Chapter 36: Ice and Fire Dragon Soul Bone

On the other side, at Tiandou Academy.

The moment Sword Douluo learned that Dugu Bo had taken Ning Xi and Jun Han away, his expression shifted drastically. He departed immediately for the Sunset Forest, the territory of Dugu Bo.

His heart was filled with fury and apprehension; he was certain Dugu Bo harbored some nefarious intent. Dugu Bo had always been known for his ruthless methods, and it was baffling that he would suddenly abduct the pair. Concerned for their safety, Sword Douluo hurried toward the forest.

"Dugu Bo, you had better give me a reasonable explanation," Sword Douluo thought to himself, his eyes glinting with cold light. If any harm came to his young apprentice, he would never forgive Dugu Bo.

Upon reaching the Sunset Forest, Sword Douluo felt the air thick with intense fluctuations of soul power. Tracking the energy, he soon located Dugu Bo’s residence.

"Dugu Bo, come out!" Sword Douluo shouted, his voice brimming with majesty and ice. It was as sharp and murderous as the Seven-Kill Sword itself.

Dugu Bo, hearing himself called out, froze for a moment, his heart sinking. *Damn it, has Chen Xin tracked me down already?*

Forced to act, Dugu Bo gave Dugu Yan a few quick instructions before stepping out of the herb garden. He saw Sword Douluo standing not far away, eyes filled with hostility.

"Chen Xin? How did you—" Before Dugu Bo could finish, Sword Douluo launched his attack without hesitation. "Where have you taken my young apprentice and Jun Han? What are you planning?"

Startled, Dugu Bo quickly summoned his martial soul to dodge the strike. "It’s a misunderstanding, Chen Xin!"

But Sword Douluo would not grant him another chance to explain. "Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!" Sword Douluo roared, the Seven-Kill Sword unsheathing instantly, its blade shimmering with a chilling radiance. Countless sword shadows descended upon Dugu Bo like a deluge, each one carrying immense soul power. Sword Douluo’s assault was swift and fierce, aiming to deliver a fatal blow before Dugu Bo could react.

Although caught off guard, Dugu Bo was a veteran of many battles. He instantly manifested his Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor martial soul. The scales of the serpent shimmered with green light, forming a sturdy defense. "Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor!" Dugu Bo bellowed. His martial soul erupted with full force, his figure dissolving into a myriad of serpent shadows to evade the sword strikes.

While Sword Douluo’s offense was relentless, the shifting serpent shadows made it impossible to lock onto a target. Sword images and serpent shadows intertwined in the air, erupting in a series of booms. Dugu Bo knew that if he remained purely on the defensive, he would eventually fall.

He decided to counterattack, utilizing the agility and speed of the serpent shadows to search for a weakness in Sword Douluo’s guard. However, he was no match for the Sword Douluo and could only scramble to evade! *Ah, if only I had explained things to them before bringing Ning Xi here. I was just too excited!*

Dugu Bo let out a low growl, his serpent shadows coalescing into a massive, jagged fang that thrust directly toward Sword Douluo’s chest. Sword Douluo’s eyes narrowed; he held his Seven-Kill Sword horizontally, blocking the strike.

"Boom!" A deafening roar erupted as the fang collided with the blade, sending waves of soul power rippling outward. The entire Sunset Forest seemed to tremble, the leaves rustling violently. Both men retreated several paces, only to charge at each other once more. This time, they abandoned technique for a direct clash of raw soul power.

Sword Douluo raised the Seven-Kill Sword high, his soul power surging to form a colossal sword energy that descended like a falling star. Dugu Bo did not yield; his Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor erupted fully, his soul power transforming into endless toxic mist that collided with the sword energy.

"Boom!" Another massive blast erupted, the collision of their soul powers creating a blinding radiance. The entire forest was shaken by the shockwaves; the ground cracked, and trees were uprooted.

Though the battle had reached a fever pitch, Dugu Bo stubbornly refused to call Ning Xi out, desperately parrying Sword Douluo’s attacks. He was beginning to lose ground, and his heart ached—he had promised not to disturb Ning Xi while she prepared the antidote.

***

Surveying the multitude of immortal herbs, Ning Xi felt dazzled. She began to pick them, and only when she had gathered almost all of them did she finally feel satisfied. This place was truly a treasury of heaven and earth’s treasures; she must ensure Dugu Bo protected it well.

Ning Xi’s gaze fell upon the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot Silk. She knew that by consuming these two and entering the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, one could achieve immunity to both ice and fire, provided they survived the agony.

Excitement bubbled within her. She checked on Jun Han and found him also absorbing the essence of the herbs. Without further hesitation, she placed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass into her mouth. The extreme cold instantly tore through her body, bringing heart-wrenching pain. Immediately after, she consumed the Fiery Apricot Silk. The fire poison and cold venom intertwined within her, creating a sensation that defied description.

Yet, Ning Xi understood that only by enduring this torment could she forge a dual-immune body and strengthen her constitution. Gritting her teeth, she leapt into the icy and fiery lake.

In that instant, it felt as if she were trapped between two worlds of ice and fire, the cold and heat alternating in their assault on her body. The two energies churned wildly within her, battering her willpower and testing her limits. The pain was like thousands of knives slicing through her, or being burned by raging flames, pushing her to the brink of losing consciousness.

Ning Xi bit her lip, clinging to her unyielding will and her hunger for power, and endured. Bathed in this agony, her body gradually adapted to the two extreme energies, and the impurities within her were slowly purged.

As her consciousness returned, she opened her eyes to find she could swim freely in the water. She had succeeded!

*Wonderful!*

After the tempering provided by the immortal herbs, she felt her physical strength was greater than ever. Yet, deep beneath the water’s surface, a faint red and blue light flickered. Ning Xi focused her gaze into the depths.

"What is that?"

Her heart hammered against her ribs; it felt as if some mysterious object were calling her to swim deeper. Following her instincts, she took a deep breath and dove toward the red and blue glow. With every inch closer, her heart raced faster, and she approached the light in a fever of anticipation.

*Almost there!*

As she focused, she realized in shock: they were two spirit bones!

Hidden beneath the water were two spirit bones! They were stacked almost on top of each other, presenting a strange, interwoven form of ice and fire. One half was as clear and crystalline as cold ice, emitting a faint blue light. The other was as scorching as a raging flame. On the surface of the bones flowed delicate, intricate dragon-scale patterns, as if two dragons of ice and fire were circling them, emitting a deafening roar.

Ning Xi was stunned. When she recovered, her face lit up with joy. She sat cross-legged immediately, placing the Ice and Fire Dragon Spirit Bones before her. It felt as though she had been struck by the greatest stroke of fortune, and she was ecstatic.

Above the bones, the light of ice and fire interlaced, and the sound of dragon roars grew thunderous. Ning Xi gathered her focus, guiding her soul power to resonate with the spirit bones. She had never in her wildest dreams imagined she would stumble upon such a prize!