Ye Xishui's Gratitude!

The various precision Soul Tool instruments were arranged in neat rows. Complex metal structures covered the surroundings, their cold mechanical sheen intertwined with this fantasy world's Soul Power system, creating the impression of a cybernetic world that did not belong to this era.

At the very center of the laboratory, a massive transparent glass enclosure held a blood-red pagoda floating silently within.

A faint, heart-chilling killing intent radiated from the pagoda.

This was Ye Xishui's tearful masterpiece, forged through years of painstaking effort—the Death God Tower.

However, the Death God Tower was still one final step away from true completion.

Just as Long Wushang was searching for Ye Xishui,

a pair of crystalline, snow-white arms suddenly wrapped around his waist from behind.

Then, a soft, delicate body gently pressed against his back.

A breathtakingly beautiful face rested beside his shoulder, and an all-too-familiar fragrance drifted into his nose.

The next moment, a voice carrying both doting affection and teasing amusement sounded by his ear.

"My little Wushang, did you have fun on your trip?"

Feeling her embrace and hearing that cool, regal teasing voice, Long Wushang's face immediately reddened. Somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, he said, "Mother, I'm already this old. Don't do this again in the future. It would be so embarrassing if someone saw us."

"Hehehe~" Ye Xishui gave a soft laugh and gently pinched Long Wushang's cheek. Pretending to be upset, she said, "You little brat, looks like you've grown up and learned to be shy. You won't even let your mother hug you anymore."

Ye Xishui released Long Wushang, though a rare, gentle smile still remained on her face.

She turned and walked with graceful steps toward the research table nearby.

"What is it? Did you suddenly come looking for your mother because something urgent happened?"

"But let's make this clear beforehand. My experiment is about to enter a critical stage, so I can't be distracted now. No matter how much you beg this time, I won't agree."

Though she said so, there was not the slightest hint of reproach in her tone. Instead, it carried an elder's doting affection for a junior.

To Ye Xishui, the child before her was the most special existence in her life.

She had slaughtered countless people in her life, her hands stained with an unknown amount of blood. Because she cultivated the Blood Soul Demon Puppet Martial Soul, she had once set foot upon a path filled with darkness and loneliness.

Yet only Long Wushang's arrival had made her realize for the first time that, besides being the Supreme Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult and a ninth-ranked Soul Engineer, she could simply be a mother.

A mother who worried for her child and looked forward to his return home.

Perhaps that was why Ye Xishui revealed her softest side before Long Wushang.

And she had to admit that Long Wushang's talent in both Martial Souls and Soul Tools made her immensely proud.

Whether it was Martial Soul cultivation or Soul Tool research, Long Wushang displayed talent far surpassing that of his peers.

Even she, a ninth-ranked Soul Engineer who had immersed herself in Soul Tools for many years, had to admit that some of his insights in this field were astonishing.

Perhaps this was the power of bloodline inheritance.

At that thought, pride could not help appearing in Ye Xishui's eyes.

Long Wushang straightened his clothes, and his expression turned serious.

"Mother, do you really think I'm a child who doesn't understand anything?" Long Wushang replied, pretending to be angry.

"Don't worry. I didn't come to trouble you this time. When Father and I went out, we accidentally entered a special treasure land."

"The spiritual energy of heaven and earth there was incomparably dense, and it nurtured countless rare treasures. There were even legendary immortal herbs."

"By a fortunate coincidence, Father and the others absorbed some of the medicinal power of those immortal herbs, and their strength improved because of it."

At this point, Long Wushang paused slightly and looked at Ye Xishui.

"But I didn't forget about you, Mother."

"Among those immortal herbs, there were several especially suitable for you. I specifically chose them out in hopes of helping you improve your body. I also hope you'll like them."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xishui's hand immediately stopped moving.

She slowly turned around, surprise visible in her beautiful eyes.

Immortal herbs? She knew of them. Wushang had specifically researched such things years ago, and she had even given orders for her subordinates to search with all their might for books related to them.

Thus, she knew that immortal herbs represented unimaginable opportunities and fortunes for any Soul Master.

Even a Limit Douluo-level powerhouse like her had never imagined that she might one day obtain those legendary immortal-grade medicinal herbs.

What surprised and delighted her even more was that after obtaining such a fortuitous opportunity, Wushang's first thought had been of her.

At that moment, it felt as though something had touched Ye Xishui's heart.

Long Wushang said nothing more. He directly opened Creation Space and took out two immortal herbs, along with some refined immortal-herb essence.

Then, holding them in both hands, he carefully presented them to Ye Xishui.

The first was the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.

The entire immortal herb was a gentle milky white, as though carved from the purest mutton-fat white jade in the world.

A faint jade radiance flowed between its slender, elongated stems and leaves. Its roots resembled an exquisite skeletal frame, their branches distinct and layered together, as if they possessed a life of their own.

At the top of the plant bloomed nine small, exquisite white flowers.

It had no strong, pungent fragrance, only a faint and elegant scent that seemed almost nonexistent.

As light flowed across it, the entire immortal herb seemed to have blood coursing within it. Pure and flawless, it carried a sacred aura untouched by mortal dust.

Even someone who knew nothing of medicinal properties could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

"Mother, this immortal herb is called the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone."

Long Wushang gently introduced it.

"Its greatest effect is nourishing the body, strengthening one's foundation, and conditioning the muscles and bones. At the same time, it can gradually remove accumulated hidden injuries and impurities from the body."

"I know that over the years, in order to cultivate the Blood Soul Demon Puppet Martial Soul, you have devoured the power of many departed souls. While your strength has continued to increase because of it, those resentments, evil energy, and Soul Power conflicts have also been constantly eroding your body."

"Although this immortal herb cannot immediately resolve every problem, it can gradually purify the residual evil power within you and ease the backlash caused by the Blood Soul Demon Puppet."

"So I hope Mother will suffer a little less pain in the future."

As she listened to Long Wushang's words, Ye Xishui's expression shifted slightly.

She looked at the son before her as though she were truly meeting him for the first time.

When did this child learn to say such sentimental things? Still, it was rather pleasant to hear. He really has grown up.

Not only had he gained formidable strength, but he had finally learned to care for his poor old mother.

Long Wushang did not stop there. Immediately afterward, he took out another immortal herb.

The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.

Its eight petals were a faint jade green, their edges encircled by a barely visible pattern of gold.

The flower's core resembled warm, lustrous jade, while its stem stood tall and verdant, releasing an elegant, lingering fragrance.