Yue Guan was utterly stunned.
Even he and Gui Mei would tremble in awe before Bibi Dong, never daring to conceal anything from her—yet Yan had actually dared to say such words.
"Yan, are you tired of living?!" Yue Guan's voice trembled with shock and anger. "Do you have any idea what you're saying? This isn't some trivial matter! Are you trying to deceive Her Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff?!"
But Yan remained calm.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, I have my reasons for this."
"What reasons? Speak, let me hear them."
Yue Guan's tone was half-curious, half-incredulous.
Yan continued,
"Within the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well grow hundreds—no, thousands—of immortal herbs. Some have yet to fully mature. They've all been carefully nurtured by Dugu Bo, treated as his most precious treasures.
If the Supreme Pontiff were to learn of such a place and send people to seize it… tell me, Elder, do you really think Dugu Bo would surrender it willingly?"
Yue Guan's expression turned pensive, but before he could reply, Yan pressed on,
"No, he wouldn't. He'd rather perish together with us—destroying every immortal herb in that place before allowing them to fall into anyone else's hands!
And it wouldn't just be him—any man in his position would do the same.
Moreover, the existence of the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well is known only to Dugu Bo and the two of us. Once the Spirit Hall takes over, word will spread, and countless powerhouses will covet that land.
Tell me, Elder Chrysanthemum—among all those people, how many truly love and cherish flowers as you do?
Once they start fighting over it, that sacred paradise will be trampled beyond recognition—perhaps even utterly destroyed.
I don't think you'd want to see that happen, would you?"
A vivid image of the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well and the sea of rare herbs around it still lingered in Yue Guan's mind. Yan's earlier description had made him long to fly there immediately to behold those heavenly plants with his own eyes.
But now, as he imagined that wonderland ravaged by greedy hands, his heart twisted in pain.
Yan could have easily kept the Well's existence secret, yet he had chosen to trust him completely—to reveal everything. That sincerity deeply moved Yue Guan.
Still, he hesitated.
"Yan, are we simply to let that old venomous snake hoard such a priceless treasure alone?"
"Of course not," Yan replied with a faint smile. "Since he enjoys tending to flowers—and does it rather well—let him keep tending them for us. After all, I already took a few of the best ones."
"???"
Yue Guan blinked, stunned.
Yan drew out the Ten-Thousand Spirit Treasure Case Yue Guan had once gifted him.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, take a look."
As he spoke, he opened the case and produced a radiant golden herb.
The instant Yue Guan saw it, his bewilderment turned to sheer disbelief. His eyes widened, fixed upon the flower in Yan's hand.
The Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum shimmered before him, its petals glowing with divine golden light.
His body leaned forward unconsciously, hands trembling as if yearning to touch it. Shock, joy, and reverence mingled upon his face.
"This… this is the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum?"
His voice quivered as much as his fingers.
Yan smiled gently and placed the herb in Yue Guan's hands.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, it's yours."
Yue Guan received it with both hands, movements tender as though holding a sacred treasure. His fingertips brushed its petals, feeling the pulsing vitality within.
Tears glimmered in his eyes as he choked out,
"This truly is… the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum…"
Gratitude and emotion welled in his heart. He knew exactly what this immortal herb meant.
After a long silence, he finally steadied himself.
"Yan, you plucked this from the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well?"
"Mm."
"And you took other immortal herbs as well?"
"That's right."
Without hesitation, Yan opened the Ten-Thousand Spirit Treasure Case.
In an instant, multicolored radiance burst forth, filling the room.
Yue Guan, who had just calmed down, found his excitement rekindled.
"This is… Lovesick Heartbroken Red! Fragment Jade Beauty ! Snow-Kissed Swan Kiss! Phoenix Tail Crestflower ! Autumn Water Dew! Jade Beauty Tulip!…"
A lifetime devoted to the study of flowers and herbs, yet never had Yue Guan witnessed so many supreme immortal herbs gathered before him.
For him, this moment was pure bliss.
Once his emotions settled, Yue Guan gazed at Yan with disbelief and admiration.
"Yan, you incredible brat… tell me, how did you manage to harvest these priceless herbs? Tell me everything."
"Of course."
Yan then recounted his entire ordeal—how he had carefully harvested the immortal herbs, consumed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Fiery Apricot Delicate, narrowly escaped Dugu Bo's pursuit, and leapt into the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well itself to survive.
When Yue Guan heard this, he was left dumbfounded.
He never imagined Yan would possess such audacity—and luck.
"Yan, you're truly blessed by the heavens! To think you escaped right under Dugu Bo's nose… Those two immortal herbs are the most toxic of opposites. Only by consuming both together can one survive. Take either alone, and death by poison is certain!
You're alive only because fate itself favored you.
When you were awakening within the Well, I had returned to the Sunset Forest to look for you, which drew Dugu Bo's attention away."
Yan nodded slowly.
"No wonder! When I woke up, he was nowhere to be found. If you hadn't come looking for me, he'd never have left—and I'd be dead by now. In other words, Elder, you saved my life."
Yue Guan waved his hand dismissively, smiling.
"You survived because destiny willed it so."
Yan's honesty touched him deeply, and he now fully agreed with Yan's plan: to keep the Ice–Fire Yin Yang Well a secret so the immortal herbs could continue to thrive in peace.
"Then we'll keep this between us," Yue Guan said firmly. "When we eventually kill Dugu Bo, that secret garden will belong to us alone."
"Exactly. That's what I intended."
As Yan spoke, he took out a snow-white flower that radiated a faint chill—the Snow- Swan Kiss—and handed it to Yue Guan.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, please keep this one. Over the years, countless spirit masters have perished to Dugu Bo's serpent venom. Next time we face him, let him taste the agony of his own poison—tenfold."
"Hah! Excellent idea!" Yue Guan laughed heartily as he accepted the flower, then pointed to the other herbs and explained,
"This Acacia Heartbroken Red is the king of all flowers.
TheFragment Jade Beauty neutralizes all poisons.
The Jade Beauty Tulip is an unparalleled support-type immortal herb. Keep these safe—you'll surely need them one day.
The Phoenix Crestflower can amplify your flame power and even raise your spirit level—but you've already taken two extreme-poison herbs. Don't rush to consume it now, lest your body react too violently and the effect backfire.
Wait at least a year—or until your spirit power reaches the fiftieth rank—then take it. The results will be far better.
As for the Autumn Water Dew, though it isn't a supreme immortal herb, it can enhance mental focus and help you refine the energies of the two you've already absorbed. You can take it right away."
Yan nodded. He understood perfectly.
Taking the Phoenix Tail Crestflower now would not only endanger his body, but the sudden increase in power would be impossible to explain once they returned.
Though the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Fiery Apricot Delicate, and Autumn Water Dew didn't raise his spirit rank, they strengthened his body and sharpened his mind—rewards no less valuable than power itself.