Spirit City's center.
Spirit Hall Primary Academy.
It was noon, and the sun blazed overhead.
In the dormitory, Qin Xuan sat on a soft leather sofa, his expression grave, as if deep in thought.
Aside from Xia Hui and Song Qingling, the other students at the academy are only of average talent. They're not worth investing in.
In that case, I have no reason to stay at Spirit Hall Primary Academy.
As for Spirit Hall... I'd better not.
If I return to Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong will be watching me every moment. It'll be inconvenient to do anything.
I remember there's a neighborhood of villas built along a spring near the center of Spirit City. It's called Emerald Spring Villas.
I'll cultivate there for the next four years.
But first, I need to give Song Qingling and Xia Hui a few Immortal Herbs to consume.
Putting his thoughts aside, Qin Xuan opened the door and left the dormitory building.
He'd been about to go find the two girls at the Mimicry Training Hall, but as he passed the cafeteria, he ran right into them.
"Brother Qin, when did you get back?" Xia Hui asked in surprise.
"Congratulations on breaking through to Soul Elder, Brother Qin," Song Qingling said with a smile.
Qin Xuan gave Song Qingling a slight nod, then turned to Xia Hui and said:
"Xiaohui, do you remember the promise I made you two years ago?"
"Two years ago..." Xia Hui murmured. Then her face lit up, and her voice trembled with excitement.
"B-Brother Qin, don't tell me you've found a way for the Crape Myrtle Exquisite Pagoda to break through its limits?"
"I don't know if this method will work. There are too many people around the academy. Come with me." As he spoke, Qin Xuan headed out of the academy.
Xia Hui and Song Qingling exchanged a glance, their faces bright with excitement. Then they hurried after him.
At the heart of Emerald Spring Villas.
Outside a five-story villa.
"Mr. Qin, I hope you enjoy your new home!" said the saleswoman in a black business suit, handing him the keys.
"Mm." Qin Xuan took the keys and nodded. After exchanging a few words, he quickly sent the saleswoman on her way.
Once she was gone, Xia Hui exclaimed, "Brother Qin, you really are loaded. You bought a villa outright, just like that!"
"Anyone who didn't know better would think you were buying cabbages from a street stall!"
"It's only fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins. Let's go inside." Qin Xuan didn't think much of it. He unlocked the door and walked into the living room.
"Xiaohui, what's fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins?"
"Brother Qin once spent eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins on a set of soft armor for you!"
Song Qingling giggled behind her hand, giving Xia Hui a knowing look.
"Qingling..." Xia Hui's cheeks turned pink. Her voice grew soft and sweet as she linked arms with Song Qingling and entered the villa.
The prices of goods on Douluo Continent were vastly different from those on Blue Star.
On this continent, cultivation resources and treasures were usually the most valuable things, such as Soul Bones, protective gear that could save your life, and weapons...
Real estate, on the other hand, was relatively cheap.
Even the best villa in Emerald Spring Villas had only cost fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins, and it already came fully furnished.
Qin Xuan sat on the sofa and calmly took three Immortal Herbs from his ring.
As soon as the Immortal Herbs appeared, their fragrance filled the entire villa.
"What a lovely smell! Brother Qin, will taking these herbs really help the Crape Myrtle Exquisite Pagoda break through its limits?" Xia Hui asked excitedly, her eyes shining.
Qin Xuan smiled and shook his head, then explained to the two girls:
"Xiaohui, these three aren't ordinary herbs. They're peerless Immortal Herbs."
"Take the Aromatic Silk Beauty in a moment. This Immortal Herb might help your Martial Soul break through its limits."
As he spoke, a thought stirred in his mind, and the Aromatic Silk Beauty floated in front of Xia Hui. Then another two Immortal Herbs, one white and one red, drifted in front of Song Qingling.
The white Immortal Herb gave off waves of frigid air, while the red one radiated heat like molten lava.
Song Qingling drew a deep breath, her expression disbelieving. "Brother Qin, a-are these two Immortal Herbs for me?"
Qin Xuan smiled and gave a soft "Mm."
At that, a heartfelt smile appeared on Song Qingling's frostlike face. "Thank you, Brother Qin!"
She'd only come along to keep Xia Hui company. She hadn't expected the Immortal Herbs to include something for her too—and not just one, but two. It was a delightful surprise!
"These two Immortal Herbs are called the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. You have to swallow them at the same time, and they must be in your stomach within ten breaths. Otherwise, their medicinal effects will fade."
"Taking these two Immortal Herbs will bring you several benefits."
"First, you'll become impervious to water and fire, immune to most attacks and environmental damage with ice or fire attributes, such as lava and extreme cold."
"Second, you'll become immune to all poisons. A miniature Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well will form inside your body, neutralizing and suppressing all toxins. Even the Poison Douluo's Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison won't be able to affect you."
"Third, your physique will improve dramatically. Your physical strength and ability to withstand blows will both increase by a great deal, laying an exceptionally strong foundation for your future cultivation."
"Good heavens..." Even Song Qingling, who was usually composed, was flustered by what he'd said.
There's no doubt about it. These two Immortal Herbs are priceless. If they were ever revealed to the world, they could even stir up a storm of blood and slaughter.
No, they're far too precious. I can't accept them!
Having made up her mind, she finally spoke.
"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Qin, but these two Immortal Herbs are far too precious. I haven't done anything to deserve them. How could I take them?"
Qin Xuan was about to respond, but Xia Hui patted Song Qingling on the shoulder and said without hesitation:
"Qingling, just take the Immortal Herbs with me here."
"With Brother Qin's personality, the Immortal Herbs he kept for himself are probably no worse than ours."
"We're all close friends with Brother Qin. Why be so formal?"
"Once our Soul Power Levels have improved, we can repay him for this favor then, can't we?"
"Um..." Song Qingling looked at the two Immortal Herbs, still a little reluctant to accept them.
"Xiaohui's right. Go ahead and take them."
"I really did prepare three Immortal Herbs for myself to take later."
Seeing her hesitation, Qin Xuan calmly urged her on.
"Thank you, Brother Qin!"
"I, Song Qingling, will remember this kindness. One day, I'll repay you a hundredfold!"
Song Qingling's brows relaxed, and she looked at him with deep respect.
"Don't mention it. Go ahead and absorb the Immortal Herbs here." Qin Xuan waved his hand, urging them to begin.
With that,
the two girls didn't waste any time. After swallowing the Immortal Herbs, they sat down where they were and began meditating to absorb their medicinal effects.
"Ah..." Qin Xuan sighed softly and fell into thought.
I don't have three Immortal Herbs suited to my needs. I only said that to help Song Qingling set aside her reservations.
If I hadn't said that, she'd never have taken the two Immortal Herbs.
Qin Xuan had considered absorbing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot himself, but on second thought, it seemed like a waste.
That was because the boosts those two herbs provided overlapped with most of the Nine Nether Evil God Tiger's attributes, especially the most crucial one: poison immunity.
Rather than that, he might as well do his companions a good turn and let them take the herbs.
That way, he'd have another even stronger ally in the future.
Wasn't that a wonderful outcome?
Before you continue