Chapter 29: A Genius Beyond Reason
Eight. Years. Old.
The words echoed like a thunderclap inside Dugu Bo's mind.
The boy who had enchanted his granddaughter… was only eight?
Dugu Bo's brow furrowed so hard it looked like it might cave in on itself. Convinced he'd misjudged something, he quickly began rechecking Li Chang'an's bone age—touching the crown of his head, the spine, thigh, ankle. Again and again.
But the result didn't change.
Eight years old.
EIGHT. YEARS. OLD.
He looked like a tall, composed youth in his early twenties. His manner was calm and measured, nothing like the rowdy brats Dugu Bo knew. But the bones didn't lie—this so-called 'young man' hadn't even reached his tenth birthday!
Dugu Bo was dumbfounded.
An eight-year-old Soul Grandmaster?
How was that even possible?
If he hadn't already verified with his own hands that this boy was human, Dugu Bo would have assumed he was a soul beast in disguise, reborn and retraining in human form. Because this? This was not normal.
To reach Soul Grandmaster at eight years old… Even in the long and storied history of the Douluo Continent, such freakish talent had never been seen.
Suddenly, Dugu Bo felt ancient and irrelevant.
Compared to this little monster, he had wasted his life!
And if such a monster actually did become a Titled Douluo before the age of thirty? That ridiculous vow earlier—once laughable—was now a terrifying possibility.
Miss this chance, and he'd never find another genius like this in a thousand years.
As that realization sank in, the wrinkled old man's stern expression shifted dramatically. His face blossomed into the warmest smile Li Chang'an had ever seen—like a frostbitten volcano suddenly blooming with spring flowers.
He patted Li Chang'an's shoulder gently, like a kindly grandfather doting on his favorite grandchild.
"Good! Good boy!" Dugu Bo beamed. "You've proven your talent. I approve of your relationship with Yan'er."
Then he added, kindly, "If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, feel free to consult me. I'll make sure you avoid the common pitfalls. The sooner you reach Titled Douluo, the better."
Li Chang'an bowed respectfully. "Many thanks, Senior."
He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Originally, he'd been planning to use his martial soul's toxin-devouring trait as leverage. But apparently, raw talent was enough.
"…What did you just call me?" Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes meaningfully.
Li Chang'an blinked—then caught on instantly.
"…Grandpa," he corrected smoothly.
"Mhm." Dugu Bo nodded with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan was left utterly dazed by the sudden turn of events.
Her grandfather had been dead-set against them just moments ago. Now, after touching a few bones, he was beaming and asking to be called Grandpa?
Was she dreaming? Had someone slipped her a hallucinogenic herb?
Li Chang'an walked over and took her hand. "Yan'er, great news—Grandpa's agreed."
"…But why the sudden change?" she asked, still trying to process it all. "I mean, I'm happy, but isn't this a little too fast?"
Li Chang'an hesitated. "Well… it's a bit of a personal secret. I'll tell you eventually. But for now, promise me you won't ask."
Truth be told, he didn't dare reveal his age. Eight years old might not sound outrageous in a world where twelve-year-olds married and had children, but a seven-year age gap? That could raise serious doubts. She might think he wasn't mature enough, emotionally or mentally—and choose to walk away.
And that couldn't happen.
Winning over Dugu Bo had given him a powerful backer. He was now one step closer to the Immortal Herbs hidden near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. If it all fell apart because of a number…
He would cough up blood.
"…Okay," Dugu Yan nodded after a moment. "I won't ask."
But that didn't mean she wasn't still very curious.
They soon arrived at a strange lake.
Not strange in shape—but in color. The water wasn't transparent. One half was milky white, the other a rich vermilion red. And strangest of all, the two colors didn't mix at all—they remained perfectly divided, like an invisible wall ran down the center.
Li Chang'an stared in wonder. "This… This is incredible. Nature really is full of miracles."
"It's stunning, right?" Dugu Yan smiled beside him, clearly pleased by his reaction. "The first time I saw it, I was just as shocked. And this place is super weird—everything planted here grows crazy fast. Grandpa even grows herbs all around this area."
She had brought Li Chang'an here of her own accord, eager to show him the secret heart of her home. He hadn't even needed to come up with an excuse.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
He hadn't expected to find it so soon.
"Faster growth?" he murmured, frowning slightly. "Why does that sound so familiar…"
Dugu Yan tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
"I think I read about something like this in an old herbal manual… Give me a moment."
He gestured for silence and fell deep into thought, brows furrowing in concentration.
Dugu Yan waited patiently, watching him curiously.
After a long moment, Li Chang'an's face lit up. He turned and looked around, then back at the lake—eyes wide in realization.
"Treasure Basin!" he exclaimed.
"Huh?" Dugu Yan blinked. "Treasure what?"
"The Treasure Basin!" he said again, excited. "It's recorded in a very old herbal compendium I once read. That book not only described rare immortal herbs, but also the three legendary Treasure Basins—natural environments where the finest herbs in the world are born."
"They're not treasure basins in the sense of gold or jewels. These are treasure grounds for medicine cultivation."
Dugu Yan listened, intrigued.
Li Chang'an continued eagerly, "Normal plants can't grow in those places—they die quickly. But rare herbs thrive, growing at ten times the normal rate. A ten-year ganoderma grown here has the effect of a hundred-year plant."
"According to the book, these basins are created in places where the essence of heaven and earth concentrates unnaturally. And this lake—this exact place—is described as the 'Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.'"
"One spring, two elements. Yin and Yang in perfect opposition. A site so rare it may not appear even once in ten million years!"
"…Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well," Dugu Yan repeated slowly, staring at the red and white lake. "That name fits perfectly."
She still didn't grasp the full importance of what they'd found.
But Li Chang'an?
His heart was pounding with excitement.
He had found a treasure that could only be described in one word:
Miracle.
******
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