The Role of the Purple Lotus

Chapter 43: The Role of the Purple Lotus

Dai Yao hesitated before saying, "I have an Immortal Herb here. It might help with your injuries, but I'm not sure whether it has any side effects."

The moment he first saw this Purple Lotus, he had thought of Zhu Zhuqing.

They had the same air about them.

Pure, aloof, alluring.

The Purple Lotus swayed gently, radiating a mysterious and seductive aura.

Zhu Zhuqing reached out and anxiously took the Purple Lotus.

She stared at it, entranced. Only after a long while did she say to Dai Yao, "I feel that the Purple Lotus's aura is highly compatible with mine. It will benefit me greatly."

"Besides, somehow, I feel that it won't have any adverse effects on me."

Immortal Herbs were creations of Heaven and Earth, and their spirituality could approach that of gods. Since Zhu Zhuqing felt that the Purple Lotus would not negatively affect her, she naturally could not be wrong.

"Since that's the case, swallow it quickly."

The Purple Lotus entered her mouth and melted into liquid that flowed down her throat. Immediately afterward, a faint pressure radiated from Zhu Zhuqing's body, and even her skin gradually began to take on a purple hue.

The injuries she had suffered before began healing at a visible speed. Within a few breaths, the wounds that had originally been deep enough to expose bone had faded to faint traces, as though they had never existed.

Even Dai Yao was stunned by the change. "Even the Immortal Herbs in the original story probably didn't have such a terrifying effect."

Yet the strange changes did not stop after her wounds healed.

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes. A hint of purple had appeared in her black eyes, giving them a mysterious, demonic quality.

The Netherworld Cat Spirit in her body felt warm and comfortable, as if it were bathing in sunlight, and a trace of change appeared within it.

Her Martial Soul was changing—and mutating for the better! A person's Martial Soul was fixed from the moment it awakened and could not be altered.

Throughout the history of the Douluo Continent, there had never been a case of a Martial Soul changing after birth.

Zhu Zhuqing stared at Dai Yao in astonishment. After sensing the change in her Martial Soul, even her voice trembled slightly. "What exactly is this Purple Lotus?"

"What's wrong?" Dai Yao asked in confusion.

Zhu Zhuqing widened her eyes. "My Martial Soul is mutating again! Where exactly did you get this Purple Lotus?"

"What?" A bolt of lightning seemed to strike Dai Yao's heart. Zhu Zhuqing's words had shaken him badly. After standing stunned for a long while, he solemnly warned her, "Don't ask where the Purple Lotus came from. And don't tell anyone about it, either. Otherwise, both of us will be killed."

In the blink of an eye, Dai Yao imagined the consequences of news about the Purple Lotus changing Martial Souls being exposed, and cold sweat immediately broke out across his back.

How many Soul Masters were held back by the quality of their Martial Souls? From Soul Scholars to Titled Douluo, there were countless cases of people whose realms stagnated because of their Martial Souls.

If they heard that the Purple Lotus could change a Martial Soul, they would likely stop at nothing to force him to hand it over.

Those Commoner Soul Masters whose Martial Souls had mutated would probably do anything to eliminate the side effects of their mutations.

And the first to act would certainly be the many Soul Masters within the clan whose Martial Souls were impure. Even several elders might be unable to resist the temptation and attack him.

He had only one Purple Lotus, and it could not possibly satisfy their demands.

Once the news leaked, the two of them would become enemies of the entire world.

Just imagining the consequences was terrifying. Dai Yao warned her, "Zhu Qing, from today onward, don't use your Martial Soul. Once this duel is over, we'll go somewhere no one knows us. Only then can you use your Martial Soul."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly as well.

She understood their current situation.

As her Martial Soul soaked in the warm environment, she gradually came to understand that its mutation was a slow process. She sat cross-legged and said to Dai Yao, "Yao Ge, don't worry. From today onward, I won't reveal my Martial Soul at the Academy."

"Martial Soul mutations require time. My injuries are almost completely healed, and I can take care of myself now. Go hunt a spirit beast."

Dai Yao nodded and left the room.

He had only ten days. He had to obtain his Second Spirit Ring.

A carriage had already been prepared outside the Academy gates.

He leaped into the carriage. The coachman cracked his whip, and after a shout, the carriage rumbled away from the Academy.

A day and a night later.

Dai Yao arrived safely at the Star Luo Royal Beast Garden.

During the day he had spent on the carriage, his condition had recovered to its peak.

Looking at the towering mountains and the gorge splitting through the middle as if cleaved by a single blade, Dai Yao felt somewhat emotional.

The dangerous scene when he had obtained his First Spirit Ring seemed to have happened only yesterday. But now, he would not be at the mercy of others as he had been before.

After walking through the gorge for some time, he finally reached the place where the spirit beasts were raised.

"Guard Captain, get out here!"

Dai Yao sat on his horse and glared at the Guards lined up in two rows to welcome him, shouting harshly.

When he had obtained his First Spirit Ring, a Guard had tried to kill him, only to be killed by him instead. The Guard Captain could not possibly have been unaware of the incident.

He had also learned later that the Soul Master originally assigned to protect him had been stopped by the Empress.

Now, it was time for him to collect the debt.

The Guard Captain slowly stepped forward with an ugly expression. Dai Yao's impolite command had made him lose considerable face in front of his many subordinates.

He approached Dai Yao with an unhappy look.

Dai Yao whispered something into his ear, and the Guard Captain's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly summoned a Soul Master.

"Fourth Highness, if you have any other requests, please give your orders. As long as I can do it, I certainly will. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and let me off." Cold sweat beaded his temples as he spoke fearfully.

Dai Yao waved his hand, sending him away, then turned to look at the Soul Master.

This Soul Master was only in his forties, yet he looked extraordinarily old.

Dai Yao said, "You're the Soul Master responsible for protecting me while I hunt spirit beasts, correct?"

"Yes." The middle-aged Soul Master was somewhat confused. He did not know why Dai Yao had summoned him. After all, Dai Yao had not yet entered the spirit beast area to hunt, so he had no need for protection.

After hearing the answer he wanted, Dai Yao sneered. "Since you were responsible for protecting me, someone tried to assassinate me when I obtained my First Spirit Ring. Why didn't you appear?"

The middle-aged Soul Master was immediately rendered speechless. He explained, "I was stopped by an unfamiliar Soul Master at the time. I didn't deliberately refuse to come. Please investigate the matter clearly, Your Highness."

"If you want me to let you off, you must agree to one condition."

"What condition?"

"You'll help me hunt a spirit beast!"

The middle-aged Soul Master's expression changed drastically. "Your Highness, it's forbidden to help a prince hunt a spirit beast!"

"So neglecting your duty and leaving me in danger was allowed?" Dai Yao reprimanded him furiously.

"If you refuse, I'll immediately report this to the Council of Elders and let them decide. By then, it won't be up to you!"

The middle-aged Soul Master's expression shifted repeatedly. In the end, he sighed. "Very well. I'll do as Your Highness says."

"Since ancient times, the second spirit beast hunted by every prince has been an Earth Walking Dragon. I just don't know how many years old an Earth Walking Dragon Your Highness wishes to hunt."

"Thirteen hundred years!"