Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
The valley had long since lost its former ethereal beauty.
Everywhere bore the marks of trampling force. The once-smooth ground was pitted and uneven, and many precious herbs had been uprooted or snapped in half by the shock waves.
The place was in shambles.
Gu Yuejin sat on a relatively intact rock, flipping through a yellowed ancient book in his hands. From time to time, he let out a few quiet chuckles, their meaning impossible to discern.
And before him,
the several Hundred Thousand Year plant Ferocious Beasts that had been so aggressive moments ago, shouting threats and ready to fight, were now huddled together, trembling.
Several of Youyou's petals had fallen, and she looked utterly wilted.
The flames on Infernal Delicate Apricot were almost extinguished.
Several leaves had been snapped off Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, making it look like a little wife who'd been wronged.
It was clear that on Douluo Continent, might made right.
Against Gu Yuejin, who had activated his Martial Soul Avatar and unleashed his full Bloodline Power, this group of "hothouse flowers"—powerful in cultivation but utterly inexperienced in actual combat—were nothing more than lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
Forget Gu Yuejin as he was now—even Huo Yuhao, who had only seven rings in the Original Work, could have pinned these plants to the ground and rubbed them into the dirt. And Gu Yuejin had a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Body Martial Soul to boot.
"Snap."
Gu Yuejin closed the ancient book and glanced at the plants cowering before him, his eyes full of contempt and disdain.
"If you hadn't still had some medicinal value, I'd have tossed you into a pot of soup just now."
Youyou shuddered all over, and almost cried honey from her flower core. "Wah... spare us, my lord. We'll never dare again..."
She was suffering so much inside.
She'd thought some little thief had wandered in by mistake. Who could've guessed he'd be a calamity!
Gu Yuejin couldn't be bothered with her. He casually tossed the ancient book to Huo Yuhao beside him.
"Take a look. This is the so-called 'Tang Sect Secret Scripture.'"
Huo Yuhao hurriedly caught it and looked at the cover.
Poison Scripture.
And in the lower-right corner was a name that stirred complicated feelings in him—Tang San.
"Tang San..."
Huo Yuhao stared at the name, his expression dazed.
Once, his mother had mentioned that name to him countless times, saying he was the Sea God, a great hero from ten thousand years ago, and a beacon for common Soul Masters.
But ever since he'd met his master, that shining image had been crumbling bit by bit.
"Think this book is pretty good?"
Looking at his Apprentice's conflicted expression, Gu Yuejin's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Then let me tell you a story."
"Ten thousand years ago, the owner of this place wasn't Tang San. It was an old man with the title 'Poison'—his name was Dugu Bo."
"Though he used poison, he was a man of loyalty and integrity. He found this treasured place while searching for a way to cure the poison afflicting himself and his granddaughter."
"Then Tang San came along."
"He took advantage of Dugu Bo's ignorance of medicinal properties, not only carrying off every Immortal Herb here and greatly increasing his own strength and that of the Shrek Seven Devils, but also leaving Dugu Bo not so much as a root."
"On top of that, he used their so-called 'brotherhood' to tie Dugu Bo to the Tang Sect's chariot and make him a free enforcer."
As he spoke, Gu Yuejin pointed toward the valley, his voice cold as ice:
"In the end, Tang San became a god."
"And this treasure that once belonged to Dugu Bo became the Tang Sect's private property."
"That's what you call—taking everything from someone who has no one left to protect them."
Huo Yuhao listened, dumbstruck, and felt a chill run down his spine.
He'd stolen someone else's possessions, made that person feel grateful to him, and then taken over his territory too?
What kind of pure and noble Sea God was that?
He was nothing but a sanctimonious bandit!
A hypocrite who'd deceived the world and stolen another's reputation!
"A person like that... was worshipped by the world for ten thousand years?"
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
He thought of what he'd endured at the Duke Mansion, and of his mother's tragic death.
That helpless feeling of being crushed by the powerful and robbed by the strong filled him with unprecedented hatred for that so-called "Sea God."
"Enough. You've heard the story. Now it's time to get down to business."
Gu Yuejin stood up, his gaze returning to Youyou and the other Immortal Herbs.
"Do you want to live?"
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"
Youyou nodded frantically, her stems shaking. "My lord, we'll give you anything you want! Just don't kill us!"
She was truly terrified now.
Not only was this human terrifyingly powerful, he also knew the history of this place inside and out. He even dared expose Tang San's old secrets. He was downright crazy!
"At least you know what's good for you."
Gu Yuejin held out a hand, palm up.
"Each of you will hand over a portion of your Origin Essence, and we'll call it even."
"Origin Essence?!"
The few Immortal Herbs immediately let out a chorus of wails.
That was the very foundation of their ten thousand years of cultivation!
Giving up a portion would take them at least several thousand years to recover. They might even lose a level of cultivation!
"What? You don't want to?"
Gu Yuejin raised an eyebrow. A faint golden light flickered around him again. "Looks like I didn't hit you hard enough just now."
"We'll give it! We'll give it!"
Infernal Delicate Apricot, the most hot-tempered one of the bunch, was the first to cave. It didn't want to go through that ordeal again.
Soon, several clusters of light, radiating rich, precious brilliance, drifted into Gu Yuejin's hands.
Losing their essence left them looking much more wilted at once, their petals dull. But that was still better than losing their lives.
"Good. You're learning."
Gu Yuejin put away the essence and, following the principle of "a slap followed by a sweet," casually sent out several streams of Blue Silver Emperor life force into the Immortal Herbs.
"I'm not unreasonable."
"As long as you behave and do as you're told, I'll protect this place from now on."
"This life energy is much purer than what you can absorb yourselves. It should make up for some of your losses."
Nourished by the life force, the Immortal Herbs felt their injuries heal considerably. Much of their resentment faded, and they even became a little more obsequious.
This human was vicious, but...the sweet he handed out really was sweet!
"Thank you, my lord! My lord is mighty!" Youyou led the others in a cheer, with no dignity whatsoever.
"Quit flattering me."
Gu Yuejin waved a hand and surveyed the surroundings. At last, his gaze settled on Youyou.
"Where's Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew?"
"Huh? That...?"
Youyou froze for a moment, then immediately caught on. She pointed the way with a vine, acting like an eager guide.
"Over there! On the cliff over there! That fellow's hidden away. It usually doesn't like to talk!"
"I'll take you there! I'll take you!"
As long as she could get this plague god to leave, she'd do more than guide him. She'd pull the plant out herself and hand it over!
"Yuhao, keep up."
Gu Yuejin called to his Apprentice, who was still trying to process Tang San's "dark history," and headed toward the cliff.
"That's the real opportunity I've prepared for you."
"Once you eat it, your Spirit Eyes Martial Soul will truly open its eyes."
Before you continue