Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid

Night had fallen deep.

Fang Mo sat by the bed, holding a blank sheet of paper covered with notes on everything that required caution in Sunset Forest.

Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

The key place where Tang San rose to prominence in the original story.

Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew...

The names of Immortal Herbs flashed rapidly through his mind, each corresponding to a clear recipient.

But in the end, the pen in his hand stopped on a single line.

"Repairing and condensing the soul..."

Fang Mo set down his pen and closed his eyes.

His Spirit Sea was deathly silent. Dong'er's phantom curled up in the deepest darkness like a thin mist that could disperse with the slightest breeze.

She had fallen asleep again.

Every manifestation of Spirit Dong'er, every time she used Rakshasa Divinity, was like draining a candle that was already about to burn out.

Although Spirit Dong'er had fallen asleep again, it did not affect Fang Mo's ability to use his Martial Soul.

Fang Mo folded the note away, rose to his feet, and headed for the door.

He arrived at the Elder Hall residences.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's room was at the end of the corridor. Two carefully trimmed golden chrysanthemums stood outside its door.

Even in the dead of night, the petals still gave off a faint glow.

In the original story, Chrysanthemum Douluo had fair skin and a somewhat effeminate manner of speaking, and people believed he favored men.

Even Fang Mo had thought so. He stopped before the door and took a deep breath.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Three knocks, evenly paced and steady.

A moment later, a slightly languid voice came from inside.

"Who is it? At this hour..."

"Fang Mo."

The movement inside paused for an instant.

Then the door was pulled open at once.

"Young Master Fang Mo?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by warmth.

His attitude toward Fang Mo had gone from indifference upon hearing that he was an orphan disciple, to astonishment after witnessing Fang Mo's talent firsthand, and then to respect after the matter of the Whale Rubber spread.

This child, only six years old, had already earned the serious regard of everyone in Spirit Hall.

"Young Master Fang Mo, what brings you here so late?"

Fang Mo did not answer immediately. Instead, he slightly tilted his head and glanced down both sides of the corridor.

Chrysanthemum Douluo understood at once.

He stepped back and opened the door fully. "Come in."

Fang Mo entered the room and sat in a chair, his posture natural and his back straight.

Chrysanthemum Douluo shut the door, then turned and sat opposite him.

He held a golden chrysanthemum in his hand, lightly teasing its petals with his fingertips as he studied Fang Mo.

"Go on." Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled. "For the Pope's personal disciple to pay me a midnight visit, it must be something important."

Fang Mo looked directly into his eyes. His tone was calm, but every word carried undeniable weight.

"Elder Ju, I came here tonight to ask for your guidance on something."

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised a brow.

"Guidance? Young Master, you are too courteous."

"I am not." Fang Mo's tone held no trace of pleasantries. "Because only you can answer this question."

Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped moving. He put down the chrysanthemum, and his gaze turned serious.

"Tell me."

Fang Mo spoke slowly, one word at a time.

"I know a little about Immortal Herbs, but I am far less knowledgeable than you. So I want to know..."

He paused.

"Within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, is there an Immortal Herb that can nourish a soul and help a Remnant Soul condense into a physical form?"

The air in the room froze.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's pupils contracted slightly.

He had received too much information at once. Rather than answering immediately, he remained silent for a full five breaths.

"A Remnant Soul condensing into a physical form..."

Chrysanthemum Douluo repeated quietly, his brows gradually knitting together.

His gaze lingered on Fang Mo's face for a long time, as if judging the true intention behind the question.

"Young Master, this question..."

"It is my Martial Soul." Fang Mo did not wait for him to finish. "You should have heard about it."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression changed.

Of course he knew.

Fang Mo's Martial Soul was a humanoid spirit body. This was no secret among Spirit Hall's upper ranks.

The people of the Elder Hall and Consecrated Hall had all personally witnessed that phantom in the main hall, radiating an aura of absolute darkness.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's brows furrowed ever more deeply, and his fingers began tapping the tabletop unconsciously.

"The legendary Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well..."

He pondered aloud, "There are countless varieties of Immortal Herbs there, but those specifically related to the soul are exceedingly rare.

Most Immortal Herbs focus on strengthening the body, increasing Soul Power, or enhancing attributes. Very few act directly upon the soul."

He suddenly paused.

"However..."

Chrysanthemum Douluo rose and walked to the bookshelf, retrieving a yellowed notebook from the very bottom shelf.

There were no words on its cover, only an illustration of a strange flower. Its petals were translucent as ice, while its stamen burned with ghostly blue flames.

Chrysanthemum Douluo spread the notebook open before Fang Mo.

"These are notes I made during my travels across the continent in my youth, concerning various immortal-grade herbs."

His tone became solemn.

"Among all the Immortal Herbs I have studied, there is one with a similar effect. It is highly likely to grow in that special environment."

Fang Mo's gaze fell upon the notebook.

"Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid."

Chrysanthemum Douluo lowered his voice.

"This Immortal Herb is extraordinarily rare. Its roots extend into the realm of souls, allowing it to absorb the wandering Soul Power between heaven and earth and transform it into pure soul essence.

For an ordinary Soul Master, its effect would only be a slight enhancement to soul perception. But for a Remnant Soul..."

He lifted his head and met Fang Mo's gaze.

"It can stabilize the soul's structure and slow the rate at which the soul dissipates. Given sufficient conditions, it can help a Remnant Soul condense into a semi-corporeal state."

Fang Mo's pupils contracted slightly.

"A semi-corporeal state?"

"Yes."

Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.

"While it cannot form a true body of flesh and blood, it can condense an illusory soul body into something tangible, something that can be touched.

But there is one condition: it requires sufficient willpower and spiritual power to maintain it. Otherwise, even with the Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid, it would merely delay the soul's dissipation."

Fang Mo fell silent.

Spirit Dong'er's willpower...

A woman who had died after defeat on the battlefield, reincarnating with a heart full of resentment and unwillingness—her willpower would not lose to anyone's.

"Is there an Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?"

Fang Mo asked.

Chrysanthemum Douluo pondered for a moment.

"Other than the legendary Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, there is nowhere else more likely to have one."

"However."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's tone suddenly grew more serious.

"Harvesting the Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid carries risks. Its roots connect to the realm of souls. If the force used during harvesting is wrong, it may backlash against the harvester's soul."

"That is why I need you."

Fang Mo spoke calmly. "You are the foremost authority on Immortal Herbs. In all of Spirit Hall, no one understands how to harvest rare Immortal Herbs better than you."

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Fang Mo, the corners of his lips curving slightly upward.

"Is Young Master praising this old man?"

"I am only stating the truth."

"Fine. This old man accepts."

Chrysanthemum Douluo turned around, his gaze settling on Fang Mo. "But this old man has a question."

"Please speak, Elder Ju."

"You came to find this old man in the middle of the night not for yourself, but for that soul within your Martial Soul."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's tone became serious. "What about you? Do you not need the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?"

Fang Mo pondered for a moment. "I do. But I do not need anything too precious."

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his brow slightly.

"My cultivation method differs from that of ordinary people."

Fang Mo's tone was calm, as though he were merely stating a fact. "I do not need Immortal Herbs to increase my Soul Ring age. I have my own path."