Second Awakening, Divine Steed Ban's Complete Form!

Watching Bibi Dong's hesitant expression, Ban Shu handed over the Lovesick Heartbreak Red: "Why not try this one first?"

"Oh?"

Bibi Dong looked at the large flower before her, its pristine white petals stained with specks of crimson, resembling fresh blood.

"What a peculiar flower."

"Naturally. This flower comes with a tragic and beautiful story."

Ban Shu cleared his throat and, under Bibi Dong's expectant gaze, began: "Legend has it..."

"A fairy fell in love with a mortal, but the gods forbade it. The mortal fell into despair and eventually died. The blood he shed upon the fairy's incarnation—a peony—became the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."

"..."

Bibi Dong blinked, her expression stiffening: "Is this... supposed to be tragic and beautiful? I think it's ridiculous."

"The full story is too long; just consider it beautiful for now."

Ban Shu handed the flower to Bibi Dong: "To pluck this flower, you must drip a drop of your heart's blood onto it while thinking of your beloved. Only then can it be picked."

"However, if you harbor even the slightest hesitation, all your efforts will be in vain."

"I understand."

Bibi Dong nodded, channeled her Soul Power, and spat a mouthful of heart's blood onto the flower. Then, she glanced at Ban Shu before closing her eyes.

After being stained with Bibi Dong's blood, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red began to sway. Seeing this, Ban Shu frowned slightly and cast a quiet glance at her.

But soon, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red stopped swaying and returned to stillness.

At this moment, Bibi Dong opened her eyes with a look of disappointment: "I failed. It's still too small; I couldn't bring myself to do it."

"What's too small?"

"Ah, nothing!"

Bibi Dong hurriedly shook her head and turned her gaze toward the Crystal Grass nearby: "Forget it, since this one is here, I'll just eat this."

"Very well."

Ban Shu nodded, set the Lovesick Heartbreak Red aside, and began to introduce the Crystal Grass: "This immortal herb is called Crystal Grass. Consuming it will significantly enhance your dark-attribute power and make you as light as a swallow, moving with the speed of flight."

"As a spider-type martial soul, agility is indispensable."

As he spoke, Ban Shu peeled back the outer petals of the Crystal Grass, revealing the stamen inside, which was strikingly shaped like an eyeball: "This eyeball is the essence of this herb. Consume it quickly."

"Uh..."

Looking at the lifelike eyeball in Ban Shu's hand, Bibi Dong's face showed undisguised disgust, but since things had come to this, she had no choice but to comply.

Bibi Dong took the eyeball and swallowed it with her eyes closed. The disgusting texture she had imagined never appeared; the moment the eyeball entered her mouth, it turned into a cool stream and slid into her stomach.

Bibi Dong immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began to refine the medicinal power.

Ban Shu looked at Bibi Dong, then at the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, and finally tucked it away into his Storage Jade Pendant.

Next, Ban Shu found a Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma and handed it to Dugu Bo: "Senior, you are not currently suited for immortal herbs that enhance martial soul power; it would be counterproductive. Start with this one instead."

"Although this Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma is not an immortal herb, it is a holy product for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the essence. Once your toxins are removed, I will select a better immortal herb for you."

"Many thanks, young friend."

Dugu Bo was pleasantly surprised; he hadn't expected to have a share of the immortal herbs: "But young friend, can one not only consume a single immortal herb?"

Ban Shu looked at Dugu Bo: "I never said that. Consuming too many immortal herbs only increases drug resistance; as long as you don't overindulge, it is fine."

Without further ado, Dugu Bo consumed the Purple Ganoderma.

"Finally, it's my turn."

Ban Shu had long since chosen his target immortal herbs: the Infernal Delicate Apricot, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

The first two would enhance his physical strength, while the last would boost his mental power—perfect.

Arriving before the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Ban Shu slowly closed his eyes. A flash of blood-red light flickered as his Sharingan activated.

Ban Shu exhaled softly, then relied on the Sharingan's powerful dynamic vision to sever the two herbs with lightning speed, stuffing them into his mouth in one swift motion.

"Grandpa Qian, don't worry about me."

With that, Ban Shu jumped straight into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and began to refine the medicinal power within.

"!"

Seeing Ban Shu's actions, Qian Daoliu was startled, but after hearing his words, he ceased his movement. It seemed Ban Shu had been well-prepared; he only needed to guard them.

As Ban Shu fell into the spring, his body radiated an eerie red and blue glow. Under the influence of the well, the medicinal power of the two herbs was slowly absorbed by his body.

After an unknown amount of time, Ban Shu's once-calm face began to twist. The surrounding spring water started to boil, and thin threads of red and blue energy gradually merged into his body.

Slowly, a phantom image began to solidify behind Ban Shu. It wore the Beast-Faced Heaven-Swallowing Chain Armor, held a Painted Halberd, and its Eternal Mangekyou eyes rotated slowly, gazing calmly ahead.

As more power converged, the phantom solidified further, and the aura emanating from Ban Shu began to spread.

Suddenly, the Divine Steed Ban behind Ban Shu moved, its expression shifting from calm to stern: "Is this... the world of that child?"

Looking around, Divine Steed Ban closed its eyes slightly before moving, thrusting the Painted Halberd into the empty air as if it were solid ground.

"Peerless Under Heaven!"

"Hah!"

With a thunderous shout, the power of flames ignited upon Divine Steed Ban's body, manifesting an aura of invincibility as it violently hurled the Painted Halberd toward the spring below.

"I am unstoppable!"

Divine Steed Ban transformed into a streak of red fire, chasing after the Painted Halberd as it gradually descended into the depths.

It was unknown how much time had passed when Divine Steed Ban's figure reappeared, now standing beside two exceptionally massive dragon skeletons.

Seeing the blue and red Ice and Fire Dragon King Soul Bones hovering above the remains, Divine Steed Ban reached out to seize them.

"Who goes there!"

At that moment, the Ice and Fire Dragon Soul suddenly manifested, roaring furiously at Divine Steed Ban.

Divine Steed Ban couldn't even be bothered to glance at them; they were merely two sets of remains, posing no threat whatsoever.

The Mangekyou in its eyes spun, and a red skeleton wreathed in flames manifested around Divine Steed Ban, allowing it to ignore the Ice and Fire Dragon King and forcibly seize the two Soul Bones.

To avoid vanishing, the spirits of the Ice and Fire Dragon King were forced to retreat into the Soul Bones to linger on.

With its objective achieved, the Divine Steed Ban martial soul prepared to return.

It was unknown how much time had passed when Divine Steed Ban's figure reappeared, holding one red and one blue Soul Bone shimmering with radiance—the very Ice and Fire Dragon King Soul Bones.

Everything that needed to be done was finished. With the Soul Bones in hand, Divine Steed Ban's figure merged into Ban Shu's body, and the two Soul Bones entered his frame as well. Ban Shu's arms began to emit a faint glow as the fusion process commenced.

"Do not tarnish my name; this power is the last thing I can give you."

Once these words were spoken, the light in the eyes of the Divine Steed Ban martial soul vanished completely, merging entirely with Ban Shu. Now, Ban Shu was Divine Steed Ban.