Purple Gold Gourd

Jinyu didn't keep him in suspense and continued explaining. "Everything is relative. The cold poison of the Spirit Gathering Mushroom can only affect creatures of flesh and blood; it has no effect whatsoever on plants. Haven't you noticed that the plants around here are unaffected?"

Mu Qian nodded in sudden realization. At last, he understood why there were so few Spirit Beasts in the area.

It just hadn't occurred to him that something so terrifying could grow here, on the outskirts of Death Canyon.

But when he recalled Jinyu saying that even Titled Douluo feared the Spirit Gathering Mushroom's cold poison, he wasn't too surprised.

The higher-ups at Spirit Hall must have discovered this rare treasure long ago. They just couldn't do anything about it either, could they?

Since it was a rare treasure, it was bound to have some use and benefits.

Mu Qian didn't interrupt. He listened as Jinyu continued explaining.

"Although the Spirit Gathering Mushroom can't develop intelligence on its own, it can awaken the intelligence of other plant-type Spirit Masters. It can also strengthen the body and nourish the spirit, bringing tremendous benefits to the soul."

"If we can get our hands on this Spirit Gathering Mushroom, I believe my soul will recover as much as possible. I might even be able to regain twenty percent of the strength it had before the Heavenly Tribulation."

"Twenty percent of the strength your soul had before the Heavenly Tribulation?" Mu Qian exclaimed in surprise.

Twenty percent might not sound like much, but it depended on what you were comparing it to.

With Jinyu's soul and Spiritual Power as a two-hundred-thousand-year-old Amethyst Imperial Epiphyllum, even twenty percent would be enough for her to do a great deal.

Maybe she wouldn't have to remain asleep all the time in the future, and she could also help Mu Qian use many of her abilities. The benefits were clear.

"But you're a spirit now, residing within my Martial Soul. How can you absorb the Spirit Gathering Mushroom's energy?"

"Simple. You can take it, can't you?" Jinyu explained.

"The Spirit Gathering Mushroom isn't useless to humans. On the contrary, an Ice-attribute Spirit Master whose attribute strength surpasses its own can greatly improve their understanding of that attribute."

"Your attributes are a bit mixed, but each one is stronger than an Ultimate Attribute, so you don't need to worry about the cold poison's side effects."

At this point, Jinyu's tone turned teasing. "I really don't know how you managed it. How can you possess so many Ultimate Attributes at once without them conflicting with one another?"

"What a freak."

Mu Qian pursed his lips, unsure how to explain.

The Yinglong Martial Soul really did have an astonishing ability to harmonize different attributes. No other Martial Soul could compare.

But now that he knew the Spirit Gathering Mushroom would only benefit him and wouldn't harm him, Mu Qian felt reassured.

While his consciousness was immersed in his body, the five led by Xu Kun considered their options carefully and ultimately chose to leave.

They might have to take a detour, and if they retraced their steps, they would encounter far fewer Spirit Beasts. But that was still better than losing their lives.

Humans were always afraid of the unknown. It was perfectly normal—and wise—to make that choice.

"A-Mu, they're leaving. Why don't we leave too?" Seeing Mu Qian lost in thought, Zhu Zhuqing reminded him.

His attention returned to reality. Mu Qian shook his head and said frankly, "Zhuqing, I think I understand what's going on. There's a rare treasure not far ahead. It's every bit as precious as the Star Fruit you ate before."

"That thing could be very useful to me. I've decided to go take a look."

"Okay. I'll go with you." Though worry still showed in her expression, Zhu Zhuqing agreed without hesitation.

She trusted Mu Qian's judgment and didn't ask how he knew there was a rare treasure ahead.

If he said the unknown treasure could help him, she wouldn't object.

Mu Qian shook his head again. "No, Zhuqing. You must have seen it too. That thing has a terrifying cold poison that attacks any creature of flesh and blood that comes within a certain distance."

"I have an Ultimate Ice attribute, so the cold poison won't affect me. But you're different."

"So wait here for me. I'll be right back."

"But..." Zhu Zhuqing instinctively clutched the hem of Mu Qian's clothes, her expression more anxious than he had ever seen.

Xirui seemed to have thought of something. Before Mu Qian could try to dissuade her again, she interrupted them.

"Brother Mu Qian, why don't you let us come with you? I have a Soul Skill that can make sure Zhuqing and I won't be affected."

"Hmm?" Mu Qian looked at Xirui in surprise. "Are you sure?"

Xirui nodded solemnly. "I'm sure. I couldn't be certain before, but now that you've said it's a rare treasure, there won't be a problem."

Mu Qian hesitated. He didn't know whether he could trust Xirui's words.

After all, Zhu Zhuqing's life would be the stake!

Seeing his hesitation, Xirui looked calmly at Mu Qian and Zhu Zhuqing. "Trust me. We're friends, aren't we? I'd never hurt Zhuqing."

"How about I use my Soul Skill right now, and then you can decide?"

"Please, Brother Mu Qian?"

The word "brother" made Mu Qian's heart itch. He thought it over, then nodded.

There was no harm in seeing what her Soul Skill could do first.

With Mu Qian's permission, Xirui smiled happily. She was always so sunny, as if nothing could ever affect her mood.

"Second Soul Skill: Hongmeng Purple Gold!"

At the girl's spirited cry, three Spirit Rings slowly appeared beneath her feet. Mu Qian was instantly dumbfounded.

Purple, purple, black!

"Two thousand-year Spirit Rings? And the third one is ten thousand years old!"

"This girl..." It was the first time Mu Qian had seen someone else with a ten-thousand-year third Spirit Ring.

But before he could finish, an even more astonishing sight unfolded before them.

Light flared from Xirui's Second Soul Ring. Dense Soul Power surged like a rising tide, gathering in midair into a gigantic Gourd Vine.

The vine was extraordinary, radiating a holy, gentle aura. Two gourd fruits hung from it.

One was purple and gold; the other, crimson.

As she released her Soul Power, the Purple Gold Gourd on the vine rapidly expanded, enclosing her and Zhu Zhuqing.

It was only a thin veil of light, yet it radiated a solid, weighty aura, as if it could shield them from everything in the world.

In a daze, Mu Qian felt as though he had crossed millions of years and witnessed the grandeur and splendor of Heaven and Earth at the moment of their creation.

That sacred yet weighty aura, along with the bloodline pressure radiating from the Purple Gold Gourd, instantly made the surrounding trees tremble.

Its bloodline might not match Mu Qian's Yinglong Martial Soul, but it had still surpassed the limits that the Douluo Continent could withstand!

"This is... the Purple Gold Gourd!" Mu Qian stood frozen, staring in stunned disbelief.