Yu Xiaogang: Nine Heart Begonia, the Ye Family! Twenty-five thousand years, ultimate ice: an Ice Jade Scorpion?

"Xiaogang!

Come and see! Can Hongjun and Rongrong still be saved?"

As though he had caught hold of his last lifeline, Flender rushed forward.

Yu Xiaogang walked unhurriedly to the stretchers. After a mere glance, he withdrew his gaze and said calmly,

"Their injuries are severe. The ultimate flames have penetrated their bones. Ordinary healing Soul Masters truly can do nothing."

"Don't tell me even you..."

Flender went deathly pale.

"I never said they couldn't be saved."

Yu Xiaogang interrupted him, a trace of pride flashing through his eyes.

"There are countless strange Soul Skills in this world. There is always something that counters another.

In Heaven Dou City, there may be a chance."

After Yu Xiaogang had learned of Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong's horrific condition,

he had felt this was an opportunity to prove himself.

So he had hurried to consult the records.

And he really had found this supposed "chance."

It was Nine Heart Begonia—the Ye Family!

"Heaven Dou City?

Who can heal them?"

Zhao Wuji asked urgently.

Instead of answering directly, Yu Xiaogang looked at everyone and kept them in suspense.

"Have you ever heard of that legendary support martial soul in the Soul Master World, the one said to 'save anyone who isn't dead'?"

"You mean..."

Flender furrowed his brows, seemingly recalling something.

"Indeed."

Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. Only after drawing out the suspense did he slowly utter the name.

"Nine Heart Begonia, the Ye Family."

"Nine Heart Begonia?!"

Zhao Wuji cried out in shock.

"The Nine Heart Begonia whose lineage can only have two living inheritors at a time, and whose healing abilities surpass even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Precisely."

Yu Xiaogang puffed out his chest.

"Nine Heart Begonia has only one healing effect: comprehensive, all-attribute healing over an area.

As long as someone still has a breath left, an inheritor of the Ye Family can pull them back from death's door.

Even though Rongrong's facial injuries were caused by ultimate flames, they are not incurable before Nine Heart Begonia."

Hope rekindled in Flender's lifeless eyes, and he slapped his thigh.

"That's right!

How could I have forgotten the Ye Family?

As long as Rongrong's face can be healed, it'll be much easier to answer to Ning Fengzhi!"

"But the Ye Family has always been mysterious. Does Shrek have enough standing to approach them?"

Oscar asked worriedly from the side.

Yu Xiaogang glanced at the silent Tang San and said evenly,

"Where there's a will, there's a way.

As it happens, I was already planning to take you to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They have better resources there.

Once we're in Heaven Dou City, finding the Ye Family will be easier too."

Tang San raised his head, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"Teacher, I'll go anywhere if it means saving Hongjun and Rongrong.

But I, Tang San, will remember this grudge."

Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San's shoulder and said earnestly,

"Tang San, you're still too weak right now.

Remember this humiliation. It will drive you to grow stronger.

Once we reach Heaven Dou City, I'll devise a completely new training plan for you."

Meanwhile, Azure Luan Douluo headed to the Far North with Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er.

They had barely entered the inner reaches of the Far North when Azure Luan Douluo sensed several human Soul Masters fleeing toward them.

"Interesting. There are quite a few humans up ahead, running toward us for their lives."

Azure Luan Douluo stopped, his gaze piercing the swirling snow as an amused smile crossed his face.

Huang Yan casually released a ball of light fire, dispelling the chill around him.

"For Soul Masters to be in such a sorry state in the inner reaches of the Far North, their pursuer must be something formidable, right?"

"It's an Ice Jade Scorpion, around twenty-five thousand years old."

Azure Luan Douluo briefly closed his eyes to sense it, then looked somewhat surprised.

"Tsk, this little beast has an exceptionally powerful bloodline. It's probably a direct descendant of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion lineage.

Although it's only a little over twenty thousand years old, its cold venom and defenses give it combat strength on par with an ordinary sixty-thousand-year Soul Beast.

No wonder the Soul Saint leading them is almost completely drained."

Shui Bing'er's beautiful eyes lit up, and her breathing quickened.

"A twenty-five-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion?

Teacher, would it be suitable for my fifth Soul Ring?"

"Suitable? It's practically tailor-made for you."

Azure Luan Douluo looked at Shui Bing'er approvingly.

"You now possess ultimate ice, and your body has been tempered by immortal herbs and the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Although absorbing a twenty-five-thousand-year Soul Ring as your fifth is somewhat risky, the improvement this Ice Jade Scorpion's Soul Ring can give you will be nothing short of transformative."

"If it's suitable, then we'll keep it here."

Huang Yan patted Shui Bing'er's hand and turned to look ahead.

"Teacher, they're here."

Several blue figures stood out sharply amid the wind and snow.

The woman leading them was deathly pale, her Soul Power depleted to its limit. She staggered along, shielding several young disciples behind her.

When Shui Bing'er recognized their clothing, she cried out,

"That's... the dean's attire!

Teacher, they're from our Skywater Academy!"

"Bing'er?

Child, what are you doing here?

Run!"

The dean of Skywater Academy spotted Shui Bing'er as well. Without even pausing to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, she shouted desperately.

"That beast behind us has gone mad! Don't come here to die!"

"Dean, don't panic! We're here to help you!"

Shui Bing'er was about to rush forward, but Huang Yan caught her and held her back.

"Bing'er, take the dean and the others farther back."

Huang Yan stepped forward, instantly merging with his Radiant Phoenix martial soul.

Blazing golden-red light shone like a rising sun over the frozen plains of the Far North.

"I'll handle this Ice Jade Scorpion for you."

"Arrogant youngster!

That's an Ice Jade Scorpion with strength comparable to a sixty-thousand-year Soul Beast! Get out of the way!"

A teacher from Skywater Academy shouted anxiously, but her voice cut off abruptly the next moment.

Six Soul Rings flashed in succession beneath Huang Yan's feet: two yellow, one purple, and three black.

He was a rank sixty-five Soul Emperor, yet the pressure of his aura approached that of a Titled Douluo. In an instant, it swept away all the cold surging after the fleeing group.

"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Holy Radiance!

Second Soul Skill: Golden Feather Gale!

Third Soul Skill: Blazing Sun Judgment!"

At Huang Yan's low shout, his first three Soul Rings erupted one after another.

"Fire attribute, speed, and attack—all boosted by three hundred percent!"

Huang Yan blurred into motion, leaving a distorted afterimage in the air.

"Is... is this really pressure a Soul Emperor can possess?"

The dean of Skywater Academy stared wide-eyed, disbelief written across her face.

"Those three enhancement Soul Skills actually stack to such an extent!"

The people from Skywater Academy now recognized Huang Yan and his two companions as well.

Their faces lit up with excitement.

Huang Yan cupped his hands, a ball of dark-red evil fire flickering between his palms.

To leave it alive for Bing'er, I'll have to use this move.

Huang Yan felt somewhat helpless.

Given how strongly his ultimate fire countered the Ice Jade Scorpion,

whether he used his fourth, fifth, or sixth Soul Skill,

there was a very good chance he would kill the Ice Jade Scorpion outright.

But that wouldn't do. Shui Bing'er was still waiting to absorb its Soul Ring!

Self-Created Soul Skill:

"Evil Fire Burning Heaven!"

Huang Yan instantly appeared above the Ice Jade Scorpion.

The dark-red fireball of ultimate evil fire slammed into the Ice Jade Scorpion's shell.

Boom!

The Ice Jade Scorpion's emerald shell, strong enough to withstand a Soul Saint's attacks, began cracking apart the instant it touched the evil fire. The beast let out an agonized screech.

As the smoke and dust cleared, the once-imperious Ice Jade Scorpion lay curled in a deep crater, its entire body charred black.

Its life force was barely detectable. It was clearly on the brink of death.

"Done."

Huang Yan withdrew his martial soul, instantly reining in the scorching aura around him, and turned to the dumbstruck Shui Bing'er.

"Bing'er, do it now. Kill it and absorb its Soul Ring."