the six 100,000-year spirit beasts.
They shrieked as they desperately resisted Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory. At that very moment, Ling Bai seized Dugu Lin with one hand while his left leg flared with ghostly black light. Shadows multiplied beneath his feet, and he shot forward at near-instantaneous speed, appearing before the Infernal Delicate Apricot while her arms were still braced high, sabers raised against the falling sword rain.
She remained wholly focused on defense. The long years of peaceful existence within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had stripped her of combat experience befitting a 100,000-year spirit beast. She ruled here on the strength of her Ultimate Fire attribute alone.
The other immortal herbs were the same. Once their attributes failed to grant them an advantage, or even slipped into inferiority, their true combat power was only on par with ordinary Titled Douluo who had just broken through.
The Angel Sword howled through the air. Vast and boundless sword intent seemed to cleave the world in two, flashing past in a blaze of golden light with a piercing shriek.
The fire woman's body stiffened abruptly. Her flame sabers fell from limp fingers as the Angel Sword churned through her chest, then hooked out a cabbage-shaped plant that looked as though it had been carved from ruby.
"Ah Jiao!"
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower cried out in alarm as the Infernal Delicate Apricot was forcibly reverted to her original form. Its wings beat toward the Blazing Sunspring.
Boom—
The Blazing Sunspring erupted in fury! Ling Bai was like an eagle snatching chicks, while the spring raged like a mother hen protecting its brood. Scorching red spring water surged upward in violent waves.
"Xiao Feng, I'll help you!"
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, both counterpart and natural nemesis to the Infernal Delicate Apricot, stood as king among ice-attribute immortal herbs. If the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower could incite the Blazing Sunspring, then it certainly had the ability to awaken the Extreme Chill Icespring.
"Eh?"
But suddenly, its expression changed dramatically. No matter how many times it tried, the spring would not answer. For the first time ever, the Extreme Chill Icespring ignored its call!
"Ice spring, rise!"
A clear shout echoed through the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass watched in disbelief as Ling Bai's left hand traced a beckoning motion in the air. The icy-white Extreme Chill Icespring leaped upward, its column of water surging a hundred meters high.
At the same time, the Blazing Sunspring summoned by the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower abandoned its caller and obediently settled into place behind Ling Bai.
With Ling Bai as the dividing line, the sky above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well split into two distinct realms. To his left stretched an icy-white frozen world where snowflakes danced and silver frost cloaked everything. To his right raged a fiery red expanse where heat waves rolled like a molten inferno.
"Impossible!"
The five remaining immortal herbs stared with bulging eyes. This was even more shocking and despair-inducing than the Infernal Delicate Apricot's instant defeat. The maternal waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had abandoned their own children to become a human's power, aiding the tyrant instead!
"Go!"
Ice and flame cascaded from sky to ground. The plants on the ice spring's side that loved the cold were greeted instead by the Blazing Sunspring's scalding embrace and wilted under the high temperature.
The plants near the sunspring lost their protection and shivered under Ultimate Ice's ultra-low temperature. Every plant in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well pumped out energy with all its might, desperately resisting the opposite extreme that it feared most.
"The springs reject us immortal herbs, yet serve you, an angel!"
The Beautiful Silk Tulip roared through gritted teeth, his handsome face twisted to an extreme.
The springs obeyed whoever commanded the strongest ice and fire attributes. The Seraphim had advanced to Ultimate Fire; its seed originated from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. The Emperor Destiny Beast's flames far surpassed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower's, while the Snow Empress completely crushed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass in both attribute and cultivation.
Ling Bai's six angelic wings beat gently as he advanced through the air. Each step forward made the five immortal herbs retreat involuntarily, faces pale, lips trembling as if they stood at the world's end.
Dugu Lin felt waves of emotion crash through her chest. What the Dugu Clan had failed to solve in ten thousand years, Ling Bai swept aside with a turn of his hand. So-called 100,000-year spirit beasts were nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter.
Her jade-green pupils locked onto that coldly handsome face, emotions surging endlessly within.
BOOM—
Thunder exploded high above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. For dozens of kilometers around, dark clouds pressed low as massive, dragon-shaped bolts of lightning flickered. The spirit beast clans dwelling in the Sunset Forest's outer regions trembled in terror.
The five 100,000-year immortal herbs fared even worse. They feared lightning tribulations and had never dared step one foot outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The thunderous roar of Radiant Thunder Dazzles the World shattered their mental defenses in an instant.
The Aromatic Silk Beauty's voice shook as she spoke: "Seraphim, you've won. Please spare us!
The Jade Phosphor Serpent beside you has poison sunk deep into her bones. She will certainly die within half a year. I'm willing to give you the Silk Heart. It can at least help her suppress the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison for twenty years..."
"W-we'll let you take any immortal herb you want!"
The Beautiful Silk Tulip said miserably, "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well has over a dozen other 100,000-year-level immortal herbs, but we've suppressed their spiritual intelligence so they haven't cultivated into true 100,000-year plant-type spirit beasts!
Spare us, and they're all yours!"
"But the Infernal Delicate Apricot is already in my hands. I don't have a habit of giving away my spoils of war." Ling Bai's voice was mocking. Overhead, thunder roared as if echoing his words.
"This..."
The five immortal herbs exchanged glances and saw only fear reflected back. The Snow Swan Kiss cowered and shrank in on herself. "The Infernal Delicate Apricot attacked you of her own accord. Whatever fate she suffers is her own fault and has nothing to do with us."
At those words, the Infernal Delicate Apricot immediately spat out a blinding burst of fire and cursed loudly, "After ten thousand years together, I really was blind not to see what a bunch of craven cowards you are!"
"Noisy."
Ling Bai pressed his left hand down on the Infernal Delicate Apricot's cabbage-like body. Ferocious cold surged forth, sealing that Ultimate Fire immortal herb in an instant. He gazed at the five immortal herbs and said indifferently:
"I need one of you.
Snow Swan Kiss, come here."
It was as if a death god had written her name down. The Snow Swan Kiss's curvaceous body shook like a sieve as she frantically shook her head and retreated. "No... I won't go with you!"
"Oh?"
Ling Bai's eyes sharpened. Amidst resounding dragon roars, Radiant Thunder Dazzles the World crashed down from all directions.
"Don't!"
The Aromatic Silk Beauty cried out. Aside from the panicking Snow Swan Kiss, the remaining 100,000-year immortal herbs rushed forward and rapidly condensed a massive light shield, straining to hold back the thunder dragons' bombardment.
"Xiang Xiang!"
The situation grew truly dire. The Aromatic Silk Beauty cast a pointed look at the Beautiful Silk Tulip, who reigned supreme in internal conflicts and could suppress every 100,000-year immortal herb within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The Beautiful Silk Tulip understood at once. Taking advantage of the Snow Swan Kiss's distraction, he released his aura to lock firmly onto her. Ling Bai ceased his Radiant Thunder Dazzles the World attack the moment he saw this.
The immortal herbs let out a collective sigh of relief. Wearing a fawning expression, the Beautiful Silk Tulip escorted the Snow Swan Kiss over.
"Lord Seraphim, the Snow Swan Kiss is at your disposal!"
Ling Bai didn't stand on ceremony. He reached straight into the Snow Swan Kiss's ample chest, a sight that made Dugu Lin's eyes blaze with fire. She had practically offered herself on a silver platter, yet he still kept her dangling.
When Ling Bai withdrew his hand, a teardrop-shaped, snow-white pearl rested quietly in his palm.
The essence of a 100,000-year Snow Swan Kiss, the Swan's Snow Tear!
Having lost her inner essence, the Snow Swan Kiss's once-lustrous fair skin dimmed by half. Her body convulsed continuously, as if she had suffered inhuman torture. Tears welled in her eyes as she begged,
"I've given you everything. Will you spare me?"
"In your dreams."
Ling Bai gripped her jaw coldly. His spirit power surged, forcibly returning her to her plant form.
Off to the side, the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower huddled together, trying to draw warmth from each other's bodies. Yet due to the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass's Ultimate Ice attribute, they only grew colder.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. Lord Angel, please do as you wish."
Watching the Snow Swan Kiss suffer the same fate as the Infernal Delicate Apricot, the Beautiful Silk Tulip silently thought, Better a dead friend than a dead me, and prepared to slip away.
The next second, a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
The Beautiful Silk Tulip turned to meet a pair of icy golden eyes. The spirit power within his body froze solid as he gaped wordlessly:
"You... you..."
The Beautiful Silk Tulip, down for the count!
The three remaining 100,000-year immortal herbs stared with mouths agape, watching helplessly as Ling Bai drew closer.
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower...
One by one, they were forced back into their original forms, their spirit power sealed, reduced to prisoners. In the end, only the Aromatic Silk Beauty remained.
The large pink flower closed into an enormous bud. A tiny purple pistil poked out from within and denounced him furiously:
"Seraphim, you plunder immortal herbs and forcibly seize the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! Our benefactor will never let you get away with this!"
"What a joke."
A contemptuous smile curved Ling Bai's lips. He pried open the Aromatic Silk Beauty's flower bud and forcibly extracted a cherry-sized purple bead along with a book. His voice was icy as he said:
"Aromatic Silk Beauty, explain to me what you mean by 'forcibly seize.'
Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was the first to discover the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. By all logic, this place should belong to Dugu Bo and his descendants.
If we're talking about seizing by force, then it was your so-called benefactor who seized the Dugu Clan's Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
Today I've been entrusted by the Dugu Clan's sole remaining descendant to reclaim their ancestral legacy. This is simply returning property to its rightful owner!"
The Aromatic Silk Beauty spat venomously, "Heaven and Earth Treasures belong to the capable! That worthless Dugu Bo never understood us! It was our benefactor who helped us plan our growth positions. We only acknowledge our benefactor!"
"Obstinate and unrepentant! Heartless and ungrateful!"
Dugu Lin could no longer contain the rage in her heart. Veins bulged at her temples as her nails dug deep into her palms.
"Ancestor Poison Douluo may not have understood immortal herbs, but he never harvested you on a whim! He merely borrowed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's power to resist the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison's backlash!
My ancestor was grateful for the well's help. Knowing how precious this land was, he set up the Jade Phosphor Poison Array outside the valley to protect you from spirit beasts! Before his death, he returned to the poison array and nourished the Jade Phosphorous Flowers of the Seven Absolutes with his own lifeblood!
My ancestor gave you his very life!
And what did your benefactor do?!
Plan positions!"
Dugu Lin threw her head back in bitter laughter, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
"Aromatic Silk Beauty, your benefactor is Tang San, isn't he?
Do you know why the Dugu Clan's serpent poison started to backlash again? It was divine punishment for our ancestor's massacre of a city!
And in the end, Tang San took our last path to survival and saved the immortal herbs for his own descendants!"
She covered her face. Through the gaps between her fingers, her bloodshot eyes glinted with barely-contained madness as she shrieked hysterically, finally venting all the pain buried in her heart:
"Without Tang San, the Dugu Clan could have used the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to resist the serpent poison's backlash! We wouldn't have withered away until only I was left, alone and miserable! I would have rightfully inherited the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and wouldn't have to endure those fearful, disgusted looks from everyone at Shrek!
Tang San caused this! Tang San!
He stole what rightfully belonged to the Dugu Clan...
That should have been MINE!!!"