Behind Qian Daoliu, the phantom of the Six-Winged Angel slowly appeared. Holy golden light spread out, enveloping the entire Martial Arts Platform.
With a wave of his hand, the barrier shattered. Countless golden specks of light drifted toward Ling Feng, Ye Fan, Li Taibai, and the others as if alive, sinking into their bodies.
Wherever the specks touched, wounds healed at a visible pace. Their turbulent blood and qi gradually settled, and their weakened auras steadied once more.
After just a few breaths, they could all manage to get to their feet. Though they still felt tired, they were no longer in any danger.
"Thank you, Grand Elder (teacher)." Ling Feng, Ye Fan, and Li Taibai bowed in unison.
Qian Daoliu withdrew the Angel Phantom and swept his gaze over them, praising them. "You're all geniuses of the Spirit Hall, worthy of greater resources. From now on, each of you three will receive fifty percent more resources every month."
Delight flashed through the eyes of Ling Feng, Ye Fan, and Li Taibai.
Ling Feng and Ye Fan clenched their fists and said solemnly, "We won't let you down, Grand Elder!"
Ye Fan gave a slight nod, thinking to himself, As expected, only by proving our worth can we obtain more resources.
With their talent, even if resources were scarce, becoming Titled Douluo someday would be no trouble. But the speed of their cultivation and the realization of their potential ultimately depended on sufficient resources. The difference between the two circumstances was as great as heaven and earth.
Li Taibai grinned. "Thank you for your kindness, teacher!"
Qian Renxue's gaze settled on Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, appraising them. "You three still need more practice."
Hu Liena and the others lowered their heads in shame.
After a pause, she turned to everyone. "As the rules stated, if three of you are still standing after the time it takes an incense stick to burn, you win."
With that, she put the gleaming white longsword into her Space Ring, then took out six jade bottles and flicked her hand. The bottles flew precisely toward the six of them.
They hurried to catch them.
"You've earned these Soul Ascension Pills," Qian Renxue said coolly.
Holding the jade bottle, Ye Fan looked at Qian Renxue and asked in confusion, "How did you do it? You didn't use Soul Power, and I can understand how your body was strong enough to suppress us."
"But with that last attack, we were clearly several yards away from you. How could it still affect us?"
Qian Renxue looked up and asked in return, "Have you ever played a drum?"
"Played a drum? What do you mean?" Li Taibai scratched his head, utterly bewildered.
"When you strike a drumhead, the vibrations create sound waves that affect the heartbeat and even the flow of blood," Qian Renxue explained.
"I used my body as a drum. By rapidly vibrating my muscles, I sent out those unique sound waves, which let me affect the things around me."
Ye Fan, Ling Feng, and the others fell silent, their expressions grave.
The principle sounded simple, but the extreme control over one's body it required was far beyond what they could currently achieve. The dedication and talent such mastery demanded were unimaginable.
"I've learned a lot," Ye Fan said, cupping his hands first. "Grand Elder, Pope, Your Highness, I still need to go back and consolidate my cultivation. I'll take my leave."
Qian Daoliu nodded. "Go. Cultivate well. The future of the Spirit Hall will depend on you."
"Grand Elder, I still have official business to attend to at Pope Hall," Bibi Dong said, her usual cool tone returning. "Ling Feng, Hu Liena, Yan, Xie Yue, come with me." She turned and walked off the Martial Arts Platform.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Ling Feng, Hu Liena, and the others bowed to Qian Daoliu, then hurried after Bibi Dong.
"Eldest Miss, can you teach me that move, 'Inch Burst'?" Li Taibai edged up beside Qian Renxue, eyes burning with eagerness.
If he learned that move, wouldn't he be able to interrupt Ling Feng and Ye Fan with ease whenever they unleashed their Soul Skills?
Then he could crush them without breaking a sweat!
Qian Renxue glanced at him and answered without holding back, "That move requires a powerful body as its foundation, along with dull, day-after-day practice. Can you stick with it?"
Li Taibai's mouth twitched, and he gave an awkward laugh. "I was just saying. I'm not that keen to learn it, haha."
He didn't have the patience to hone his body. The path of a sword immortal still depended on Soul Power and sword intent. Besides, his Martial Soul didn't enhance his physique by much.
"Oh, right, teacher." As if something had just occurred to him, Li Taibai took an old, battered ancient text from his Soul Tool and presented it to Qian Daoliu with both hands.
"While I was away, I stumbled across this ancient text. It describes a place called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. According to the text, it's full of rare medicinal herbs, including legendary Immortal Herbs."
"If the Spirit Hall could obtain it, we could raise even more powerful experts."
Qian Daoliu accepted the ancient text and slowly opened its yellowed pages. Qian Renxue leaned over curiously to read it with him.
The writing was somewhat faded but still legible: "Deep in Sunset Forest, poisonous mists abound. There lies a strange place called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. One spring is born of two sources, half extremely cold and half extremely hot..."
Dozens of Immortal Herbs were listed on the following pages: Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Aromatic Silk Beauty, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Silk Tulip, Eight-Petal Orchid, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Snowy Swan Kiss, Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, Primordial Immortal Grass...
There were also hundreds of other spirit herbs, each annotated with its unusual effects. The sheer number of them was dazzling.
"Are you sure you just happened to find this while you were away?" Qian Renxue looked up at Li Taibai, puzzled. "You're that lucky?"
"Of course!" Li Taibai lied without batting an eye.
"I've always had great luck. I can even find gold just by going out for a walk!"
He would never admit that he'd bought the ancient text from the system. To make it look convincing, he'd even had the system make it look old and add annotations, such as the location being Sunset Forest.
"Grandpa, let's go take a look at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well." Excitement flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes.
"I need a great many rare medicinal herbs for my alchemy. If the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is real, it would be a tremendous boon for me and the Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu pondered for a moment. "Then go with the two elders, Pufferfish and Snake Lance, and Taibai."
"Nooo."
Qian Renxue tugged on Qian Daoliu's sleeve and pleaded, "Grandpa, why don't you come with me? I want you to come out for a walk."
"Teacher, there are plenty of elders stationed at the Worship Hall. They'll be fine without you," Li Taibai chimed in.
"Take Eldest Miss on an outing and clear your head."
He had a shrewd plan. Qian Daoliu had always treated him well; two years ago, he'd even given him a sixty-thousand-year Soul Bone, though Li Taibai had thought its age too low and hadn't absorbed it.
If Qian Daoliu came along this time, Li Taibai was sure to get a good share of the spoils.
If he went alone, he doubted he could defeat Dugu Bo, who was guarding the place.
"Grandpa~" Qian Renxue gently shook Qian Daoliu's arm, her voice soft and sweet. "Please? Maybe we'll even find an Immortal Herb that suits you."
Seeing the rare coquettishness in his granddaughter, Qian Daoliu's heart softened. He shook his head helplessly, his eyes full of affection. "You're too old to be acting spoiled. All right, I'll go with you."
"That's wonderful!" Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, and a brilliant smile blossomed across her face.
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