After Murong Huai finished absorbing the Spirit Ring, the effects of the Immortal Herb he had taken earlier finally manifested. Combined with the boost from the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring, his Soul Power surged straight to level thirty-six.
The Empty Realm Severed Thought Bamboo had combined the spatial power within Murong Huai's Immortal Lord Nine-Arrival Sword Martial Soul with the Way of the Sword, granting him a powerful domain. However, it had not increased his Soul Power by much—only about three or four levels. After all, his Soul Power was already several times denser than that of others at the same rank.
If not for the Heavenly Scourge Power purifying and condensing his Soul Power to an extraordinary degree, he might have reached the Soul Ancestor realm outright. But only with a firm foundation could one advance to greater heights.
On the contrary, if Soul Power increased too quickly, it could not be fully consolidated. The difference might be slight, but accumulated bit by bit, it could be the very thing that made someone fall short of success at a crucial moment in the future.
The three of them returned to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and Dugu Bo sat cross-legged on the ground, each with a distinctive flow of Soul Power surrounding them.
Seeing Murong Huai and the others, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo cupped their hands in greeting. Murong Huai spoke:
"Oh, it looks like the two elders have finished absorbing them."
At Murong Huai's words, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo cupped their hands in gratitude.
"We have both finished absorbing them. Thank you, His Highness the Holy Son, for bestowing the Immortal Herbs upon us."
Yue Guan had found them a Dragon Soul Flower, a single plant with two blossoms. After taking it, neither of them had immediately broken through to level ninety-four, but they had both reached the peak of level ninety-three and would break through in less than a year. The ancient dragon soul within their Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Souls had also grown much stronger, and their Martial Souls had become complementary, showing signs of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Murong Huai waved a hand. "There's no need for formalities, Elders."
After that, they rested for a while, waiting for Yue Guan and the other two to finish absorbing their Immortal Herbs.
After about the time it took to burn an incense stick, the three gradually awoke. Yue Guan had found each of them a suitable Immortal Herb.
The one he had chosen for himself was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, which matched his Martial Soul. After taking it, his Soul Power rose by one level, and he also forged an indestructible body.
He had given Gui Mei a Ghostly Sky-Roaming Grass. After taking it, Gui Mei's Soul Power also rose by one level. His Martial Soul, Gui Mei, had already been exceptionally strange, and after absorbing the Immortal Herb, its dark attribute had grown even stronger.
Last was Dugu Bo. Yue Guan knew a great deal about medicinal herbs, so he naturally knew how to deal with the poison in Dugu Bo's body.
Yue Guan had picked a herb called the Myriad Poison Soul-Devouring Fruit for Dugu Bo. Its name alone sounded deadly poisonous. He paired it with a segment of root from an Infernal Delicate Apricot and an Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. Taken together, they caused the inner core formed when Dugu Bo's Martial Soul evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor to gain the ability to store and transform poison. It nourished him in return and further strengthened the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison.
"We thank His Highness the Holy Son!" Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and Dugu Bo all cupped their hands toward Murong Huai.
Murong Huai nodded. "No need for formalities. From now on, the three of you will serve as my guards. Just do your duty well."
"Rest assured, Holy Son. We will devote ourselves wholeheartedly to protecting your safety."
The three clasped their fists in response. Dugu Bo hesitated, as if he wanted to speak. Seeing this, Murong Huai asked:
"Dugu Bo, what do you want to say?"
At this, Dugu Bo dropped to one knee and clasped his fist.
"I would not dare hide this from Your Highness the Holy Son. My son was unfortunate enough to inherit my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, and with it, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison. He is only ten years old, yet he suffers from the poison day and night. It pains me to see him endure it.
"So I ask Your Highness to cure my son of the poison. I will devote myself to your service."
Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Murong Huai waved a hand dismissively. "You don't need to trouble me over something like this. You and Yue Guan get along well, and he can cure your poison, so your son should be no problem. But, like you, he will have to join Spirit Hall."
At this, Dugu Bo hurriedly replied, "Of course, of course."
Then Murong Huai looked at Yue Guan. "Yue Guan, when you have time, cure his son's poison too. If the boy has decent talent, you can consider finding an herb for him."
"Yes, Holy Son." Yue Guan cupped his hands in reply.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Holy Son." Dugu Bo also bowed to Murong Huai in gratitude.
"Good. Have you finished gathering the other herbs?"
"Your Highness, we've gathered all the herbs for the elders."
"Good. Then let's return to Spirit Hall."
"Yes."
Spirit City.
Murong Fuhai and Wu Xianyun returned to Murong Mansion, while Qian Jun and Jiang Mo returned to the Elder Hall. Murong Huai, meanwhile, brought Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and Dugu Bo to Pope Palace.
Inside Pope Palace, Qian Daoliu was handling a desk piled high with official documents. Qian Xunji sat at a small desk nearby, helping him review memorials.
Though Qian Pocheng had appointed Qian Daoliu to succeed him as Grand Worship before his death, it had all happened rather suddenly, and there had been no preparations beforehand.
If he took up the position of Grand Worship, the papacy would be left vacant. So Qian Daoliu planned to personally train Qian Xunji and teach him the duties of a pope, along with the affairs of state, so that Qian Xunji wouldn't be left completely in the dark after succeeding him.
"Your Holiness, Young Master, His Highness the Holy Son has arrived," came a guard's voice from outside.
Hearing this, Qian Xunji was startled, then gazed toward the door with interest. Qian Daoliu lifted his head and set down his pen.
"Huai'er is here. Let him in!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the doors to Pope Palace opened, and Murong Huai walked in and greeted them.
"Teacher, Senior Brother."
Qian Xunji smiled and waved to him. Qian Daoliu, however, had sensed something and said in surprise:
"Level thirty-six?"
Hearing Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji froze. Then he carefully sensed the aura around Murong Huai and exclaimed in astonishment:
"Damn, Junior Brother, level thirty-six Soul Power? Weren't you just breaking through to level thirty the other day? How did you jump to level thirty-six again?"
"Ahem... Xunji, mind your language!" Hearing Qian Xunji curse, Qian Daoliu reprimanded him. He really had no idea who Qian Xunji had picked that up from.
Hearing their exclamations, Murong Huai explained how he had taken the Immortal Herbs.
Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji were both intrigued by the legendary Immortal Herbs after hearing his explanation.
"Oh, Huai'er, are these Immortal Herbs truly so miraculous? They not only pulled the Third Offering and Second Elder back from death's door, but also easily healed the hidden injuries your father suffered."
Murong Huai nodded. "That's right. There are dozens of Immortal Herbs in Sunset Forest. I've already sent Yue Guan and the others to deliver one to each elder wounded in this battle."
Hearing Murong Huai, Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, well done, Huai'er. Teacher gave you authority over the distribution of all the Immortal Herbs so you could use this opportunity to establish yourself in Spirit Hall. You've done very well."
Murong Huai then took out two Immortal Herbs and handed them to the two men.
"Teacher, Senior Brother, these are the Immortal Herbs I chose for you. The light-attributed Dawn Nebula Fruit and the Sacred Flame Radiance Lotus are both among the finest. Choose whichever one you like."
At this, Qian Xunji looked at the two Immortal Herbs. In the end, his gaze settled on the Sacred Flame Radiance Lotus, but he didn't move. Qian Daoliu hadn't chosen yet, so how could he take it first?
"Good. Then I'll take this one." Qian Daoliu lifted a hand, and the Sacred Flame Radiance Lotus flew into his grasp.
Qian Xunji's eyes never left the herb. He stared straight at the Immortal Herb in Qian Daoliu's hand. Seeing this, Qian Daoliu held it out to him.
"Here, take it..."
"Th-this doesn't seem right." Qian Xunji froze, scratching his head with a sheepish smile, but his gaze never left the Sacred Flame Radiance Lotus.
"Then you're not getting it." Qian Daoliu pulled his hand back.
Huh?
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