"In that case, I won't press you. Since it's something important, I won't insist you stay. Next time you visit Heaven Dou City, you must let my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School play the perfect host."
Hearing it was something important, Ning Fengzhi didn't push further. He'd come to win Yu Yan's favor, not to make himself disliked.
"Thank you for your understanding, School Master Ning. The next time I'm in Heaven Dou City, I'll certainly come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to impose on your hospitality."
Everyone knows "next time for sure" is just polite; whether he actually goes next time naturally depends on the circumstances.
"Then it's settled."
Ning Fengzhi didn't probe whether Yu Yan's words were sincere. All that mattered was that Yu Yan had accepted his invitation—an opening for conversation next time.
Seizing the topic, Ning Fengzhi continued chatting with Yu Yan. During their talk he freely offered advice on choosing spirit rings. Guidance from a true master of Spirit Theory gave Yu Yan plenty to think about.
Sword Douluo disliked talking with outsiders. Even if Yu Yan was a Genius, so what? If he never became a Titled Douluo, he still wouldn't enter Sword Douluo's eyes.
Ning Rongrong watched her father and Yu Yan chatting cheerfully, unable to get a word in—and not even sure what she would say.
More than an hour later, a powerful spirit power—so strong even Yu Yan could sense it—swept through the room.
"Young friend Yu Yan, Dugu Bo has come looking for you."
As Ning Fengzhi spoke, a dark-green figure pushed open the door.
The moment he stepped inside, Dugu Bo cut short whatever he'd been about to say when he saw who was in the room.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Sect Master Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin—why were these two here?
While Dugu Bo frowned in thought, Ning Fengzhi, realizing it was time to leave, stood. "Your Excellency Poison Douluo, I merely dropped by for a brief chat with young friend Yu Yan. Since you're here, I'll leave you two to talk."
"Young friend Yu Yan, we'll meet again."
After explaining himself to Dugu Bo and bidding farewell to Yu Yan, Ning Fengzhi departed with Sword Douluo and Ning Rongrong.
"Didn't expect you to have ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, kid.
Once the three were far away, Dugu Bo sat down in the private room, teasing while probing the nature of Yu Yan's relationship with the school.
"School Master Ning thinks I might become a Titled Douluo and wants to recruit me. That's all."
For the next half year he'd be stuck with Dugu Bo, and the man's character was trustworthy, so Yu Yan saw no need to hide the facts and laid them out plainly.
"Did you agree?"
Hearing Yu Yan's straightforward answer, Dugu Bo felt his opinion of the youth rise.
People like those who are direct; no one enjoys the twisty and scheming sort.
"If I'd agreed to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, they'd have contacted you directly instead of going through your granddaughter."
Yu Yan's reply was blunt and simple.
Or rather, if Yu Yan really had thrown his lot in with the school, he might have demanded far harsher terms instead of the current mutually beneficial arrangement.
"So that's how it is. Kid, shall we set off now?"
Satisfied that Yu Yan had no real connection with the school, Dugu Bo didn't press for details and simply asked if they could leave.
"I'll inform Vice Dean Jiang Jing, then we can go."
With Dugu Bo's nod, Yu Yan left the private room and told Vice Dean Jiang Jing he was departing with Dugu Bo.
After making sure nothing was forgotten, Yu Yan followed Dugu Bo out of Heaven Dou City, heading for Sunset Forest.
Since Yu Yan couldn't fly, the impatient Dugu Bo—eager to test the truth of Yu Yan's claims—grabbed the youth by the collar and sped toward Sunset Forest at top speed. The familiar scenery of Sunset Forest appeared once more in Yu Yan's sight.
Before entering, Dugu Bo released a hint of a Titled Douluo's pressure, keeping any flying Spirit Beasts from disturbing them.
Passing through a veil of poison mist, Dugu Bo led Yu Yan to an inverted-cone-shaped valley. Thick, hot steam rose from it, the air humid with the sharp scent of sulfur.
Hovering in the air, Dugu Bo gazed at the valley with a touch of sentiment. Once his deal with Yu Yan was done, this medicinal garden would no longer be his.
Having lived here for quite some time, Dugu Bo felt attached to the place. After a moment's nostalgia he brought Yu Yan down to the valley floor.
An oval hot spring lay at the center: half its water a chill milky white that radiated cold, half a searing vermilion that rolled with heat. Though both occupied the same pool, they stayed perfectly separate, each keeping strictly to its own side.
Centered on the hot spring, Yu Yan saw the Immortal Herbs that had transformed the Shrek Seven Devils, along with several other extremely rare plants.
Seeing herbs whose age and potency far exceeded anything in medical texts, Yu Yan marveled inwardly: the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, one of the three great convergence spots, truly lives up to its fame.
Intent on claiming the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he couldn't afford ignorance. At Balak Junior Soul Master Academy and Exotic Beast Academy he'd devoured books on medicinal plants and could recognize many.
Because he knew what normal herbs looked like, the sight of those in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well stunned him.
Any single plant taken outside would drive herb-lovers wild.
"Kid, this is my garden. Ready to detoxify me now?"
While Yu Yan was lost in admiration, Dugu Bo cut in, asking when the cure would begin.
"Senior, I need to make some preparations. Please leave for now; in two days I'll honor our agreement and detoxify you."
Collecting himself, Yu Yan pulled his gaze from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and stated his request.
What he planned next absolutely could not be seen by Dugu Bo.
"Fine. I'll return in two days."
Knowing Yu Yan wouldn't let him watch the process, Dugu Bo said no more and leapt into the air, flying away.
Standing on a nearby peak, he looked down at the mist-shrouded valley. "Don't disappoint me, kid."
After watching for a moment, Dugu Bo turned and walked into a cave behind him, where he would wait out the two days.
Once Dugu Bo was gone, Yu Yan turned eager eyes to the two Immortal Herbs by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well that suited him best:
"blazing apricot cactus, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass—here I come!"