Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot!

Zichuan turned his gaze toward the two figures on either side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, whose auras were diametrically opposed.

"Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot."

He said slowly, "You two were born from the yin and yang origins of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Your attributes are extremely antagonistic, yet you share the same root. My Heart of Life has yet to have any soul rings attached to it.

I wish to invite you both to become the first and second soul rings for my Heart of Life. One ice and one fire, balancing yin and yang; perhaps this will help my life force derive even more profound mysteries. Furthermore, I can use your ice and fire powers to temper my own body, sparing me the agony of seeking out the traditional method of tempering the body with ice and fire."

His idea was incredibly bold. The Heart of Life was inherently gentle and inclusive; attaching two soul rings with such extreme cold and heat simultaneously carried significant risks.

However, if these two immortal grasses, which shared the same origin, were to actively cooperate in the sacrifice and control the energy, it might create unexpected results. It could even grant him powerful resistance and control over ice and fire, rendering the "Ice and Fire Golden Body" tempering from the original work unnecessary.

The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot were both startled. They exchanged a glance, seeing surprise in each other's eyes, which quickly transformed into realization and excitement.

To be chosen simultaneously, and to be paired with one another—this seemed... more meaningful than being chosen alone?

With ice and fire complementing each other and yin and yang coexisting, perhaps they could walk a path never before seen under the guidance of this Honorable One?

"Mysterious Ice (Delicate Apricot), we obey!" The two bowed almost simultaneously, a strange radiance appearing on their cold and scorching faces.

The three spots were now filled. The other immortal grasses, such as the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and Primordial Immortal Grass, could barely contain their disappointment, but they had no choice but to accept it silently.

However, Zichuan was not finished. His gaze swept over these "rejected" immortal grasses and finally landed on Du Busi, who was still standing beside him in a state of shock and bewilderment.

He took a deep breath, a sincere smile appearing on his face, and gestured toward Du Busi as he spoke to the gathered immortal grasses:

"Fellow Daoists, this is my teacher, the Body Sect Master, Du Busi. A level 98 Super Douluo whose Body Martial Soul is his true self, he is arguably the greatest body cultivator of this era and one of the continent's peak powerhouses. My teacher has shown me immense kindness, and the sect treats me like family. I, Zichuan, would not be where I am today without the support of my teacher and the sect."

His tone was earnest, his gaze clear:

"I know that the matter of sacrifice concerns your future paths and should not be taken lightly. But Zichuan dares to ask—among you, is there anyone... willing to form a bond with my teacher? To help him reach even greater heights?

Or, perhaps, there are other disciples under my teacher with exceptional talent, such as Senior Brother Long Aotian. At only nine years old, he is already a level 27 Soul Grand Master with limitless potential. If any of you are willing to bond with them, Zichuan would be eternally grateful and will surely repay you in the future!"

His words were a gesture of returning kindness, and they were entirely sincere. He saw and remembered the unconditional goodness Du Busi and the Body Sect had shown him.

He was not an ungrateful person; if there were benefits, he would naturally not hoard them for himself.

Since these immortal grasses were eager to "get on board," why not share the tickets with those who had been good to him? Wouldn't it be wonderful for everyone to progress together?

Du Busi shuddered and turned his head sharply toward Zichuan. Those eyes, usually filled with dominance and arrogance, were now slightly reddened. His lips trembled, and he tried to speak, but not a single word came out.

He had never expected that while Zichuan was securing such heaven-defying opportunities for himself, he was also thinking of him and the sect!

This sentiment moved the centenarian more than any immortal grass or soul ring ever could!

"You brat..." His voice was hoarse, and in the end, he simply ruffled Zichuan's hair hard, suppressing the surging emotions within him.

But the way he looked at Zichuan had changed completely; it was a look of absolute, unwavering determination to entrust everything to him.

The immortal grasses were also stunned by these words, then one after another, they turned their gazes toward Du Busi, sensing him carefully.

A level 98 Super Douluo with a Body Martial Soul and an aura as deep as an abyss—he was indeed a formidable figure.

But... he seemed quite old, and his soul rings were already full. Sacrificing to him didn't seem to offer any direct benefits.

They looked back at Zichuan, seemingly weighing the options.

Finally, the Aromatic Silk Beauty spoke up. He looked at Du Busi and nodded slightly:

"Sect Master Du has a solid foundation and long-lasting fortune; he is truly a dragon among men."

He paused and pointed to a corner of the valley, where a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum grew. It was golden and brilliant, but its aura was clearly a notch weaker than the other immortal grasses, and it seemed to lack developed intelligence.

"That Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is a descendant of one of our kin. Nourished by this place, it has eighty thousand years of cultivation, though its intelligence is only just beginning to stir. Its medicinal properties are firm and balanced, making it the most suitable for a body cultivator. If Sect Master Du consumes it, he might be able to use it to break through the level 99 bottleneck, and perhaps even trigger a transformation of his physical body. What does Sect Master Du think?"

For Du Busi, an eighty-thousand-year-old Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum without full intelligence might be more valuable than a hundred-thousand-year-old grass with incompatible attributes.

Because he could absorb its medicinal power completely without worrying about soul conflicts.

At this moment, the gray-robed elder transformed from the Primordial Immortal Grass smiled and spoke: "Honorable One, you mentioned just now that there are other exceptionally talented juniors under your teacher?"

Zichuan nodded: "Yes, my Senior Brother Long Aotian, only nine years old, level 27, Martial Soul is skin, with infinite potential."

Hearing this, the immortal grasses exchanged thoughts once more. A moment later, the scholar in green robes, transformed from the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, stroked his beard and said:

"Nine years old, level 27, Body Martial Soul skin... such talent is indeed top-tier. If the Honorable One can guarantee that upon ascending to the God Realm in the future, you will bring him along... then there are indeed those among us willing to form a bond with him."

What they valued was not Long Aotian's current talent, but Zichuan's promise of being a "future God King"!

Investing in those around Zichuan early on was equivalent to deepening their connection with him, ensuring they would have support in the God Realm. In the long run, this was a steady, profitable deal.

Zichuan nodded without hesitation: "I swear by the name of my divine inheritance: if I ascend to the God Realm one day, I will not fail those who helped me today, nor will I treat my family and friends who have shared in my hardships poorly."

These words served as a formal promise.

The immortal grasses nodded one after another, clearly satisfied.

Ultimately, after some deliberation, they expressed their willingness to communicate with Long Aotian. If his character and talent were truly as Zichuan described, they would consider concluding a contract.

The Ink Jade Divine Bamboo also expressed interest in another talented disciple of the Body Sect whose Martial Soul was his hands. The Earth Dragon Golden Melon took a liking to a disciple in the sect whose Martial Soul was his feet, specializing in power and defense...

A "sacrificial feast" that was originally meant only for Zichuan had, through his proactive sharing and planning, evolved into a "collective benefit for the Body Sect"!

The atmosphere in the valley had changed completely. From the initial worship and demands, it had turned into enthusiastic discussion and win-win planning.

Every immortal grass felt it had found a path toward eternity, while Zichuan and Du Busi had secured unimaginable support for their sect and loved ones.

God of Destruction watched this scene from within the Sea of Consciousness, choosing not to intervene. Yet, within his indifferent consciousness, there seemed to flicker a faint trace of something akin to "the child is teachable."

In the end, the plan was roughly settled. Aromatic Silk Beauty, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and Infernal Delicate Apricot would each offer their sacrifices to Zichuan. The other immortal herbs also reached preliminary agreements with several core disciples of the Body Sect.

Everyone was satisfied.

Du Busi looked at the dreamlike scene before him, looked at Zichuan beside him with his bright eyes and sincere smile, and then looked at those immortal herbs and fierce beasts actively discussing the "details of boarding."

He suddenly felt that the greatest stroke of luck in his hundred years was not reaching level 98, nor becoming the Sect Master, but that day when, on a whim, he followed Wang Long-Arm to that strange place called Disabled Village and picked up this black-haired boy.

The future of the Body Sect might truly be completely changed because of today.

He raised his head, looked at the sky above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, blurred by the dense spiritual energy, and grinned, laughing silently.

This meal was, damn it... worth it!