Ten-Thousand-Year Solitary Bamboo

With a flick of his hand, Yao Yan caught the Bigu Pill in his palm. As he examined the patterns on its surface, an irrepressible joy rose within him.

Zhu Zhuqing could not help leaning closer, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Yao Yan, is this the pill you mentioned?"

"That's right." Yao Yan nodded with a smile.

"How effective is it?" Zhu Zhuqing pressed.

Yao Yan pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "It has yet to be tested. But judging by an adult's rate of consumption, one pill should keep someone from feeling hungry for at least ten days."

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned, her beautiful eyes full of disbelief.

This tiny pill could replace ten days' worth of food. It was truly beyond imagination.

She had thought it would last three days at most.

"Yao Yan, this is practically a miracle you've created!" Zhu Zhuqing looked at him, her eyes brimming with admiration.

Both that unique Alchemy Furnace and the pill before her left her deeply shaken. She vaguely felt that the man before her would one day shake the entire world of Soul Masters.

Yet Yao Yan merely shook his head gently, his tone calm. "We are only standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, which lets us see farther. These things are nothing worth mentioning."

Though Zhu Zhuqing did not fully understand the deeper meaning behind his words, she still nodded thoughtfully.

"By the way, Yao Yan, are you planning to sell these pills next?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

The appearance of the Bigu Pill would undoubtedly greatly meet the needs of Spirit Beast hunting parties. She could hardly imagine what kind of sensation it would cause throughout Qingshan Town once it entered the market.

Yao Yan fell silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "The time isn't right yet."

The emergence of pills would surely cause a worldwide sensation, yet he currently had no force backing him. If he rashly began selling them, he would certainly attract the attention of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He remembered that in the original story, when Ning Fengzhi first met Tang San, Bone Douluo's first thought was to kill him.

Had Tang San not had the Clear Sky Sect behind him, he might have died then and there.

Cooperating with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was even more of a pipe dream. Even if they agreed, the negotiations would definitely be utterly one-sided. If they demanded his pill formula then, how would he dare refuse?

The only path was to establish a connection with Qian Renxue. Only then could he ensure his own safety.

And she was someone who placed profit above all else. This Bigu Pill would be his calling card.

But he did not dare grow too close to her either. Someone like her could even abandon the loyal Title Douluo of her own family. Who knew what she was thinking?

She had spent over twenty years undercover in the empire, yet accomplished nothing at all.

She held no control over the army, paid no attention to the nation's finances, and made no effort to win the people's hearts. It was a complete waste of time and life.

She could be said to be loafing around in the Heaven Dou Empire every single day!

Hearing his answer, Zhu Zhuqing did not ask further. Having grown up in the imperial family, she naturally understood the stakes involved.

Yao Yan soon immersed himself in pill refining once more.

Time passed, and a month went by in the blink of an eye.

Yao Yan had already become proficient at refining Bigu Pills and could produce three at once. His improvement had been immense.

Next, he planned to obtain his third Soul Ring in preparation for going to Heaven Dou City to meet Qian Renxue.

Perhaps the Bigu Pill alone would not make her take him seriously, but if his third Soul Ring was at the Ten-Thousand-Year level, it would surely give her a tremendous shock.

The outcome went without saying.

Early morning.

The first rays of sunlight fell, dispersing the town's morning mist.

Yao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing had long since finished preparing. Carrying the Blue Silver Overlord Spear, they entered the Star Dou Great Forest.

Yao Yan led the way, and wherever his Spear Tip pointed, the weeds before him fell, clearing a passable path.

Zhu Zhuqing followed behind him, possessed by the Hell Spirit Cat, with two Yellow Soul Rings circling her body.

"Yao Yan, what kind of Spirit Beast are you planning to hunt this time?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly.

"Solitary Bamboo under twenty thousand years old," Yao Yan answered without hesitation. He had considered this target for a long time.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Solitary Bamboo?" Zhu Zhuqing paused slightly. "Isn't Solitary Bamboo one of the weakest types of Spirit Beast?"

As for his desire to absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Zhu Zhuqing was not surprised. After spending nearly three months with him, she knew the effects of the body-tempering Medicinal Bath.

By now, her level was already close to twenty-two. When she had first arrived, she had only just passed level twenty.

Of course, that was also because it was her first time using the Medicinal Bath, so the effects had been particularly pronounced. Later improvements would gradually diminish.

Yao Yan nodded. "Solitary Bamboo truly has little offensive power, but it is the fastest-growing plant in this world. Its reproductive ability is also very strong, making it perfect for the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul."

After thinking it over for a moment, Zhu Zhuqing found his reasoning sound.

The two passed through the outer region and gradually entered the Mixed Zone.

With warnings from the Blue Silver Grass, Yao Yan could sense danger at any time and avoid the territories of Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts in advance.

They moved forward cautiously. Before long, a gorge appeared ahead of them, filled with lush green bamboo.

"Zhuqing, stay close to me." Yao Yan gripped his spear tightly and warned her in a low voice.

This verdant bamboo forest was a natural habitat for snake-type Spirit Beasts. No one knew how many snake-type Spirit Beasts were hiding within, ready to launch ambushes at any moment.

Moreover, the darker their coloration, the more potent their venom!

This was especially true of the Mandala Snake and Jade Scale Snake. Not to mention Soul Masters—even Spirit Beasts were reluctant to make enemies of them.

Yao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing cautiously entered the bamboo forest and headed deeper inside. Solitary Bamboos stood alone, but their root systems were highly developed and could extend for an unknown number of meters.

It could be said that most of the bamboo in this forest had evolved from just a few primary bamboos. Finding those primary bamboos was simple as well—one only needed to keep heading deeper.

The two walked for a long time. Along the way, they encountered Mandala Snakes coiled around tree trunks with their eyes closed in rest. Fortunately, they did not disturb them and passed through safely.

The deeper they went, the older the bamboo became. Its stalks also grew thicker and straighter, like ancient trees reaching for the sky.

They stopped before a Solitary Bamboo that was entirely pitch-black and looked up to estimate its height.

A Solitary Bamboo was considered a hundred-year Spirit Beast once it reached ten meters. Every additional meter represented another hundred years of cultivation. The one before them was just over thirty meters tall.

This Solitary Bamboo was around seventeen thousand years old, making it perfect for his Third Soul Ring.

"Let's test your toughness!" A glint flashed through Yao Yan's eyes. The Blue Silver Grass in his hand rapidly shifted, condensing into the shape of a hammer.

The Simulation Soul Skill activated. After a wave of mental energy rippled out, a heavy black iron hammer appeared in his hand!

Zhu Zhuqing jerked back in shock. "Th-this... isn't that the Clear Sky Hammer? How did you do that?"

She watched as Yao Yan's Thousand-Year Soul Ring lit up, and the Martial Soul renowned across the continent materialized in his hand.

It was simply unbelievable!

Yao Yan blinked and smiled. "I'll tell you later."

He then raised the Clear Sky Hammer and viciously smashed it into the trunk of the Ten-Thousand-Year Solitary Bamboo.

"Boom—!!"

The Ten-Thousand-Year Solitary Bamboo let out a tremendous roar. Bamboo leaves rained down from its stalk, falling from the sky like a shower.

Yao Yan glanced at the spot he had struck. A deep hammer mark had been left in the bamboo, yet its interior remained completely intact.

"Pretty tough!" Yao Yan was overjoyed.

If he absorbed it as his Third Soul Ring, the Blue Silver Grass's toughness would surely improve tremendously.

His mental power suddenly spread outward. The surrounding Blue Silver Grass gave off a crystalline green light, contributing its own vitality. The green light gradually merged with the Clear Sky Hammer, which rapidly expanded to two meters in length and width, brimming with terrifying Life Energy.

Yao Yan raised the Clear Sky Hammer again and brought it crashing down!

"Boom! Boom! ..."

After several consecutive strikes, the Ten-Thousand-Year Solitary Bamboo finally gave a crisp crack. A fissure spread from the point of impact, quickly covering its entire stalk.

"Crack—!!"

Accompanied by a teeth-grating sound of breaking, the Ten-Thousand-Year Solitary Bamboo crashed to the ground.