Absorbing the King of Immortal Herbs, Martial Soul Evolution

At the meeting point of the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, beneath a cliff three thousand meters behind it.

A Golden-Red Lotus bloomed proudly in the purple soil, its colors dazzling and resplendent, like the most brilliant clouds on the horizon at first light, yet also like golden ripples rising over the sea beneath the afterglow of sunset, interwoven with endless light of Wisdom.

Miraculously, at the center of this Golden-Red Lotus, a ten-centimeter-tall Bodhi Tree was actually growing. The trunk of the Bodhi Tree was crystal clear, as if carved from pure crystal, with lush branches and leaves, brimming with green vitality, yet also emitting a faint red sheen. It complemented the lotus perfectly. The Fusion of the two showed not the slightest disharmony; instead, it was filled with a sense of flawless unity, as though all had returned to one.

This was none other than the king of immortal herbs—the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower.

Since ancient times, the Bodhi Tree had been a symbol of enlightenment and Wisdom. Legend had it that Shakyamuni Buddha had once sat in meditation beneath a Bodhi Tree for forty-nine days, ultimately achieving complete enlightenment and attaining supreme, perfect awakening. And now, it grew atop this Golden-Red Lotus, harmonizing with it, pushing the radiance of Wisdom, Truth, and enlightenment to the utmost.

The Enlightenment Bodhi Flower was the perfect manifestation of Wisdom in the world. From lotus to Bodhi Tree, it emitted a gentle yet dazzling glow. This radiance was not merely a visual brilliance, but also a cleansing and awakening of the soul. Bathed in the light, Wu Tong felt as though he could hear melodious Sanskrit chanting and sense the deepest meaning of Wisdom.

Wu Tong looked at the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower before him, then glanced at the sky. It was still daytime; there was no need to rush. After that, Wu Tong sat cross-legged beside the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower and began circulating his Soul Power. The patterns of his Mind's Eye surfaced between his brows, and Wu Tong aimed his Mind's Eye at the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower.

Mind's Eye: Perspective; Mind's Eye: Insight.

As the Mind's Eye gave off a faint glow, the internal structure of the immortal herb before him was clearly presented in front of Wu Tong.

Just as Wu Tong was obsessively observing the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower, he failed to notice that, following his gaze, an almost imperceptible Golden Light flew out from the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower, traveled along Wu Tong's line of sight, and sank into the spot between his brows.

After entering the space between his brows, the Golden Light ran wild everywhere. Before long, it crashed into a White Light Point and was instantly Devoured by it until nothing remained. After Devouring the Golden Light Point, the White Light Point seemed to have been startled awake, and it began moving its body.

The White Light Point sensed the vast space of consciousness and shook its body, as if extremely satisfied. Immediately afterward, like a husky that had slipped its leash, it began romping through the Sea of Consciousness. Before long, it scattered some white powder into the Sea of Consciousness, dyeing Wu Tong's Sea of Consciousness white.

The white powder was gradually absorbed by Wu Tong's Sea of Consciousness, and the Sea of Consciousness also slowly expanded.

As the white powder was absorbed, Wu Tong felt that his thoughts had become sharper and his Brain was operating faster, as though an accelerator had been installed, making him even smarter.

"Hm? Could observing the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower also improve Wisdom?" Wu Tong sensed the operating speed of his Brain and thought in confusion. Then he sighed with emotion. As expected of the product of the Buddha's enlightenment, it truly was extraordinarily wondrous.

After that, he began observing the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower before him, which radiated the light of Wisdom, even more carefully.

As the saying went: "When you focus on a single thing, time always passes very quickly."

Before he knew it, Wu Tong had finished observing the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower and was pondering its structure. Time slipped quietly away just like that, and in the blink of an eye, night had arrived.

Wu Tong, who was still deep in thought, suddenly felt a vibration on his arm. He lowered his head and saw that a timing Soul Tool on his wrist was vibrating wildly, reminding him that it was already midnight.

Wu Tong looked up. A full moon was hanging in the night sky, round and perfect like a carefully carved jade plate, emitting a gentle and clear radiance as it hung quietly above the firmament. There was not the slightest flaw in it; it was so perfect that it was intoxicating.

"A full-moon night?" Wu Tong looked at the bright moon hanging high in the night sky and raised his brows, as though he had thought of something. He lowered his head and looked over, only to see that the petals of the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower, which had originally been half-closed, were slowly unfurling. The entire flower emitted a magnificent, dazzling golden radiance.

"This is... mature? What a coincidence?" Wu Tong looked at the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower before him, whose petals had fully opened, and felt a wave of disbelief. Although he had confidence in his own Wisdom and good intentions, Wu Tong had originally planned to wait several months. Immediately, his expression turned serious. After all, such a coincidental situation was clearly problematic at first glance!

However, if one were to talk about who could control the maturation time of spiritual plants, Wu Tong could only think of two possibilities: either the world had done it, or that Buddha who could reflect the multiverse had done it.

But no matter which big shot's methods or thoughts were involved, or whatever other reason there might be, Wu Tong had no way to resist. After all, with his current strength, he was probably not even qualified to be a chess piece. He could only be called an ant.

There was a saying that put it well: if you could not resist, then enjoy it to your heart's content. Perhaps it was only a coincidence?

Thinking this, Wu Tong, who still held on to a fluke and believed it was merely a coincidence, reached out toward the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower. Just as Wu Tong prepared himself to accept the trial from the king of immortal herbs—

Pfft!

A sound like a radish being pulled from the ground rang out. The Enlightenment Bodhi Flower was directly and easily pulled out of the ground by Wu Tong, lying quietly in his palm.

Seeing this scene, Wu Tong truly felt like crying but had no tears. If the strange maturation time from before could still be called a coincidence, then the scene before him was absolute confirmation. Even the promised trial was gone. If this was not inside manipulation, then what was?

But Wu Tong knew that his opinion could not change the thoughts of a big shot. He could only absorb the immortal herb first, complete his Martial Soul Evolution, and then take things one step at a time.

Without thinking further, Wu Tong directly followed the contents of the Complete Guide to Immortal Herbs. First, he removed the Bodhi Tree from the center of the flower and placed it above his head. Then he swallowed the remaining petals one by one. After swallowing them all, he used Soul Power to smash the rest apart and squeezed out golden-red juice.

This juice was called Bodhi Blood in the Complete Guide to Immortal Herbs. Of course, this Bodhi Blood was not referring to Tang San's hidden weapon, but to the juice of the Enlightenment Bodhi Flower—in other words, its blood. He swallowed the Bodhi Blood, then directly threw the Residue aside.

Afterward, Wu Tong sat cross-legged on the ground and began circulating the Crimson Wheel Sutra, refining the flower petals and Bodhi Blood in his mouth.

As Wu Tong began refining them, the Bodhi Tree placed above his head gradually floated up, hovering over Wu Tong's head. Along with Wu Tong's cultivation, the Bodhi Tree began to lower strands of energy, each crystal clear like crystal.

Time passed bit by bit, and Wu Tong's aura grew increasingly powerful. After those strands of energy sank into the top of Wu Tong's head, they were Devoured by the White Light Point in Wu Tong's mind like a whale swallowing the sea.

And as Wu Tong fully refined the petals and Bodhi Blood inside his body, the Bodhi Tree above his head also squeezed out its final strand of energy. After the White Light Point completely absorbed that final strand of energy, it suddenly erupted with enormous energy fluctuations. This energy did not harm Wu Tong. Instead, it swirled around him, condensed, crystallized... and finally wrapped Wu Tong inside a huge White Light Egg.

After condensing the light egg, the White Light Point began merging into Wu Tong's Martial Soul and started undergoing Fusion with Wu Tong's Martial Soul. Only a White Light Egg remained, hovering in midair, absorbing energy from the Icefire Yin-Yang Well and the world, transforming Wu Tong's body.

Wu Tong, who was wrapped inside, felt extremely comfortable and closed his eyes. Then, like an infant returned to the mother's womb to be gestated anew, he curled up his body and floated up and down in the middle of the light egg.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Dugu Yan opened her large, tender eyes and felt her body, already completely renewed after refining the immortal herb, as well as the surging power within her. The corners of her lips rose, and a faint smile appeared on her exquisite face.

She moved her body, which had long since grown stiff from sitting for so long. Dugu Yan circulated her Soul Power, and along with the mobilization of her Soul Power, a new Martial Soul emerged behind her.

Beneath the deep and mysterious night sky, a black two-headed dragon slowly appeared. The dragon's body was several dozen zhang long, entirely covered in deep, night-black scales. Each scale seemed capable of absorbing all the surrounding light, making it almost blend into the night within the darkness. Only beneath the faint illumination of moonlight or starlight could one vaguely catch the dim light flowing between those scales.

The two dragon heads each had their own features. The left dragon head was ferocious and terrifying, with cunning and madness flickering in its vermilion-purple pupils. A dark green crystal was embedded between its twin horns; it was precisely what had evolved from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent.

The right dragon head, by contrast, appeared more solemn and steady. Its entire body gave off a calm and unhurried pressure, and an earthy-yellow crystal was embedded between the twin horns on its head. Its amber eyes revealed the unique firmness and stability of the rock element; it had transformed from the consciousness of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

The Black Dragon's body wound and twisted, robust and powerful. Each swing seemed capable of stirring the winds and clouds, causing the surrounding space to tremble faintly. Its four limbs were thick and strong, and the tips of its claws flashed with cold light, easily able to tear apart the hardest rocks or trees. As for that long tail, it was like a black steel whip, capable of becoming a deadly weapon in battle while also maintaining the balance and stability of the body during flight.

Looking at the majestic and domineering Black Dragon before her, Dugu Yan could not help but nod in satisfaction.

"Haha, Yan'er, is this what you look like after your Martial Soul Evolution? It really is excellent. I imagine it already counts as one of the very best among Top Martial Souls."

Just as Dugu Yan was admiring her own Martial Soul, Dugu Bo, who had likewise already completed his Martial Soul Evolution, arrived at the wooden hut. Looking at the domineering Black Dragon before Dugu Yan, he opened his mouth and praised it.