When the absorption of the second Soul Ring was complete, Xu Xiao clearly sensed a change in his Spirit Pagoda.
Within the Spirit Pagoda, the shackles on the second level of the Spirit Ascension Platform vanished.
The memories of that thousand-year-old fierce tiger had been imprinted, and the second level took shape accordingly. It was larger and broader than the first.
It was also more dangerous than the first level.
That 4,500-year-old tiger had seen more and hunted more Soul Beasts. It had also encountered quite a few powerful Soul Beasts. Therefore, the second level did not contain only that thousand-year-old tiger.
If its memories contained ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts, then ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts would appear within the second-level space.
As Xu Xiao's strength grew, the Spirit Ascension Platform would only become more dangerous.
Suddenly, Xu Xiao seemed to think of something...
If he used the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King as a Soul Ring, then the whale king's memories included the Sea God. Would his Spirit Ascension Platform be able to imprint even the Sea God?
And Di Tian. That fellow had existed since the era of the Dragon God. His memories must be incredibly vast. Perhaps he could even imprint the great war in the God Realm from back then.
The more Xu Xiao thought about it, the more shaken he became. He had never considered that possibility before, but now that he had absorbed his second Soul Ring, he naturally began thinking further ahead.
If he could imprint the God Realm war, perhaps he might even be able to create his own Godhood within it.
Xu Xiao did not expect the Sea God or the Asura God to grant him a Godhood. After all, conspiracy theories from his past life claimed that Tang San had been brought over by them.
Xu Xiao did not dare gamble on that. Even if he did gamble, he needed enough strength to make the bet!
Therefore, Xu Xiao could only trust himself and rely on his own efforts.
More importantly, Xu Xiao had the foundation to do so.
The greatest uncertainty was whether the Spirit Pagoda could imprint such terrifying battles.
Only an experiment could tell him whether it would work.
Xu Xiao took a deep breath. Getting Di Tian to sacrifice himself to him would be extraordinarily difficult.
Unless he had terms that Di Tian cared about and found satisfactory.
If he wanted to cooperate with the Soul Beast clan, he currently had no capital.
The capital Xu Xiao meant was, naturally, strength.
"Big Brother, what are you thinking about?"
Gui Mei looked at Xu Xiao, who had been lost in thought the whole time, and asked curiously.
"Yeah, Big Brother. You got your second Soul Ring. Shouldn't you be happy? Why do you seem a little unhappy?" Yue Guan had noticed it too. Ever since absorbing the Soul Ring, his big brother had been like this.
He had no idea what Xu Xiao was thinking about.
Xu Xiao smiled and shook his head. Even if he voiced his concerns, the two of them would not be able to solve them.
"I'm paving the way for your futures, thinking about what comes next."
"You don't need to worry either. Third Brother, you go first. I'll add a Soul Ring for you."
Seeing that Xu Xiao did not elaborate, they did not press him further. Just as Xu Xiao had said, he was merely paving the way for them.
Gui Mei was not unhappy in the slightest. They had planned from the beginning to add a Soul Ring for Yue Guan first, so everything was proceeding as before.
Immediately afterward, Xu Xiao began bestowing a soul upon Yue Guan. Platinum light continuously enveloped Yue Guan, and in less than a moment, a black Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.
Forty-five thousand years!
Yue Guan's Soul Power leaped to level 24. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had provided him with twelve levels of Soul Power. It was already the Immortal Herb most compatible with him, so its enhancement was even greater.
Xu Xiao had a feeling that even for Gui Mei, excluding the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma he had consumed, the other Immortal Herb would only provide ten levels of Soul Power.
After bestowing a soul upon Yue Guan, Xu Xiao's Spirit Pagoda entered cooldown as well. After absorbing the Immortal Herb, the cooldown time for the second Soul Ring had become ninety days, reduced by half.
"Second Soul Skill: Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum, Singular Velvet Body—Imperial Chrysanthemum Myriad Crowns!"
As Yue Guan chanted, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum wrapped around him like the emperor of chrysanthemums, swaying as it emitted golden protective light.
Yue Guan was enveloped by his martial soul, golden light constantly spilling forth.
"Third Brother, is that all there is to your Soul Skill?" Gui Mei could not see anything else.
Yue Guan explained, "Big Brother, Second Brother, this Soul Skill can resist attacks and reflect 40 percent of the damage."
"Besides that, it can also explode!"
Just as Yue Guan was about to say more, he suddenly cried out, "W-Wait!"
Xu Xiao and Gui Mei were a little confused. What was happening?
"Third Brother, what's wrong?" Xu Xiao hurriedly asked.
"B-Big Brother, I heard some strange voices."
"They're calling out to me."
Yue Guan quickly explained.
Calling out to him? Xu Xiao found that strange as well. Could this second Soul Skill cause ringing in his ears?
"Third Brother, what are they calling you?" Xu Xiao asked curiously.
Yue Guan listened carefully, then gasped. "Big Brother, Second Brother, they're calling me their emperor."
"No, no. They're not calling me their emperor. It sounds like they're saying the energy I emit is very similar to their emperor's."
Xu Xiao immediately said, "Third Brother, withdraw your Soul Skill."
Hearing that, Yue Guan promptly retracted the Soul Skill. Once it was gone, the surroundings immediately fell silent.
"Big Brother, I can't hear them anymore."
Xu Xiao and Gui Mei were both puzzled. To be honest, Xu Xiao did not know what was going on either.
Xu Xiao continued, "Third Brother, use your Soul Skill again. If possible, see whether you can communicate with them."
Xu Xiao and Gui Mei quietly watched Yue Guan, waiting to see what would happen.
Yue Guan was once again wrapped in the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Soon, those voices returned. "Emperor, this aura is so much like the emperor's. So warm, so comfortable!"
"Yeah, yeah. What is his relationship with the emperor?"
"This energy feels so nice. It would be wonderful if we could stay beside him."
Yue Guan heard the voices again and hurriedly spoke. "Don't be afraid. I mean no harm. Who are you? And who is the emperor you're talking about..."
When Xu Xiao heard Yue Guan's question, he helplessly covered his forehead. He should have taught him better. Asking like that made him no different from a trafficker.
If they were normal people, they definitely would not answer him.
However, Xu Xiao had overthought it...
Yue Guan said, "Big Brother, Big Brother, they answered. They said they're the flowers and grass at our feet."
"I can communicate with flowers and grass, Big Brother."
Xu Xiao froze for a moment. So they weren't people. Then it was fine. Being fooled was only natural. Even grass with a hundred thousand years of cultivation that could take human form could be deceived, much less these...
Before Xu Xiao could ask anything, Yue Guan continued, "Big Brother, Second Brother, they're talking nonsense. They're saying things like the emperor is simply the emperor, that the emperor is like them, a flower or grass... They're all saying different things..."
Xu Xiao drew a deep breath. He should be satisfied. They had no brains, and getting this much from them was already enough.
Xu Xiao could understand it as well. These flowers and grasses were not very old. The fact that they could stammer out a conversation with Yue Guan for so long was already impressive. In their understanding, an emperor was something like them—either a flower or grass.
But who exactly was this emperor they spoke of?
Xu Xiao began to think. There were very few emperors among flowers and grass. The most famous was the Blue Silver Emperor. Could it truly be the Blue Silver Emperor?
Xu Xiao could not be certain. No matter what, the Blue Silver Emperor was his breakthrough point for opening a path to the Soul Beast clan. He could give it a try.
As Xu Xiao pondered, Yue Guan withdrew his Soul Skill, his whole face beaming.
Gui Mei said, "Third Brother, your Soul Skill is pretty good. You can even communicate with plants."
Yue Guan laughed heartily. "Hahaha, Second Brother, that's what I like most about it. Once we return to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, I'll be able to communicate with them and cultivate my Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum even better."
"Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm so happy!"
Yue Guan was immensely fond of this Soul Skill. He did not care about its other effects. What he cared about was being able to communicate with plants.
Setting aside his thoughts, Xu Xiao looked at him. "Third Brother, your Soul Skill is Imperial Chrysanthemum Myriad Crowns. Perhaps when you activate it, that chrysanthemum becomes the emperor of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, which is why you can communicate with flowers and grass while using this Soul Skill."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei nodded repeatedly. That seemed to be the only explanation. Moreover, this effect had only emerged after consuming the Immortal Herb. Without the Immortal Herb, this second Soul Skill would be greatly weakened.
Without the Immortal Herb, the ability to communicate with plants would disappear. Even the 40 percent reflected damage might be reduced to only 10 percent.
The reason it could have so many effects was entirely because the Immortal Herb had enhanced his martial soul!
PS: (Please keep reading, please keep reading! During the trial period, continued reading is very important. This little author thanks all the dear readers. Thank you, thank you!)