"This patch of Purple-Green Dragon Mushrooms had suffered a heavenly tribulation. Its intelligence and some of its offspring had been blasted away, leaving only an empty shell behind in this world."
"Of course, if it had really survived the tribulation, it might have become the adopted child of you two—and the true king of the medicinal garden at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
As the Dragon Emperor spoke, he glanced at the Two Kings of Water and Fire beside him.
Just then, the current Immortal Herb King stepped forward and echoed, "Your Majesty truly has an eye for things others miss."
"This patch of Purple-Green Dragon Mushrooms was the previous Immortal Herb King of my garden."
"The method we used to awaken the two Dragon Kings was developed by this former Immortal Herb King. He passed it on to me before the heavenly tribulation struck."
"However, compared with the previous Immortal Herb King, the Fragrant Silk Luo Flower, this patch of Purple-Green Dragon Mushrooms was lucky to retain even an empty shell, thanks to the spring's favor as something of the same origin."
"After all, Youyou was... utterly destroyed in body and soul by the heavenly tribulation."
Thinking of himself, the Aromatic Silk Beauty imagined that he, too, might soon be wiped out by a heavenly tribulation. A wave of futile grief washed over him.
The Dragon Emperor paid no heed to the mournful atmosphere. He pinched the Aromatic Silk Beauty's jaw and gently tilted it from side to side. "Don't worry."
"As long as you can hold on for another decade or so, the heavenly tribulation will never fall again."
The teasing gesture made Infernal Delicate Apricot's nose sting as she watched.
But the Aromatic Silk Beauty was used to the Dragon Emperor's casual manner. He took it as a joke and replied with a half-smile, "Then I wish Your Majesty a soaring rise to the heavens. Please win this little king a chance at life."
The Dragon Emperor was about to put the patch of Purple-Green Dragon Mushrooms into his Soul Tool.
Suddenly—
As if sensing something, he strolled into the lush greenery.
A white, jade-like Immortal Herb came into view through his pure-gold pupils.
The Aromatic Silk Beauty, accompanying him, was just about to introduce it.
The Dragon Emperor's voice rang out first. "Primordial Immortal Grass. It contains primordial unity, which can temper the user's bones, muscles, and Soul Power, accelerating the formation of a Soul Core."
The Aromatic Silk Beauty froze, then nodded and flattered him. "Your Majesty is truly learned. This Primordial Immortal Grass has the potential to develop intelligence and could gain a spirit at any moment."
"However, once this primordial unity enters the body, no matter who takes it, they can never consume another medicinal herb afterward—not even a twelve-grade divine medicine."
The Aromatic Silk Beauty had said this in the hope of protecting the Primordial Immortal Grass.
But the Dragon Emperor slowly crouched down, memories of his previous life flickering in his eyes...
"Primordial unity. Heh. Boundless potential."
"A-Jin and I were born bathing in chaos. Sigh..."
"Things have changed. I never thought anything containing primordial unity would still exist in this world."
The Aromatic Silk Beauty could tell that the Immortal Herb Emperor had a story behind him, so he wisely kept silent.
"It's a pity." The Dragon Emperor shook his head, regret in his voice. "Under the influence of the universe's new laws, primordial unity is ultimately a remnant of an old era. Like us beasts, it can no longer become divine."
"And so, this Immortal Herb, which can reject divine-grade herbs, will still be unable to reach divine grade, no matter how much potential it has. Its growth will stop before the twelfth grade."
Only after the Dragon Emperor's sigh did the Holy Dragon King and the Goddess of Love, frozen in place, finally come out of their stillness.
In just a few minutes, both had undergone visible changes: one's body had grown denser, while the other's soul had taken on a deeper hue.
The Dragon Emperor tossed the object in his hand. "A patch of Purple-Green Dragon Mushrooms, the previous Immortal Herb King of this garden—that's an unexpected delight."
"They can add a touch of 'dragon' to this Flower Immortal Body. With this in reserve, if it awakens a Purple Crystal Dragon Martial Soul, perhaps it can even gain a power that wrests creation itself from heaven and earth."
Other such powers included:
Those who consumed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had a chance to cultivate an indestructible body;
Those who consumed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon had a chance to inherit the power to turn the earth like a dragon;
Those who consumed the Infernal Delicate Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass had a chance to gain immunity to ice and fire.
Looking back at the original Shrek Seven Devils, aside from Tang San and Ning Rongrong, no one had managed to develop any other hidden Immortal Herb abilities.
Though the Mysterious Heaven Hundred Treasures Record of the Tang Sect had never recorded the hidden effects of the Purple-Green Dragon Mushrooms, how could an Immortal Herb King born of dragon aura not have something concealed within?
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. All four joys have come together."
"Shall we return to Aolai City in the East Sea, or..."
The Holy Dragon King made as if to take out an aircraft Soul Tool.
But the Dragon Emperor, brimming with satisfaction, said, "We're heading for the Star Luo Continent."
"When we get there, use your Dragon-Slaying Blade to cleave open the lowest layer of the Dragon Tomb's space. Take me back so I can awaken the basic form of my previous life, then bring out a few Purple Crystal Dragon bones as well. I'll make myself a weapon that fits my hand and get in some practice."
But as the Dragon Emperor smiled faintly, a smile that outshone the entire garden...
The Holy Dragon King rubbed his cheek awkwardly and said with some difficulty, "I-I must report to Your Majesty..."
"The Dragon-Slaying Blade... isn't with me right now."
The Dragon Emperor's smile froze. He blinked. "You didn't bring it out of the Dragon Tomb?"
"Uh..." The Holy Dragon King swallowed. "The Dragon-Slaying Blade left the Dragon Tomb before I did."
The Holy Dragon King then recounted how he had thrown the blade to break through the boundary.
The Dragon Emperor fell silent, and the atmosphere congealed.
The Aromatic Silk Beauty hurriedly stepped away. The Goddess of Love tactfully returned to her place, and even the Two Kings of Water and Fire drifted far off.
With a crisp SMACK, the Dragon Emperor backhanded the Holy Dragon King across the face.
The blow left no mark on the other's cheek, but the back of the Dragon Emperor's right hand cracked, the bones folding inward at their roots.
"Do you know that your Dragon-Slaying Blade is the best key we have for freely crossing the Dragon Tomb Boundary Wall?"
"Without that key, you could tear open the boundary with your strength, but it would take two or three days. How is this body of mine supposed to withstand the sharpness of the rift in the boundary?"
The Holy Dragon King knew he had made a grave mistake. He immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head, accepting the scolding. At the same time, he withdrew his protective Soul Power, ready to receive a second slap at any moment.
But seeing the Holy Dragon King's look of complete resignation, as if he cared nothing for life or death and would accept any punishment, made the Dragon Emperor's head spin.
He was the emperor. When his subordinates caused trouble, it was his job to find a solution.
If he couldn't return to the depths of the Dragon Tomb, how could he copy the vast Sub-Dragon Origin Data from his previous form?
Patting his forehead beneath his pink-purple hair with his other hand, the Dragon Emperor drew on his astonishing wisdom and immediately thought of another possible course.
He jabbed the Holy Dragon King between the brows. "I don't care what method you use. While I'm in the Dragon Tomb awakening my Martial Soul, you will find the Dragon-Slaying Blade."
"Also, contact the Sun Xu Family at once and requisition the highest-grade awakening chamber in the Spirit Pagoda in Heaven Dou City."
"I'm going to reverse the human awakening array and send my dragon soul out of my body for a trip back to the Dragon Tomb."
"Afterward, have the Xu Family protect this new body of mine with all their strength."
"Do you understand?!"
A violet hue seeped into the Dragon Emperor's golden eyes, and the Will of Destruction churned above the medicinal garden.
Granted the chance to make amends, the Holy Dragon King hurriedly kowtowed. "Yes, Di Guangming—understood!"
Before you continue