Time passed bit by bit. After more than an hour, Yang Yunhai slowly stood up.
After some effort, and with Silver Dove's assistance, he had dug up more than ten stalks of immortal herbs. Among them were a few that, in his estimation, even Tang San in the original work wouldn't have recognized,such as the Hun Yuan Immortal Herb, which could greatly enhance soul power. Some herbs, like the Star Luo Spirit Pearl, required a martial soul with the power of the stars to be accepted. The conditions for picking and consuming them were too harsh, so he left those alone. Others were highly poisonous and impossible to consume,those were also skipped.
In addition, there were herbs he planned to save for Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan to consume later, so those couldn't be touched either.
Aside from immortal herbs, he also dug up several non-immortal but highly effective medicinal plants,less than ten in total.
Naturally, he also collected the herbs needed for refining detoxification medicine and for later helping Dugu Yan repair her damaged body.
Looking around, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was still lush and filled with herbs. If one didn't look closely, it was impossible to tell that some had been removed. It had to be said,the sheer quantity of herbs here was astonishing. A rough glance revealed hundreds of varieties, most of them poisonous.
In the original story, the reason the place became barren after Tang San's harvesting spree was simple,Tang San dug out all the poisonous herbs to make hidden weapons like the Yama's Invitation.
As for the non-poisonous ones, he simply dug them all out without a second thought,and didn't even bother to fill the holes afterward.
Of course it ended up looking like a dog had been digging here!
"It's a pity that my body already contains too much and too many kinds of medicinal power. I can't take any more immortal herbs or rare treasures," Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly, striding toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's spring.
Soon, he reached the edge and began taking out his medicine cauldron and other tools from his soul guide to start bloodletting and refining medicine.
Having just consumed immortal herbs, he was brimming with energy.
Silver Dove floated gracefully nearby, quietly watching with curiosity, adding a bit of charm to Yang Yunhai's otherwise tedious alchemy session.
After all, she was beautiful,very easy on the eyes.
Time passed quietly. It wasn't until the second night, near midnight, that Yang Yunhai finally began to feel a hint of fatigue after working continuously. He strode toward a man-made cave near the cliff wall. Dugu Bo's note had said he could rest inside if he got tired.
Inside, the cave was sparsely furnished,a stone bed, a wooden table, a wooden chair, and a wooden shelf.
He walked forward, lay down on the stone bed, and closed his eyes to rest.
As for Silver Dove, due to a small incident earlier, he had sent her back into the soul bone to recuperate and get used to the space inside it.
Soon, his breathing became steady.
He didn't know how much time had passed when blue light began to glow from his right leg.
His soul power was being drawn out. Yang Yunhai vaguely sensed it, but being in a deep sleep made him feel as though he were dreaming. He tried to open his eyes but couldn't. His brow furrowed, eyelids twitched, and after a long moment he suddenly woke, eyes snapping open.
Then he felt a soft, smooth touch on his arm,and a weight on his chest.
Turning his head, he saw Silver Dove resting her head on his chest, arms wrapped tightly around his waist, looking very happy and content.
"Didn't I say you can't come out without my permission?" Yang Yunhai frowned slightly.
Hearing his voice, Silver Dove instinctively looked up. In the darkness, she saw the displeasure on his face and quickly lowered her head, looking like a child caught doing something wrong. She timidly said in a small voice, "I couldn't sleep inside, and when I saw no one around, I came out."
"What if someone came while you were asleep?" Yang Yunhai countered, guiding her to understand.
"I… I was wrong." Silver Dove immediately admitted fault.
"Next time, tell me beforehand, understand?" His tone softened.
"Mm, I understand." She nodded quickly, like a pecking chick.
"Go to sleep." Yang Yunhai gave a small nod. Silver Dove's situation was like that of a newborn who needed a parent nearby to sleep. Though he wasn't her parent, in her eyes he was the closest person, so naturally she thought of him when she couldn't sleep.
Since Dugu Bo had only left for a day, there was no way he could have found a soul bone already. It seemed he wouldn't be back anytime soon.
Clearly, Silver Dove still couldn't adapt to the soul bone space. He decided to let her be just this once and closed his eyes again.
"Thank you, Yun," Silver Dove said softly, tightening her embrace and shifting to a more comfortable position before closing her eyes.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Yang Yunhai woke early. Out of habit, he glanced down and quietly pulled his arm free. Sharing a bed with the big cat at home had given him a bad habit, which had naturally resurfaced last night.
Ah, what a sin. When they returned, he'd have to explain Silver Dove's ever-present clinginess to Zhu Qing. He sighed inwardly and glanced at Silver Dove's sweet smile, shaking his head slightly.
Though Silver Dove could condense a physical form and remain outside for a long time using his soul power, she couldn't stray too far from him. Otherwise, her soul body would lose contact with its host and begin to dissipate.
He'd discovered this by accident yesterday when, during his long alchemy session, he sent her out to wander so she wouldn't get bored. But after floating about a hundred meters away, she had hurried back in a panic and explained the problem.
So he had sent her back into the soul bone to get used to it, since she'd be living there long-term whether she liked it or not.
"Mmm…" Silver Dove murmured softly as she woke, rubbing her eyes in a surprisingly human-like gesture.
"It's time to get up," Yang Yunhai said, sitting up and getting out of bed to wash.
With Silver Dove accompanying him,despite her not needing food,he ate a little, then went to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to resume refining medicine.
By afternoon, he finally finished the concoctions. He then jumped into the well to continue refining the medicinal power in his body. Once he reached his limit, he climbed ashore to cultivate soul power, familiarize himself with his martial soul, or exercise his body. Though the valley didn't grow Blue Silver Grass, its abundant spiritual energy and countless medicinal plants made it an ideal training environment.
At night, as expected, he agreed to Silver Dove's request to sleep together again.
He had already scattered parasitic spores outside, so the moment Dugu Bo returned, he would sense it immediately.
After consuming the "Yearning Heartbroken Red" herb, his spiritual power had increased dramatically. Simple testing had allowed him to deepen and refine his abilities even further.
To have thought of a way to avoid exposure so quickly,such quick thinking!
He was rather impressed with himself.
A day later, in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,
"Clan Leader, a letter from Tianheng," a middle-aged man called softly from the doorway of the study.
"Oh?" came a low murmur, followed by a strong, aged voice: "Come in."
The man entered, hurried to the desk, and handed over the letter before stepping aside respectfully.
Yu Yuanzhen opened the letter and skimmed it, his brows furrowing. "Tianheng, how could you be so foolish! Acting without regard for priorities,Old Brother Dugu must already be displeased." He sighed and looked up. "Go summon the elders. Tell them I have important matters to discuss."
A five-thousand-year soul bone was hardly worthy of a Title Douluo. Only a ten-thousand-year one could match such a status.
And for a ten-thousand-year strength-type soul bone,even as Clan Leader, he couldn't decide alone.
Besides, this concerned a Title Douluo. The matter was serious and had to be discussed with the elders,this was both clan rule and tradition.
"Yes, Clan Leader." The man bowed and left.
Before long, in the clan's council hall,
Yu Yuanzhen wasted no time, quickly explaining the matter and expressing his intention to give out a ten-thousand-year soul bone.
Upon hearing this, a middle-aged man seated on the right glanced sideways at the Grand Elder.
He was Yu Tianxin's father, and the first to disagree. Naturally, the Grand Elder,his own father,would support him.
As he thought this, the Grand Elder slammed the table.
"I disagree!"
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