Chapter 52: The Hidden Treasure of the Yin-Yang Spring
At the summit of the mountain, a colossal col stretched across the center—broad, misty, and otherworldly.
It was as if the entire mountain had been hollowed out from within, leaving behind a massive, natural cavern.
From the mouth of the cave, warm mist rose like a living force, brushing against the faces of the two visitors with steamy moisture.
Ye Lingling's eyes widened in awe.
"What's inside?"
Qin Chuan gave her a soft, reassuring smile.
"Follow me down, and you'll find out."
Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her waist once again and leapt down into the cave.
Having experienced this kind of descent before, Ye Lingling didn't resist this time. Instead, she naturally held on to Qin Chuan, her arms wrapping around him in return.
The mist clung to her skin like a veil of silk, the delicate droplets accentuating the fairness and softness of her face.
As soon as they landed, Ye Lingling stood frozen, stunned by the breathtaking sight before her.
In front of her was a magnificent spring—half of it blazing with searing heat, and the other half radiating bone-chilling cold. Though they existed side by side, the two polar extremes never mingled. The dividing line between fire and ice shimmered dreamily, as if plucked from the realm of fantasy.
"This is incredible…" she whispered, instinctively reaching out toward the spring.
"No!"
Qin Chuan stopped her at once.
Ye Lingling looked at him in confusion.
Without another word, Qin Chuan plucked two ordinary herbs from his pouch and tossed one into each half of the spring.
What happened next left her speechless.
As soon as the herb touched the icy side, a sheet of frost erupted from the surface, climbing up the plant until it was entirely encased in crystalline ice.
On the other hand, the herb aimed at the boiling side began to dehydrate mid-air. By the time it got close to the surface, it had already shriveled into dry husk. And then—
Boom!
It burst into flames, incinerated into black ash.
Ye Lingling gasped and instinctively took a step back.
But her foot slipped on a small stone hidden beneath the mist, and she stumbled backward.
Qin Chuan turned sharply, but he was too far to catch her in time.
She was about to strike her head against the hard rock behind her when—**shhh—**a vine erupted from the ground like a serpent. It curled around her waist and yanked her sideways in a swift, fluid motion.
She crashed into the mountain wall, her fall broken by the vine's pull. It wasn't gentle—but it saved her life.
Still caught in the momentum, her body rolled against the wall before coming to a stop. The vine loosened and fell limply away, transforming before their eyes into a withered, decaying branch.
Qin Chuan rushed over immediately.
With a flick of his wrist, the Holy Spirit Sword appeared in his hand, and with two precise slashes—chi chi—the remaining vines withdrew into the cracks of the mountain wall.
Ye Lingling lay against the stone, breathing heavily, startled but otherwise unharmed.
Qin Chuan exhaled in relief.
Then his gaze shifted to the strange, rotting vine that had saved her. He crouched down, picked it up, and examined it carefully.
A strange light flashed in his eyes.
Ye Lingling, still shaken, asked,
"Your Majesty… was that a plant-type soul beast?"
"Yes," Qin Chuan replied, eyes sharp.
"The Wall Ghost Vine. It possesses over ten thousand years of soul power."
Ye Lingling's face paled as she covered her mouth in shock.
"The Wall Ghost Vine…?"
This rare and sinister soul beast was infamous. It began life buried deep in mountain crevices, slowly entangling the rocks as it matured. Over time, its roots would spread across entire mountain ranges, binding its life force to the stone itself.
What made it even more terrifying was its stealth—most would never even notice it until it was too late.
Once it reached ten thousand years in cultivation, it became a formidable predator. Even soul masters above its level could fall victim to its traps.
Qin Chuan looked calm as he said,
"Strange and deadly as it is, this Wall Ghost Vine is the most suitable soul ring for you right now. Its life energy is dense, and with it, you might gain a powerful control-type soul skill."
To an ordinary six-ring Soul Emperor, the Wall Ghost Vine would be a nightmare.
But Qin Chuan was no ordinary soul master—he was a Titled Douluo, and one who could rival Super Douluo in strength.
Ye Lingling was deeply moved.
Her eyes softened as she turned to look at him, her gaze lingering on his calm profile.
He really was powerful… and thoughtful.
Qin Chuan's gaze scanned the surroundings.
"Since we're already here," he said, "let's check if anything else of value is left."
Though the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had clearly been picked clean in the past, plenty of medicinal herbs still grew around its edges.
It was once a thriving herbal garden—though the rarest treasures had been taken, enough valuable remnants remained.
Ye Lingling, with her background as a healing-type spirit master and skilled pharmacologist, was in her element.
Soon, she found several precious herbs nestled among the rocky outcrops. Though they weren't as rare as immortal-grade herbs, their medicinal value was still significant.
Smiling warmly, she placed them carefully in her herb pouch.
"Your Majesty," she said joyfully, "how did you know about this place? There's so much here!"
Qin Chuan chuckled softly.
He had long known about this hidden treasure, but in his pride, had always believed he didn't need such things to reach the peak.
Part of it was confidence.
Part of it was being too caught up… fawning over Bibi Dong.
Regret stirred faintly in his heart.
He had neglected this sacred ground for far too long.
"Hmm?"
Ye Lingling's curious voice pulled him back.
"What's this?"
She hurried over to the base of the mountain wall, where something dark clung to the rocks.
Qin Chuan narrowed his eyes.
There, partially hidden in the shadows, was a patch of black, fungus-like growth—discreet and camouflaged. No wonder it had gone unnoticed.
Ye Lingling squatted down, inspecting it with curiosity.
"Is this… black fungus?"
Despite her expertise in herbs, she couldn't identify it.
Qin Chuan's eyes gleamed with recognition.
"No. This is Immortal Longevity Ganoderma."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"It's one of the finest types of ganoderma—the highest among immortal-grade herbs," he explained. "Back in Blue Star legends, Peng Zu was said to have lived 800 years. They recorded that he 'ate ganoderma and drank waterfalls, living in seclusion to maintain health.' But the truth is… he once stumbled upon a plant like this—Xian Shou Lingzhi."
"That's how he transcended the natural human lifespan. Without it, no ordinary man could live so long, let alone achieve immortality."
Ye Lingling gasped.
"This… this is that powerful?"
"If this news ever got out," Qin Chuan said solemnly, "even the Spirit Hall and the two empires' royal families would kill to possess it."
Her expression changed. She immediately took several steps back.
"Your Majesty, I can't take something this precious. Please accept it—Lingling dares not claim it."
Qin Chuan didn't argue.
She was right. With her current strength, she wouldn't be able to protect this treasure. Owning it would only bring danger.
He nodded.
"Since you found it, I won't take it all. I'll share a portion with you after picking it."
Carefully, he knelt and began to extract the ganoderma.
But just then—a dark shadow fell silently from above.
A sinister face twisted in a malicious grin appeared in the mist.
Before either of them could react, long, snake-like tendrils whipped through the air from the figure's sleeves—
Hiss—snap!
They lashed forward, wrapping tightly around Ye Lingling in an instant, pulling her violently toward the enemy's side—