"Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng?!"
Yes—the ginseng matched exactly the descriptions in the original work and the sect's records of immortal herbs. It was undoubtedly Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.
Yet by the timeline, this should still be in the hands of the Speed Clan's patriarch, Bai He. How was it in the Sect Master's hands?
According to the original, Bai He had obtained it in his youth and kept it for decades. He couldn't have gotten it from Chu Shanhe, nor would Chu Shanhe give such a treasure to someone blind to its value.
So there was only one possibility: Chu Shanhe had gotten it from Bai He. That made Chen Yi think of a rumor from three years ago.
When the four single-attribute clans tried to break out, a mysterious expert had appeared to protect them. That expert, it was said, was terrifyingly strong and, without using a martial soul, defeated Dawn Douluo and Demon Bear Douluo together with ease—possibly even a hidden level-99 Limit Douluo.
Back then, Chen Yi had been puzzled—the original story didn't mention this. And how could such a super expert, possibly on the Clear Sky Sect's side, not appear later? Did he die after that battle?
Now, it seemed that mysterious expert was likely the Body Douluo, Chu Shanhe.
Sure enough, Chu Shanhe spoke, "I got this Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng from Bai He, patriarch of the Speed Clan, three years ago. Your cultivation isn't high yet—this will be most effective for you. Also, it's a rare qi-and-blood-type immortal herb. After you take it, your time to complete the gold-grade second awakening will be shortened."
The Body Martial Soul's gold-grade second awakening—this had always been theoretical in the sect. He wanted to see how terrifying it truly was.
Looking at Chu Shanhe's sincerity, Chen Yi was full of emotion. This was a top-tier immortal herb, and one that best suited the Body Martial Soul. If Chu Shanhe took it, the effect would be astonishing, yet he chose to give it to Chen Yi.
"Sect Master, may I be so bold as to ask your cultivation?"
Judging from the battle outside Clear Sky City, Chu Shanhe was at least level 97; otherwise, he couldn't have repelled two Title Douluo so easily. But as far as Chen Yi knew, three years ago Chu Shanhe might not have broken through level 95 yet. Was he hiding his strength?
The others were also curious how he had interfered in the feud between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect. There were supposedly at least three Title Douluo present—elites among Title Douluo. Even a Super Douluo could fall if careless.
Even with the whale glue, it would have had little effect on Chu Shanhe unless it was of the 100,000-year grade, and most of what he'd received had gone to the First Elder and the treasury. So when Chen Yi asked, everyone looked to Chu Shanhe, curious about his true level.
Feeling all the eyes, Chu Shanhe was helpless. He knew that move would draw attention. Still, better questions about strength than a criticism session.
"Three years ago, my heart knot was untied, and that very night I broke through to level 95. I've improved since. Not long ago, I reached level 96."
As the first of the older generation in the Body Sect to reach Title Douluo, his talent was astounding. But he had been stuck below 95 for years due to a mental knot about the second awakening. Three years ago, after seeing hope thanks to whale glue, he broke through. Since then, his progress had accelerated, reaching level 96—earlier than Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's Sword Douluo.
Chen Yi was stunned. So you were only level 95 outside Clear Sky City—how did you achieve such fearsome results? The Body Martial Soul wasn't that exaggerated!
He asked his question, but before Chu Shanhe answered, the others burst into laughter, as if hearing a joke.
Chen Yi was baffled. Weren't they curious?
"Hahaha! Xiao Yi, it's normal you don't know—you didn't live through that era." The Second Elder chuckled and explained.
"Even when a Body Martial Soul user releases their martial soul, their body barely changes. Beast souls show obvious bestial transformations; Tool souls manifest a weapon. So long as we activate our soul beforehand, then cover ourselves with a black robe, even a typical Title Douluo would have difficulty noticing we're using a martial soul."
Chen Yi was dumbfounded. So the Sect Master did use his martial soul against Dawn and Demon Bear Douluo, but Spirit Hall didn't think in terms of a Body Martial Soul due to its rarity and strength.
"But wait! Using a martial soul means soul rings appear. How did the Sect Master hide his rings?"
That was a universal rule: use your martial soul, and your rings appear. Even in later eras, only mental-type simulation could conceal them. But Chu Shanhe's was a bone-type Body Martial Soul—not feasible.
"Simple. It's a unique ability after the Body Martial Soul's second awakening," the First Elder said with a smile. "After the second awakening, you can retract your rings into your body—or display them—at will. Didn't I act in Star Dou Forest? Did you see my rings?"
Second awakening could do that? He'd never heard of it. In neither the original nor sequels had Body Soul Masters concealed rings. He'd assumed it was a hard rule.
On second thought, it made sense. In later generations, the Body Sect was so strong they didn't need to hide. Why conceal when showing off didn't invite trouble?
He also recalled the first Body Martial Soul user to appear in the story—Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei—said to be only a ghostly shadow, no soul rings to be seen. He'd thought it was unique to Gui Mei's soul, but it seemed it was a signature ability of all twice-awakened Body Soul Masters.
Judging by how happily his dad and the others laughed, they'd probably used this trick often.
Ignoring the merriment, Chen Yi closed the jade box, walked forward, and returned it to Chu Shanhe.
"I can't accept the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng."
Chu Shanhe was stunned. He hadn't expected Chen Yi to refuse. This was an immortal herb. Even a mediocre person who took it could have the potential to reach Title Douluo. For Chen Yi, it would greatly accelerate his divine trials.
"Your reason?"
He didn't understand why, but he trusted Chen Yi had one.
The others stopped laughing and looked at Chen Yi again.
"Because you are the one who needs it most." Chen Yi's tone was grave. "To me, this herb can at best raise my soul power and slightly boost qi and blood—nothing more."
Immortal herbs have transformative effects, but it depends on who takes them. With the Thunder God bloodline and a god-grade Body Martial Soul, could the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng upgrade him from immortal to… more immortal? The best it could do was raise his soul power by a few levels—if even that, given the Extremity of Thunder. Three or four levels would be a blessing.
But for Chu Shanhe—already a Super Douluo candidate with a top-tier bone-type Body Martial Soul—taking it would guarantee level 97, maybe even allow a gold-grade third awakening. Then he'd rank among the strongest beneath Limit Douluo.
No—if he also formed a soul core, he could reach level 98, maybe even challenge Limit Douluo!
At level 98 with a gold-grade third awakening, Chu Shanhe could suppress all opposition. Even Qian Daoliu wouldn't provoke him lightly.
So both publicly and privately, Chu Shanhe was the optimal recipient.