At dawn, the Auction House's Golden Light Screen suddenly blazed with dazzling light, brighter than any announcement before it. Three gilded characters—"Immortal Herb Ranking"—hung in midair as rows of text slowly unfolded beneath them, displaying illustrations, properties, and redemption costs for thirty Immortal Herbs. In an instant, they seized the attention of every power on the continent.
At the very top of the screen was an illustration of Lovesick Heartbreak Red, its petals so vivid they seemed to drip with blood. Layer upon layer of crimson petals surrounded a golden-glowing center. The description beside it read: "Lovesick Heartbreak Red, ranked first on the Immortal Herb Ranking. Properties: brings the dead back to life and restores flesh to bare bones; can rebuild a Soul Master's foundation and grants immunity to all poisons. Redemption cost: 5 million Points. Note: Must be watered with sincere heart's blood to be picked. If picked by force, it will wither and cannot be transplanted. It must be used immediately after picking."
Next came Aromatic Silk Beauty. A hazy mist curled around its pale purple petals, and its description stood out beside the illustration: "Properties: purifies all toxins and stimulates plant growth within a ten-mile radius; can be refined into an Antidote Sacred Pill; suitable for all Soul Masters. Redemption cost: 4.8 million Points."
Below that, the illustration of Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass radiated a bone-chilling cold, tiny frost flowers forming on its crystalline leaves. "Properties: tempers the body and strengthens the bones; grants immunity to extreme cold; can help ice-attribute Soul Masters break through bottlenecks in their Soul Power. Redemption cost: 4.5 million Points." Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone looked as though it had been carved from white jade, with a pale blue glow flowing through its translucent roots. "Properties: nourishes Soul Bones and increases the age of existing Soul Bones by 3,000 years, with no attribute restrictions. Redemption cost: 4.2 million Points."
The illustration of Infernal Delicate Apricot blazed with orange-red flames, its leaves seemingly forged from magma. "Properties: increases the power of fire-based Soul Skills by 50%; grants immunity to Ultimate Fire; suitable for Fire Attribute Soul Masters. Redemption cost: 3.8 million Points." Purple Demon Eye Grass had deep purple leaves, its veins spreading like a spiderweb. "Properties: doubles mental strength and helps spiritual-type Soul Masters break through their limits. Redemption cost: 3.5 million Points."
At the bottom of the ranking were basic Immortal Herbs, such as Spirit Soothing Immortal Herb (its leaves glowed a pale green; properties: stabilizes Soul Power and lowers the chance of failure when breaking through; redemption cost: 1 million Points) and Spirit Charm Grass (pale pink petals; properties: increases a Soul Master's cultivation speed by 30%; redemption cost: 800,000 Points). Though their costs were lower, they were easier to obtain, making them rare treasures even for Low Grade and mid-tier Soul Masters.
At the bottom of the screen, a line of small text stood out: "The Auction House shop is also stocking Immortal Herb Seeds, priced at 10% of the corresponding Immortal Herb's redemption cost (for example, Lovesick Heartbreak Red seeds cost 500,000 Points each, and Aromatic Silk Beauty seeds cost 480,000 Points each). The accompanying Spirit Gathering Acceleration Array can shorten an Immortal Herb's growth cycle to five to eight years (from the original 30 to 50 years). Price: 500,000 Points per array; limited to ten arrays per faction."
1. The major factions were stunned and overjoyed; Bibi Dong personally led a team to search for Immortal Herbs
Inside Pope's Palace in Spirit City, Bibi Dong was seated on her throne, reviewing documents, when a sudden golden light outside blazed through the windows and cast bright patches across the floor. She instinctively looked up. The moment her eyes landed on the properties and cost of Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the feather quill in her hand fell onto the parchment with a slap, spilling black ink across it. She didn't notice; her pupils had contracted with utter shock.
"Rebuild one's foundation... immunity to poison... five million Points!" Bibi Dong rose abruptly, slamming the Pope's Scepter against the floor. The tiles cracked in a spiderweb of fine lines, while black Soul Power surged uncontrollably around her, making the candle flames in the hall flicker. "If I can obtain this Immortal Herb, the stagnation that has plagued my Soul Power for years will surely break!"
She strode to the hall's entrance and issued a sharp command to Ghost Douluo, who was waiting outside. Her voice was taut with barely contained urgency. "Pass down my orders! Every Titled Douluo in the Worship Hall except Qian Daoliu is to accompany me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well at once! Also, mobilize every branch hall to search every secret realm on the continent from top to bottom—the depths of Sunset Forest, the fissures in the Extreme North Ice Plains, the Deep Sea Volcanic Belt. Dig up every inch if you have to, but find the Immortal Herbs! Especially Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Get it at any cost!"
As Ghost Douluo bowed to accept the order, his fingertips trembled slightly. He stared at the description of Aromatic Silk Beauty on the screen, his eyes burning with desire. He had been poisoned during his early cultivation, and his Soul Power had never been able to break through to level 95. If he could obtain this Immortal Herb and purge the toxins, perhaps he could advance further. "Rest assured, Your Holiness. I'll pass on the order at once. I won't fail you!" With that, he turned into a streak of shadow and hurried away down the corridor.
Inside the Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu was polishing the Angel Sacred Sword, its golden blade gleaming coldly in the morning light. When a disciple reported the Immortal Herb Ranking, he clenched the white cloth in his hand. Golden light abruptly surged from the blade, gilding the stone pillars around the hall. "Bringing the dead back to life, restoring flesh to bare bones... Such a divine treasure truly exists on Douluo Continent!" A look of resolve flashed across his eyes. He turned to the Angel Soul Master beside him and said gravely, "Take ten Soul Douluos and head to the waters near Sea God Island immediately. The air there is always rich with moisture, so Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone may well grow there! Remember, if you encounter anyone from Sea God Island, show no mercy. The Immortal Herbs belong to Spirit Hall alone!"
After the disciple left, Qian Daoliu walked to the window and gazed at the list of Immortal Herbs on the screen, lightly tapping the hilt of his sword. He knew that if Spirit Hall monopolized the high-grade Immortal Herbs, it could not only rapidly strengthen itself but also crush the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the other powers. Unifying the continent would no longer be a distant goal.
The entrance to the Auction House shop was already packed with emissaries from the major factions. Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had brought Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ancient Douluo Dugu Bo (Note: This has been adjusted to fit the plot; he is now an ally of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with the original "Ancient Douluo" designation referring to the sect's hidden strength). The moment they entered the shop, they nearly collided with Tang Xiao of the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Xiao wore black robes. Though the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand was wrapped in black cloth, it still radiated an overbearing surge of Soul Power. His gaze fixed on the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass seed behind the counter, and he spoke with undeniable authority. "My Clear Sky Sect claims this Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass seed!"
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward with a smile, lightly raising his Jade Folding Fan to block Tang Xiao's view. His gaze settled on the Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone seed, and his tone was warm but edged. "The Clear Sky Sect focuses on powerful Fire Attribute attacks. As good as Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass is, it may not suit you. This Water Skin Jade Immortal Bone, on the other hand, can nourish Soul Bones and would do more to benefit your disciples. Why don't we each take what suits us?"
Tang Xiao knitted his brows, a flash of displeasure in his eyes. One of the Clear Sky Sect disciples behind him couldn't hold back. "Sect Master Ning, we even sold the Clear Sky Stone passed down through our family to save up Points. Please don't compete with us for this Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass seed!"
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