... Spirit City, Murong Mansion.
Murong Huai, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan soon returned to Murong Mansion. When Murong Fuhai, Wu Xianyun, and the others heard they were back, they came out to meet them.
"Huai'er, how did it go? Did you find them?"
Murong Huai nodded. "Father, Mother, we found them and brought them back. Let's go save Grandfather and Grandmother first."
"Good. Let's go." Delighted by Murong Huai's words, the two hurried to a room in the rear courtyard. Murong Chayue and Xiao Qingmei lay on the Cold Ice Jade Marrow Bed.
Murong Huai looked at Yue Guan. At his cue, Yue Guan took out the Soul-Extinguishing Dragon Prophecy Herb and the Pure Flame Crystal Orchid. Sensing the aura the former gave off, Murong Fuhai felt his Demonic Flame Heavenly Dragon Martial Soul stir with longing.
"Are these the two Immortal Grade Herbs?"
"That's right, Marshal Murong. This Soul-Extinguishing Dragon Prophecy Herb is for the Third Offering. I imagine Marshal Murong's Martial Soul can sense it too," Yue Guan explained.
"Mm, that's true. My Martial Soul is drawn to it." Murong Fuhai nodded.
"Then we chose correctly. However, since the Third Offering and Second Elder are unconscious and can't take them on their own, I'll have to trouble Marshal Murong to use Titled Douluo-level Soul Power to warm the herbs and infuse them into their bodies." Yue Guan nodded. It seemed he had chosen well.
"Of course."
At that, Yue Guan first took out the Soul-Extinguishing Dragon Prophecy Herb. "Marshal Murong, use your Soul Power to pluck the fruit. Leave the leaves aside, then crush the fruit into spiritual liquid with your Soul Power and give it to the Third Offering."
At Yue Guan's instructions, a stream of red Soul Power flowed from Murong Fuhai's raised hand. He plucked the fruit and warmed it with his Soul Power until it quickly became spiritual liquid. Then he guided it slowly into Murong Chayue's mouth.
Once the Soul-Extinguishing Dragon Prophecy Herb entered Murong Chayue's body, it quickly flowed through his limbs and bones. His complexion gradually grew rosy as black Soul Power circulated around him, slowly restoring his body.
"Now the Third Offering only needs to fully absorb the medicinal power before he can awaken."
After speaking, Yue Guan took out the Pure Flame Crystal Orchid and said,
"Marshal, all the medicinal power of this Immortal Herb lies in its petals. Use your Soul Power to pluck them, then refine them along their veins."
Murong Fuhai nodded and quickly refined it with his Soul Power. The Pure Flame Crystal Orchid turned into several drops of spiritual liquid, which slowly flowed into Xiao Qingmei's mouth.
After she swallowed it, white energy coursed through her meridians, repairing the damaged channels and replenishing the injuries to her Martial Soul.
"All done. At most, the Third Offering and Second Elder should awaken within three days." After watching them take the herbs, Yue Guan gave his measured assessment.
"Good. I never imagined these Immortal Grade Herbs could have such effects. Wonderful!" Murong Fuhai and Wu Xianyun nodded in satisfaction.
Murong Huai also relaxed a little. Just then, a voice came from the doorway.
"Fuhai, I heard Huai'er and the others came back. How did it go?"
At the sound of the voice, everyone turned. Qian Daoliu had walked in.
"Teacher, we found them. I just gave the herbs to my grandparents. They should wake up in about three days," Murong Huai explained.
"That's good. That's good." Qian Daoliu nodded. If the two had truly died, he wouldn't have known how to face Murong Huai afterward.
"By the way, Teacher, there are still quite a few Immortal Herbs in Sunset Forest. I left the two elders, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, there to guard them. Once my grandparents wake up, we'll go back and gather them all."
At Murong Huai's words, Qian Daoliu nodded. "Mm, good."
Two days later, at Murong Mansion.
Murong Chayue and Xiao Qingmei sat cross-legged on the bed, their Soul Power circulating smoothly as their auras steadily climbed. About an hour later, they slowly opened their eyes.
"Father, Mother, how are you feeling?" Seeing that the two had finished meditating, Murong Fuhai stepped forward to ask.
Murong Chayue nodded. "Don't worry. My meridians and Martial Soul have been completely restored. The dragon bloodline within my Martial Soul has even grown stronger, and the power of my flames has increased by a tenth."
"Indeed. Not only have my injuries healed, but my Martial Soul has improved, and my Soul Power has grown a little too," Xiao Qingmei added.
"Phew, you scared me half to death. I thought I was about to become an orphan," Murong Fuhai said with a pat to his chest, jokingly.
"Hey, you little brat, your mother's—" At that, Murong Chayue launched into a tirade.
Hearing Murong Chayue's angry scolding, everyone felt much better, and the gloom hanging over them lifted considerably.
Murong Huai also breathed a sigh of relief. If he hadn't known about the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well ahead of time and brought back the Immortal Grade Herbs, his grandparents would likely have died later on, leaving Golden Crocodile as the only one of the Seven Offerings.
Murong Chayue and Xiao Qingmei had fully recovered from their injuries. Both were Titled Douluo, so the Immortal Grade Herbs improved them far less than they would have cultivators at lower levels. Their Soul Power did not break through, as Murong Huai had expected. After all, simply repairing their meridians and Martial Souls had consumed most of the herbs' medicinal power.
They had awakened two hours earlier, and everyone had told them about the Immortal Grade Herbs. After meditating, they had completely absorbed the energy.
When Murong Chayue heard that only he and Golden Crocodile remained of the Seven Offerings, a look of desolation crept into his eyes. The seven of them had served together for decades, and he had never imagined things would change so completely, with only two of them still alive.
Just then, Xiao Qingmei noticed that Murong Fuhai's aura was unstable and said,
"Fuhai, why is your aura so chaotic? You must have suffered some serious injuries too."
"Alas, I built the Black Flame Army with my own hands. Its battle formations take a heavy toll on the one leading them. Fuhai also controlled the two most demanding formations, the Star Dome Spirit-Boosting Array and the Soul-Fusion Array, and suffered severe injuries..." Murong Chayue sighed.
Hearing them, Murong Huai realized that his father's injuries could not be put off any longer. If they accumulated and became hidden injuries, they would affect his cultivation and lifespan. He didn't want his father to end up like Tang Hao, severing a Spirit Bone to clear away hidden injuries.
"Don't worry, Grandfather. Now that you and Grandmother have awakened, we can head back to Sunset Forest later. There are still plenty of Immortal Herbs there, including some that can treat Father's injuries."
"Mm, good," Murong Chayue said, nodding.
After the battle on Sea God Island, Spirit Hall had suffered heavy losses and was in dire need of rebuilding. Qian Daoliu had ordered Qian Xunji to act on his behalf and distribute resettlement funds to the families of all the soldiers who had fallen in the battle, with the amounts determined by rank.
Any children of fallen soldiers who possessed Soul Power, no matter how little, could study at Martial Soul Academy free of charge.
Those without Soul Power would be given basic jobs. As long as they did not break Spirit Hall's laws, their livelihood would be guaranteed for life.
Those who wished to enlist could do so after three years of training, provided they met the other requirements. If their fathers had been officers of the third rank or higher—not including the third rank—they would be appointed directly as officers three ranks below their fathers' former positions.
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