"I want it, but you don't have any!"
"You've got some nerve!"
Qian Daoliu held back several times, but finally couldn't take it anymore and once again staged a scene of fatherly love and filial piety.
A few days later.
The elders arrived at the Alchemy Hall, beaming as they brought along promising younger relatives they had chosen. The Immortal Herbs were assigned according to each person's Martial Soul and constitution.
The Golden Crocodile Martial Soul inherited by Golden Crocodile Douluo's grandson was actually best suited to the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. This Immortal Herb was also a good match for most Soul Masters with Metal-element Beast Martial Souls. However, Chrysanthemum Douluo had already taken it.
The boy had to settle for an Immortal Pill refined from the Earth Dragon Golden Melon instead. The Earth Dragon Golden Melon was a top-grade Earth-element plant, capable of strengthening control over earth elements and promoting the evolution of dragon-type Martial Souls. It contained the power of an earth dragon and a Chaos bloodline. Taking it could also raise one's Soul Power Level and make up for flaws in one's foundation.
Although the Golden Crocodile had no connection to either the Earth element or dragon-type Martial Souls, the child's first and second Soul Rings had both come from dragon-type Soul Beasts. As a result, the Golden Crocodile had inevitably developed some dragon blood and traits.
After taking the Earth Dragon Golden Melon Immortal Pill, Golden Crocodile Douluo's grandson's Soul Power rose by four levels. But what made Golden Crocodile Douluo even happier was that the Golden Crocodile Martial Soul had evolved into a Golden Crocodile Dragon.
The dragon blood and traits now surpassed those of a crocodile. Its head had taken on the features of a dragon, and its body was covered in golden scales that gave it tremendous defensive power. Its U-shaped crocodile snout had become a beaklike dragon's mouth, and its teeth were now sharp and fearsome. Its legs had grown much stronger and thicker, more than doubling in height, and it could even stand upright.
After seeing this example, the other children waited with eager, envious expressions.
Azure Luan Douluo's granddaughter had inherited his Azure Luan Martial Soul, but her Innate Soul Power was not very high. Bian Que hesitated between the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, then ultimately chose the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower had a cockscomb-shaped tip and crimson-gold veins running through its leaves. It had potent nourishing and Yang-enhancing properties, and could also purify the body by removing impurities and cleansing the bloodline. Perhaps it could help the Azure Luan Martial Soul evolve.
The little girl had short, deep-blue hair and smoky-blue eyes, with delicate, handsome features and a lithe figure. Now, she held out her hands expectantly and took an Immortal Pill from Bian Que, a child even younger than her. The pill was red all over, with a crimson-gold phoenix pattern on its surface.
As the pill went down, the girl's Soul Power fluctuated and rose by four levels. Her Martial Soul manifested too: a beautiful Azure Luan with splendid plumage, a call that resembled a phoenix's cry, and an elegant tail.
After its bloodline was purified, the feathers—which had previously been mottled with other colors—became even clearer and more brilliant. Its tail feathers grew longer, reaching half the length of its body. As it flew, they trailed behind like an elegant skirt, and its Martial Soul grew much stronger.
Red ones were phoenixes; those with more blue were luan.
Looking at her now even prettier and more powerful Martial Soul, the little girl happily thanked Bian Que and left with her grandfather.
The fourth worship, Mighty Lion Douluo, also had a grandson whose Martial Soul was a Blazing Lion. Bian Que gave him a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower Immortal Pill as well. It matched the fire element in his Martial Soul perfectly and could purify and strengthen his flames.
The fifth worship, Guang Ling Douluo, was in the same position as Golden Crocodile Douluo: the Martial Souls inherited by his descendants had regressed. Guang Ling's Bow contained ice and light attributes, but his descendants had inherited only the ice attribute and could not shoot invisible arrows. His grandson was already the most talented among his descendants.
Bian Que carefully examined the handsome, silver-haired boy's body before settling on the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.
The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone was a white, translucent flower that looked as pure as a white lotus and its roots. It nourished the muscles and bones and improved the flow of energy through the extraordinary meridians. It was a safer choice that could improve the child's talent and speed in cultivating Soul Power.
The silver-haired boy looked at his Martial Soul, which had not changed much, then glanced enviously at the companions who had come with him.
A few children remained. Bian Que assigned each of them a suitable Immortal Herb according to their Martial Soul and physical condition.
The Alchemy Hall was filled with celebration, but the Titled Douluos could not help turning their attention to the child who had not yet turned eight.
After all, he had refined every one of these Immortal Pills. One could say that the entire Alchemy Hall was being held up by him alone. His abilities were beyond question.
The entire hall was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs. The Titled Douluos could not resist picking up the booklet nearby that described the pills.
The book listed all kinds of pills and their effects, enough to make anyone's eyes swim. It naturally included descriptions of the Immortal Pills.
The Douluos' thoughts began to stir.
Chapter 52: Successful Breakthrough
As Falling Devil Douluo skimmed the pages, the words "breakthrough in level" caught his eye. He immediately focused on them and read the details carefully.
[Soul Power Breakthrough Pill: Assists a Soul Master in breaking through to the next Soul Power Level.
Depending on the user's Soul Master level, Soul Power Breakthrough Pills are divided into ten grades. A Level One Soul Power Breakthrough Pill can help a Soul Master break through; a Level Two Soul Power Breakthrough Pill can help a Soul Grandmaster break through, and so on. A Level Nine Soul Power Breakthrough Pill can help a Titled Douluo of levels 91–94 break through, while a Level Ten pill can help a Super Douluo break through.
The prices in merit points are as follows...
(Please also note: the success rate for a breakthrough after taking a Soul Power Breakthrough Pill for the first time is 80%. The success rate drops considerably to 30% the second time, and to 10% the third time. The pill has almost no effect the fourth time.)]
(Hmm... As for why the Level One pill isn't meant to help Soul Scholars break through, if you need a pill to get past the Soul Scholar stage, you might as well give up cultivating as a Soul Master sooner rather than later. Bian Que genuinely couldn't be bothered to refine these "baby" pills.)
After seeing the effects of the Immortal Pills firsthand, the Titled Douluos had come to trust Bian Que somewhat.
Falling Devil Douluo walked to the table with the booklet in hand and pointed to the description of the Soul Power Breakthrough Pill. "Is what it says here true?"
The blond boy in the hood, whose eyes had narrowed to slits and who had been yawning nonstop, perked up and glanced at the section Falling Devil Douluo was pointing to.
"That's right. It's one of the pills we've developed recently, but the supply is limited." Bian Que nodded, then added a qualification to his final statement.
He had developed the pill at Qian Xunji's request, and there weren't many in stock. It also required precious ingredients worth a fortune, such as Whale Rubber and Blood Ginseng over a hundred years old. The Soul Power Breakthrough Pills effective on Titled Douluos even contained a low-grade Immortal Herb. Mass production was simply impossible.
"It works on Super Douluos too?" Falling Devil Douluo asked again, still doubtful.
"It does." Bian Que propped his head up with one hand and answered, struggling to stay awake.
"Good. Give me one. If it doesn't work, you should know what happens to people who deceive a Titled Douluo." Falling Devil Douluo slapped the table and spoke loudly, his voice full of excitement, yet tinged with doubt and disbelief.
As a level 96 Power Attack System Peak Douluo, Falling Devil Douluo had not made a breakthrough in nearly a hundred years. The barrier before him was as solid as a rock.
After reaching level 95, ordinary Soul Masters without some great stroke of fortune needed a hundred years or even several hundred years to advance each level.
Falling Devil Douluo knew that this was probably the limit of his talent. He might have to remain at level 96 for the rest of his life.
Most of the worshippers in the Worship Hall were in the same situation. They were stuck at the peak of their Soul Power, unable to break through because they had reached the limits of their talent.
The commotion drew the attention of everyone else in the hall.
As a powerful Douluo who had worked for over a hundred years, Falling Devil Douluo had more than enough merit points. Once that was confirmed, Bian Que opened a drawer in the densely packed cabinet behind him, took out a white porcelain bottle, and removed a translucent, pale-blue pill that glimmered in the sunlight. He handed it to Falling Devil Douluo.
The pill was not large. In Falling Devil Douluo's thick fingers, it looked more like a delicate work of art.
Falling Devil Douluo swallowed, having already witnessed the wonders of these pills.
The other worshippers gathered around. They had heard the conversation and could not help wondering whether the Soul Power Breakthrough Pill was as miraculous as the child claimed.
Taking in the faint medicinal fragrance, Falling Devil Douluo opened his mouth and swallowed the pill.
With the physical strength of a Titled Douluo, even if it really had been poisonous, it would not have done him much harm.
The pill melted almost as soon as it entered his mouth. Falling Devil Douluo felt a cool sensation slide down his throat, followed by his Soul Power churning relentlessly. The ground cracked under the force of his uncontrolled Soul Power.
As his Soul Power surged, he sensed that the barrier that had trapped him for years was showing signs of breaking.
He couldn't afford to miss the opportunity. He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began cultivating.
The worshippers nearby watched Falling Devil Douluo closely.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, the second worship and a level 98 Power Attack System Peak Douluo, was only one step away from becoming a Limit Douluo. He had the keenest senses and the most experience. "It looks like the seventh really is showing signs of a breakthrough. This pill hasn't just provided a huge amount of Soul Power and energy. It seems to contain something that can raise the limit of one's talent and improve one's physical constitution as well."
Mighty Lion Douluo nodded. "The improvements to talent and physical constitution aren't great, but at a critical moment like this, they make all the difference."
"But whether he succeeds still remains to be seen." Azure Luan folded his arms and delivered his verdict.
Qianjun Douluo looked worried. Falling Devil Douluo was his younger brother, and of course he wanted him to succeed.
The Titled Douluos had plenty of patience. Everyone waited in the hall for five whole hours.
Bian Que had already succumbed to exhaustion and fallen asleep with his head on the table.
At last, the aura around Falling Devil Douluo suddenly grew stronger. His Soul Power surged once more, then gradually settled.
The breakthrough had succeeded!
Chapter 53: Moonlight Pavilion
Seeing that the seventh had broken through, the worshippers stepped forward happily to congratulate him.
Apart from a few staff members who barely drew attention, only Bian Que and the six worshippers stood out in the Alchemy Hall now.
After congratulating him, everyone turned their attention to Bian Que, who was asleep with his head on the table.
The blond child was sprawled across a golden giant fir table. His fair, soft face made the dark circles beneath his eyes, tinged blue-green, stand out all the more.
As grandfathers and Titled Douluos, the worshippers were unsure what to call the child.
In terms of rank, they ought to address him as Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall. But considering their age, seniority, and Soul Power Levels, Bian Que should have been the one to greet them first.
With so many eyes fixed on him, Bian Que opened his eyes. When he looked up, six pairs of eyes were staring straight at him.
"Awake?"
"With everyone watching me like this, I couldn't sleep."
Mighty Lion Douluo was impatient. "Give me one of those Soul Power Breakthrough Pills too."
"I can, but there's only one left!" Bian Que nodded, eyes half-closed with sleepiness as he tipped the last pale-blue pill out of the white porcelain bottle.
"Why are there so few?" At that, all the worshippers frowned, and Mighty Lion Douluo asked in displeasure.
"First, I still have other pills to refine. Second, I don't have enough ingredients," Bian Que explained.
"I wonder which ingredients you're missing. If possible, I can help find them. If you can help me break through, I'll reward you handsomely." After hearing the reason, Golden Crocodile Douluo smiled and made his promise.
The blond boy climbed down from the tall stool. The Titled Douluos immediately lost sight of him as he disappeared into the blind spot beneath the table.
There was a rustling beneath the table, as if someone were flipping through papers.
After a while, Bian Que climbed back onto the tall stool with a draft recipe covered in edits and scribbles, reappearing in their view.
"Here. Take a look." He handed over the recipe, which looked somewhat rumpled and messy.
The worshippers immediately gathered around and examined it closely. Even the Titled Douluos frowned at the ingredients listed.
They were not merely expensive; the key problem was that they were rarely available on the market.
Even if they had money, they might not be able to buy Whale Rubber, century-old Blood Ginseng, or Millennium Meat Ganoderma.
But for people with real power and influence, the ingredients could still be gathered with enough money and effort.
After memorizing the recipe, several worshippers nodded. "In that case, I'll find these ingredients for you. You..."
Golden Crocodile Douluo paused when he saw Bian Que's pale complexion, dark circles, and frail body swaying unsteadily. "You should get some rest."
Just how long had this child gone without sleep?
If he remembered correctly, the child was only seven. The Pope ought to give him at least some time to rest!
Before you continue