"Immortal Herb Compendium"

Xiao Han knew that Feng Xiaotian's Self-Created Soul Skill, Gale Demonic Wolf Consecutive Slashes, had a stacking effect. Each slash was more powerful than the last.

However, this soul skill also had a weakness: it required time to build up power beforehand.

Feng Xiaotian possessed Flight Ability and was extremely fast. Soul Masters without the ability to fly had no way to stop him from charging up.

Xiao Han felt fortunate that both he and Shui Bing'er could fly, allowing them to interfere with Feng Xiaotian's Self-Created Soul Skill before he could use it.

Skywater Academy had a good relationship with Divine Wind and Blazing Fire, the other two Element Academies. Before past Soul Master Tournaments began, they would gather to exchange pointers and spar.

Xiao Han guessed that they might soon meet those two teams.

Time passed quickly, and another three months went by in the blink of an eye.

Shui Bing'er had already broken through level thirty, while Xue Wu was still stuck at the threshold of level thirty.

After training that day, Lin Zhiruo kept Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu behind.

"Xue Wu, are you about to break through level thirty?"

"Mm, I feel like I'm just a little short."

Lin Zhiruo nodded in satisfaction, then said:

"I've thought it over. To save time, we should head to the Ice Sealed Forest earlier. You can cultivate on the way there and while we search for soul beasts. Once Bing'er obtains her Third Soul Ring, you may have broken through as well. Then we can get a Soul Ring for you too."

"Alright. Dean Lin, I'll follow your arrangements."

Xue Wu and Shui Bing'er exchanged smiles, both eagerly anticipating their upcoming Third Soul Rings.

Shui Bing'er asked:

"Dean Lin, will Xiao Han be coming with us?"

"Mm, bring him along. If I'm not at the academy, I'm afraid he'll cause some sort of trouble."

Ever since going to Heaven Dou City to meet Crown Prince Xue Qinghe last time, Lin Zhiruo had felt conflicted.

She hoped Xiao Han could obtain the Immortal Herb Compendium he had dreamed of, yet she also worried that he kept thinking about the rare herbs in Dugu Bo's poison array.

Three months had already passed, yet Xiao Han still had not received any news from the imperial palace.

Lin Zhiruo thought that perhaps Xue Qinghe had not taken the matter to heart.

If they could not get that Immortal Herb Compendium, perhaps that would be for the best.

"You two should go back and make your preparations as well. We leave tomorrow."

"Alright."

Just as the three were preparing to leave, Xiao Han came running over, panting heavily.

"Mom, good news!"

"What good news?"

"The Crown Prince replied to me and asked me to make a trip to the imperial palace. I'm guessing he's helped me get that book."

As Xiao Han spoke, he handed the letter in his hand to Lin Zhiruo.

"Mom, see for yourself."

Lin Zhiruo took it and opened it to read.

The letter did not contain much, nor did it mention the Immortal Herb Compendium. Xue Qinghe had only told Xiao Han to go to the imperial palace to meet him.

"Xiao Han, I thought the Crown Prince hadn't taken this matter to heart. But he didn't mention the book you wanted in the letter either."

"He must have gotten it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have replied so late. Mom, please accompany me to Heaven Dou City, or I can go by myself."

"No, I'll go with you."

Lin Zhiruo did not feel at ease letting Xiao Han go to Heaven Dou City alone.

Hearing the mother and son's conversation, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu were completely confused.

Shui Bing'er asked:

"Dean Lin, Xiao Han, what are you talking about?"

"After returning from the Ice Sealed Forest last time, Mom and I went to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace to meet the Crown Prince. We wanted to ask him to help me get something from Spirit Hall. After three months, he finally replied."

"I see. The book you want must be very important, or you wouldn't have gone to the imperial palace to find him."

"Mm, it's extremely important."

Xiao Han had never mentioned this matter to Shui Bing'er before.

Lin Zhiruo said to Xiao Han:

"I just told Bing'er and Xue Wu that I would take them to the Ice Sealed Forest tomorrow to hunt soul beasts. It seems our plans need to change. We'll go to Heaven Dou City first, then to the Ice Sealed Forest."

"Mom, are all four of us going to Heaven Dou City together?"

"Mm."

"That's great. Bing'er, Xue Wu, have you two been to Heaven Dou City before?"

The two girls shook their heads together.

Skywater City was located in the northwest of the empire, thousands of miles away from Heaven Dou City.

Shui Bing'er's family circumstances were fairly good, but she had been cultivating at Skywater Academy since the age of six and had never gone to Heaven Dou City.

Lin Zhiruo smiled.

"Then we'll leave tomorrow. Go back and prepare yourselves."

"Alright."

The next day, Xiao Han and the others traveled to Heaven Dou City by carriage.

Ten days later, they arrived at their destination.

After getting off the carriage, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu were stunned by the prosperity of Heaven Dou City.

"The empire's capital really is different."

"Yeah, this is the center of power and desire—the world of the rich."

Xiao Han had been here once already and did not feel much. No matter how prosperous and bustling the city was, it had nothing to do with him.

The four soon arrived outside the imperial palace.

Xiao Han said:

"Mom, the palace is full of etiquette and rules. It's too much trouble. You can wait here. I'll be back soon."

"Alright. I don't want to enter the palace anyway. Be smart, and don't speak without thinking in front of the Crown Prince."

"Mm, I understand."

Afterward, Xiao Han entered the palace alone. A guard led him to the same hall where he had met Xue Qinghe last time.

Before long, footsteps came from outside the hall.

Seeing that the visitor was Xue Qinghe, Xiao Han bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"No need for formalities."

A faint smile rested on Xue Qinghe's face.

A guard stood behind him, holding a black wooden box.

The box looked exquisite, crafted from precious wood.

"Xiao Han, I've gotten what you wanted."

As soon as Xue Qinghe finished speaking, the guard handed the wooden box to Xiao Han, then slowly withdrew from the hall.

Once again, only Xiao Han and Xue Qinghe remained in the entire hall.

"Open it and see whether it's the book you mentioned."

"Alright."

Xiao Han was somewhat excited and hurriedly opened the wooden box.

A piece of golden-yellow brocade came into view.

Xiao Han carefully lifted it, as though he had discovered a treasure.

Inside was indeed a book.

The book was thick, yet there was not a single word on its exquisite cover.

Xiao Han did not dwell on it. He gently opened the blank cover, and the contents immediately brightened his eyes.

The book contained illustrations of Immortal Herbs in all sorts of forms and brilliant colors. Every herb was lifelike, as though it might leap from the pages at any moment.

Beside each Immortal Herb was a detailed written description, covering its growing environment, the proper time to harvest it, and precautions to take. Nothing was omitted.

The book contained detailed descriptions of Immortal Herbs such as Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Lovesick Heartbreak Red, and Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

Xiao Han caught a faint scent of ink from the book. The illustrations seemed as though they had been drawn only recently.

Clearly, it was not the original edition, but a copy made from it.