"Hahaha, Huai'er, you really are a young hero! You're far stronger than your old man was at your age. I didn't comprehend a Domain until I broke through to Titled Douluo. And you've got one at just thirty levels! Wonderful, wonderful!"
Seeing his son obtain a Domain, Murong Fuhai couldn't help praising him.
"Of course! Just look at whose son he is~" Seeing how outstanding her son was, Wu Xianyun beamed with pride too.
Murong Huai scratched his head and said with a smile:
"Father, Mother, how are you feeling? Father, how are your hidden injuries?"
At that, Murong Fuhai smiled and said:
"Hahaha, son, these Immortal Grade Herbs really are miraculous. The Demonic Flame attached to my Martial Soul gained the ability to burn away things at their source. I took the opportunity to burn away every last one of my hidden injuries, and my Soul Power has returned to its peak. Within a year, your old man will surely reach the Super Douluo level."
"I got quite a lot out of this too. My Nine Profound Sword evolved into the Nine Heavens Sword, and my Soul Power increased by one level. I'm already level eighty-seven now." As Wu Xianyun spoke, she scooped Murong Huai up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, my precious son~."
Murong Huai blushed a little, then turned to Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and the other two and said:
"Yue Guan, go find a few more Immortal Herbs. Give each of the four of you one, then see if there are any suitable ones for the others. Many of Spirit Hall's elders were seriously injured this time, and my Murong Clan can't play favorites. Find a few more to give to them, too."
Murong Huai hadn't planned to keep all the Immortal Herbs for himself. For one thing, as Spirit Hall's Holy Son, he couldn't really do that, even though Qian Daoliu had said earlier that all the Immortal Grade Herbs belonged to him. As the Holy Son, he also had to show some generosity.
For another, what was the point of leaving Immortal Grade Herbs unused? The sensible thing was to put them to use as soon as possible. Besides, he could earn these people's gratitude and have them remember his kindness. That would win Murong Huai plenty of support in Spirit Hall in the future.
As for Ice and Fire Body Tempering, Murong Huai didn't think he needed it. His constitution was already far stronger than a Soul King's, and he was immune to ice and fire, so there was even less reason to put himself through that ordeal. His own strength was already formidable, and his Second Martial Soul had ice and fire attributes. Once he cultivated it to a certain level, those would become Ultimate Attributes. There was no need to suffer for it.
Would the Ice and Fire Dragon King even give God of Heavenly Punishment any kind of boost?
Then there was his spiritual power. After absorbing that ninety-thousand-year-old skull, Murong Huai's spiritual power had surged, putting it on par with a Soul Douluo's. Wangchuan Autumn Water Dew wouldn't do him much good.
So if he came across suitable Immortal Grade Herbs among the rest, he'd use them. They were just sitting there otherwise; he might as well turn them into something valuable.
Hearing Murong Huai, Qian Jun, Jiang Mo, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan were overjoyed. They hurriedly bowed to him.
"This subordinate thanks His Highness the Holy Son."
Murong Huai waved a hand, then suddenly thought of something and said:
"Oh, right. Find another suitable one and send it to the Martial Soul Academy for Dong'er."
"Yes, Your Highness the Holy Son."
Hearing Murong Huai, Murong Fuhai's eyes lit up. He chuckled.
"Hahaha, looks like I'll have a grandson before long."
At that, Murong Huai and Wu Xianyun couldn't help rolling their eyes.
"Not to be rude, Clan Head Murong, but your son is only six years old. I'm still your father's grandson. You want me to give you a grandson?" Murong Huai was utterly speechless.
Wu Xianyun also smacked Murong Fuhai and scolded him. "Exactly! Could you think before you speak?"
"Heh heh, I was just too excited." Murong Fuhai grinned sheepishly.
Murong Huai couldn't imagine that this clown of a father standing before him was the formidable Marshal of the Black Flame Army.
"All right, judging by the way they're going, they'll need a while. Father, Mother, let's go find a suitable third Spirit Ring for me first." Murong Huai glanced at the others following Yue Guan in search of herbs and spoke to his parents.
"A Spirit Ring? Oh, right! You're already at level thirty. We're in Sunset Forest, too. Come on, let's go..." Murong Fuhai slapped his forehead as he remembered.
The three of them turned to leave, but then noticed Dugu Bo standing nearby. Murong Huai froze for a moment, then realized he'd completely forgotten about him.
"Dugu Bo, this Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was yours to find first. But I'm sure you understand the law of the jungle.
"I'll give you two choices. First, take an Immortal Grade Herb and leave.
"Second, join Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall will give you an Immortal Grade Herb and cure your poison. Pick one."
Murong Huai held up two fingers, giving Dugu Bo two choices. He also exchanged a glance with Murong Fuhai, who nodded.
Dugu Bo knew he had no chance of claiming the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Besides, he was used to keeping to himself, so he was ready to choose the first option.
"Heh, Your Highness the Holy Son, I've always been a lone wolf. I don't like being tied down, so I choose the first—"
Just as Dugu Bo was about to say he chose the first option, a wave of mortal dread washed over him, making his back stiffen. It was as if an endless terror had closed in around him.
A blood-red glint flashed in Murong Fuhai's eyes. To Dugu Bo, it was as though he were looking at a man who had emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. The terrifying aura of a Titled Douluo bypassed everyone else and settled squarely on Dugu Bo.
It was as if Murong Fuhai would kill him on the spot if he dared choose the first option.
"Hahaha, Dugu Bo, I think you ought to give this some serious thought. What do you say?" Murong Huai asked with a smile.
Dugu Bo was drenched in cold sweat. Trembling, he replied:
"Yes... His Highness is right."
Murong Huai nodded, then waved his hand. "Now, of course, it's entirely voluntary. I've always preferred to persuade people with reason. I'd never force anyone to do something they don't want to do. You only have to join willingly..."
As he spoke, Murong Huai wore a benevolent smile. In Dugu Bo's eyes, though, it was no less terrifying than the death glare of a demon.
Persuade people with reason? Then get the pressure off me first!! (σ｀д′)σ--
How was that any different from asking him to pick the one living word between "dead" and "deceased"!!!
Dugu Bo looked at Murong Huai's benevolent smile and Murong Fuhai's nuclear-bomb grin. He was close to tears. He could only nod and force a stiff smile onto his face.
"Your Highness, I-I choose the second option. I'm willing to join Spirit Hall."
As soon as he finished speaking, the pressure vanished. Dugu Bo felt as if a mountain had been lifted off his shoulders, and he let out a long breath of relief.
"You're doing this willingly, right?"
"Yes, willingly. This subordinate is joining of his own free will!" Dugu Bo managed another stiff smile.
Seeing that, Murong Huai smiled and said:
"Good. You've made the right choice. Spirit Hall welcomes you. From now on, join Yue Guan and Gui Mei as my guards. Go find Yue Guan and have him find an Immortal Herb for you, too."
"Thank you, Your Highness the Holy Son." Dugu Bo didn't dare delay. He quickly bowed, then headed over to Yue Guan and the others.
Murong Huai had a pretty good impression of Dugu Bo. His poison skills were superb, and the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison was a weapon of mass destruction on the battlefield. He could poison an entire city all by himself.
For someone like him, Murong Huai had only one thing to say: Spirit Hall could spare the food to feed him, and it could spare a knife to take his life, too.
If you can keep someone under your control, don't let him go. And if you really can't control him, you might as well kill him. Leaving him alive would only be a threat.
Before you continue