Chapter 26: Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, Cooperation, Return To Spirit Hall.
Chapter 26: Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, Cooperation, Return To Spirit Hall.
"That's a great ability. We can now all work together to raise each other's levels as needed and there are two ways we can develop this. One is that we keep everyone's level even and when necessary focus on that individual so they quickly get to their next stage to get a spirit ring. The other is to focus on one individual and focus on them alone to be the forefront of the team. A stronger member would provide more energy back when it's someone else's turn. " Xue Tie offers but is rebuked by Qi Ming.
"Teacher, your desires are showing" This elicits some giggling and Xue Tie scratches his cheek with his finger. A simple smile on his face as he doesnt mind it. After all, no spirit master would decline a faster cultivation speed and Xue Tie with his grand goals is naturally no outlier to this thought.
While his desires are obvious, the others also have greedy looks but Xia Wei quickly comes to a resolution.
"I am sorry to offer a contradicting idea. But I hope you all can support me in my cultivation. With increased strength, my abilities should become more varied in their siphoning power, as such, even if we encounter another strong opponent, I can simply drain them of their strongest force and the rest of you can work together to take them down while I provide whoever needs or can handle the stolen power." The team is once again put into a dilemma but they eventually agree to her suggestion due to the simple fact. 'I don't need to get stronger, I have a strong teammate who can give me my enemies strength.' While this won't be able to bridge all gaps, For the levels they are currently at, it's not a bad suggestion.
Xue Tie gets up from his seated position and dusts himself off. "Alright, since we seem to have decided for now. How about moving on."
"Eh, are we not returning" the rest of the team asks.
"Not quite yet, There has always been something I was curious about deeper in Sunset Forest. I believe I had just enough strength to investigate it. I won't mind sharing what is there with you all either." Xue Tie blatantly lies as he hopes to find the Fire Ice Yin yang Well and plant some herbs there that may be there. The rest of the team has no reason to refuse and everyone begins making their way forward.
The team splits up but only within 80 feet of each other where they can vaguely sense each other. Shortening the distance is if obstacles arise or beasts are encountered. Qi Ming is the closest as his martial spirit would get him there the fastest to Xia Wei.
After a few hours of investigating, Xue Tie finally spots a few signs that he vividly remembers about the local through the manga that indicated the direction. He calls his group over who have curious looks and he leads them through the bushes and trees for a few more minutes before finding IT. The Fire Ice Yin Yang Well. Giant blue and red crystals adorn the locations with the center being a small lake that Xue Tie knows was created around the foundation of the fire and ice dragon kings. An equilibrium was made of their powers and it has turned into a small-scale holy land for beasts and herbs alike. Dugu Bo, a titled douluo, but Xue Tie made sure to check the records and there are no spirit douluo or tilted douluo under that name or anything related to poison except one Spirit hall elder named She Long who wields the snake lance martial spirit. So, if Dugu Bo didn't somehow die prematurely, he should be at most a spirit emperor. And while that is still a grave opponent. According to what he knows, he is starting to realize that his own martial spirit is poisoning him. If he offers the treatment method that Tang San offered him then he would gain his appreciation. As someone who read the light novel, certain details are provided even if they make no sense to the reader. What worries him right now is the fact that his group didn't encounter the poisonous mist that should be encircling the land. It's possible that it comes and goes but he has no idea for sure.
While he is in his own thoughts, his people begin exploring and notice something that makes their eyes almost pop out
"Captain, take a look at this" Xue Tie does and sees an assortment of immortal herbs that verifies that Dugu Bo was indeed already in possession of this place. He looks around at the various herbs and finds a few that he has an interest in but settles his gaze for another one. A pseudo immortal herb, or rather it doesnt quite qualify as an immortal herb but provides similar effects. The Emperor Ginseng, meant to help one's foundations and reinforce one's blood vessels. It's not qualified as an immortal herb because it's not gentle enough for even non cultivators to take. It's also much easier to nurture, granted this is the Ice Fire Yin Yang well, so a bit of effort goes a long way here. The reason he doesnt go for the other herbs is because they are more useful later down the line when one's speed decreases greatly. They reinvigorate talent just like how Tang San did so for the rest of his team.
"Dong touch the others, we don't need them now. Ill just take this one, we will keep this a secret unless necessary" Xue Tie says as he identifies all the known immortal herbs which are still in their mid tier ages. It will be a long while before they reach their full effect but it should happen within the next 10 years or so.
'Hmmm. Dugu Bo must have used them to try finding a cure for himself. His child should still be alive as Dugu yan was roughly the same age as Tang San.
Xue Tie approaches the Emperor Ginseng and is about to extract it when he hears a haughty voice ring out in the trees above him.
"You would best release it. I applaud your resolve to only take one, but you are mistaken in that you have the capacity to take any at all with me around." the voice warns.
Xue Tie simply smiles and responds "I have the capacity to take it, so why shouldn't I, but for the sake or cordiality, I am willing to pay for it"
"Tsk, you think Emperor Ginseng can be just bought."
"Yes."
"There was a story long ago where Emperor Ginseng was put up for auction in a place of many experts and clans. The final result was 2.5 million gold. I am willing to pay 1 million gold for it as I have no other competitors
Pressure flashes on Xue Tie, he is almost forced to kneel but is able to hold steady while only hunched over. His hands are not on his knees, he is holding steady by his will and leg power.
"And where would a brat, green beyond his years, have that much money? Are you the newest head of the 7 glazed Tile pagoda, Ning Fengzhi?"
(A/N: no mention of Ning Zengzhi's age is known or when he took control. But it's described that once he took over, the clan rose to glory. So I made him roughly 20 years old now and he took over the clan 5 years ago but asked for the previous leader to maintain the position until recently. This made it so he has many years to accumulate favors and services, increasing the pagoda clans reputation and wealth more than what it has already built up.)
"Hehe, Not quite, I'm a self made man. Surely you would have heard of Gummy Beasts?"
Silence follows for a few seconds before the voice says again, "I didn't think the rumor about a child being the owner was true. Yet, how can I be sure that you or your group won't reveal the well to others? You are members of spirit Hall after all."
"Well, I am quite greedy, and as the Guardian to the Holy Lady. I hold quite a high status and in the future, my holy lady will be the new pope. As such, I will have only 1 or 2 people I will actually have to report to. Also, these herbs haven't ripened. Now, from all that you know, do you consider me a waste, Dugu Bo?" Xue Tie says and turns around and his suspicions are correct and what lies above him in the tree top is a tall man in his early 30s with long light green hair but the tips of it are still brown (his original hair color). He wears a tight green and black robe that shows off his abs and other muscles even though he is a control system spirit master.
The man who is Dugu Bo frowns at his identity being known but he knows that he can't kill the group in front of him, Spirit Hall would have surely known that they would be in Sunset Forest and if their holy lady demanded it, they might send a titled douluo to investigate. He wouldn't live long enough to enjoy this land further as he would be killed. The miasma outside doesnt do much against Titled Douluo if they don't stay long.
Dugu Bo sighs and jumps down from the tree top while saying, "Fine, but I'm setting the price of that Emperor Ginseng at 1.5m gold not 1 million. The Immortal herbs are worth 4 million at least." While he isn't happy about sharing the land, he will at least attempt to make money but he can't be too greedy as his opponent can just report and have him killed. At most, he wouldn't get the herb but having the support of a mini 7 GTPC (7 glazed tile pagoda clan. That is it's official shortening on the wiki's) on his back and a stable relationship with Spirit Hall with Xue Tie as his backing.
Xue Tie nods in response, expecting something like this and he is happy a price was even put forth for the immortal herbs. He will surely have enough money to buy them but as a precaution, he will check how much he has once he returns and examine his monthly rates his business is currently giving.
"Pleasure doing business with you." Xue TIe says as he takes out a slip with certain embroideries on it. He writes out an amount, signing it and hands it over to Dugu Bo. "Let me know if you need any help, you can come visit Spirit City to find me. I'm going to reserve a small spot in the corner here for my own herbs if you don't mind" Xue Tie says after shaking hands with Dugu Bo and begins setting the herbs he got from his parents in the hope that their quality increases a bit before he needs them.
His team relaxes as their oppressor settles down to make business with their captain.
Xue Tie collects the Emperor Ginseng and gathers his group to begin heading out. He tells his team to make a note of the various herbs they like. Shi Xin focuses on the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower as it would surely evolve his martial spirit and strengthen his fire abilities but he needs to find something that can balance out his poison too. Qi Ming sets his eyes on the Eight petals immortal orchid. Du Lie sets his eyes on the Beautiful Silk Tulip while surprisingly Xia Wei focuses herself on the Yearning Heartbroken Red. A flower that can only be extracted by feelings of pure love. As hesitation could ruin the flower.It is the only herb that has already reached maturity but it's not like Dugu Bo can use it otherwise he would have already. Dugu Bo notices this gaze and says, "if you have the confidence to pick that one then you are welcome to it. I won't charge for it as I have no need for ti"
'Does she have someone she likes? I only hope that she doesnt waver, as otherwise it is likely she would befall a curse of the flower via pains in her heart.' Xue Tie thinks to himself as he allows her to try if she is confident but tells her to be careful.
Xia Wei on the other hand has a blush on her face as she can tell the worry that Xue Tie has for her. Due to the fairytale story of the herb, she is aware of what the flower is and its effects. Her mind filtering through her various encounters with a certain someone. Being saved by him and given the opportunity to get stronger. His care in ensuring that she gets the proper training for her body and doesnt slack off as she has seen the books he reads are medicinal ones. His analysis and care for the team has been shown time and time again that he has never done them harm except their own foolishness during the 2nd match of the group competition. Yet he has stood firm and tall. A pillar like no other.
As she reminisces, the yearning Heartbroken red begins to bloom and release a shining white aura. Xia Wei notices this and spits up blood onto the flower which makes the shining white turning into a mellow red as the requirements have been met. She harvests the flower and stores it gently in her pocket. She has learned her lessons well, if you have something good, save it for emergencies or when you need it most, especially the crows nest aka the rock that the flower grows on is considered a powerful defensive artifact. While these are contradicting thoughts to the care she just showed yet it is the Psychology of her beloved that it is appropriate.
With the flowers gathered, the group is escorted out of the Well by the paranoid Dugu Bo. The team returns to Sunset City and begin making their way back home. Xia Wei has a smile on the ride home as she occasionally rubs the flower.
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Regardless, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I hope I did an early stage Dugu Bo (someone who hasn't lost his children yet) justice. I'm saving the cure method for later.