The Immortal Herb Ranking Appears, Stirring a Frenzy (Part 1)

The golden light screen of the Auction House burst into dazzling radiance under the morning sun, more eye-catching than any previous announcement. On the screen, the three gilded characters "Immortal Herb Ranking" floated in mid-air, and beneath them, dense text slowly unfurled, displaying the illustrations, attributes, and exchange points of thirty immortal herbs one by one, instantly seizing the attention of all forces across the continent.

At the very top of the screen, the illustration of Lovesick Heartbreak Red was lush and vivid—blood-red petals layered densely, the central stamen shimmering with a faint golden light. The text beside it was clearly marked: "Lovesick Heartbreak Red, first place on the Immortal Herb Ranking. Trait: Revives the dead, regenerates flesh and bone, can reshape a soul master's foundation, grants immunity to all poisons. Exchange Points: 5,000,000. Note: Must be picked with true heart's blood; forced picking causes it to wither, and it cannot be transplanted. Must be used immediately after picking."

Following closely was Aromatic Silk Beauty, its pale purple petals shrouded in a hazy mist. The attribute introduction beside the illustration was especially striking: "Trait: Purifies all toxins, accelerates plant growth within a ten-li radius, can be refined into an 'Antidote Sacred Pill,' compatible with all soul masters. Exchange Points: 4,800,000."

Further down, the illustration of Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass radiated a bone-piercing chill, its ice-crystal leaves covered in fine frost patterns: "Trait: Tempers the body and forges bones, grants immunity to extreme cold, can break through the soul power bottleneck of ice-attribute soul masters. Exchange Points: 4,500,000." Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone was carved like white jade, a pale blue halo flowing through its translucent roots: "Trait: Nourishes soul bones, increases the age of existing soul bones by 3,000 years, no attribute restrictions. Exchange Points: 4,200,000."

The illustration of Infernal Delicate Apricot blazed with orange-red flames, its leaves seemingly forged from molten lava: "Trait: Increases the power of fire-type soul skills by 50%, grants immunity to extreme fire, compatible with fire-attribute soul masters. Exchange Points: 3,800,000." Purple Demon Eye Grass had deep purple leaves with veins spreading like a spiderweb: "Trait: Doubles mental strength, breaks through the limits of mental-type soul masters. Exchange Points: 3,500,000."

At the bottom of the ranking, basic immortal herbs like Spirit Soothing Immortal Herb (leaves glowing with a faint green light, trait: stabilizes soul power, reduces breakthrough failure rate, Exchange Points: 1,000,000) and Spirit Charm Grass (light pink petals, trait: accelerates soul master cultivation speed by 30%, Exchange Points: 800,000), though lower in points, were still rare treasures for low-to-mid-level soul masters due to their low acquisition threshold.

At the end of the screen, a line of small text was especially conspicuous: "The Auction House store simultaneously lists immortal herb seeds for sale, priced at 10% of the corresponding immortal herb's exchange points (e.g., Lovesick Heartbreak Red seed: 500,000 points each; Aromatic Silk Beauty seed: 480,000 points each). The accompanying 'Spirit Gathering Acceleration Array' can shorten the immortal herb's growth cycle to 5-8 years (original cycle requires 30-50 years), priced at 500,000 points per array, limited to 10 arrays per force."

One: The Major Forces Shocked and Overjoyed, Bibi Dong Personally Leads a Team to Seek Immortal Herbs

Inside the Pope's Palace in Martial Soul City, Bibi Dong was seated on her throne reviewing files when the golden light suddenly erupting outside pierced through the window lattice, casting large patches of light on the floor. She instinctively looked up, and when her gaze landed on the attributes and points of "Lovesick Heartbreak Red" on the screen, the quill in her hand fell with a "snap" onto the sheepskin scroll, black ink spreading into a large blot. Yet she was completely unaware, her pupils contracting slightly from extreme shock.

"Reshaping foundations... immunity to poisons... 5,000,000 points!" Bibi Dong shot to her feet, the Pope's Scepter slamming heavily onto the ground, cracking the floor tiles into spiderweb-like fissures. Her black soul power surged uncontrollably around her, pressing the candles in the hall into flickering instability. "If I can obtain this immortal herb, the stagnation in my soul power over these years will surely be broken through!"

She strode quickly to the palace entrance and issued a sharp order to Ghost Douluo, who was waiting outside, her voice carrying an irrepressible urgency: "Convey This Seat's command! All Titled Douluo in the Worship Hall, except Qian Daoliu, are to follow This Seat immediately to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! Additionally, have all branch halls mobilize fully, search every secret realm on the continent carpet-style—the depths of the Sunset Forest, the fissures of the Extreme North Ice Plains, the deep-sea volcanic belts. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find the immortal herbs! Especially Lovesick Heartbreak Red—obtain it at any cost!"

As Ghost Douluo bowed to accept the order, his fingertips trembled slightly. He stared at the introduction of "Aromatic Silk Beauty" on the screen, his eyes burning with fervor—he had been backlashed by poison during his early training, and his soul power had never been able to break through level 95. If he could obtain this immortal herb to purify the toxins, he might be able to advance further. "Your Holiness, rest assured. This subordinate will relay the order immediately and will not fail!" With that, he transformed into a black shadow and vanished hurriedly at the end of the corridor.

Inside the Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu was polishing the Angel Sacred Sword, its golden blade gleaming with a piercing cold light under the morning sun. When his disciple reported the news of the Immortal Herb Ranking, the white cloth in his hand suddenly tightened, and the golden light on the sword surged violently, dyeing the stone pillars in the hall with a layer of gold. "Reviving the dead, regenerating flesh and bone... such a divine object truly exists in the Douluo Continent!" A hint of resolve flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice to the Angel Soul Master beside him, "You will immediately lead ten Soul Douluo to the waters near Sea God Island. The area is perpetually rich in moisture, and it is highly likely that Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone grows there. Remember, if you encounter people from Sea God Island, show no mercy—the immortal herbs can only belong to Martial Soul Hall!"

After the disciple accepted the order and left, Qian Daoliu walked to the window, gazing at the list of immortal herbs on the screen, his fingers lightly tapping the sword hilt. He knew in his heart that if Martial Soul Hall could monopolize the high-grade immortal herbs, they could not only rapidly increase their strength but also completely suppress forces like the Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, bringing the goal of unifying the continent within reach.

At the entrance of the Auction House store, it was already packed with envoys from the major forces. Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, accompanied by Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ancient Douluo Dugu Bo (Note: Adjusted per plot logic to align with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect camp; the original "Ancient Douluo" setting is a hidden combat power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect), had just stepped through the store's main door when they collided head-on with Tang Xiao of the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Xiao was dressed in a Black Cloth Robe, and though the Clear Sky Hammer wrapped in black cloth still exuded a domineering soul power fluctuation. His gaze was fixed firmly on the "Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass" seed displayed behind the counter, his tone carrying an unquestionable stubbornness: "This Clear Sky Sect wants this Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass seed!"

Ning Fengzhi, however, stepped forward with a smile, his Jade Folding Fan gently blocking Tang Xiao's line of sight, his gaze landing on the "Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone" seed. His tone was gentle but carried a hidden edge: "The Clear Sky Sect specializes in fire-attribute strong attacks. Though Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass is good, it may not be a perfect fit. On the other hand, this Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone nourishes soul bones and offers greater benefits to your sect's disciples. Why not each take what suits them?"

Tang Xiao's brows were tightly furrowed, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. A disciple behind him couldn't help but speak up: "Sect Master Ning, we even sold our family heirloom 'Clear Sky Stone' just to save up points. Please don't compete with us for this Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass seed!"