Needless to say, I didn't win the race. What is even more embarrassing is that I passed out five minutes after it started. Perhaps it wasn't the brightest idea to use a skill that consumes soul power nonstop when my energy was already nearly depleted. Anyway, that is something I realized three days later when I woke up at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
As I opened my eyes, the sight of my family's amused faces greeted me. Uncle Xin was the first to speak, his grin wide and teasing. "Well, well, our mighty genius has returned to us! Did you enjoy your little nap?"
Grandpa Dugu Bo snorted. "Nap? The boy's lucky we were here to carry his sorry self all the way."
I groaned, sitting up slowly. My body felt like it had been run over by a herd of spirit beasts. "Alright, alright. I get it. You've all had your laughs. Now, can someone hand me some food before I pass out again?"
They chuckled but obliged, handing me a steaming bowl of soup. As I ate, I listened to their playful jabs. Uncle Xin vowed to redouble his efforts in cultivation, his eyes narrowing at me with mock seriousness. "I can't let you surpass me too quickly, Bei. It's bad enough you're catching up as it is."
"Don't worry, Uncle," I said between bites, my voice laced with sarcasm. "I'll wait for you. Maybe."
Grandpa rolled his eyes but smiled fondly. "Enough banter. If we're done teasing the boy, let's focus on what's next."
Finishing my meal, I stretched and stood, a new determination coursing through me. "It's time."
Dugu Bo's eyes sharpened. "Are you sure you're ready?"
I nodded firmly. "Let's begin."
We approached the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the sacred spring that separated the energies of extreme heat and cold. The waters shimmered in their divided colors, one side milky white, the other a fiery vermilion. The air was thick with energy, and even standing near it made my skin prickle.
Pointing at the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, I said, "I'll need those two."
Dugu Bo's eyes widened. "You're planning to consume both? At the same time?"
"Yes," I said, my voice steady. "And I'll need you to bring them to me. I'm too weak to approach them myself right now."
Reluctantly, Dugu Bo complied, carefully plucking the two Immortal Herbs. Their potent energies radiated even from a distance, one exuding a biting cold and the other a searing heat. Handing them to me, he hesitated. "Bei, are you sure about this? This isn't something to take lightly."
I smiled at him, my confidence unwavering. "Don't worry about me."
Before he could protest further, I popped both herbs into my mouth and swallowed them. The overwhelming clash of ice and fire assaulted my senses instantly. But I wasn't done surprising him. With a grin and a thumbs-up, I leaped into the well.
"Bei!" Dugu Bo's voice echoed behind me, filled with alarm.
The last thing I saw before sinking into the churning waters was his horrified expression.
The moment I hit the water, searing heat and bone-chilling cold tore through my body, each vying for dominance. It felt as if my very cells were being ripped apart and rebuilt over and over again. My muscles spasmed, and my veins burned as the conflicting energies raged within me.
This is worse than I expected.
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to endure. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang energies weren't just attacking me; they were reshaping me, testing my limits. My consciousness wavered, but I held on, determined to refine my body into something stronger.
Then, amidst the chaos, I felt it—two reactions within me. First, my Eight Spider Lances began to pulse, their venomous energy resonating with the surrounding power. They absorbed the ice and fire energies in tandem, their structure growing denser and more intricate with each passing second.
But the greater shock came from my second martial soul. The Dragon Slaying Saber emerged on its own, its blade shimmering with a bright, ancient light. It hovered around me, drawing in the remnants of the Dragon Kings' essences hidden within the spring's energy. The blade seemed alive, as if awakening from a deep slumber.
What is it doing? I wondered, even as the saber's presence soothed the raging energies within me. The harmony it sought between the ice and fire began to resonate through my body. Slowly, the energies started to align, finding a precarious balance.
As the blade absorbed more of the Dragon Kings' essence, it glowed brighter, its aura filling me with a sense of ancient power. My body, once on the verge of collapse, began to stabilize. The pain subsided, replaced by a growing warmth that spread through my limbs. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang energies, once at war, now danced in harmony within me, fueling a transformation unlike anything I had ever felt.
Could the Dragon Slaying Blade be the key to mastering this balance? I thought. And why now? Is it responding to the unique energies of this place, or is there more to its awakening?
Time lost meaning as I remained submerged, refining my body with the combined powers of the herbs and the spring. The Ice and Fire Alchemy Body was within reach, its benefits clear in the newfound strength coursing through me. Yet, I stayed underwater, letting the energies continue their work.
My thoughts swirled with theories. The Dragon Slaying Saber, in particular, seemed to hold secrets I had yet to uncover. Its presence here felt deliberate, as if it had been waiting for this moment.
By the time the energies within me fully harmonized, my body felt lighter, stronger. But I knew the process wasn't over yet. The Ice and Fire Alchemy Body required absolute refinement, and I wasn't leaving the well until it was complete.
Almost there, I thought. Just a little longer.