Instead of heading directly back to the Spirit Hall, Song Qing changed their course towards the familiar capital city of the Heaven Dou Empire. Zhu Zhuqing, holding his hand, looked up at him with a questioning gaze.
"Qing, aren't we going back to the Spirit Hall?" she asked, her voice soft.
Song Qing smiled down at her. "Not yet, Zhuqing. I wanted to visit some friends first. You'll like them, I promise." He did indeed want to see Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong again, but his primary motivation ran much deeper. 'It's time,' he thought, a sense of urgency settling within him. 'I need to get those Immortal Herbs. My friends need them.'
His thoughts were focused on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a place he knew held incredible treasures. He needed to convince Senior Dugu Bo to take him there. He hadn't revealed the true extent of the Immortal Herbs' power and value to the old poison master yet, only hinting at their beneficial properties.
Reaching the familiar, albeit somewhat dilapidated, manor of Dugu Bo, Song Qing led Zhu Zhuqing towards the entrance. The old poison master, sensing their arrival, was already waiting for them, a curious look on his face.
"Little brat, you're back," Dugu Bo said, his voice gruff but with a hint of warmth. He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "And who is this little one?"
"Senior Dugu Bo," Song Qing said respectfully, "this is my friend, Zhu Zhuqing. She'll be staying with me for a while." He then turned his gaze to the old man, his expression becoming more serious. "Senior, I have a favor to ask of you."
Dugu Bo raised a bushy eyebrow. "A favor? From you? What could a little monster like you possibly need from this old man?" But even as he spoke, he knew he would likely agree to whatever Song Qing asked. The boy had saved him, his son, and his granddaughter from the brink of death. He owed Song Qing a debt he could never truly repay.
"I need to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Senior," Song Qing stated directly, his dark eyes fixed on Dugu Bo. "I need to gather a few herbs from there."
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in surprise. "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? What in the world do you need from that dangerous place, brat?" He was genuinely taken aback. Even he, with his vast knowledge of poisons and herbs, rarely ventured into the depths of that volatile location unless absolutely necessary.
"There are some… special herbs there that I need," Song Qing replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much. "They will be very helpful to me and my friends."
Dugu Bo studied the young boy's earnest face for a moment. He could sense the importance of this request to Song Qing. "Alright, brat," he sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose I can take you. You've certainly earned it."
'Besides,' he thought, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, 'what harm could giving away a few herbs do?'
Song Qing smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Senior Dugu Bo. I promise I won't take too much."
'And in a few years,' he thought to himself, a plan forming in his mind, 'I can easily repay him by giving him some of the Immortal Herbs that will grow in the Spirit Hall's own herbal garden. It's a win-win.'
Just then, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo approached, their expressions watchful. "Holy Son, is everything alright?" Ghost Douluo asked, his voice raspy.
Song Qing turned to them, a reassuring smile on his face. "Yes, Elders. Senior Dugu Bo has agreed to help me with something. But it's a personal matter, and I'll need to go alone with him and Zhu Zhuqing."
The two Super Douluo exchanged a concerned look. "Alone, Holy Son? Are you sure that's wise?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked, his tone laced with worry.
"Don't worry, Elders," Song Qing reassured them. "Senior Dugu Bo won't hurt me. He's a friend." He looked directly at Dugu Bo, a silent plea in his eyes.
Dugu Bo, understanding the situation, nodded curtly. "That's right. The little brat is under my protection while he's here." He deliberately emphasized the word 'protection,' sending a subtle message to the two powerful Spirit Hall members.
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo hesitated for a moment, their instincts telling them to remain close to the Holy Son. However, they also knew better than to directly disobey his orders.
"Very well, Holy Son," Ghost Douluo conceded reluctantly. "We will wait for you here in Heaven Dou City. Please be careful."
"I will," Song Qing promised. He then turned back to Dugu Bo. "Thank you again, Senior. When can we leave?"
Dugu Bo grunted. "The sooner the better. Let's go." He glanced at Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, a hint of relief washing over him as they remained behind. 'Those two are like hawks,' he thought, a shiver running down his spine. 'I still don't trust them one bit. The only reason they haven't tried to kill me yet is because of this little brat.' He maintained a wary gaze towards the two Titled Douluo as he led Song Qing and Zhu Zhuqing towards the hidden entrance to his domain, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well their ultimate destination.
~~
Soon enough, guided by Dugu Bo, they reached the hidden entrance to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The moment they stepped into the unique environment, Zhu Zhuqing gasped in awe. The air was thick with a strange mix of intense heat and biting cold, and the landscape was a bizarre tapestry of fiery red and icy blue.
"Wow… Qing, what is this place?" Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed, her brown eyes wide with wonder as she looked around at the steaming hot springs on one side and the frozen, crystalline formations on the other.
Song Qing, having been here before, wasn't quite as amazed. 'Still a fascinating place, though,' he thought, but his focus was already elsewhere. His Primordial Life Tree Spirit stirred within him, its inherent knowledge of the plant life in this extraordinary location flooding his mind. He could sense the unique energies emanating from each herb, their specific properties and how best to harvest them.
"This is a very special place, Zhuqing," Song Qing explained, his gaze scanning the area. "It's called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. It's home to many rare and powerful herbs."
Dugu Bo, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings, grunted in agreement. "Indeed. A dangerous place for the unprepared, but we know our way around." He made sure to position himself between them and any potential threats, his emerald eyes sharp and alert.
Song Qing closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on his Second Spirit. The vines of the Primordial Life Tree Spirit extended silently from his body, guided by his will and the innate knowledge it possessed. He knew exactly which herbs he needed and where they were located.
'Perfect,' he thought as he sensed the locations of the herbs he sought. 'My Primordial Life Tree Spirit really is incredible. Plucking these will be a breeze.' He directed the invisible vines towards his targets, carefully extracting them from the ground without damaging their roots, ensuring their potency remained intact. The vines then gently deposited the herbs into the spiritual storage tool he wore on his finger.
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, was excitedly exploring the area, her initial apprehension replaced by fascination. She skipped from the hot side to the cold side, marveling at the contrasting environments.
"Qing, look! The water is boiling here!" she exclaimed, pointing at a bubbling hot spring. Then she ran over to the icy side. "And over here, everything is frozen solid! It's amazing!"
Song Qing watched her, a fond smile on his face. Her excitement was infectious. "Be careful, Zhuqing," he called out. "Don't wander too far." He loved seeing her so happy and carefree, a stark contrast to the sadness he had witnessed in her room.
Dugu Bo also kept a close watch on Zhu Zhuqing, making sure she didn't get too close to any of the more dangerous areas. "Stay close, little girl," he warned gruffly, though his tone held a hint of concern.
Within a relatively short time, Song Qing had gathered a significant number of precious herbs. For Zhu Zhuqing, he carefully plucked a pair of complementary herbs: the Infernal Passion Flower from the intensely hot region and the Glacial Heart Grass from the frigid zone. 'These should help Zhuqing evolve her Hell Spirit Cat,' he thought.
'The Infernal Passion Flower will ignite its inner potential, pushing it towards a more powerful phantom beast like the Abyssal Phantom Lion, granting her greater speed and agility, while the Glacial Heart Grass will temper the fiery energy, significantly improving her aptitude, strengthening her physique, and enhancing her mental fortitude to handle higher-level soul rings.'
For Ning Rongrong, he selected the Beautiful Silk Tulip, its petals shimmering with an ethereal light, and the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, radiating a gentle, nurturing energy. 'These will be perfect for Rongrong,' he mused. 'The Beautiful Silk Tulip will further refine her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, pushing it towards the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, while the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid will greatly boost her soul power and mental energy, allowing her to support her teammates even more effectively and handle the mental strain of her unique spirit.'
For Dugu Yan, his choice was the Emerald Serpent Vine and the Phosphor Jade Fruit, both pulsing with a vibrant green energy. 'These should help Yan evolve her Jade Phosphor Serpent,' he thought. 'The Emerald Serpent Vine will infuse her spirit with a stronger venom and greater control over it, while the Phosphor Jade Fruit will enhance its size and power, potentially leading to an evolution into the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, just like her grandfather.'
For Sister Lingling, he carefully harvested the Nine Heart Blood Begonia and the Pure Spirit Jade Dew. 'Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia is already powerful in terms of healing,' Song Qing considered. 'But these two herbs will help remove its inherent limitations, enhancing its healing capabilities even further and boosting her overall spiritual power, making her an even more invaluable support to the team.'
For his Senior Sister Hu Liena, he chose the Bewitching Demon Orchid and the Seven Star Anise. 'Liena's Charming Fox spirit is potent, but it can be further evolved,' he thought. 'The Bewitching Demon Orchid will amplify her charm and illusionary abilities, while the Seven Star Anise will guide her spirit towards a more powerful and perhaps even darker variant, like the Seven-Tailed Sinful Fox, granting her immense power and control over emotions.' He hesitated for a moment, considering the legendary Nine-Tailed Charming Fox, but decided that might be too much for her current stage.
Finally, for his teacher Bibi Dong, he selected the Heavenly Essence Root and the Earthly Wisdom Fruit. 'Teacher's spirits are already incredibly powerful,' Song Qing acknowledged. 'But these herbs will significantly enhance her mental energy, helping her withstand the immense pressure of the Rakshasa God Trials and alleviate any lingering negative effects. They will also strengthen her physique, ensuring she can handle the immense power she wields.'
With all the herbs carefully stored away, Song Qing turned to Zhu Zhuqing, who was still excitedly pointing out various interesting features of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to Dugu Bo.
"Alright, Zhuqing," Song Qing said, smiling at her enthusiasm. "I think we've seen enough for today. It's time to head back."
Zhu Zhuqing's face fell slightly. "Already? But there's still so much to see!"
"Don't worry," Song Qing chuckled. "We can come back another time. For now, we need to go back to Heaven Dou City." He looked at Dugu Bo. "Thank you again, Senior. I really appreciate your help."
Dugu Bo grunted, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Just don't cause too much trouble, little brat." He was secretly pleased to have been of assistance, especially to the boy who had saved his family.
As they made their way back towards the exit of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Song Qing felt a sense of satisfaction. He had acquired the precious herbs he needed. Now, he just had to figure out the best way to use them to help his friends grow stronger. He knew this was a crucial step in their journey, and he was determined to ensure they all reached their full potential. 'With these herbs,' he thought, a renewed sense of purpose filling him, 'we'll be ready for anything.'