"This flower is called the Frost-Condensing Flower. It contains a kind of dew called Pure Heart Dew. Drinking it won't cure your mother, but it can slow the progression of her symptoms."
Jiang Nannan had never heard of it, but even without knowing its name, she could tell how precious the flower was.
"Th-this... This is far too valuable..."
"I... I..."
Before she could continue, Lu Ran took out a blood-red ginseng, about an inch long, its roots tinged with a faint gold.
"Since we were fortunate enough to meet, I'll give you this too. It's Red Spirit Ginseng. It can make up for deficiencies in the body, nourish it, and replenish its energy. It's very suitable for your mother."
Zhang Lexuan had given her something, so he couldn't just stand by. Besides, they'd meet again in the future.
If he could help, he would.
Jiang Nannan hadn't heard of Red Spirit Ginseng either, but anyone could see how precious it was.
Her hand hovered in midair, fingers curled slightly. Her pink lips moved, but she couldn't say a word.
She was torn.
It wasn't in her nature to accept favors for nothing, but she knew these medicinal herbs were precious and might well be able to treat her mother.
At last, Jiang Nannan clenched her fist. Tears welled up uncontrollably, then rolled in fat drops down her delicate cheeks.
With tears in her eyes, she accepted them.
Choking back sobs, she bowed deeply to the two of them. "Th-thank you... Thank you... Thank you both... I'll repay you... I promise! Thank you... Truly, thank you..."
Her tears pattered onto the grass. In the end, she couldn't even manage to finish a sentence.
Zhang Lexuan held her and gently stroked her back, sighing silently.
Compassion shone in her eyes.
It was a long while before Jiang Nannan finally composed herself. Wiping her tears, she continued on her way.
They were nearly out of the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The towering trees gave way, and the light grew brighter. The trees thinned out, revealing a glimpse of the Lima Plain in the distance.
They reached a small clearing.
Lu Ran stopped and looked at Jiang Nannan. "This area is safe, and you should have recovered most of your Soul Power by now. We've explained how to use both medicinal herbs on the way here, so we'll leave you here. Be careful on the road."
Jiang Nannan bit her lower lip and nodded firmly, clutching the box containing the Frost-Condensing Flower and Red Spirit Ginseng to her chest.
"You... You have to... be careful too..."
Her nose stung again, and tears blurred her vision.
"We're off."
Lu Ran waved to her, then he and Zhang Lexuan turned and left.
Jiang Nannan stood where she was, watching Lu Ran and Zhang Lexuan's figures recede into the distance and disappear among the dense trees.
For a long time, she didn't move.
Only after they had vanished completely did she slowly turn around.
When she emerged from the forest and saw sunlight again, the wind from the Lima Plain brushed against her face. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream.
But the Frost-Condensing Flower and Red Spirit Ginseng in her arms were unmistakably real.
She hugged the black box tightly.
Her tears wouldn't stop.
Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest,
"That's pretty rare," Lu Ran said, studying the map to work out which way to go. After getting used to a map that showed their location, going back to an old-fashioned map felt awkward no matter what. Soul Tools were becoming more and more important to him. "Sister Lexuan, you're beautiful and kindhearted, but this is the first time I've seen you go out of your way to help someone."
Zhang Lexuan replied, "She's a Shrek student, after all."
"Hm? You recognized her?"
Lu Ran looked up at her, a little surprised.
"She seemed familiar at first, and I thought it was because of you. You both ran into danger while gathering herbs in the Star Dou Great Forest,"
Zhang Lexuan explained. "But when I noticed she was a Second Ring Soul Master at barely ten, with Innate Soul Power of at least six or seven, I suddenly remembered where I'd seen her."
"During an Outer Academy year-end exam. I happened to be passing by... She's a stubborn, strong child who refuses to give up."
Zhang Lexuan noticed Lu Ran fiddling with the map and couldn't help asking,
"Then why did you help her?"
Lu Ran finally found the right direction. He raised his head, looking triumphant. "She's exactly the kind of commoner student the Academy has always wanted, and she's so talented. Of course we had to help when she ran into trouble."
"Otherwise, what would I say if we ran into her again? 'I could've helped you, but I just didn't feel like it at the time'?"
"Or say nothing at all and just watch her lose her last remaining family member?"
He pointed to the right. "I'm a great guy."
Zhang Lexuan chuckled and shot him a look. "Who goes around calling themselves a great guy?"
"Me!"
A day later,
Lu Ran and Zhang Lexuan arrived at an area where the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest met the Mixed Zone. The vegetation grew ever denser, and the air was infused with the mingled scents of grass and fruit.
They passed several towering trees, and the view opened up in an instant.
A vast mango grove stretched before them, its branches lush and its dark green leaves laden with golden-orange mangoes.
The fruit's rich fragrance was enough to make anyone's mouth water.
Lu Ran took a deep breath, energized, and pointed ahead. "After doing my research, I found that the mangoes from these Mango Tree Soul Beasts are big, sweet, and juicy."
The varieties of Soul Beasts on Douluo Continent were extraordinarily diverse. There were more than a hundred kinds of Mango Tree Soul Beasts alone. Some had bad tempers, some bore sour fruit, and some had a texture worse than stone. The kind before them was called the Golden Brilliance Mango, carefully chosen by Lu Ran.
As for how he knew so much, of course it was all knowledge left behind by those who came before.
The books held great maps, and the books held orchards.
There were only a handful of ten-year-old Mango Tree Soul Beasts in this grove, some even younger. The rest were over a hundred years old, and there were even a few a thousand years old.
Lu Ran told Zhang Lexuan to wait nearby, then walked alone into the grove of Mango Tree Soul Beasts.
He didn't even need any tools. All he had to do was stand in the middle of a cluster of mango trees and channel his power for a moment. A small patch of them would then be transported into the Small World,
leaving behind nothing but holes of varying sizes and depths.
At the same time,
a small patch of Mango Tree Soul Beasts appeared out of thin air in the Small World,
taking root in richer soil.
"Goo-goo?"
"Quack-quack?"
"Creak, creak?"
The nearby Turtle Expedition Team noticed the newcomers and were drawn to the mango trees.
They crawled over, curious to see what was going on.
These gentle turtles wouldn't harm the mango trees, so naturally they wouldn't be attacked either.
Lu Ran transported a second patch of fruit trees into the Small World, then a third... then a fifth... He didn't stop until he'd emptied nearly half the grove.
Once he was done, Lu Ran picked two large mangoes, and he and Zhang Lexuan tasted them together.
One bite, and the juice flowed freely, the fruity fragrance rich and full.
They tasted great.
He really did have a good eye.
Next, they headed to the second location,
a grove of Orange Tree Soul Beasts called Jade Dew Golden Orange. The lush orchard was brimming with life.
He used the same method to bring them into the Small World.
After that came the Vermilion Flower Pomegranate Tree, Iron Shell Durian, Azure Profound Kiwi, Jade Marrow Lychee... Nearly twenty kinds of plant Soul Beasts, large and small, in all.
The Small World's plains were almost entirely planted over.
But it didn't matter. They'd expand again once Lu Ran's Soul Power increased.
He also took the opportunity to catch some small Soul Beasts to fill out the ecosystem.
The Small World was growing livelier by the day.
Before you continue