Phoenix Tree Fruit

The courtyard instantly fell silent, leaving only the steady breathing of the two and the faint sound of Soul Power flowing.

Dugu Bo watched his granddaughter refining the Immortal Herbs, then glanced at Oscar. A satisfied smile could not help but curl across his lips— with these Immortal Herbs, Yanyan would not only be freed from the torment of poison, but her Martial Soul could also evolve.

Oscar's strength would improve as well, allowing him to protect Yanyan better in the future. It was truly the best of both worlds.

Suddenly, as though recalling something, he turned to Xue Tianxing and asked:

"Kid, you prepared Immortal Herbs for both Yanyan and Oscar. Do you have anything suitable for me? Since these Immortal Herbs are so miraculous, perhaps they can help my Soul Power advance further?"

Xue Tianxing smiled and shook his head.

"Senior, you are already a Titled Douluo. Your Soul Power foundation has long since stabilized, and ordinary Immortal Herbs would have a negligible effect on you. It would be difficult to find one capable of bringing about a qualitative change."

A look of regret immediately appeared on Dugu Bo's face, and he sighed.

"True enough. In the end, this old man's cultivation is simply too powerful."

"However, while there is nothing suitable for you to consume, there is something suitable for you to use."

Changing the subject, Xue Tianxing took a snow-white Immortal Herb from his storage ring. Shaped like a swan spreading its wings, he held it out before Dugu Bo and said:

"This Snowy Swan Kiss is an exceptionally special Immortal Herb. It has no offensive power itself, but it can amplify the toxins within anything it touches by hundreds or thousands of times. You are a master of poison. If you incorporate its medicinal power into your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, its toxicity will definitely rise to another level!"

Dugu Bo's eyes widened at once. He snatched the Snowy Swan Kiss away and examined it closely, the regret on his face instantly replaced by wild delight.

"Good stuff! This is truly good stuff! With this, the next time I meet that pervert Ju Hua Guan, this old man will make sure he pays dearly!"

Dugu Bo carefully put away the Snowy Swan Kiss, then looked at Xue Tianxing with gratitude filling his eyes.

"Kid, I truly have to thank you this time! If you ever need this old man for anything, just say the word!"

Xue Tianxing smiled.

"You are too polite, Senior. We are merely helping each other."

Xue Tianxing then found a secluded stone bench in Dugu Manor's courtyard and sat down.

He took out a crimson fruit from his storage ring, its surface covered in fine patterns. It was the Phoenix Tree Fruit picked from the phoenix tree Immortal Herb at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.

The fruit was the size of a fist and warm to the touch. He could faintly sense energy flowing within it.

The Pharmacopoeia clearly recorded that the Phoenix Tree Fruit contained pure Phoenix Power. It had heaven-defying effects on Phoenix Martial Souls and Martial Souls possessing Phoenix Bloodlines, automatically converting its energy according to the Martial Soul's attributes and precisely nourishing the cultivator's foundation.

Among the many Immortal Herbs, Xue Tianxing had immediately determined that this fruit was the most suitable for his Ice Phoenix Spirit. Without further hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed it.

The fruit melted as soon as it entered his mouth. A gentle yet vast wave of energy instantly spread through his entire body, turning into strands of red airflow that converged toward the source of his Martial Soul.

Xue Tianxing immediately closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, circulating his Soul Power with all his strength to guide the energy. The moment the red airflow touched his Ice Phoenix Spirit, it automatically transformed into ice-blue Phoenix Power, flowing slowly through his meridians as it continuously washed over his dantian and Soul Rings, nourishing every inch of his Soul Power foundation.

As time passed, the ice-blue energy within him grew denser and denser, while Xue Tianxing's Soul Power steadily rose from Level 35 toward Level 36, Level 37... and continued climbing.

The courtyard remained quiet. Aside from his steady breathing and the occasional fluctuation of Soul Power spilling from his body, there was nothing else. After Oscar and Dugu Yan finished refining their Immortal Herbs, they tacitly chose not to disturb him. They only looked over at him from time to time, their eyes filled with anticipation.

In the pavilion not far away, Dugu Bo held a teacup as his gaze drifted toward Xue Tianxing now and then. Clearly, he was also watching the progress of his refinement.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning, Xue Tianxing suddenly opened his eyes, an ice-blue gleam flashing through them as Soul Power erupted from his body—Level 35, Level 39, level 40!

His Soul Power had finally broken through to the Soul Ancestor realm!

Xue Tianxing could clearly feel that his Ice Phoenix Spirit had become far more powerful than before. With a flap of its wings, even the air seemed ready to freeze. The purity and circulation speed of his Soul Power had also undergone a qualitative leap. Xue Tianxing even felt that his Extreme Ice had advanced another step.

"Tianxing, you're awake!"

Oscar was the first to react. He ran over excitedly and said to Xue Tianxing:

"You've been meditating for three whole days! We were worried sick!"

Xue Tianxing stood up, stretched his body, and felt the surging Soul Power within him before smiling.

"Sorry for making you worry, but the gains were considerable. I've already broken through to level 40."

"Rank 40! That's incredible!"

Oscar's eyes widened, his face full of envy. Then he remembered his own gains and hurriedly said:

"Oh, right, Tianxing! After eating the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid you gave me, my Soul Power went straight from Level 21 to Level 28. That's seven levels at once! And I found that my cultivation speed is at least twice as fast as before. I won't have to worry about cultivating too slowly anymore! Thank you so much!"

Xue Tianxing patted his shoulder and smiled.

"No need to thank me. I said long ago that I would help solve the problem of Support Spirit Masters cultivating too slowly. I'm only fulfilling my promise."

Xue Tianxing then turned to Dugu Yan beside him and asked with concern:

"Sister Yanyan, how do you feel after refining the Jade Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flower?"

A delighted smile appeared on Dugu Yan's face. She circulated her Soul Power, and the phantom of a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor emerged behind her. Compared to her previous Jade Phosphorous Serpent, the phantom was thicker, its scales glinting with a faint golden sheen, while its poisonous aura was more restrained yet more tyrannical.

"I'm doing great! My Soul Power rose directly from level 24 to level 30, just enough for me to absorb my third Soul Ring. And my Martial Soul really did evolve into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. The toxins in my body have also been completely purged!"

"Then congratulations, Sister Yanyan. Your strength has risen another level."

Xue Tianxing said it sincerely.

Just then, Dugu Bo walked over from the pavilion. His gaze swept across Xue Tianxing, and upon sensing the level 40 Soul Power fluctuations around him, a trace of approval flashed in his eyes.

"Boy Xue, not bad. You broke through to level 40 in just three days. Since you've finished refining it and reached the Soul Ancestor realm, it's the perfect time to hunt for your fourth Soul Ring."

Dugu Bo paused before continuing.

"These past few days, I've sensed that old fellow Liu Tianfeng lingering outside the manor. He's probably worried about you but didn't dare barge in recklessly, so he must have been waiting anxiously for a long time. Go find him and have him take you to hunt a Soul Ring. As for me, I'll first take Yanyan to obtain her third Soul Ring. Oscar will come with us for now—after all, Yanyan will be going with him to Balak Academy afterward. Once we help Yanyan obtain her Soul Ring, we'll send them both to the Balak Kingdom together."