Setting Out for Star Luo

Suddenly, the phantom of another Immortal Herb, the Dragon-Blood Red-Scale Ganoderma, began to tremble violently. Its dark crimson cap pulsed powerfully like a heart, radiating an intense draconic aura.

Shen Lian's gaze instantly sharpened. He recalled the second Martial Soul slumbering within his Consciousness Sea, the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon; recalled the times Huang Tian had fought at his side; and recalled the plan for Huang Tian to sacrifice himself and become his seventh Spirit Ring in the future.

"When a dragon-type Martial Soul absorbs a Spirit Ring produced by a dragon-type Soul Beast, consuming it will further increase the Spirit Ring's age."

Shen Lian murmured the words written on the parchment, a confident smile curling across his lips.

This Immortal Herb had undoubtedly been tailor-made for Huang Tian's sacrifice. When that time came, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap, and the age of his million-year Spirit Ring would increase even further.

Shen Lian slowly opened his eyes, a resolute light gleaming within them.

He gently stroked the parchment, his plan already crystal clear.

On the ever-changing Douluo Continent, these Immortal Herbs would become his trump cards, helping him carve through every obstacle on the path to power and lead the Sun-Moon Empire toward glory.

The night was as dark as ink, gently enveloping Cloud-Breaking Town. Only scattered lights flickered in the darkness, like stars strewn across the night sky.

Shen Lian sat cross-legged on a cushion in his inn room and eagerly took out the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum from his Storage Ring.

Its pearly white petals gleamed beneath the dim candlelight, while wisps of its strange fragrance slipped into his nostrils, giving even his soul the illusion of being cleansed.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Lian resolutely placed the Immortal Herb into his mouth.

In an instant, scorching energy erupted from his dantian like an exploding volcano.

"Boom!" The energy flowed through his meridians, and Shen Lian felt as if he had been plunged into a torrent of magma, his limbs and bones repeatedly washed by searing power.

The hidden injuries left by his previous battles flared with agonizing pain, like ants gnawing at his flesh. Under the energy's impact, the flesh around those old wounds began to regenerate at a visible rate, though he had not fought many battles to begin with.

As the energy circulated, Shen Lian's senses were amplified without limit.

He could clearly hear the footsteps of pedestrians on the street below, smell the scent of food drifting from the neighboring room, and even sense every tremble of leaves stirred by the breeze outside the window.

That warm current surged through his meridians. Wherever it passed, his already broad meridians grew even wider, while Soul Power roared through his body like floodwaters bursting through a broken dam.

Time slowly passed amid his transformation.

For an entire day and night, Shen Lian's room was filled with thick medicinal fragrance and vast waves of Soul Power.

When the first ray of dawn pierced through the window and fell upon him, Shen Lian slowly opened his eyes.

Brilliant light flashed in Shen Lian's eyes. The aura surrounding him had become steadier and more powerful, and his Soul Power had reached level sixty-six!

Of course, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum alone could not have accomplished that. There were also the two Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well last time. Though their primary purpose had been body tempering, they had still increased his Soul Power by two levels.

Feeling the surging power within him, Shen Lian clenched his fist, confidence curling at the corner of his mouth. He could feel that his body had grown much stronger, and he was even confident he could absorb a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring as his seventh Spirit Ring.

After a brief rest, Shen Lian went to Zhu Zhuqing's room.

After recuperating for some time, Zhu Zhuqing's complexion had regained a trace of color. Though she was still somewhat pale, her eyes once more burned with longing and fighting spirit for the future.

Shen Lian looked at her with an unwavering gaze and said in a low voice:

"Let's go. We'll get the Star Luo Empire's deployment map now. Once I have what I want, I'll take you to cultivate your Soul Power."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. Without another word, she followed closely behind Shen Lian, determination evident in her steps.

Before leaving Cloud-Breaking Town, Shen Lian specifically sought out Yang Cheng, who was practicing with his spear in the rear courtyard.

Morning light fell over Yang Cheng as he wielded the Black Iron Spear. Its tip sliced through the air with sharp, piercing whistles.

Seeing Shen Lian approach, Yang Cheng withdrew his spear and stood upright, a hearty smile appearing on his face.

"Brother Shen Lian, what brings you here?"

Shen Lian stepped forward and patted Yang Cheng on the shoulder, amusement in his eyes.

"Brother Yang, I'll be leaving soon. The next time we meet, I'll give you a great gift."

Yang Cheng burst into laughter at those words.

"Hahaha! Brother Shen Lian, once you leave, who knows when we'll meet again? Why talk about gifts?"

There was a trace of reluctance in his laughter. During their brief time together, he and Shen Lian had gotten along wonderfully and had long regarded each other as kindred spirits.

Shen Lian merely smiled mysteriously, thinking to himself:

You'll know what the gift is once you reach the Sun-Moon Empire.

The two chatted for a long while longer, reminiscing over everything that had happened during this time. From Martial Soul cultivation to their ideals in life, their words were filled with blessings and concern for each other.

At last, Shen Lian bid farewell to Yang Cheng.

He set out with Zhu Zhuqing on the road to Star Luo City.

The rising sun cast down golden radiance, coating their figures in brilliant color.

In the distance, mountains emerged and vanished amid the mist. The road ahead was filled with the unknown and challenges, yet Shen Lian's heart was brimming with confidence and anticipation. He was determined to obtain the Star Luo Empire's deployment map!

The blazing sun hung high overhead, scorching the winding yellow-earth path through the wilderness.

Shen Lian did not feel tired as he walked, but he did feel that they were moving too slowly.

Zhu Zhuqing, however, was different. She did not possess Shen Lian's formidable physical strength, and her Soul Power was only level twenty-seven. To keep up with his pace, her hair had been blown into disarray by the wind, and her black clothes clung tightly to her body as it rose and fell from the journey.

Far in the distance, the outline of Star Luo City remained concealed behind layers of mountains, like an unreachable illusion.

"If we walk there, it'll take several days. Let's travel another way."

Shen Lian stopped, his gaze sweeping across the boundless wilderness. The hilt of the Dragon-Slaying Blade spun in his palm, flashing with cold light.

Zhu Zhuqing panted softly, her almond-shaped eyes looking at him in confusion.

"We're in the middle of nowhere. There aren't any carriages."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly noticed the scorching Soul Power rising around Shen Lian. The heat distorted even the air around him.

"When did I say we were taking a carriage?"

A mischievous smile tugged at Shen Lian's lips as a pair of enormous Vermilion Bird Wings suddenly unfurled behind him.

The crimson feathers gleamed under the sunlight, every plume flowing with flame-like patterns. The instant the wings spread, a powerful gust swept up sand and stones from the ground with a howling roar.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened, and she instinctively took half a step back.

She had never seen Shen Lian unleash his Martial Soul Avatar from such close range. The scorching aura and oppressive force made her heart race uncontrollably.