Star Luo Spirit Pearl

The immortal herbs originally obtained by the Shrek Seven Devils—Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Narcissus Jade Bone, Aromatic Silk Beauty, and Lovesick Heartbreak Red—were collected one by one by Ling Qianyue, who left their roots and stems intact.

Seeing him pick herb after herb as if nothing was wrong, Dugu Bo's eyes widened. "Brat, take it easy! If you die, who am I supposed to find to purge my poison? Look carefully!"

"Rest assured, Teacher."

Ling Qianyue smiled faintly. He stopped before a patch of green leaves, pushed them aside, and took out the object hidden beneath them.

It was a small golden gourd wreathed in dense earth-element energy, heavy and ancient in aura.

Besides the one in his hand, two smaller golden gourds grew close together on the ground.

After crouching down and placing the remaining two into a jade box, Ling Qianyue walked over to a particularly beautiful spiritual plant.

Star Luo Spirit Pearl.

Its stalk was an exceedingly rare black for a plant, and at its tip grew a palm-sized golden fruit. Like an enormous pearl, it seemed formed from countless specks of golden light.

As one of the gentlest immortal herbs, the Star Luo Spirit Pearl did not reject humans, yet it was difficult for it to develop intelligence. It did not raise Soul Power as much as other immortal herbs; much like the two immortal herbs of ice and fire, its true function lay in enhancing one's future potential.

However, it possessed two special effects:

First, after being absorbed by a Soul Master, it could eventually transform into a Soul Core.

Second, every night, the Star Luo Spirit Pearl absorbed the essence of starlight and moonlight to strengthen itself. Thus, it could greatly improve the absorber's control over starlight and affinity with Star Power.

Furthermore, it was itself "immortal." Even if someone plucked its fruit, a new golden fruit would immediately condense on its stalk. There were even rumors that it possessed the power to bring back the dead.

However, Ling Qianyue felt that its "revival from death" was probably similar in effect to the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill from Battle Through the Heavens and the Life Creation Pill of later generations in Douluo.

To rebuild oneself after suffering grave injuries and nearing death—this was one of Ling Qianyue's goals for this journey.

For someone who wielded the Shattered Star Sword, this was the immortal herb best suited to him.

"Teacher, I've found the herb we need."

"Oh?" Dugu Bo flashed to Ling Qianyue's side and looked at the Star Luo Spirit Pearl. "This thing? So many densely packed light spots... tsk, just looking at it makes me uncomfortable."

So you had trypophobia?

Ling Qianyue took out the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd he had picked earlier and said to Dugu Bo, "This is called the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd. It contains dense earth-element vitality and is accompanied by the dragon energy of an earth dragon. It possesses the power to turn the earth over like an earth dragon. If I'm not mistaken, it can evolve your Martial Soul while also eliminating the toxins in your body."

"Martial Soul Evolution?!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes. He snatched up all three Earth Dragon Golden Gourds and scrutinized them closely in his palm. Their natural fragrance after being unearthed made him swallow unconsciously.

He suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Qianyao, why do I feel like you're hiding something from me? I don't recognize the herbs in this place, yet you seem to know almost all of them.

"And you can even name these herbs and explain their effects."

Ling Qianyue looked earnestly at Dugu Bo. "Teacher, everyone has secrets, don't they? I know these herbs because of certain fortunate encounters.

"But I swear to the heavens that I would never harm you. This Earth Dragon Golden Gourd can absolutely help you resolve the hidden danger in your Martial Soul."

"You brat..." Dugu Bo opened his mouth, his thoughts racing. *This brat came from the Star Luo Empire and knows so much. Could it be that his background is actually extraordinary?

Didn't Meng Shenji mention that his Martial Soul resembled the Star Crown Martial Soul of the Star Crown Sect?

From what I heard while traveling the continent, most astral-type Martial Souls seem to gather around the Star Crown Sect. It looks like Qianyao's origins are anything but ordinary...*

He pondered for a moment and was just about to say something when he saw Ling Qianyue leap toward the Star Luo Spirit Pearl.

"If Teacher is worried that my knowledge might be wrong and fears it may be poisonous, then let me try it first."

"Hey? Wait—"

Before Dugu Bo could stop him, as soon as Ling Qianyue stepped near the Star Luo Spirit Pearl, before he even touched it, the golden fruit atop it seemed to sense something. The energy it contained erupted on its own.

Countless specks of starlight rose from the fruit like a golden ocean, instantly enveloping the entire area.

Dugu Bo was greatly alarmed and was about to act, but he discovered that the starlight was not harmful. After hesitating for a moment, he stopped and watched Ling Qianyue with concern.

The Shattered Star Sword appeared out of thin air. The sky above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye turned into night, with countless stars hanging overhead.

The rising starlight halted upon reaching the Star Screen. Then, as the Star Luo Spirit Pearl itself began to shimmer with golden radiance, the starlight started converging downward toward both the Star Luo Spirit Pearl and Ling Qianyue.

Ling Qianyue understood at once. This was the Star Luo Spirit Pearl's test; it was judging his affinity with and control over Star Power.

Unfortunately, the outcome was obvious.

The Shattered Star Sword, which possessed the Star Quench skill, inherently had supreme attraction and control over stellar energy.

The converging starlight seemed to find its home the instant it touched the Shattered Star Sword. It curled obediently around the blade and resonated with the star power within Ling Qianyue's body. Ninety-eight percent of the starlight was absorbed into him.

The Star Luo Spirit Pearl, which had been swaying and showing off, immediately lost its temper. The golden light surrounding its body dimmed, and its golden fruit rolled downward into Ling Qianyue's hand. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a streak of golden light and entered his body.

In an instant, starlight burst from Ling Qianyue's body.

On the branch, another small golden fruit grew at a visible rate, while every strange phenomenon in the sky disappeared without a trace.

"This..."

Dugu Bo looked at the "little golden man" sitting cross-legged before him, momentarily at a loss. Frowning, he chose a spot not far from Ling Qianyue and stood guard for him.

This brat. Though he did not intend to pursue the matters Ling Qianyue had concealed, he still felt somewhat annoyed.

Does he think my temperament is too strange, so he doesn't want to say much? Dugu Bo silently considered this, but his gaze never left Ling Qianyue's starlight-wrapped figure.

*Still, since he is willing to be honest about some of his secrets, this old man must hold some place in his heart. A Registered Disciple relationship is still too distant. I need to find an opportunity to grow closer.

Hmph, scheming against this old man? One day, I'll get you back. Once Yan Yan's ideological work is done, this old man will force the issue and make you willingly call me Grandpa.

Besides, what if his background truly is extraordinary? If he really is some relative of the Star Crown Sect, then this old man will have struck gold.* So he thought.

The starlight around Ling Qianyue gradually receded. The Star Luo Spirit Pearl completely merged into his body, bringing him nourishment from Star Power unlike anything he had experienced before.

All 120 Star Acupoints represented by the stars within the Ziwei Star Palace were illuminated. The effect of the Zhanxing skill was enhanced, giving him three chances each day to divine fortune and misfortune, while also allowing him to designate one target for an in-depth analysis of their fortune.

Though the Star Luo Spirit Pearl did not increase Soul Power as greatly as other immortal herbs, it still raised his Soul Power Level to level 30.

Within Ling Qianyue's Dantian, a mass of golden light slowly rotated like a Star Vortex.

Ling Qianyue slowly opened his eyes, starry glimmers appearing within his pupils. His Spiritual Power had increased immensely, allowing his eyes to observe things with greater precision and discover details difficult to notice with the naked eye.

Ordinary illusions will probably find it difficult to affect me now. He murmured inwardly. He closed his eyes briefly, and only then did the starlight in his pupils vanish.

Seeing the strange phenomena around Ling Qianyue disappear, Dugu Bo walked directly to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, inspecting the condition within Ling Qianyue's body.

"Holy shit?!"