"This Golden Canyon is a gathering place for snake-type soul beasts within the Sunset Forest. There are even rumors that a hundred-thousand-year Golden Titan Python is hiding here, but that legend should be false. Back then, I once lured out an eighty-thousand-year Medusa from this canyon to hunt it, and I never encountered this so-called Golden Titan Python."
Dugu Bo spoke as he led the three of them deeper into the Golden Canyon.
"Come to think of it, my head soul bone also came from that Medusa. When you really think about it, the Golden Canyon and I are quite fated."
After entering the canyon, the four quickly realized that although the environment looked pleasant, it was clearly far more dangerous than it appeared on the surface.
Dugu Bo stepped on the thick layer of fallen leaves covering the ground, producing a crisp rustling sound, his expression filled with emotion.
Dugu Xin swept his gaze across the surroundings. With just a glance, he spotted several massive snake-type soul beasts clinging to the rock walls nearby, their bodies coiled and motionless. His eyes narrowed.
"There are way too many snakes here. We've barely stepped inside, and we've already seen several hundred-year Rock Wall Pythons. If we go any deeper, thousand-year snake-type soul beasts probably won't be rare at all!"
Qiangu Yunying, however, was drawn to a dazzling flower nearby. Seeing its vivid colors, she stopped and reached out to pick it.
Yin Zhang immediately grabbed her wrist. "Sister Yunying, be careful. Who knows if that's a poisonous herb? What if you get poisoned just by touching it?"
Qiangu Yunying laughed and glanced at Dugu Bo, who nodded in agreement with Yin Zhang.
"Xiao Zhang is right. In the Golden Canyon, most spirit herbs are highly toxic—just like this one. However, since venomous snakes dominate this area, there are also many antidotal herbs here. These herbs have miraculous effects against snake venom, just like this one."
Dugu Bo bent down and plucked another equally brilliant flower. He pointed to the fine white fuzz on its stalk as he explained, "The colors are just as vivid, but there's a layer of tiny white hairs on the stem. If you don't look closely, you won't be able to tell the difference at all."
Dugu Xin suddenly understood. "So the saying 'where there's poison, there's an antidote' basically describes this place, doesn't it?"
Dugu Bo nodded, placed the flower into the storage pouch at his waist, and continued leading them forward.
As they followed him deeper, Yin Zhang noticed many enchanting-looking herbs that were in fact extremely poisonous. And without exception, venomous snakes were always lurking nearby. The more bewitching the herb's appearance, the older and stronger the surrounding snakes tended to be.
Within the Golden Canyon, Dugu Bo's presence alone was enough to deter most of the venomous snakes. At the mere sensing of his aura, they would immediately retreat. However, once they reached the deeper regions, many of the snakes no longer feared his pressure. Their cold, vertical pupils watched the group silently from a distance.
"Alright," Dugu Bo said calmly. "I can already sense it. This area should be the territory of a fifty-thousand-year snake-type soul beast."
He summoned his martial soul, the Jade Phosphor Serpent, and swept the surroundings with his powerful spiritual perception. Soon, he detected a Rock Wall Python in a nearby cave, its massive body comparable to a small mountain.
His eyes lit up. "A fifty-thousand-year Rock Wall Python. The age is perfect. Xin'er, get ready to absorb the soul ring."
Although Dugu Xin's martial soul was also the Jade Phosphor Serpent, meaning toxic snake-type soul beasts were normally the best choice for him, this was his seventh soul ring. His seventh soul skill could only be Martial Soul True Body, making this fifty-thousand-year Rock Wall Python an ideal match.
Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying watched as Dugu Bo lured the Rock Wall Python out, severely injured it, and handed it over to Dugu Xin. Dugu Xin delivered the killing blow and began absorbing the fifty-thousand-year soul ring.
Dugu Xin sat cross-legged as the Jade Phosphor Serpent coiled behind him, its tongue flicking as it let out a low hiss. Above the python's corpse, a jet-black soul ring condensed and slowly descended onto Dugu Xin's body.
Watching Dugu Xin steadily guide the soul ring into himself and begin the absorption process, Dugu Bo couldn't help but smile in relief.
With Dugu Xin's current foundation, reaching the level of a Titled Douluo in the future was not impossible. If that day came, the Dugu Family would truly rise in strength.
After confirming that Dugu Xin was successfully absorbing the soul ring, Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying bid farewell to Dugu Bo and headed toward the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
When they arrived, the two were once again momentarily stunned by the breathtaking scenery. They stepped onto the land surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, taking in both its beauty and the scarred ground around it.
Qiangu Yunying glanced at the surroundings, then at the uneven, damaged terrain, and couldn't help but laugh. "Xiao Zhang, didn't Brother Bo say anything about us ruining this place like this?"
Yin Zhang shook his head with a smile. "Of course not. The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was extremely important to Brother Bo in the past because it helped him suppress the toxins in his body. But now that the Jade Phosphor Serpent venom has been completely resolved, this place no longer matters to him."
Qiangu Yunying nodded thoughtfully. "So that's how it is."
Yin Zhang removed his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles. After storing his clothes inside the golden bead chain around his neck, he turned to Qiangu Yunying—who was sneaking glances at him—and said, "Sister Yunying, cultivate here on your own for now. I'm going into the spring. I need to properly use its power to refine the remaining medicinal effects of the two Immortal Herbs still hidden in my body."
Qiangu Yunying nodded. "Mm, alright. I'll stay on shore and keep watch to make sure you're safe."
Yin Zhang didn't think there was any real danger, but he nodded anyway. Smiling, he leapt down into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The moment he entered the water, he felt an extreme alternation of cold and heat surge through his body. Icy chill and scorching warmth took turns assaulting him.
Fortunately, a mysterious energy rose from within, helping him neutralize both the cold toxin and the fire toxin. With the support of these energies, Yin Zhang could clearly feel the medicinal power of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot—both Immortal Herbs previously hidden within his body—beginning to transform into pure soul power. It flowed through his limbs and bones, filling him with warmth.
Although the increase in soul power wasn't dramatic, the improvement in his physical strength was unmistakable.
Yin Zhang closed his eyes in comfort, quietly floating on the surface of the water. After a moment, he sank slightly, leaving only his face above the surface as he continued to breathe.