Douluo: Martial Soul Iron-Eating Beast, Never a Slave

"I promised to help Ye Lingling with something, so I might need to find an Immortal Herb."

Without even turning his head, Zhao Mu kept flipping through the Medicinal Herb Illustration Guide in his hands. At this moment, the reading speed he had developed from reading novels finally came in handy. After flipping through nearly a quarter of the book, he finally found what he was looking for.

The Medicinal Herb Illustration Guide in Zhao Mu's hand had stopped on a certain page.

This page also contained a hand-drawn, lifelike illustration of a medicinal herb.

It was a very strange plant. Its roots, stems, and leaves spread like trailing vines, delicate and neatly arranged. Yet at its peak bloomed a brilliant golden tulip, noble and magnificent, lavishly splendid.

"That's it!"

"Aromatic Silk Beauty!"

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Aromatic Silk Beauty could absorb the essence of heaven and earth, along with the radiance of the sun and moon. It had the effect of improving one's body.

If he wanted to remove the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia through Martial Soul Evolution, and Heibai's blood was insufficient to trigger that evolution, then the first thing Zhao Mu thought of was this Aromatic Silk Beauty.

Although Aromatic Silk Beauty did not possess the effect of evolution, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had transformed into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda after she consumed it in the original story. That could also be considered a form of evolutionary change.

The transformation from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was essentially equivalent to removing the limitation that prevented Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Masters from breaking through Soul Power Level eighty.

Since Aromatic Silk Beauty could achieve that much, perhaps it could also help the Nine Heart Begonia evolve and improve.

Comparing the illustration with the real plants, Zhao Mu quickly found the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Following the harvesting method recorded in the book, he carefully plucked the Aromatic Silk Beauty and stored it in his ring Soul Tool.

Dugu Bo merely watched from beginning to end and said nothing.

There were so many Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Zhao Mu taking one or two for someone else was naturally nothing to him.

As the dignified Poison Douluo, he was not so stingy.

Unless some shameless person directly swept away seven or eight tenths of the Immortal Herbs here, only then would it truly pain him.

After taking the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Zhao Mu used the guide to gather several more Immortal Herbs that were easy to preserve and useful in daily life. Then, rather than rushing back to the academy, he continued cultivating at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Zhao Mu's dormitory.

"Second Grandfather, you've already found a way to remove the curse on my Martial Soul?"

When Zhao Mu had initially told Ye Lingling that it would take some time, she had assumed it would not be quick. A few months? Or perhaps several years?

Yet unexpectedly, Dugu Yan came to tell her the very next day that Zhao Mu had found a way.

Just one day. Did that even count as waiting?

Zhao Mu nodded. "I've prepared almost everything, but I can't guarantee that it will definitely remove the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul."

Dugu Yan, who knew the details, naturally understood that Zhao Mu's preparations had not taken much time at all. He had merely gone to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to fetch some medicine.

Zhao Mu's right hand swept across the ring Soul Tool on his left hand. With a flash of golden light, the strangely shaped Aromatic Silk Beauty appeared in his palm.

"So pretty~"

It looks so tasty~

The first sentence had naturally slipped from Ye Lingling's lips, while the latter was naturally the cry of that glutton, Heibai.

"Second Grandfather, what kind of flower is this?" Ye Lingling asked curiously.

Zhao Mu glanced at Ye Lingling. "You don't recognize it?"

Seeing her shake her head, Zhao Mu introduced it. "This is Aromatic Silk Beauty, a rare Immortal Herb. After consuming it, it may be able to alter and improve your Martial Soul, thereby removing that curse passed down through generations."

"An Immortal Herb... no wonder it's so beautiful. But this is far too precious. I..." Although Ye Lingling desperately wanted to resolve the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia, she had no intention of taking the Aromatic Silk Beauty from Zhao Mu's hand.

"Lingling, just take it. You're my good friend. Haven't you always wanted to resolve the curse that has plagued the Nine Heart Begonia for generations?" Dugu Yan naturally knew her family's wealth. It was only one Immortal Herb; there was an entire valley full of them at her home.

Zhao Mu also persuaded her, "Take it! You're Yan Yan's friend, and you helped us as well. Aromatic Silk Beauty may be an immortal-grade treasure, but compared to all that, it's nothing."

Hearing both Zhao Mu and Dugu Yan say this, Ye Lingling finally looked moved and tremblingly accepted the Aromatic Silk Beauty from Zhao Mu's hand.

Her hands trembled not from nervousness, but from excitement.

Let the damned curse of the Nine Heart Begonia end with me.

After Ye Lingling accepted the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Zhao Mu continued, "You must not swallow it. Gently inhale the flower's stamen and slowly draw its essence into your body. Then cultivate your Soul Power gradually, allowing the medicinal effects to spread through all four limbs and every bone."

Zhao Mu then had Ye Lingling consume and refine the Aromatic Silk Beauty right there. After all, he and Dugu Yan could watch over her here. If she returned and absorbed it on her own, any sudden complication would be difficult to handle.

Ye Lingling naturally had no objections. She immediately sat cross-legged on the bed and slowly began absorbing the essence of the Aromatic Silk Beauty according to Zhao Mu's instructions.

Not long after Ye Lingling began absorbing the Aromatic Silk Beauty, changes appeared around her.

A begonia flower slowly materialized before Ye Lingling. Its petals were white and pink, its colors pure and its form graceful.

Three rings surrounded the begonia flower.

Yellow, yellow, purple!

They were Ye Lingling's first three Soul Rings.

At this moment, the entire begonia flower, including the Soul Rings, was enveloped in a dense layer of golden light.

The golden light was released from Ye Lingling herself and carried a rich tulip fragrance.

As the golden light flowed, it unexpectedly added an innate nobility to Ye Lingling's originally cold and aloof demeanor.

The begonia flower swayed within the golden light, as though it were gradually growing bit by bit.

Watching the miraculous changes happening to Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan could not help but sigh. Her own Martial Soul Evolution had been so painful and dangerous, yet Lingling's was so peaceful and serene. It truly made her envious.

While Ye Lingling absorbed the Aromatic Silk Beauty, the bored Zhao Mu curiously asked Dugu Yan,

"Hey, why does Lingling always cover her face with black gauze? Does she have some kind of vow too?"

"A vow?" Dugu Yan asked in confusion.

Zhao Mu continued, "You know, the kind where she keeps her face covered with black gauze and doesn't let anyone see it, then whoever removes it will become the person she marries."

"..." Dugu Yan could not help saying again, "What exactly goes on in your head? Who would make such a ridiculous vow?!"

"Huh? There isn't one? Then why does she always cover her face with black gauze?"

Dugu Yan explained, "Lingling is just a little socially anxious because she's often alone."

Neither Zhao Mu nor Dugu Yan noticed that, as Ye Lingling absorbed the Aromatic Silk Beauty, her finger twitched slightly when she heard this topic.

Whoever removes it, I marry him?

The one who lifts my veil shall be my beloved; I would gladly grow old with him.

That... doesn't sound too bad~

The entire absorption process lasted half a day. Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had arrived early in the morning, and only around noon did the changes in Ye Lingling's aura gradually stabilize.

More than ten minutes later, Ye Lingling slowly woke up on the bed.

The golden light around Ye Lingling had completely receded. She extended her right hand, and a pink-and-white begonia flower floated above her palm, surrounded by a faint golden halo.

"...It doesn't seem like much has changed." Dugu Yan had already moved closer and carefully examined the begonia flower in Ye Lingling's hand.

After observing the begonia flower in Ye Lingling's hand, Zhao Mu said,

"It's the petals! The previous Nine Heart Begonia had nine petals, but this one has ten!"

Ye Lingling also spoke up. "That's right. The Nine Heart Begonia has nine petals, while this one has ten. Perhaps it can be called..."

"Nine-Heart Begonia!"

"Nine-Heart Begonia?!"

Zhao Mu and Dugu Yan both fixed their gazes on the begonia flower before Ye Lingling.

"Lingling, now that the Nine Heart Begonia has evolved into the Nine-Heart Begonia, has the curse disappeared?" Dugu Yan asked.

Ye Lingling pondered for a moment. "It should have disappeared..."

How could she possibly confirm whether the curse had disappeared? There were no new Nine Heart Begonias—no, Nine-Heart Begonias.

Nor had any new Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Masters appeared. How could she determine whether more than one Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Master could coexist?

Could I try having a few children?

At that thought, Ye Lingling's face flushed beneath her black veil.

"Lingling, now that your Martial Soul has evolved from the Nine Heart Begonia into the Nine-Heart Begonia, has its healing effect become stronger?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.