The Smartest Fool, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Aromatic Silk Beauty

Late at night, Xu Jiujiu finally returned to the Princess Mansion.

Seeing Qiangu Yunche leisurely brewing tea and sampling pastries at the low table, Xu Jiujiu thought about how she had spent the entire evening busy with the Snow Empress Embryo without even eating a meal. She immediately became a little dissatisfied.

"Eat, eat, eat. Go on, eat. Do you know that from this afternoon until now, this princess hasn't even had a sip of water?"

As she spoke, Xu Jiujiu snatched the soft, sweet pastry from Qiangu Yunche's hand and stuffed it into her mouth, then picked up a cup of Moon Fragrance Tea worth ten or twenty thousand gold and drained it in one gulp.

After doing all that, Xu Jiujiu saw Qiangu Yunche's stunned expression and suddenly felt much better.

"What are you looking at? Why aren't you kneeling and properly thanking this princess? I had to talk myself hoarse before I convinced my imperial brother to agree to exchange the Snow Empress Embryo with you."

Xu Jiujiu gave a light snort, then spoke smugly.

"You think I'd believe that nonsense?" Qiangu Yunche rolled his eyes.

Xu Jiawei was no fool. He naturally understood that keeping the Snow Empress Embryo was utterly useless to them. After all, the Snow Empress's Soul Ring and Soul Bone were not something ordinary people could attempt to absorb. Moreover, if they mishandled it and caused the Snow Empress to break free of her seal or leaked the news, it would instead bring them plenty of potentially enormous trouble.

The value of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast willing to sacrifice itself for a human could not compare to the Snow Empress Embryo, but its value could be realized, rather than being an unattainable dream of glory.

Furthermore, the one receiving the value of this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was Xu Jiujiu, which made Xu Jiawei even more tempted.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year seventh Soul Ring would provide an enormous boost to a Soul Master. Once Xu Jiujiu absorbed a Hundred-Thousand-Year seventh Soul Ring, even if her eighth Soul Ring remained a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Xu Jiawei would certainly spare no effort to equip her with another Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring when she reached her ninth.

With two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings, Xu Jiujiu would surely become a Super Douluo in the future, and she might even have a chance of becoming a Limit Douluo.

And if Qiangu Yunche could successfully fuse with the Snow Empress Embryo, he would not only earn a great favor from the Star Luo Empire, but also push his own potential to yet another peak. It would bring tremendous benefits to both sides.

"Tch, can't you be a little stupid when you're supposed to be?"

Xu Jiujiu gave a coquettish huff. She looked at Qiangu Yunche's face, then asked in confusion,

"Why are you smiling so strangely?"

"It's nothing. The pastry you just ate was one I picked up after accidentally dropping it on the floor."

Qiangu Yunche smiled brightly, but his words made Xu Jiujiu's expression change slightly.

Just as Xu Jiujiu was about to do something, Qiangu Yunche's voice drifted over again.

"I'm not stupid when I should be, while you're a fool when you ought to be smart. You really believe whatever I say. So, in conclusion, you're the smartest fool."

Xu Jiujiu was so angry that she nearly laughed. She immediately pounced on him, vowing to teach Qiangu Yunche an unforgettable lesson.

After a bout of horseplay, Xu Jiujiu's little face was flushed. She sat down cross-legged, leaned forward slightly, and asked curiously,

"Yunche, what is this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast willing to sacrifice itself? Can I know now?"

Though she was asking, Qiangu Yunche could tell that Xu Jiujiu was already impatient to learn which Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was so foolish as to willingly sacrifice itself to a human.

Qiangu Yunche smiled. The Storage Soul Tool on his body flashed, and a strange giant flower suddenly appeared beside them.

The flower's roots, stem, and leaves were tangled vines, finely arranged and lush, while at its peak bloomed a golden tulip. The moment it appeared, a rich tulip fragrance filled the room, its peculiar scent carrying an air of magnificent splendor.

As Qiangu Yunche activated the Soul Power seal on the flower, purple-golden light erupted from it.

Once the purple-golden radiance faded, only an incomparably beautiful woman in a purple gown remained, lying on the floor and trembling.

"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Aromatic Silk Beauty. Ten thousand years ago, Ning Rongrong of the first generation of the Shrek Seven Devils—the woman who later became the Nine-Colored Goddess—absorbed her predecessor while she was a Soul Elder, allowing the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."

"And the Aromatic Silk Beauty is also a supreme Immortal Herb that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has searched for bitterly over ten thousand years without finding."

As his words fell, the Evil-Breaking Dragon Emperor Spear transformed into a streak of golden light. Its sharp spearhead rested directly against the Aromatic Silk Beauty's neck, leaving a line of blood on her fair, delicate skin.

"Agree to sacrifice yourself for her, and I will leave you your seeds. Otherwise, you understand my methods."

Qiangu Yunche's tone was incomparably cold, his killing intent almost completely undisguised.

These Immortal Herbs were nearly all spineless wretches. He could not show them even the slightest politeness or compromise. Only absolute strength would make them realize what situation they were in and what attitude they should take toward him.

After more than a year of fearful imprisonment, now faced with the Evil-Breaking Dragon Emperor Spear at her neck, capable of taking her life at any moment, the Aromatic Silk Beauty completely recognized reality. She no longer hoped that her benefactor would come save her.

Crying, she crawled upright and dropped to her knees before saying,

"I swear upon my soul that I am willing to sacrifice myself. Please leave me my seeds. I truly don't want to die... I truly don't want to die..."

As long as her seeds remained, she would at least have a chance at rebirth. Otherwise, she would truly perish beyond recovery.

As soon as the Aromatic Silk Beauty finished speaking, Qiangu Yunche mercilessly sealed her back into her Immortal Herb form, then sent her before the dumbstruck Xu Jiujiu with Soul Power.

"The Aromatic Silk Beauty's true body can absorb the essence of heaven and earth, as well as the radiance of the sun and moon, making it exceptionally effective for gemstone-type Martial Souls.

"Though your Star Crown Martial Soul does not entirely belong to the category of treasure-type Martial Souls, Jiujiu, it possesses extremely pure Star Power. The Aromatic Silk Beauty itself likes to draw near light-attribute or water-attribute energy. Star Power is also a kind of light power, so your compatibility with her is certainly not low. The enhancement you receive from absorbing the Aromatic Silk Beauty's Soul Ring and Soul Bone will definitely be immense.

"Moreover, I do not forbid you from using the Aromatic Silk Beauty for other plans. After all, her true body, its essence, and her Soul Ring and Soul Bone can all help a certain Martial Soul undergo a transformation from seven to nine..."

Xu Jiujiu almost instantly understood Qiangu Yunche's meaning. Excitement filled her eyes, and she immediately formed her own plans.

"Thank you, Yunche. I really like this gift."

As she spoke, Xu Jiujiu had already stored the Aromatic Silk Beauty in her Storage Soul Tool. Then she asked curiously,

"Yunche, I'm a little curious. According to you, the Aromatic Silk Beauty is a peerlessly rare supreme Immortal Herb, and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect searched for it for ten thousand years without success. So where did you find her?"

Qiangu Yunche gave a mysterious smile and casually said, "I accidentally entered a vegetable garden, then picked up a few Hundred-Thousand-Year Immortal Herb Soul Beasts like the Aromatic Silk Beauty."

"There were several Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in a vegetable garden?! Then this world must be beyond saving." Xu Jiujiu felt as though she were living in a dream. Everything was becoming more and more unreal.

It seemed that after meeting Qiangu Yunche, one unbelievable thing after another—things that even surpassed the limits of her imagination—had come true. Even Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts could be found in bulk. Was this the advantage of staying beside a peerless genius?

After reflecting for a moment, Xu Jiujiu suddenly remembered something else.

"Oh, right, Yunche. What was on that piece of cowhide paper? Did you look at it?"

Qiangu Yunche took a sip of tea, then handed the piece of cowhide paper to Xu Jiujiu.

"Yeah, it's here. See for yourself."

Xu Jiujiu took it and unfolded it. Her gaze first swept over what seemed to be a map at the top, then moved to the annotations below.

But after only two glances, Xu Jiujiu's expression abruptly changed...