Nine Hearts Begonia Seed

It was not death, but eternal damnation.

Ten thousand times more terrifying than death.

Dugu Bo did not want to control others this way.

But neither was he naive enough to believe that sincerity would be returned with sincerity.

In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, absolute loyalty required absolute measures to ensure it.

The Netherworld Pact was that measure.

Of course, he would give everyone who joined Nine Nether Hall a chance to choose.

Only by accepting the Netherworld Pact could they receive the inheritance of the Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art.

Those who refused could leave without any punishment.

But once they left, there would never be another chance.

Dugu Bo rose to his feet, walked to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, and bent down to scoop up a handful of crimson spring water.

The scalding water steamed in his palm, reflecting in his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes.

"Nine Nether Hall..." he murmured. "This name suits it well."

Building a force was not something that could be done overnight.

He first needed to find a suitable location for Nine Nether Hall's headquarters.

Though the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes were excellent, they were too secluded to serve as a public headquarters.

Besides, this was a place he had reserved for his family. He did not want outsiders disturbing it.

There should be some suitable places deep within Sunset Forest.

A cave, or perhaps an estate—so long as it was hidden and secure, it would do.

Once the headquarters was settled, he could begin recruiting members.

The first batch of members did not need to be large.

Ten, or even five, would be enough.

They could be nurtured slowly and expanded gradually.

In ten or twenty years, Nine Nether Hall would become a force no one could ignore.

By then, whether it was Spirit Hall or any other faction, none would dare casually touch him or those he cared about.

Dugu Bo turned around and looked at Dugu Yan, who was cultivating atop a bluestone.

Her jade-green hair drifted through the mist, while the phantom of the Jade Scale Dragon flickered indistinctly behind her.

She had improved again.

"Yan Yan."

Dugu Bo called out.

Dugu Yan opened her eyes, a trace of confusion appearing in her jade-green Dragon Eyes.

"Grandpa, what is it?"

"Come here. Grandpa has something to tell you."

Dugu Yan hopped down from the bluestone and ran to her grandfather's side.

Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er also walked over.

Dugu Bo looked at the three people before him.

His granddaughter, his son, and his daughter-in-law.

They were the people closest to him in this world.

They were also Nine Nether Hall's earliest members.

"Grandpa plans to establish a force," Dugu Bo said bluntly. "It will be called Nine Nether Hall."

Dugu Yan froze for a moment, surprise flashing through her jade-green Dragon Eyes.

"Nine Nether Hall?"

"That's right." Dugu Bo nodded. "Nine Nether comes from the Nine Nether Divine Dragon. Hall means an organization."

"Grandpa isn't establishing this force to dominate the world, but to protect you."

"To protect the people we care about."

Dugu Yan's eyes reddened.

Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, and both saw the emotion in each other's eyes.

"Grandpa, I want to join!" Dugu Yan said without hesitation.

The corners of Dugu Bo's lips lifted slightly.

"You already have."

He then looked at Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er.

"You too."

"The first members of Nine Nether Hall are the four of us."

Dugu Xin took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

"Father, we'll work hard."

Dugu Bo gave a quiet hum and took several jade tablets from the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch, handing them to the three of them.

"These jade tablets contain portions of the Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art."

"Yan Yan, cultivate the Soul Power Refining Chapter, the Body Refining Chapter, and the Soul Refining Chapter."

"The Body Refining Chapter can be used alongside Whale Rubber, doubling its effects."

"The Soul Refining Chapter can further strengthen your spiritual power and prepare you for absorbing Soul Rings in the future."

"Xin, Wan'er, cultivate the Soul Power Refining Chapter, the Body Refining Chapter, and the Ring Refining Chapter."

"The Ring Refining Chapter will allow your Soul Rings to slowly increase in age while being nourished by Netherworld Power."

"Although the process is slow, over time, even ten-thousand-year Soul Rings may become existences of an even greater age."

The three accepted the jade tablets, extending their spiritual power into them and absorbing the information within.

Dugu Bo stood to one side, watching their focused expressions as a trace of satisfaction flashed through his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes.

From today onward, Nine Nether Hall was officially established.

Although it only had four members for now.

He believed this was only the beginning.

More people would join in the future.

And he would make Nine Nether Hall a force that could not be ignored in this world.

Not for power, nor for wealth.

Only for protection.

To protect those he cared about.

That was all.

Heaven Dou City, underground market.

Dugu Bo walked alone through a dim passageway. His Profound Black Robe blended into the surrounding shadows, while his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes glimmered faintly in the darkness.

The underground market lay beneath the western district of Heaven Dou City, a paradise for gray-market dealings.

All manner of people gathered here. Some found treasures and became rich overnight, while others lost everything they owned.

This was not Dugu Bo's first visit.

In the memories of the original owner of this body, he had found several decent poisonous herbs here.

But this time, he was merely wandering around.

After cultivating, he had come out for a stroll to clear his mind.

Stalls lined both sides of the passageway, one after another. The vendors sat or stood as cries of hawking and haggling rose and fell around them.

Dugu Bo's gaze swept across the goods one by one. Most were trash. There were occasionally a few passable items, but none worthy of his attention.

After wandering through more than half the market, Dugu Bo was preparing to leave when his footsteps suddenly stopped.

His gaze landed on an inconspicuous little stall.

The vendor was a gaunt old man huddled in a corner, with several miscellaneous items spread out before him.

A few unknown ores, two yellowed beast hides, and a palm-sized wooden box.

Inside the wooden box lay a seed.

The seed was small, no bigger than a fingernail. It was pale gold all over, with faint patterns flowing across its surface.

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted slightly.

He crouched down, picked up the seed, and placed it in his palm.

Nine Nether Power silently seeped into the seed.

The next instant, his breathing stalled slightly.

At the seed's core slumbered an incomparably pure life energy.

That energy was neither ostentatious nor domineering, yet it was so profound that it made one's heart tremble.

It was like a sleeping infant, quietly waiting for the moment it would awaken.

Nine Heart Begonia.

Dugu Bo could scarcely believe what he sensed.

Nine Heart Begonia was the continent's most supreme healing-type Martial Soul.

It was not a plant-type Martial Soul, but a tool-type Martial Soul. Its wielder could unleash extraordinarily powerful healing abilities.

Legend said that Nine Heart Begonia's healing range could cover an entire city and heal nearly any injury.

And Nine Heart Begonia's inheritance method was exceptionally unique.

Only one person could inherit it in each generation, and that person had to possess a Nine Hearts Begonia Seed.

This seed was the origin of Nine Heart Begonia.

So long as it was planted and carefully nurtured, once it took root, sprouted, blossomed, and bore fruit, a new Nine Heart Begonia could be born.