"Me?" Ye Yin chuckled at Xiao Wu's concern. "Of course, I prepared some for myself. How could I possibly treat myself poorly?"
With a confident smile, he began to successively take out one incredible herb after another. The first was the Looking-Through Autumn Water Dew. The plant was a vibrant green, but what made it unusual were the three snow-white leaves at its center, upon which rested a few drops of liquid that shimmered like morning dew.
"This is the Looking-Through Autumn Water Dew," he explained. "Consuming it allows one to cultivate Fiery Golden Eyes, a power capable of seeing through all kinds of illusions and rare treasures. I've already taught the three of you the upgraded Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, and this herb will greatly enhance the power of the Purple Demon Eye for anyone who consumes it."
Xiao Wu frowned slightly. "Yin Ge, why do you give everyone else herbs that directly increase their strength, but you only take this auxiliary one for yourself? Although I don't understand these Immortal Herbs, yours doesn't seem like the best one, does it?"
Ye Yin's smile widened. "Of course, it's not the best. That's why there are others." Who said one had to be modest with medicinal herbs? As long as their properties didn't conflict, the more one consumed, the better. No one would ever complain about having too much strength.
He then brought out a second Immortal Herb, the Star Luo Spiritual Pearl. Its branches were a rare, glossy black, but at its peak grew a palm-sized golden fruit that pulsed with gentle energy. He followed it with a third, the Mixed Yuan Immortal Herb, which was known as one of the most effective herbs for increasing spirit power. Finally, he presented the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, a top-grade earth-attribute plant that looked like a golden, melon-shaped fruit the size of two fists.
"The Star Luo Spiritual Pearl and the Mixed Yuan Immortal Herb both have gentle properties that will help compress my spirit power and form a soul core in the future," he explained, seeing the awe in their eyes. "The Mixed Yuan energy also complements the chaotic bloodline within the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. Since I've already mastered Ultimate Fire and Ultimate Ice, consuming the melon might even allow me to master the power of the Earth Dragon or Ultimate Earth."
He looked at Xiao Wu, his gaze steady. "I will be consuming these four herbs. Do you still think I'm treating myself poorly now?"
Xiao Wu immediately fell silent, a blush rising to her cheeks. She felt that she shouldn't have even asked the question; doubting him was an insult to his generosity. "Then I'm relieved," she whispered, before finally turning her full attention to the Yearning Heartbroken Red in her hands and beginning to absorb its medicinal effects.
Ye Yin moved to a bed that had been specially prepared for him in the dorm and sat down with the four herbs laid out before him. He started with the Looking-Through Autumn Water Dew. Holding it carefully, he tilted it slightly, allowing the few drops of transparent liquid to fall into his mouth. The moment the last drop left the leaves, the entire plant withered in his hand, turning to dust that scattered through his fingers in the blink of an eye. He immediately sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.
As the four of them meditated, the room filled with an incredible energy, and each of them began to transform. Ning Rongrong's change was the most magnificent; her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, shimmering with nine-colored halos, floated quietly before her, bathed in a rich golden light from the Qiluo Tulip. Within the golden light, a cloud of white mist swirled, creating a beautiful Tyndall effect.
After consuming her herbs, Zhu Zhuqing's entire body began to exude a faint, jade-colored glow. Her hands rested on her ample bosom, which rose and fell with each deep breath. A continuous series of cracking sounds emanated from within her body as the Marvelous Chrysanthemum began to reshape her very bones. Her three purple spirit rings would occasionally pulse into existence around her before fading back into her body.
Xiao Wu's absorption of the Yearning Heartbroken Red was much calmer. She sat in perfect silence, but her entire being was suffused with a deep red light, which held a hint of jade-like translucence.
Meanwhile, a faint reddish-golden glow enveloped Ye Yin's head. The light coalesced into fine threads that continuously flowed towards his eyes, steadily increasing his mental force.
Several hours passed. Suddenly, a brilliant golden light burst forth from Ye Yin's eyes, momentarily illuminating the entire room as if it were day. His mental force had increased tremendously. His gaze instinctively fell upon Xiao Wu, but even with his enhanced vision, he still couldn't see through her true form. After consuming so many spiritual fruits, it was as if she was no longer a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, but a human through and through.
Seeing that the girls were still deep in their cultivation, Ye Yin looked at the other three Immortal Herbs, and a crazy thought entered his mind: to consume all three at once. The Star Luo Spiritual Pearl and the Mixed Yuan Immortal Herb had similar, complementary effects. The Mixed Yuan energy would also work well with the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. His physique, already strengthened by the Ice and Fire Forging Body to the level of a Spirit King, should be able to handle it. However, it was still an incredible risk.
His gaze turned inward, focusing on the vast amount of resentment value he had accumulated in the system store. The time had finally come to use it.
System, spend my resentment points on spirit power experience, he commanded internally. Keep buying until I reach Level 40!
In the next second, a continuous stream of pure spirit power flooded his body. In a flash, his cultivation level shot up from thirty-six to forty. His overall attribute strength, however, only rose from fifty-two to fifty-three, as the gap between a Spirit Elder and a Spirit King was immense.
It wasn't enough. He then focused on his attribute points. Spend my resentment points to buy attribute strength. I'll tell you when to stop.
The resentment value began to drain away like water from a broken dam. He had saved it in increments of tens and dozens, but now it was disappearing by the thousands every second. To ensure he could survive absorbing the three Immortal Herbs, he was willing to spend it all.
Finally, when his attribute strength reached the level of a sixty-rank Spirit Emperor, Ye Yin called a stop. His millions of resentment points had dwindled to just over a hundred thousand, but he now possessed a Level 40 body with the strength of a Level 60 powerhouse—a unique existence on the continent.
After taking these precautions, Ye Yin spent another hundred points to disable his pain perception. Then, without any further hesitation, he stuffed all three remaining Immortal Herbs into his mouth, chewed once, and swallowed.
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