The Fishing Rod's Stirring and the Immortal Herb's Phantom

In the valley, the evening breeze stirred and insects chirped.

Everything was peaceful, like a scene in a painting.

However.

The instant Li Hao sank his mind into his sea of qi and connected with his Martial Soul—

Buzz—!

The Karma Fishing Rod, which he regarded as the core of his Martial Soul, suddenly shuddered with an unprecedented, overwhelming longing!

The tremor was far more intense and urgent than when it had sensed Ning Rongrong!

It wasn't asking for help.

It was... calling!

An irresistible call, born of bloodline and fate!

In the unseen depths.

An invisible force tugged at Li Hao's consciousness.

The tranquil valley vanished from before his eyes.

A phantom plant, illusory yet astonishingly real, slowly blossomed in the world of his perception.

It was a strange Immortal Herb.

Its nine-petaled flower bloomed in dazzling colors.

Its exquisite fragrance seemed to pierce the soul.

"This is..."

Li Hao's mind shook violently.

Before he could react, a terrifying suction force surged from deep within his Martial Soul!

The Soul Power in his body, already at the Soul Ancestor level, rushed toward the core of the Fishing Rod Martial Soul like floodwaters released from a dam!

A faint weakness began to creep through his limbs.

[Well, host, you've hit the jackpot.]

The system's gloating prompt sounded right on cue.

[Detected the aura of the prized Immortal Herb "Aromatic Silk Beauty." It is resonating strongly with the host's Martial Soul.]

[The Immortal Herb is on the verge of death, and its spiritual essence is about to fade. Would you like to expend Soul Power to perform "Karma Fishing" across an extreme distance?]

Karma Fishing?

Before Li Hao could even think through the meaning of the new term, an intoxicating fragrance began to waft faintly from his body.

The scent seemed alive, carrying an irresistible magic.

"Dad!"

Xiao Wu, who had been chasing a Shadow-Devouring Butterfly nearby, abruptly stopped.

She sniffed hard with her little pink nose. Her big, watery eyes instantly filled with shock and longing.

It was an instinctive urge to evolve and transform, rising from the deepest part of her bloodline!

She became a streak of pink and darted to Li Hao's side.

"It smells so good... Dad, what is that smell? I... I really want to eat it!"

Before she had finished speaking—

Whoosh!

A cold and haughty figure silently appeared on Li Hao's other side.

It was Medusa.

She had been on the island in the middle of the lake, trying to decipher this world's energy laws. But the instant the fragrance reached her, the queenly aura she had maintained for millennia crumbled completely!

Her emerald snake pupils fixed on Li Hao, burning with an even more intense possessiveness and ambition than ever before.

As a former Dou Emperor, she understood better than anyone what a natural treasure that made the soul tremble could mean!

It was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single leap!

"Master!"

Even the way she addressed him had changed. She no longer called him by name with that faint note of warning.

"What is that? No matter what, we have to get it!"

The shadows behind Li Hao twisted.

Zhu Zhuqing stepped out of the darkness as well.

She said nothing.

But her usually ice-cold golden cat eyes shone brilliantly now, locked unwaveringly on Li Hao.

She could feel the bloodline of her Hell Spirit Cat howling madly, yearning for it!

Three scorching, expectant gazes focused on Li Hao at once.

Li Hao: "..."

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

The highest level of social anxiety wasn't being stared at by a crowd.

It was being stared at by three family members with terrifying combat power, all of whom wanted something from him, as if to say: if you don't agree, you're dead.

He wanted to run.

But the Fishing Rod was still draining his Soul Power, and his legs had begun to weaken.

Fishing for an unknown natural treasure was a huge risk.

Who knew what kind of trouble it might cause?

If he accidentally fished up a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast guarding the Immortal Herb, things could get ugly fast.

His socially anxious instincts urged him to cut off the flow of Soul Power immediately and abandon this hot potato.

However...

The suction force of his Martial Soul continued to grow stronger.

It felt like a Ferocious Beast that had gone hungry for three days and nights, finally spotting the food of its dreams. It wouldn't stop until it had swallowed it whole.

If he didn't respond in time, the backlash could even cause irreparable damage to the Origin of his Martial Soul!

[Friendly reminder: This Immortal Herb is on the verge of death. If you don't fish it up, its spiritual essence will vanish completely within three days.]

[If you succeed, this will be a tremendous opportunity—and you may even trigger a brand-new bond...]

The system paused, then added in a deeply enticing tone:

[Well, a new Soul Beast Girl. You know what I mean, host.]

Li Hao's head rang.

A new... Soul Beast Girl?

He glanced at the three beside him.

Xiao Wu was clutching his arm and looking at him pitifully. The words "I want to eat it" might as well have been written across her face.

Medusa's position was even clearer. She had already begun analyzing the situation. "Master, the source of this aura is extremely far away, and it's very weak, which means it's in poor condition. This is our chance!"

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, but she had moved from behind Li Hao to stand in front of him, shoulder to shoulder with Medusa.

She lifted her head. For the first time, her golden, slit-pupiled eyes clearly showed an emotion called pleading.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for him to bring them this tremendous opportunity.

Li Hao's urge to run wavered.

Why had he started this Paradise?

Wasn't it to give these poor Soul Beast Girls a home, where they could live in peace, no longer hunted by outsiders or forced to live in fear?

Now, an opportunity to make them stronger and completely change their fates lay right before him.

There might be trouble.

It might disrupt his lazy, carefree life.

But...

He looked at Xiao Wu's innocent longing.

At Medusa's blazing ambition.

At Zhu Zhuqing's silent plea.

They were his family.

What was one risk for the sake of family?

That damn protective streak, buried deep in his bones, won out once again.

"Damn it."

Li Hao muttered under his breath. He wasn't sure whether he was cursing himself or his unruly Martial Soul.

He gave up resisting.

He closed his eyes and sank his entire mind into his Martial Soul.

He stopped suppressing the suction force. Instead, he actively poured every last bit of Soul Power in his body into the Karma Fishing Rod, holding nothing back!

"Fish!"

Li Hao roared in his heart.

"Whatever you are, get over here!"

Buzz—!

Deep in his consciousness, the golden Karmic Thread connecting to the phantom of the Immortal Herb snapped taut!

It was as if, at the other end of distant space and time, an immensely heavy anchor had been yanked.