Absorbing the Immortal Herb

"The white, octagonal herb on the left is the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, containing the power of ultimate frost. The red, cabbage-shaped one on the right is the Infernal Delicate Apricot, representing the power of ultimate flame. Consumed individually, each is a deadly poison, but if taken simultaneously while using the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring to temper the body, one can forge a constitution impervious to all poisons, fire, and ice."

Su Zhen gazed at the two herbs, his eyes burning with fervor as he introduced them to Qian Daoliu, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Teacher, please guard me; I am going to absorb these immortal herbs now."

Qian Daoliu did not speak, but instantly used his soul power to form a barrier, completely enveloping the area for several miles.

Su Zhen drew an iron blade and a jade knife from his ring, throwing them simultaneously toward the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot standing on either side. The moment the two herbs were severed, Su Zhen used his soul power to draw them toward him, quickly placing them in his mouth before stripping off his clothes and leaping into the center of the ice and fire spring.

Watching Su Zhen jump into the spring, Qian Daoliu felt a surge of shock within his heart.

Xiao Zhen was lying to me outside the forest earlier. He didn't know the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring; he only knew this treasure land existed within the Sunset Forest. Did he learn this from books, or is there another reason? The secrets Xiao Zhen carries are truly not small.

Qian Daoliu perceived the anomaly in Su Zhen, but he would not act upon it. Setting aside the fact that Su Zhen was his disciple—the culmination of his and his old comrades' life's work—the six years they had spent together day and night were enough to earn his unconditional trust. He believed that Su Zhen would lead the Martial Soul Hall to new heights and become the greatest asset to Qian Renxue.

It was not easy for Su Zhen once he jumped into the water; the interplay of extreme cold and scorching heat slammed into his body, nearly shattering him despite the countless medicinal baths he had endured. Su Zhen exerted his full strength to circulate the Lightning Heart Meditation Method to absorb the two herbs within him. The extreme cold and heat inside his body resonated with the extreme cold and heat of the spring, constantly tearing at his body and spirit, while a blue and red light enveloped him.

An hour passed, and the blue and red light on Su Zhen's skin gradually receded until it finally dissipated.

When Su Zhen leaped out of the water, his skin was as white and flawless as jade, his features sharp and well-defined, as if carved by a master craftsman. He used his soul power to evaporate the water from his body before putting on his clothes.

Su Zhen clenched his fists, the sense of power surging through him bringing him great joy; he had finally attained a physique impervious to ice, fire, and all poisons.

"Grandfather, I have succeeded! My soul power has increased to level forty-five!"

The successive breakthroughs after absorbing the soul ring and the immortal herbs filled his heart with joy; he was one step closer to his revenge.

Qian Daoliu condensed a small cluster of golden flames in his hand and tried to scorch Su Zhen's arm, only to find that the flames of a Soul Ancestor could indeed no longer harm him.

"Very good, Xiao Zhen. Your strength has increased once more, but do not become addicted to the pleasure of soul power breakthroughs; it will make you a slave to your own strength."

"Teacher, I understand. I will properly temper my state of mind."

Su Zhen hurriedly suppressed the pleasure that had arisen from the consecutive breakthroughs, focusing his mind as he recalled the teachings of his teacher and grandfathers.

"Grandfather, Brother Zhen, I've finished absorbing. Wait, Brother Zhen, how has your aura become even stronger?"

Having finished absorbing his soul bone, Oscar noticed the two standing by the pool and ran over, his face filled with shock as he sensed the aura radiating from Su Zhen.

"Little Ao, I just finished absorbing my immortal herbs. What level are you now, and what soul skill did the soul bone grant you?"

"I'm at level twenty-six; the soul bone boosted me by a full four levels! The soul bone skill has two forms: the basic form, Medusa's Gaze, and the ultimate form, Medusa's Despair. Both are petrification control-type soul skills, just with different ranges."

As he spoke, Oscar unleashed the soul bone skill toward a nearby tree, purple-black beams shooting from his eyes to strike the trunk. In an instant, the entire tree turned into a massive stone sculpture.

"That is Medusa's Gaze, a single-target attack. As for Medusa's Despair, the effect is similar, but it is a large-area control skill."

"A very practical soul skill. From now on, Little Ao, you will have the ability to protect yourself."

"The consumption is also huge; this Medusa's Gaze drained all the soul power in my body."

"Can't you use your first soul skill to recover your soul power?"

"Oh, right! Brother Zhen, why didn't I think of that?"

Oscar scratched the back of his head foolishly.

Su Zhen smiled and took a jade box from his Wishful Treasure Pouch, handing it to Oscar.

"Inside is the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, the most gentle and mellow of all the immortal herbs. It is easy to absorb and can consolidate your foundation, nourish your origin, and purge impurities. It is best suited to solve the problem of slow cultivation for food-type soul masters, and its effects will last until you become a Soul Saint."

"This, this, this... Brother Zhen, this is too precious. I cannot accept it; you should eat it yourself."

Oscar hurriedly waved his hands in refusal; such a divine object was better left for Su Zhen.

"Take it if I give it to you. Have you forgotten how many immortal herbs I picked earlier? I have kept the ones suitable for myself. Hurry up and eat it, then circulate your soul power to assist in the absorption."

Seeing the herb being forced into his hands, Oscar's eyes turned red. He stopped arguing, sat cross-legged, and began to absorb the immortal herb according to the method Su Zhen had taught him.

Seeing Oscar begin his absorption, Su Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, then took out another jade box and handed it to Qian Daoliu.

"Teacher, this is the Light Dragon Ganoderma. It can improve one's constitution, expand the meridians, purify soul power, and increase affinity with the light attribute. At the same time, it contains a trace of the aura of a Holy Light Dragon, making it the most suitable immortal herb for a Six-Winged Angel."

Qian Daoliu did not take the jade box, but his eyes were filled with joy.

"Xiao Zhen, Teacher is old, and my strength has reached a realm where there is no further progress to be made. I won't waste the immortal herb; you should give it to Little Xue to absorb instead."

"Understood, Teacher."

Su Zhen put away the jade box. His teacher had told him three years ago about Qian Renxue's infiltration mission in Heaven Dou City, and Qian Renxue had returned to the Worship Hall twice. Both times, he had stopped his cultivation to rest and accompany her.

Now it is my turn.

Su Zhen took two jade boxes from his Wishful Treasure Pouch and opened the lids, revealing a chrysanthemum and a blade of grass.

The chrysanthemum was golden throughout, its petals like velvet, with golden stamens standing tall; the grass was a purplish-gold, its nine sword-shaped leaves covered in lightning patterns, with electricity flickering between its roots and stems.

Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, supreme in hardness and yang, circulating through the limbs and clearing the eight extraordinary meridians; Nine-Leaf Lightning Tribulation Grass, cleansing the martial soul, purging impurities, aiding in the comprehension of lightning techniques, purifying the quality of the lightning attribute, and accelerating cultivation speed.

Absorbing these two immortal herbs will allow me to forge an indestructible body, enhance my lightning attribute, and have miraculous effects on my body and martial soul.

"I must trouble Teacher to guard Little Ao and me."

Su Zhen sat cross-legged, placed both immortal herbs in his mouth, swallowed them, and began to circulate the Lightning Heart Meditation Method to absorb them.

Time flowed slowly, and Oscar's absorption of the immortal herb drew to a close.

Oscar opened his eyes, feeling the changes in his body and the breakthrough in his soul power, and jumped up happily. He felt his body become incredibly light, as if something had been shed from within him. He tried circulating his meditation method, and the speed of his soul power circulation was more than twice as fast as it had been before absorbing the herb. Seeing that Su Zhen was still absorbing his herbs, he cautiously moved to Qian Daoliu's side.

"Great-Grandfather, I've broken through to level thirty."

Oscar whispered to Qian Daoliu, the excitement on his face impossible to conceal.

"Very good. Little Ao, you have already broken your brother Su Zhen's record of becoming a Soul Elder at ten years old, making you the youngest Soul Elder on the entire continent. Your teacher will certainly be overjoyed when you return and tell him."

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Brother Zhen's spirit bone and immortal herb. By the way, when will Brother Zhen be finished?"

Oscar laughed and rubbed the back of his head as he asked about Su Zhen's situation.

A sudden change occurred; the sky darkened in an instant, and countless bolts of lightning exploded in the air.