Seeing that Dugu Bo was no longer paying attention to him, Xu Yang swallowed a medicinal pill and began his own search.
Relying on his knowledge from the original Douluo Dalu and the information he had gathered about immortal herbs, Xu Yang selectively picked eight herbs: Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Beautiful Silk Tulip, Black Jade Divine Bamboo, Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, Ninth Grade Purple Ganoderma, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, and Cinnabar Lotus.
He didn't take the rest—just these eight already felt like too much, especially since this place had an owner. He planned to ask Ning Fengzhi later to prepare a few poison-attribute soul bones for Dugu Yan as compensation.
"Kid, do you think this is Land Dragon Golden Melon?!"
Soon, Dugu Bo came running over holding a bunch of golden sweet potatoes, presenting them to Xu Yang.
There were seven tubers, all golden in color. The largest was the size of a soccer ball, and the smallest was about the size of a ping pong ball. As soon as Dugu Bo handed them over, a rich earthy aroma wafted out—not the pungent smell of dirt, but a fragrant scent that refreshed the mind.
"Yes, I think so," Xu Yang nodded. From his knowledge, the only sweet potato-like plant in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was the Land Dragon Golden Melon, with no similar plants. Then, a bit embarrassed, he added, "Senior, if you have any extra Land Dragon Golden Melons, could I perhaps have one?"
The Land Dragon Golden Melon was not only suitable for snake-type soul masters like Dugu Yan, but also for Bone Douluo Gu Rong. The dragon energy within might even help evolve his martial soul, potentially to the same level as Sword Douluo.
"Sure! I only planned to use two of these seven. I'll replant the remaining five, so giving you one more is no problem," Dugu Bo nodded, grabbing the largest one and eating it bite by bite.
After finishing, Dugu Bo sat cross-legged and began refining it.
As time passed, the previously sunken contours of Dugu Bo's face began to plump out. His withered body regained flesh, no longer resembling a skeleton, and a faint soul power pressure began to radiate from him.
True to his status as a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo took less than twenty minutes to fully absorb the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.
"Immortal-grade herbs really are extraordinary. I can feel the poison in my body no longer affecting me. In fact, this one Earth Dragon Golden Melon brought my soul power to Rank 93. Once I transfer the toxins in my body into a soul bone, I believe I'll soon reach Rank 95."
Filled with joy, Dugu Bo instantly summoned his martial soul—the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. Compared to its earlier form, the new Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor hadn't changed much except for one thing: the two small horns on its head had become true dragon horns. Though not yet a complete Poison Dragon, it had already evolved into a Horned Dragon, a sub-dragon species martial soul—one of the top-tier martial souls.
The soul power bursting from him swept out like a hurricane in all directions. Xu Yang was like a lone boat on a vast sea, left to the mercy of the storm.
Witnessing the changes in Dugu Bo's martial soul, Xu Yang was now certain the herb was indeed the Land Dragon Golden Melon. He focused his eyes on the six remaining ones in front of Dugu Bo. Two of them were only slightly smaller than the one just consumed—one could go to Dugu Yan, and he could take the other.
As Dugu Bo vented years of pent-up frustration, his soul power surged wildly. But he was mindful of Xu Yang's presence and deliberately avoided unleashing it in Xu Yang's direction.
"So this is the strength of a Titled Douluo… Each time, it's even more astonishing. I will definitely become a Titled Douluo one day too."
Feeling the soul power as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, Xu Yang was filled with awe. He had seen Sword and Bone Douluo release their soul power before, but they had only done so gently, never with such unrestrained intensity. This gave him a whole new understanding of what it meant to be a Titled Douluo.
"Kid, thank you. You've helped me resolve the knot in my heart. If you ever need anything, come to me. If it's within my ability, I won't refuse," Dugu Bo said earnestly after calming down.
"Then thank you, Senior!" Xu Yang replied respectfully.
Later, Xu Yang received another Land Dragon Golden Melon from Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo took one for himself, and the two replanted the remaining ones in their original spots, ready to leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo was eager to return and help Dugu Yan resolve her martial soul issue, while Xu Yang's cultivation was still too weak to remain in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for long.
Besides, he needed to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to distribute the immortal herbs among Ning Fengzhi and the others, and he also needed to absorb the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower himself. Before leaving, Xu Yang took a long look at the Infernal Delicate Apricot sitting in the Yang spring.
Though not a king of immortal herbs like the Acacia Heartbroken Grass or the Beautiful Silk Tulip, the Infernal Delicate Apricot, together with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, formed the very core of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Its current quality was among the finest in the area.
Xu Yang didn't absorb it because of the nature of his martial soul. His Sun Martial Soul was close to Ultimate Fire and Ultimate Light, and the fiery and vigorous Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was more compatible. Moreover, the Infernal Delicate Apricot contained intense fire poison—without the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass as a counterbalance, it would be lethal.
And due to his martial soul's attributes, he could not absorb the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass either.
Thus, he could only leave the Infernal Delicate Apricot for when his Sun Martial Soul evolved to withstand the fire poison produced by Ultimate Fire.
Dugu Bo, noticing Xu Yang's gaze, immediately understood that Xu Yang was hiding the use of the two immortal herbs at the center of the springs. But he didn't mind—as long as Xu Yang didn't damage the treasured land, he could do whatever he pleased.
Back at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Xu Yang immediately requested leave from Qin Ming and went to the Seven Treasure Hotel to find Ning Haiyan.
"Uncle Ning! Uncle Ning!" As soon as he entered the hotel, Xu Yang shouted anxiously.
"What's wrong?!" Ning Haiyan appeared instantly, looking at Xu Yang with concern.
"Uncle Ning, take me back to the sect. I need to see the teacher immediately—it's extremely urgent!"
Seeing that Xu Yang was serious, Ning Haiyan's expression turned solemn. He grabbed Xu Yang, tossed him onto his back, and the two shot out of Heaven Dou City like a gust of wind. The moment they exited, Ning Haiyan released his full Soul Sage cultivation and even activated a self-enhancing soul skill, transforming into a stream of fire that disappeared into the horizon.
It was the fastest method Ning Haiyan could think of. Since transportation on the Douluo Continent was still primitive, a soul master's own speed was often faster. That's why he chose to carry Xu Yang himself.
A journey that would normally take half a day took less than three hours. They arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, though Ning Haiyan was nearly exhausted—his soul power almost entirely depleted.