Cold Fire

On the way back to Skywater City, Lin Zhiruo cultivated and completely absorbed the medicinal effects of the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma.

After returning to Skywater City, Xiao Han did not rush back to the academy. Instead, he went home with Lin Zhiruo first.

Xiao Han took out the Ice Swallowtail Grass.

"Mom, it's quiet at home. You can take this Immortal Herb now. I'll stand guard for you."

"Aren't you going to see Bing'er and the others?"

"I'll call Bing'er and the others over after you've absorbed the Immortal Herb."

"All right."

Lin Zhiruo nodded with gratification.

She realized that after this incident, Xiao Han seemed to have matured considerably overnight.

Then, under Xiao Han's protection, Lin Zhiruo completely absorbed the Immortal Herb.

"Mom, how do you feel?"

Lin Zhiruo stared at Xiao Han, unable to believe it.

After absorbing the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma, Lin Zhiruo had felt her Soul Power about to break through the bottleneck at level seventy-nine.

After absorbing the Ice Swallowtail Grass, her Soul Power had directly broken through level eighty.

"Xiao Han, this is too incredible! I actually broke through level eighty!"

Xiao Han smiled smugly.

"Congratulations, Mom! You'll soon advance to Soul Douluo! And congratulations to me too—my backing just got even stronger, haha~~"

Lin Zhiruo smiled as well.

"Ever since I broke through level seventy, every level has become harder to advance. I never thought that I'd become a Soul Douluo before turning fifty. Xiao Han, I should thank you too."

"Mom, I'm going to absorb an Immortal Herb too."

"Mm. Go ahead and absorb it. I'll stand guard for you."

"Okay."

After saying that, Xiao Han took out an Immortal Herb.

It was jade green all over, with three snow-white leaves at its center. Several droplets of water rested in the middle of the leaves, resembling morning dew.

This was the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

Although the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew was only an auxiliary Immortal Herb, it could increase spiritual power and improve eyesight, making it especially suitable for archers like Xiao Han.

Moreover, its medicinal effects were mild and produced no side effects. After consuming it, one could still continue absorbing other Immortal Herbs.

Xiao Han poured the droplets of dew into his mouth, then sat down and began cultivating.

Lin Zhiruo stood guard nearby.

Second by second, time passed, and the sky gradually darkened.

Two hours later, Xiao Han opened his eyes once more.

By then, it was completely dark outside.

Yet what surprised Xiao Han was that he could clearly see everything before him.

Clearly, both his spiritual power and eyesight had risen to a new level.

Lin Zhiruo asked expectantly, "Xiao Han, you've already absorbed three Immortal Herbs. Your Soul Power should have increased quite a bit, right?"

Xiao Han shook his head.

"Mom, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot represent extreme cold and extreme heat respectively. Those two auras restrained each other within my body, just like the clearly divided spring waters, achieving an astonishing balance.

"They didn't help raise my Soul Power, but they did help me forge a stronger physique. I'm immune to flames and impervious to all poisons.

"Also, my Soul Power now contains an even colder force. Under my control, it can also merge with flames to form Cold Fire."

After speaking, Xiao Han stretched out his right hand and gathered Soul Power in his palm.

A strange ripple gradually spread through the previously empty air.

A cluster of deep, ghostly blue light condensed into shape. It looked like dancing flames, except it lacked the red of fire and was instead ice-blue.

The Cold Fire flickered gently in Xiao Han's palm. It seemed incomparably scorching, yet it also carried a bone-piercing chill.

It burned silently, and the air around it seemed affected by its power, lightly twisting into tiny ripples.

"So this is Cold Fire?"

Lin Zhiruo exclaimed from the side, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Two utterly opposing forces had actually merged together, creating this spectacle.

Xiao Han smiled faintly and waved his right hand, putting away the Cold Fire.

"Mom, this Cold Fire doesn't belong to my martial soul. It's a power within my body. However, when I channel Soul Power into the True Ice Bow and Arrow, it will affect it as well."

"That's wonderful. With this power, you'll be able to restrain soul beasts or Soul Masters with the same attribute."

"Mm."

Lin Zhiruo continued, "What about the Immortal Herb you just took? Didn't it help increase your Soul Power either?"

"Mm. It's only a mild auxiliary Immortal Herb. It increases my spiritual power and eyesight, helping me better absorb the medicinal effects of other Immortal Herbs. Tomorrow, I'll take another Immortal Herb. That one can help increase my Soul Power."

Note: Quite a few people said in the previous book that after eating these three Immortal Herbs, why didn't his Soul Power increase? In the original work, that punk didn't gain any Soul Power from eating these three either. The first two temper the body, while the last one improves spiritual power and assists in absorbing other Immortal Herbs. The improvements they bring are actually immense.

Lin Zhiruo was somewhat worried.

"Xiao Han, can your body handle eating so many Immortal Herbs at once?"

"Mom, don't worry. Eating Whale Rubber gave me a tough physique, and the Immortal Herb I'm going to eat can make my body even stronger, perhaps even reaching the realm of an Adamantine Body. Besides, it doesn't conflict with the previous three Immortal Herbs."

"That's good. I don't understand these things either, so you can decide for yourself. Remember, strength can be improved slowly, but safety must come first."

"Mm, I understand."

"All right, it's getting late. You should get some rest too."

"Okay."

The next Immortal Herb Xiao Han intended to absorb was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was a neutral immortal-grade herb. Consuming it nourished the limbs, opened the eight meridians, and could forge an Adamantine Body.

Xiao Han had eaten Whale Rubber and undergone ice-and-fire body tempering. With the medicinal effects of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum added on top, he might directly reach the realm of an Adamantine Body.

Of course, Xiao Han had another purpose for consuming this Immortal Herb.

Spirit Hall's Elder Ju, Yue Guan, had the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum as his martial soul.

Yue Guan's love for rare flowers and exotic plants had reached the point of obsession.

If he learned that Xiao Han had eaten the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, he might want to take him as a disciple.

Even if he did not become Yue Guan's disciple, having another friend would still be good.

Then, he could use Yue Guan's hand to completely get rid of Dugu Bo.

After Dugu Bo died, it would be much more convenient to retrieve the Dragon Bone from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Early the next morning, Xiao Han went to the academy and invited Shui Bing'er and the others to his home.

"Dean Lin, congratulations. You'll soon advance to Soul Douluo."

As soon as they entered, the girls congratulated Lin Zhiruo.

On the way over, they had learned from Xiao Han that Lin Zhiruo had already broken through level eighty.

"Children, I should congratulate you as well. You'll soon make breakthroughs too. Xiao Han has prepared a surprise for you."

"What surprise?"

The girls all looked at Xiao Han with expectant expressions.

Xiao Han smiled calmly.

"Senior sisters, I'll give each of you an Immortal Herb. It can help increase your Soul Power and improve your cultivation speed."

Hearing that they were Immortal Herbs, the girls were both shocked and delighted.

Shui Bing'er asked, "Xiao Han, are these the Immortal Herbs from that book you read? You finally found them."

"That's right. I found them."