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Chapter 135: Guarding a Treasure Mountain in Vain.
Sun Zhongjing surveyed the strange spring before him, where ice and fire converged. This tranquil spring was truly mystical; despite appearing to be a blend of extreme heat and extreme cold, there was no aura of high temperature or severe chill on its surface.
He naturally wouldn't be deceived by superficial appearances. He understood that this seemingly calm red-and-white spring had a red side with a temperature comparable to magma. If driven by curiosity, anyone who touched it would have the point of contact instantly incinerated into nothingness.
The white side, conversely, contained a terrifyingly biting cold! He feared even a light touch would instantly freeze the area into ice shards, which would then scatter in the wind.
The severe cold and high temperature contained within this pool were so extreme that not even a Titled Douluo would dare to touch it.
After a few more glances, Sun Zhongjing shifted his gaze elsewhere. Although the surroundings were shrouded in mist, it was still quite simple for him to discern everything clearly.
Around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, various plants grew in abundance, taking on myriad forms and appearing like a paradise of flora. And every single plant here was a rare and precious specimen.
He strolled through this medicine garden, pausing occasionally to observe. The expression on his face grew increasingly astonished, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable.
After he had surveyed the entire vicinity, Sun Zhongjing returned to Dugu Bo's side, now looking at him with an extremely strange gaze. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "You truly are... guarding a treasure mountain without even realizing it!"
"Uh... Sect Master, what do you mean by that? Are these medicinal herbs here very precious?" Dugu Bo asked, a bit bewildered.
"Precious?"
Sun Zhongjing shook his head and said, "This place can no longer be described as merely 'precious.' With these rare immortal herbs growing here, if you could find a suitable one to consume, the potent poison in your body wouldn't pose any threat to you at all. It might even be possible to advance your strength further."
"You recognize the effects of these medicinal herbs?"
Dugu Bo first questioned, then continued, "This old man isn't entirely unaware that the medicinal herbs growing here might be very precious. However, despite searching through all the medical texts, I could never find any information about them. And medicinal herbs are not something to be consumed casually; reckless ingestion could even have adverse effects. So, I had no choice but to let them go to waste like this."
"Since you recognize the medicinal herbs here, Sect Master, please take whatever you need. I don't know their uses anyway, so leaving them here is just a waste."
Dugu Bo was being very generous, but it was not just because he didn't truly know how precious the immortal herbs were. The main reason was that even if the immortal herbs could greatly advance his strength, even to the realm of a Limit Douluo, it still wouldn't fundamentally change the flaw in his clan's martial soul. What good was it if his strength became even greater? His son had still died because of the toxin inherent to his martial soul.
If the martial soul's flaw couldn't be resolved, his descendants would likely die out within a few generations.
In contrast, the Poison Pill Method that Sun Zhongjing had imparted to him was different.
Firstly, this was a cultivation technique that perfectly matched the characteristics of their martial soul. It allowed them to transform the life-threatening potent poison in their bodies into a catalyst that enhanced their own strength, using the poison for cultivation. It even allowed them to aspire to higher realms!
Based on the description of the Poison Pill Method, Dugu Bo felt that if he could successfully condense the poison pill, then reaching the rank 96 Super Douluo realm in this lifetime might not be impossible. Moreover, that might not even be the limit. The future was promising!
Secondly, this cultivation technique could be passed down. His descendants, generation after generation, would benefit endlessly, allowing the clan to continuously prosper and grow stronger! Even if the immortal herbs here were precious, for how many generations could they be used? What would happen when the immortal herbs ran out? Wouldn't everything just return to square one?
Therefore, in Dugu Bo's eyes, the immortal herbs could only bring his clan temporary prosperity, whereas the Poison Pill Method could allow the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Clan to be passed down forever!
Which one was more precious was clear at a glance.
"Rest assured, this old man won't be polite with you; so many rare immortal herbs aren't found just anywhere," Sun Zhongjing readily accepted, then continued, "We can talk about the immortal herbs later. The immediate priority is to condense the poison pill. This place's environment happens to be quite suitable; why don't you do it here? This old man will also assist you from the side to ensure your safety."
"Right here?" Dugu Bo was a little stunned.
"Precisely. This unique environment has a certain suppressive effect on the potent poison within your body. It can conveniently prevent the poison's instinctive backlash when you condense the pill," Sun Zhongjing stroked his long beard and explained with a smile. "Although this old man could also channel his power to help you suppress the potent poison and directly form it, condensing a poison pill requires you to pour in your own essence, qi, and spirit. Therefore, if others were to assist, it would inevitably be counterproductive. Hence, it is not advisable."
Since Sun Zhongjing had put it that way, Dugu Bo, trusting him completely, naturally harbored no doubts. Nor did he think that Sun Zhongjing was eyeing the precious immortal herbs, wishing to monopolize the place. After all, if Sun Zhongjing wanted to harm him, there would be no need for such trouble. Even if he wanted this place, could Dugu Bo refuse if he simply asked for it?
From any perspective, Sun Zhongjing had no reason to harm him.
Before condensing the poison pill, some preparatory work was naturally required.
Sun Zhongjing surveyed the surroundings, and after conveniently plucking a few medicinal herbs, he vigorously rubbed them in his hands. During this process, dried plant fragments continuously fell away.
When he spread his hands open again, the medicinal herbs had vanished, replaced by a light brown medicinal pill.
This action left Dugu Bo dumbfounded. It was hard to imagine anyone being able to roll pills by hand. Was he sure this thing was a medicinal pill and not just dirt from his hands?
Dugu Bo reached out and took the medicinal pill he was offered. A faint, clear fragrance immediately wafted into his nostrils. At the same time, he could feel the once unruly potent poison within his body settling down slightly.
The effect was this good?!
He was somewhat surprised, never having expected that a medicinal pill casually rolled by hand would emit a scent with such potent effects. What would happen if he actually consumed it?
"This medicinal pill can help you better tame the potent poison within your body. The crucial difficulty in condensing the poison pill lies in how to make the potent poison in your body obediently coalesce into a pill. With this medicinal pill, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort," Sun Zhongjing said, stroking his long beard.
For him, having maxed out his traditional Chinese medicine skills, rolling pills by hand was merely a basic operation. It was simply a matter of extracting the medicinal components from the herbs, then blending them according to a unique ratio... and finally compressing them into a pill shape. The principle was actually similar to alchemy, but the pills created through this hand-rolling method were destined to be less effective than true alchemical pills.
(end of chapter)
Sun Zhongjing surveyed the strange spring before him, where ice and fire converged. This tranquil spring was truly mystical; despite appearing to be a blend of extreme heat and extreme cold, there was no aura of high temperature or severe chill on its surface.
He naturally wouldn't be deceived by superficial appearances. He understood that this seemingly calm red-and-white spring had a red side with a temperature comparable to magma. If driven by curiosity, anyone who touched it would have the point of contact instantly incinerated into nothingness.
The white side, conversely, contained a terrifyingly biting cold! He feared even a light touch would instantly freeze the area into ice shards, which would then scatter in the wind.
The severe cold and high temperature contained within this pool were so extreme that not even a Titled Douluo would dare to touch it.
After a few more glances, Sun Zhongjing shifted his gaze elsewhere. Although the surroundings were shrouded in mist, it was still quite simple for him to discern everything clearly.
Around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, various plants grew in abundance, taking on myriad forms and appearing like a paradise of flora. And every single plant here was a rare and precious specimen.
He strolled through this medicine garden, pausing occasionally to observe. The expression on his face grew increasingly astonished, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable.
After he had surveyed the entire vicinity, Sun Zhongjing returned to Dugu Bo's side, now looking at him with an extremely strange gaze. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "You truly are... guarding a treasure mountain without even realizing it!"
"Uh... Sect Master, what do you mean by that? Are these medicinal herbs here very precious?" Dugu Bo asked, a bit bewildered.
"Precious?"
Sun Zhongjing shook his head and said, "This place can no longer be described as merely 'precious.' With these rare immortal herbs growing here, if you could find a suitable one to consume, the potent poison in your body wouldn't pose any threat to you at all. It might even be possible to advance your strength further."
"You recognize the effects of these medicinal herbs?"
Dugu Bo first questioned, then continued, "This old man isn't entirely unaware that the medicinal herbs growing here might be very precious. However, despite searching through all the medical texts, I could never find any information about them. And medicinal herbs are not something to be consumed casually; reckless ingestion could even have adverse effects. So, I had no choice but to let them go to waste like this."
"Since you recognize the medicinal herbs here, Sect Master, please take whatever you need. I don't know their uses anyway, so leaving them here is just a waste."
Dugu Bo was being very generous, but it was not just because he didn't truly know how precious the immortal herbs were. The main reason was that even if the immortal herbs could greatly advance his strength, even to the realm of a Limit Douluo, it still wouldn't fundamentally change the flaw in his clan's martial soul. What good was it if his strength became even greater? His son had still died because of the toxin inherent to his martial soul.
If the martial soul's flaw couldn't be resolved, his descendants would likely die out within a few generations.
In contrast, the Poison Pill Method that Sun Zhongjing had imparted to him was different.
Firstly, this was a cultivation technique that perfectly matched the characteristics of their martial soul. It allowed them to transform the life-threatening potent poison in their bodies into a catalyst that enhanced their own strength, using the poison for cultivation. It even allowed them to aspire to higher realms!
Based on the description of the Poison Pill Method, Dugu Bo felt that if he could successfully condense the poison pill, then reaching the rank 96 Super Douluo realm in this lifetime might not be impossible. Moreover, that might not even be the limit. The future was promising!
Secondly, this cultivation technique could be passed down. His descendants, generation after generation, would benefit endlessly, allowing the clan to continuously prosper and grow stronger! Even if the immortal herbs here were precious, for how many generations could they be used? What would happen when the immortal herbs ran out? Wouldn't everything just return to square one?
Therefore, in Dugu Bo's eyes, the immortal herbs could only bring his clan temporary prosperity, whereas the Poison Pill Method could allow the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Clan to be passed down forever!
Which one was more precious was clear at a glance.
"Rest assured, this old man won't be polite with you; so many rare immortal herbs aren't found just anywhere," Sun Zhongjing readily accepted, then continued, "We can talk about the immortal herbs later. The immediate priority is to condense the poison pill. This place's environment happens to be quite suitable; why don't you do it here? This old man will also assist you from the side to ensure your safety."
"Right here?" Dugu Bo was a little stunned.
"Precisely. This unique environment has a certain suppressive effect on the potent poison within your body. It can conveniently prevent the poison's instinctive backlash when you condense the pill," Sun Zhongjing stroked his long beard and explained with a smile. "Although this old man could also channel his power to help you suppress the potent poison and directly form it, condensing a poison pill requires you to pour in your own essence, qi, and spirit. Therefore, if others were to assist, it would inevitably be counterproductive. Hence, it is not advisable."
Since Sun Zhongjing had put it that way, Dugu Bo, trusting him completely, naturally harbored no doubts. Nor did he think that Sun Zhongjing was eyeing the precious immortal herbs, wishing to monopolize the place. After all, if Sun Zhongjing wanted to harm him, there would be no need for such trouble. Even if he wanted this place, could Dugu Bo refuse if he simply asked for it?
From any perspective, Sun Zhongjing had no reason to harm him.
Before condensing the poison pill, some preparatory work was naturally required.
Sun Zhongjing surveyed the surroundings, and after conveniently plucking a few medicinal herbs, he vigorously rubbed them in his hands. During this process, dried plant fragments continuously fell away.
When he spread his hands open again, the medicinal herbs had vanished, replaced by a light brown medicinal pill.
This action left Dugu Bo dumbfounded. It was hard to imagine anyone being able to roll pills by hand. Was he sure this thing was a medicinal pill and not just dirt from his hands?
Dugu Bo reached out and took the medicinal pill he was offered. A faint, clear fragrance immediately wafted into his nostrils. At the same time, he could feel the once unruly potent poison within his body settling down slightly.
The effect was this good?!
He was somewhat surprised, never having expected that a medicinal pill casually rolled by hand would emit a scent with such potent effects. What would happen if he actually consumed it?
"This medicinal pill can help you better tame the potent poison within your body. The crucial difficulty in condensing the poison pill lies in how to make the potent poison in your body obediently coalesce into a pill. With this medicinal pill, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort," Sun Zhongjing said, stroking his long beard.
For him, having maxed out his traditional Chinese medicine skills, rolling pills by hand was merely a basic operation. It was simply a matter of extracting the medicinal components from the herbs, then blending them according to a unique ratio... and finally compressing them into a pill shape. The principle was actually similar to alchemy, but the pills created through this hand-rolling method were destined to be less effective than true alchemical pills.
(end of chapter)
