"Xiao Zhen, with treasures of heaven and earth like these, you should keep them for yourself. There's no need to waste these opportunities on a few old bones like us."
As soon as Golden Crocodile heard that Su Zhen planned to share the Immortal Herbs with the other worshippers, he sternly refused.
"That's right, Xiao Zhen. The most important thing is for you to take more Immortal Herbs and improve your strength. We old fellows don't have many years left to live."
Mighty Lion Douluo chimed in, and Azure Luan, Guang Ling, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo all agreed.
"Grandpas, there are plenty of Immortal Herbs, and one person can't take too many. They'll clash with one another. Please don't refuse. Once you've taken them, the Worship Hall's strength will undergo a qualitative leap. Then you'll be able to protect me and Little Ao even better."
The worshippers couldn't resist Su Zhen's persuasion and finally relented, but each only accepted one herb—and none of them chose the best ones.
"Second Granduncle, this is an Earth Dragon Golden Melon, a top-grade earth-element Immortal Herb. It can strengthen your foundation and nourish your vitality. After taking it, you'll gain greater mastery over the earth element of your Golden Crocodile King. Since earth generates metal, it'll also take your metal attribute to the next level. The trace of dragon aura within the Earth Dragon Golden Melon might even help your Golden Crocodile King evolve."
"Use Soul Power to break the skin, chew it slowly, then meditate and refine it."
"Xiao Zhen, I thank you on behalf of your Second Granduncle. If you ever need this old bag of bones, just say the word."
"Second Granduncle, there's no need for that. You're all my family."
Golden Crocodile took the Earth Dragon Golden Melon and entered a secret chamber beyond the Angel Statue. Following the method Su Zhen had taught him, he began taking the Immortal Herb.
"Third Granduncle, this is Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. It can strengthen your tendons and bones, invigorate the flow of energy through your seven meridians and eight channels, cleanse and refine your marrow, expand your meridians, purify your body, and increase your speed. It's perfect for a speed-focused Soul Master like you. There's a good chance it'll take the wind element of your Azure Luan Martial Soul to the next level."
"Eat the petals first, then suck the stamens dry. After that, sit cross-legged and cultivate."
"Xiao Zhen, thank you."
Azure Luan said little. He took the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone and went into the secret chamber to refine it.
"Third Granduncle, your Martial Soul, the Blazing Lion, is a top-grade fire-element Beast Martial Soul. This Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is the Immortal Herb best suited to you. It's a pure-yang, extreme-fire Immortal Herb. Taking it will strengthen your flames and refine your Martial Soul's bloodline. Don't chew or swallow it. Use Soul Power to guide its absorption."
Mighty Lion gazed deeply at Su Zhen without a word. He reached out, pulled him into an embrace, and gave his back a hearty pat. Then he took the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and went off to absorb it.
Su Zhen looked at Guang Ling, who was already itching to get his hands on an herb, and rummaged through the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch. He soon took out a white flower. It was immaculate white, shimmering with the glow of a silver moon. Its nine petals were as translucent as colored glass, and as soon as it emerged, a bone-chilling cold spread through the air.
"Fourth Granduncle, this is an Ice Glazed Moon Soul Flower, a top-grade ice-element Immortal Herb. It can cleanse and refine your marrow and meridians, evolve your Martial Soul, and improve both your spiritual power and the purity of your ice attribute. It's an exceptionally good match for your Guang Ling Divine Bow. Moreover, at night, when the full moon rises, anyone who takes an Ice Glazed Moon Soul Flower can draw on the moonlight to strengthen their Soul Skills and speed up their Soul Power recovery."
Guang Ling took the Ice Glazed Moon Soul Flower in both hands and examined the top-grade ice-element Immortal Herb closely. Then he looked up at Su Zhen with wide, watery eyes.
"Xiao Zhenzhen, you've done all this for me. How could I ever repay you?"
"Don't worry about it, Fourth Granduncle. Just help me beat people up more often."
"Good! If anyone ever bullies you, come to me. I'll help you set things right."
"Fourth Granduncle, eat the petals first, then suck the nectar from the stamens. After that, sit cross-legged and refine it."
Guang Ling dropped his childish act and hurried into a secret chamber to absorb and refine the herb.
"Sixth and Seventh Granduncles, these are two Ink Jade Divine Bamboos. Normally, only one Immortal Herb of a given kind can grow in one place, but the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo is a mutated Immortal Herb that grows as a twin stalk. The two herbs share the same roots and have identical effects. If you absorb them together, you'll be able to understand one another without words and fight as if you were one."
"Xiao Zhen, these herbs are wonderful! They're perfect for me and my brother, as if they were made just for us. What do they do?"
After Su Zhen explained the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo's special properties, Jiang Mo's eyes lit up.
"The Ink Jade Divine Bamboo is a top-grade Immortal Herb. It transforms hardness and softness, rebirths and purifies the marrow, and greatly increases the resilience and hardness of Tool Martial Souls. It's especially effective for the Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Soul."
"Grind the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo into powder, dissolve it in water, and drink it. Then circulate your Soul Power through your body to absorb it."
"Xiao Zhen, we'll never forget your kindness."
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo bowed deeply to Su Zhen. Not daring to take such deference lightly, Su Zhen hurried forward and helped his two grandfathers up.
"Please don't humble me like that, Granduncles. It's my honor to be able to help you."
Seeing this, the two worshippers exchanged a glance, accepted the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, and went into a secret chamber to absorb it.
"Whew, I've finally finished handing out the Immortal Herbs. My throat's almost parched from all that talking."
Su Zhen let out a breath, took a water flask from his ring, and drank.
"Brother Zhen, will the grandpas break through after absorbing the Immortal Herbs?"
Oscar asked quietly. Back at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring, Su Zhen had told him that Immortal Herbs worked best on the young. Since the grandpas were all quite old, Oscar worried the herbs might not help them as much.
"The reason they're called Immortal Herbs is that their effects are heaven-defying. They give those who take them help beyond anything else. Even though the grandpas are old, they'll still get the full benefits."
Su Zhen believed the Immortal Herbs would help the worshippers. After all, even that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang had used one to evolve Luo Sanpao into a Golden Sacred Dragon.
"Teacher, are you really not going to take an Immortal Herb? I still have plenty."
Su Zhen went over to Qian Daoliu and tried to persuade him once again.
"Xiao Zhen, I'm already a Level 99 Limit Douluo. The next step would be godhood, and that's not a threshold one can cross just by taking an Immortal Herb. I've had you and Xiao Xue in my life. As long as you both grow up safely, this old man will have no regrets."
As he spoke, Qian Daoliu walked beneath the Angel Statue and gazed up at the ancestor and faith of the Qian Family.
The sight of Qian Daoliu's back left Su Zhen feeling troubled. He knew that Teacher would eventually sacrifice himself so Qian Renxue could become a god. That was the fate of every deity's guardian.
I must never let Teacher meet the same fate as in the original timeline. There has to be a way to save him and still let Sister Xue become a god.
Su Zhen clenched his fists and pondered what opportunities across the Douluo Continent might change Qian Daoliu's fate.
With the worshippers absorbing their Immortal Herbs, the Worship Hall grew quiet. With nothing else to do, Su Zhen sat on a cushion with Oscar and began cultivating.
Two hours slipped by. At last, a strange sound broke the silence in the Worship Hall.
Golden Crocodile emerged from the secret chamber. His once-full head of white hair had turned entirely black, and he looked much younger. An oppressive aura clung to him at every moment.
"That aura... Second Granduncle, you've broken through to Level 99!"
"Ahahaha! Xiao Zhen, I owe this all to you. I've finally crossed that threshold. The barrier between Level 98 and Level 99 held me back for decades. My Golden Crocodile King also evolved into a Golden Dragon Crocodile thanks to the Golden Dragon Sweet Potato."
Golden Crocodile summoned his Martial Soul. A layer of earthy-yellow light now covered the crocodile's once-golden body. Its stout limbs had grown slender, yet held even more terrifying strength than before. Two golden dragon whiskers sprouted beside its jaws, and a pair of horns rose high from its head.
"Second Brother, your Martial Soul looks much more imposing than before."
Azure Luan stepped out of the secret chamber. The lightness in his voice made his delight plain.
"Third Brother, you broke through too?"
Golden Crocodile studied Azure Luan's aura and asked.
"That's right. I broke through to Level 98. My Martial Soul didn't evolve, but my control over the wind element has reached unprecedented heights. My speed has become true divine speed."
"Divine speed? Can you dodge my arrows?"
This time, Guang Ling came out. He walked over to Su Zhen, hooked an arm around him, and vigorously ruffled his hair.
"Xiao Zhen, I really have to thank you for this. I broke through to Level 97, and the ice attribute of my Guang Ling Divine Bow has grown powerful enough to freeze anything in an instant. My arrows are several times faster than before, too."
"All my brothers are out now. Looks like you all broke through."
Jiang Mo's lighthearted voice rang out. He and Qian Jun had finished absorbing their Immortal Herbs, too. Both had broken through to Level 97. Thanks to the herbs and their already-perfect understanding of each other, they had also developed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill unique to the two of them.
"Ahahahahahaha! I finally broke through!"
Mighty Lion's booming voice rang out, followed by a terrifying wave of heat capable of melting anything.
His Martial Soul possessed him, and he appeared before everyone. The Blazing Lion had shrunk a little, but the power of its flames had increased several times over. Layer upon layer of gold now streaked its reddish-brown fur, and a golden flame pattern slowly surfaced between its brows.
"Mighty Lion Douluo, Martial Soul: Explosive Flame Lion King, Level 98 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
Mighty Lion loudly announced his breakthrough.
Su Zhen watched the worshippers congratulate one another in the Worship Hall, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Before you continue