Fishing for Immortal Grass, Martial Soul Transformation

"Damn it."

Li Hao cursed under his breath, unsure if he was berating himself or this Martial Soul that refused to give him a moment's peace.

He abandoned all resistance.

Closing his eyes, he sank his entire consciousness deep into his Martial Soul.

He stopped suppressing that suction force and instead actively poured every remaining drop of soul power within him, without reservation, into the Karma Fishing Rod!

"Cast!"

Li Hao let out a roar in the depths of his heart.

"Whatever you are, get over here!"

Hum—!

Deep within his consciousness, the golden Karmic Thread, connected to the phantom of the immortal herb, instantly tightened to its limit!

It felt as if a heavy anchor at the other end of a distant space-time had been violently yanked.

The next second.

An indescribably terrifying backlash surged back along that invisible Karmic Thread!

"Ugh!"

Li Hao let out a muffled groan, his body trembling violently.

It was not merely a shock of soul power.

It was a sensation of extraction originating from the level of his soul!

His soul power, his mental energy, and even his own life force were being ravenously devoured by that greedy Karmic Thread, serving as fuel to fish across the vast expanse of space.

Agony!

A tearing, agonizing pain radiated from every corner of his limbs and bones.

He felt as if his soul were being pulled out of his body bit by bit, dragged toward that unknown, distant end of space-time.

"Daddy!"

Xiao Wu was the first to notice something was wrong; her small hands, clutching Li Hao's arm, could clearly feel his body stiffening and shaking.

"What's wrong? Don't scare me!"

"Hmph, overestimating your own capabilities."

Medusa let out a cold snort, but for the first time, a look of gravity appeared in her emerald snake-like pupils.

She could sense that Li Hao was engaging in an extremely dangerous act; the interaction of that power had transcended the realm of soul power and touched upon deeper, fundamental rules.

Zhu Zhuqing did not speak.

But she had already moved silently from behind Li Hao to stand before him, her golden vertical pupils locked firmly onto his pained face.

Li Hao's consciousness had begun to blur.

He felt like a kite about to snap, ready to disintegrate at any moment within the turbulent, violent currents of energy.

Should he give up?

If he stopped now, there might still be time.

But once he gave up, the backlash of the Martial Soul, and those three expectant gazes beside him...

Just as he was about to collapse, a warm and pure life energy suddenly surged from Xiao Wu, who was holding his arm, into his body.

That energy, carrying the unique resilience and vitality of the Soft Bone Rabbit, flowed like a clear spring, nourishing his nearly parched meridians.

"Daddy, Xiao Wu will help you!"

Xiao Wu gritted her teeth, pouring her own meager soul power through their physical contact, without reservation.

She didn't know what was happening, but she knew that Daddy needed help.

Immediately after, a domineering and arrogant energy was injected from the other side.

That energy arrived like a queen, carrying an unquestionable will that forcibly stabilized the chaotic turbulence of soul power within Li Hao's body.

"What a useless master."

Though Medusa spoke with disdain, she proactively pressed one of her hands onto Li Hao's shoulder.

The vast soul power belonging to a Dou Emperor was converted into the purest mental energy, pouring into Li Hao's mind to guard his final line of defense.

Finally, a cold and sharp Nether Power pressed against him from behind.

Zhu Zhuqing leaned her body tightly against Li Hao's back.

She connected her soul power, her will, and her very being to Li Hao through this most direct method.

This is the power of the Soul Contract.

It is also the manifestation of the power of bonds!

Three distinct yet equally sincere forces, channeled through these bonds, fused perfectly within Li Hao.

Warmth, dominance, and icy cold.

These three forces did not conflict; instead, they formed a perfect cycle, working in unison to resist the terrifying backlash from the Karmic Thread!

Li Hao's consciousness, which had been on the verge of collapse, regained its clarity.

He could clearly feel the worry, determination, and trust of the three girls.

They had placed their fates into his hands without reservation.

"Ahhhhh--!"

Li Hao let out a suppressed roar toward the sky.

He could not lose!

And he could not afford to lose!

Under the immense pressure and the combined infusion of the three forces.

The Karma Fishing Rod at the core of his Martial Soul began to undergo a violent transformation!

The originally plain bamboo rod surface sprouted intricate and profound golden patterns, which seemed to be the embodiment of the laws of heaven and earth, shimmering with brilliant light.

At the very tip of the rod, the invisible fishing line became crystal clear, as if condensed from pure light, radiating a strange fluctuation capable of communicating with all things in heaven and earth.

His Martial Soul had evolved under extreme pressure!

At that very moment.

The golden Karmic Thread, stretched to its limit, shuddered violently!

The resistance from the other end of the distant space-time suddenly vanished!

Something incredibly heavy, carrying an exquisite fragrance, had been successfully "fished" up!

Swish!

A streak of light tore through space and appeared out of thin air in the valley.

Li Hao felt his hands sink as the terrifying backlash vanished without a trace. He fell backward, exhausted, landing right into the soft, warm embrace of Zhu Zhuqing behind him.

In his hands, he now held something new.

It was a plant.

A strange immortal herb surrounded by a dreamlike, aromatic scent.

It bloomed with nine petals of gorgeous color, each one appearing to be the most perfect work of art in the world.

An extreme fragrance instantly permeated the entire valley.

Just by smelling this scent, Xiao Wu, Medusa, and Zhu Zhuqing felt their souls cheering and their blood boiling.

However, this peerless immortal herb appeared dim and lusterless at this moment, its petals slightly curled, and a deathly aura emanated from its roots.

It was on the verge of withering.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the host for the first successful "Fishing for Luck"!]

[Successfully fished the rare immortal herb--Aromatic Silk Beauty!]

The system's prompt, tinged with a hint of excitement, rang out in Li Hao's mind.

[Warning: The immortal herb is dying, and its spirituality is dissipating rapidly. The host must save it immediately!]

[Due to fishing an extreme target, the Martial Soul "Karma Fishing Rod" has successfully completed its first evolution! Unlocked partial "Fishing for Luck" functionality and gained a new ability: Fishing of Void and Reality!]

Before Li Hao could even catch his breath, a flood of information rushed into his mind.

[Fishing of Void and Reality: Can temporarily turn a physical target intangible, ignoring physical defense; or solidify illusory objects, turning the void into reality. Limited to once per day.]

This ability...

Li Hao's heart began to pound uncontrollably.

This was nothing short of a divine skill!

Whether for combat or support, the possibilities were infinite!

But now was not the time to study it.

He looked down at the dying immortal herb in his hands.

Aromatic Silk Beauty.

He could clearly sense the vast and pure life energy contained within it, but that energy was leaking away at an alarming rate.

It was like a balloon punctured with countless holes.

The gazes of the three women were also focused entirely on this immortal herb.

Their faces were filled with shock, longing, and a hint of undisguised anxiety.

They knew better than anyone what an immortal herb of this caliber meant for a soul beast.

It was a rebirth, a supreme opportunity to leap over the dragon gate!

Yet now, this very opportunity was withering away right before their eyes.

Li Hao immediately realized that this immortal herb had to be saved as soon as possible.

Soul Beast Paradise, possessing the purest life energy and primordial essence of heaven and earth, was undoubtedly the best place for treatment.

But, how to save it?

How could he make this dying immortal herb regain its vitality?

Or even...

Undergo Bond Evolution and become the fourth member of the family in the paradise?

Li Hao carefully cradled the immortal herb, which was losing its luster, and felt its faint life force, flickering like a candle in the wind. An unprecedented problem lay before him.