Taking the Immortal Herb

Ma Xiunuo was currently focused on reviewing the awakening reports for Nuoding City this year; he poured immense passion into this work, a dedication he had strived to maintain for decades.

In the past, this conscientious old man had always been the one traveling to awaken martial souls for children in remote villages, but this year, Su Yun Tao had returned to Nuoding City and proactively taken on the batch of tasks involving the longest journeys.

It was precisely because of Ma Xiunuo's decades of diligence that he had been promoted to deacon of the Martial Soul Hall's Nuoding City branch. One must know that being promoted to a Martial Soul Hall deacon with only level 29 strength was a rare occurrence.

In this year's report, Su Yun Tao had omitted the information regarding Innate Full Soul Power. Su Yun Tao felt that if the report contained information about Innate Full Soul Power, then perhaps even Pope Bibi Dong would be alarmed.

In the ten years since his transmigration, he had actually felt very lost at times, because many bizarre and illogical events from the original work kept happening over and over again. Perhaps there was some force guiding everything, steering the trajectory of this world toward a predetermined direction.

Su Yun Tao spoke up: "Master, I have a very important matter to discuss."

Ma Xiunuo replied: "What is it, Yun Tao? Between you and me, feel free to speak your mind."

Su Yun Tao's expression became extremely grave, and he said word by word: "Master, I have found a way for us to change our destiny."

"Change our destiny?" Ma Xiunuo asked, puzzled: "Yun Tao, what do you mean by this?"

"Master Ma Xiunuo, you have been stuck at level 29 for decades. I have now obtained a supreme treasure capable of changing our constitutions; the path of cultivation will become very smooth! If you consume this treasure, not only will you be able to successfully break through to level 30, but in the future, you might even become a Soul Saint or higher!"

Revealing the existence of immortal herbs to others was not a wise decision, yet Su Yun Tao still chose to do so. A person needs to be rational, but if one were rational about everything—even failing to feel a surge of emotion at the passing of one's parents—then that person would no longer be human.

Ma Xiunuo had extended a helping hand when Su Yun Tao was impoverished. In Su Yun Tao's eyes, Ma Xiunuo was family. To help him break through to level 30 and extend his lifespan, the immortal herb was essential. Ma Xiunuo's kindness and Su Yun Tao's recognition of him ultimately led to this decision.

If the Grandmaster consumed the Ninth-grade Immortal Ganoderma, he could increase his Soul Power by over ten levels in five or six years, entering the ranks of Soul Ancestors, and eventually reaching the level of a Soul King above level 50 by the time of the Battle of Jialing Pass.

Although Ma Xiunuo was older than the Grandmaster, if he consumed an immortal herb, reaching level 70 in his lifetime would not be a problem. As for anything above level 70, that would depend on future circumstances.

If conditions permitted in the future, Su Yun Tao would not mind taking out a spirit bone to help this old man, who had once given his all to help him, break through to level 70.

As soon as these words were spoken, Ma Xiunuo's expression turned serious instantly.

"Yun Tao, don't joke around."

Su Yun Tao said slowly: "Master, we have known each other for many years; don't you know my character by now?"

Hearing this, Ma Xiunuo's expression began to show shock, and a hint of fervor appeared in his eyes. Although he felt the matter was unbelievable, Su Yun Tao had never been one to joke.

"Master, you must leave the Martial Soul Hall, because once you consume this supreme treasure, your Soul Power level, and even your appearance and martial soul, will undergo tremendous changes!"

"Such obvious signs will surely attract the attention of others. I believe you understand, Master, that for people with low strength like us, once we attract the attention of high-level soul masters, the day of our doom will arrive."

Ma Xiunuo's expression was somewhat dazed; clearly, Su Yun Tao's words had shocked him so deeply that the old man couldn't react for a moment.

"Yun Tao, what exactly did you obtain!"

Su Yun Tao said calmly: "Even if I told you what it is, Master, you wouldn't understand, but I can tell you for certain that its value is no less than a 100,000-year soul ring!"

Hearing this, Ma Xiunuo instantly slumped into his chair.

"Yun Tao, are you telling the truth!"

Su Yun Tao nodded solemnly and then said slowly: "Master, please pack your things. We will meet at Fengling Village tonight. I can guarantee that after you consume the treasure, you will never dare to return to the Martial Soul Hall!"

Ma Xiunuo asked with an excited expression: "Yun Tao, why are you doing this?"

"Master, didn't you also do your best to help me when I was in difficulty? The kindness of yesterday is the fruit of today. Yun Tao knows that a drop of water in need should be repaid with a gushing spring!"

Before the words had faded, Su Yun Tao turned and left. Ma Xiunuo looked around at everything he was familiar with, a deep sense of reluctance showing in his eyes.

"Sigh!" Ma Xiunuo sighed. Although he didn't really want to leave the place where he had worked for decades, no soul master could resist such a temptation.

He was already eighty-one years old. If he couldn't break through to level 30 before the age of thirty, a soul master was destined to remain stagnant for life, and the path of cultivation would be cut off.

Moreover, although his lifespan as a soul master was indeed longer than that of an ordinary person, he was old after all. Only by breaking through his cultivation could he extend his life. From any perspective, he could not resist the temptation of the supreme treasure.

Fengling Village, forty miles south of Nuoding City.

The sun set, and before long, a bright moon rose, making this quiet little village even more peaceful.

Ma Xiunuo looked at the four strange flowers and herbs before him, his expression showing great excitement.

"Yun Tao, is this the supreme treasure you spoke of?"

"Master, that is correct. These four plants are the most suitable for us. In fact, we should call them immortal herbs."

"I have four immortal herbs in my hand, named Tomorrow Sacred Heart Flower, Aromatic Maple Orchid, Eternal Illusion Demon Flower, and Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid! The one most suitable for you is the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid!"

All four immortal herbs were top-tier treasures of the world. The Tomorrow Sacred Heart Flower provided fire attributes and had the effect of restoring youth.

The Aromatic Maple Orchid provided a powerful gale attribute and could also change a person's appearance.

The Eternal Illusion Demon Flower, as the name implied, increased spiritual power and had a powerful illusion effect, even capable of changing the color of a person's soul rings.

These were the three immortal herbs Su Yun Tao had carefully selected for himself. The massive boost to his fire, gale, and spiritual attributes would cause his Lone Wolf martial soul to undergo an unprecedented evolution.

Of course, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid prepared for Ma Xiunuo was no ordinary item. As the immortal herb with the mildest medicinal properties, it was the easiest for the elderly Ma Xiunuo to absorb. After all, the old man was old, and Su Yun Tao was worried that if the medicinal effect were too strong, he might pass away from it.

Su Yun Tao directly consumed the Eternal Illusion Demon Flower. As the herb went down, he felt as if he had entered a state of ethereal clarity. Everything around him became clearer than ever before, as if everything were within his grasp.

After consuming the Eternal Illusion Demon Flower, Su Yun Tao began to absorb the medicinal effects of the Tomorrow Sacred Heart Flower and the Aromatic Maple Orchid.

As the effects of the two immortal herbs were absorbed, Su Yun Tao's entire body underwent subtle changes. What shocked Ma Xiunuo was that these subtle changes did not slow down as time passed; instead, they intensified, and it wasn't until dawn that the medicinal effects of the two herbs were completely absorbed.

At this moment, the twenty-two-year-old Su Yun Tao's entire body had changed, as if he were at least ten years younger. He looked at most fourteen or fifteen, and his bone age was surprisingly only around ten years old.

Su Yun Tao, who was already handsome to begin with, now had a stunning change in appearance. His thick, black hair had turned into silky, cyan-colored threads.

His face, which was already handsome, had reached the average level of a reader, making him arguably the most handsome man in the entire Douluo Continent.