The Qiluo Tulip's self-promotion was remarkably successful, thoroughly convincing Jing Shaoyu.
Shaoyu had already considered the idea of gathering all the Ferocious Beasts and Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in one sweep. Now that the Qiluo Tulip had taken the initiative to speak up, what reason did he have to hesitate? It was simply a matter of going along with the flow.
"The three of you really have me stumped," Shaoyu said with a troubled expression, his tone laced with hesitation, which sent the Qiluo Tulip into a panic.
Among those close to Shaoyu, some already had no shortage of Soul Spirits, while others were completely incompatible. It truly was a difficult choice.
"My Lord, my compatibility is very broad," the Qiluo Tulip hurriedly explained. "Plant-type Martial Souls, light-attribute or water-attribute Martial Souls would all work. Failing that, that young lady would also be suitable. I sense her Soul Power leans toward support—if she were to fuse with me, her supportive abilities would surely reach new heights!"
The Qiluo Tulip pointed at Xu Xiaoyan, who was still absorbing and refining the Star Luo Spirit Pearl, its expression earnest and sincere.
"Very well. Once Xiaoyan wakes up, you can ask her yourself. If she agrees, I'll give my approval," Shaoyu said, though inwardly he was already overjoyed. Having Xiaoyan fuse with the Qiluo Tulip as her Soul Spirit had been his plan all along.
Xiaoyan alone would benefit from two Immortal Herbs—others might have some thoughts about it, but it was ultimately acceptable, given her unique circumstances.
"Thank you, my Lord!" The Qiluo Tulip was ecstatic, repeatedly expressing its gratitude.
"My Lord, what about us?" The Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress and the Dilong Golden Melon, seeing that the Qiluo Tulip had also found a way out, grew even more anxious and impatient, calling out urgently.
"As for you two," Shaoyu looked at them thoughtfully, "I haven't thought of suitable candidates yet. But you can follow me for now, and when the right person comes along, we can discuss it then."
The Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress and the Dilong Golden Melon immediately cheered, "Thank you, my Lord!"
They didn't particularly care whether there was a suitable candidate—what mattered was that they could stay by Shaoyu's side, basking in the radiance of the Creator. That was the true reason they wanted to leave.
Watching Shaoyu so casually take away the Ferocious Beasts from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zang Xin was utterly awestruck. However, it was the Qiluo Tulip's next move that truly made him understand the depths of a traitor's infamy.
"My Lord, would you like to select a Spiritual Object for yourself?" the Qiluo Tulip asked with an ingratiating smile.
Seeing its expression, Shaoyu had an inkling of what was coming and chuckled. "What would you recommend? Let's hear it."
"Please look here, my Lord!" The Qiluo Tulip's smile widened as it stepped aside. The surrounding plants parted, revealing a large, pitch-black stone, smooth and polished, standing out starkly among the many Immortal Herbs.
But what drew even more attention was the flower growing atop the stone—pure white like jade, delicate as a fragile beauty. Yet deep within its petals was a crimson hue, vivid as blood, like a weeping maiden, exuding a sorrowful, pitiable beauty that made anyone who saw it feel an involuntary melancholy.
"What a beautiful flower!" Ye Xinglan and Zang Xin couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"This is..." Jing Shaoyu's expression turned peculiar as he said, "The Lovesick Heartbreak Red?"
"Your Majesty has excellent discernment!" The Qiluo Tulip explained, "This is indeed the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, a divine treasure among Immortal Herbs. Even we Qiluo Tulips can only bow our heads in submission before it. Due to its unique nature, despite having over a hundred thousand years of cultivation, it still hasn't developed sentience."
"Your Majesty can pluck it. Not only can it greatly enhance Soul Power, but it also possesses the powerful healing ability to revive the dead and regenerate flesh. In critical moments, it can even grant Your Majesty an extra life. It's the most suitable Spiritual Object for Your Majesty!"
"To think such an Immortal Herb truly exists. I always thought it was just a legend," Zang Xin said in amazement, his gaze lingering on the peony-like Lovesick Heartbreak Red. "Doesn't it require the heart's blood of someone deeply in love to be plucked?"
"The heart's blood of someone deeply in love..." Ye Xinglan murmured to herself. For some reason, her eyes when looking at Jing Shaoyu held a trace of expectation and a hint of hesitation.
The Qiluo Tulip said, "Exactly! Unlike us Spiritual Objects born from heaven and earth, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red is a true Spiritual Object with Divine Blood. Legend says it was born from the heart's blood of the God of Love, making it a divine object. That's why it's so special."
Jing Shaoyu's expression remained calm. The legend of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red was likely true, as he could indeed sense a faint trace of Divinity from it—probably from the legendary God of Love. But this didn't matter to him. At its core, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red was still a plant, and all plants fell under his dominion.
He didn't presumptuously attempt to pluck it using his own emotions, knowing full well he wasn't a monogamous person. With clear self-awareness as a scoundrel, Jing Shaoyu directly exercised his authority, collecting both the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and the Jet Black Stone beneath it into his possession.
To outsiders, this appeared as though Jing Shaoyu had successfully plucked the flower of ultimate love and devotion.
Thus, the look Ye Xinglan gave Jing Shaoyu was practically melting him on the spot.
"Your Majesty, please follow me again!" Seeing Jing Shaoyu accept the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the Qiluo Tulip grew even more delighted and led Jing Shaoyu and the other two back to the edge of the Yin-Yang Twin Springs. It addressed the Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress and the Eight-Horned Xuanbing Grass: "A'Jiao, Xiao Bing, retrieve the treasures from the spring's depths and present them to His Majesty."
"Right away!" The Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress had no reservations and immediately turned to dive into the scorching hot Yang Spring.
Meanwhile, the Eight-Horned Xuanbing Grass, which had been waiting for Lan Fozi to refine the Frigid Ice Dew, showed a hint of hesitation. But remembering how even the Qiluo Tulip had given away the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, it relented and plunged into the frigid Yin Spring.
Seeing this, Jing Shaoyu's mind raced with possibilities, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.
The Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress and the Eight-Horned Xuanbing Grass didn't keep them waiting long. Soon, they emerged from the springs, each holding a profound, glowing orb. From these orbs, Jing Shaoyu and the others could sense a powerful, primal aura—as if these were artifacts that had traversed countless ages from ancient times.
"Master, the Soul Bones in A'jiao and Xiao Bing's possession were left behind after the fall of the Water-Fire Dragon Kings. They've been lying at the bottom of the springs all this time, useless to us. Today, we offer them to you," said the Qiluo Tulip. "We hope they can be of assistance."
"Soul Bones of the Water-Fire Dragon Kings! Good heavens!" Zang Xin couldn't help but click his tongue, his eyes wide with astonishment.
Jing Shaoyu was equally surprised. Although he had known beforehand that the Water-Fire Dragon Kings were buried beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he never imagined they would have left behind Soul Bones. For a moment, he didn't know whether to marvel at the power of Douluo Star's laws or mock the weakness of the Water-Fire Dragon Kings. At the very least, they were second-level gods—could even deities not escape their identity as Soul Beasts?
In any case, these were two divine-level Soul Bones! Whether Jing Shaoyu fused with them himself or gave them to others, it would undoubtedly be a massive boost.
He asked, "If I take these two Soul Bones, will it have any adverse effects on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Jing Shaoyu understood the difference between draining a pond dry and sustainably draining it. He didn't want his careless actions to cause the collapse of this treasure trove.
"Master, you worry too much," the Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress explained. "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was born from the Divine Souls and God Power of the two Dragon Kings. These two Soul Bones won't affect it. In fact, their presence has been interfering with the purity of the Yin-Yang Twin Springs."
"Indeed," the Qiluo Tulip added, taking the two Soul Bones from the Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress and the Eight-Horned Xuanbing Grass and presenting them to Jing Shaoyu. "Master, these are both Torso bones, the most precious type, containing pure energies of ultimate fire and ultimate water. They will surely help you create two powerful assistants."
Hearing this, Jing Shaoyu no longer hesitated and took the two Soul Bones. One was warm to the touch, the other icy cold—just as the Qiluo Tulip had said. They were indeed Torso bones, and divine-level ones at that, far more valuable than those from Ferocious Beasts. In terms of worth, they could rival his Nature Spirit Skull or Holy-Demonic Dragon King Torso bone.
"Uncle Zang, do either of these Soul Bones interest you?" Jing Shaoyu pondered how to handle the two Torso bones, first considering the witness, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin. He pushed the bones toward Zang Xin and asked.
Zang Xin promptly pushed them back, sighing regretfully. "If this were fifty years ago, I wouldn't have let them go. But it's too late now—I already have a Torso bone. You can't expect me to ruin my foundation just for another Soul Bone, can you?"
"Ah!" Jing Shaoyu stiffened, then chuckled awkwardly. "My apologies."
Although the Soul Master world had discovered methods to replace Soul Bones, this was limited to limb bones. For critical areas like the skull and torso, it remained impossible—no one was willing to risk it. A misstep in these regions meant certain death.
"No matter," Zang Xin waved his hand. "You can decide what to do with these Soul Bones yourself. No need to consult me."
"Mm." Jing Shaoyu nodded, then fell into deep thought.
This Water Dragon King torso bone was actually quite easy to assign—Lan Fozi would be the perfect candidate. However, Jing Shaoyu wasn't in a hurry to give it to her, so he temporarily stored it away. The Fire Dragon King torso bone was the one that required careful consideration. In terms of closeness, Leng Yaozhu was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.
Yet, as a Limit Douluo, Leng Yaozhu shared the same drawback as Zang Xin—she already possessed a complete set of six soul bones. Hah, what every Soul Master dreamed of—having all six soul bones—ironically became a disadvantage in Jing Shaoyu's eyes. If other Soul Masters found out, they'd probably drown him in a flood of spit.
Aside from Leng Yaozhu, Jing Shaoyu couldn't think of anyone else worthy of receiving a divine-level torso bone. Both Yun Ming and Ya Li already had complete sets of six soul bones, while Jing Ziyuan had no need for it. The remaining Elders like Cai Yue'er, Feng Wuyu, and Lan Muzi, or the students, weren't even in his consideration.
For now, he could only set it aside. Perhaps he'd encounter a more suitable candidate in the future.
With a wave of his hand, Jing Shaoyu stored both divine-level soul bones into his Sea of Spirit. After all, as divine-tier items, they could no longer be contained within the Sky Phoenix Ring.
In the following days, they waited for Xu Xiaoyan, Wu Siduo, Mo Hentian, and Lan Fozi. The four girls would likely take some time, so Jing Shaoyu and Ye Xinglan simply sat cross-legged by the Yin-Yang Twin Springs, meditating and cultivating.
The concentration of Heaven and Earth Essence within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well far surpassed that of the outside world. Even without Immortal Herbs or Spiritual Objects, it was an excellent place for cultivation.
After a full day and night, Wu Siduo, Mo Hentian, Lan Fozi, and Xu Xiaoyan successively completed their fusion and awoke from their cultivation. Wu Siduo finished first, while Xu Xiaoyan was last. The reason for Xu Xiaoyan's delay was that she took the opportunity to condense her first Soul Core, becoming the second among the girls—after Wu Siduo—to achieve this feat.
A cause for celebration indeed.
Thanks to the assistance of Immortal Herbs and Spiritual Objects, all four girls experienced significant improvements in their cultivation. The most direct manifestation of this progress was in their Soul Power levels.
Xu Xiaoyan's Soul Power rose from rank 73 to rank 78, Lan Fozi's from rank 75 to rank 83, Mo Hentian's from rank 71 to rank 77, and Wu Siduo's from rank 78 to rank 84—truly a rapid advancement.
During this trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the five girls had each gained an average of five Soul Power ranks. Ye Xinglan remained silent, merely calculating the average. Falling behind her peers by at least five ranks naturally left her somewhat resentful, but she couldn't be blamed—after all, she hadn't absorbed any spiritual herbs nor fused with a Ferocious Beast Soul Spirit.
First, the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo bore no fruit or derived Spiritual Objects. Second, Ye Xinglan didn't possess Twin Martial Souls, so she had no choice but to endure this setback for now and hope for future opportunities.
Beyond the increase in Soul Power, Wu Siduo, Mo Hentian, and Lan Fozi—who had each fused with a Soul Spirit—gained a Soul Bone. Wu Siduo obtained a right arm bone—the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum right arm bone. Mo Hentian received a left arm bone—the Looking Through Autumn Water Dew left arm bone. Meanwhile, Lan Fozi acquired a right leg bone—the Eight-Horned Xuanbing Grass right leg bone.
This was excellent news for all of them. After all, in this era of scarce Soul Bones, each additional one meant a boost in combat power. Within the same realm, having an extra Soul Bone might not guarantee invincibility, but lacking one would undoubtedly leave one weaker!
"If the enemy has what we don't, wouldn't we be screwed?"
"Excellent, this trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well has yielded tremendous gains!" Zang Xin remarked with satisfaction, sighing before continuing, "Let's head back. You'll soon need to report for military service."
By now, the Qiluo Tulip, Fierce Flame Apricot Enchantress, Hunyuan Immortal Herb, Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, and Dilong Golden Melon had all entered the Natural God Halo behind Jing Shaoyu's head. The environment there was no different from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for them—if not better.
Meanwhile, Shaoyu gathered the seeds of these plants, including those of the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, Eight-Horned Xuanbing Grass, and Looking Through Autumn Water Dew, into his hands. He planned to plant them near the Golden Tree as backups.
Not just these Immortal Herbs—he had taken a sample of seeds from every single herb and Spiritual Object in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, treating them all equally without favoritism.
"Understood," Shaoyu nodded.
Exiting was far easier than entering. The group of seven left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without difficulty. With the Qiluo Tulip present, the poisonous miasma shrouding the area posed no threat at all. After leaving the valley where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located, they repeated their earlier steps, boarding the Tang Sect's retrieval vehicle and speeding out of the Sunset Forest.
They returned directly to Shrek City.
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