How did one win a beauty's heart?
Guo Jing had already answered that question. There was only one way—throw money at it!
For Soul Masters, money was useless. Peerless Immortal Herbs, on the other hand, could serve a great purpose!
After being presented with a Peerless Immortal Herb, Shui Qingwu's gaze at Xia Mu quietly changed.
"Hurry up and refine the Immortal Herbs!"
"I'll stand guard for the two of you!"
"Oh, right. Remember to put away your valuables beforehand, or you'll regret it!"
Xia Mu pointed at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Alright!"
The two women nodded and answered in unison.
"Splash~"
The two women plucked the Immortal Herbs and swallowed them, then jumped straight into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and resumed their joint cultivation.
For a time, another strange phenomenon appeared in the area!
Cold and heat, water and fire!
Two different powers intertwined in the air, forming a phantom phoenix that completely enveloped the two women.
"What a stroke of fortune, what a blessing!"
"The two of them cultivated together within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and actually triggered the origin laws within it, helping their Martial Souls undergo their ultimate transformation!"
"After this blessing, the spiritual herbs planted in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well have been spared a thousand years of effort!"
"In that case, I'll only need to wait a little over ten years to harvest a mature Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng!"
Xia Mu cried out in surprise. This was truly an unexpected delight. He had not expected the two women to receive such fortune.
"Xia Mu!"
"What are you doing here?"
Liu Yuer, who had been cultivating in the meditation chamber, was alerted by the strange phenomenon. When she came out to investigate, she discovered Xia Mu.
"Mother!"
"I brought two friends here to consume Peerless Immortal Herbs. By the way, why don't I see Father?"
Xia Mu looked around and asked.
"Him? He's busy right now!"
"As the strongest person in the Xia Family on the surface, he's been busy dealing with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family lately!"
"Ever since your father advanced to Soul Sage, both the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Spirit Hall have been trying to recruit him!"
"Fortunately, Elder Dugu Bo and Elder Ye Renxin are holding them off. Otherwise, he'd never have a moment's peace."
Liu Yuer laughed softly as she spoke to Xia Mu.
Dugu Bo was reclusive by nature and disliked dealing with people. Even the Heaven Dou Imperial Family did not dare provoke him lightly!
Ye Renxin had spent his life healing the sick and saving the dying, earning tremendous prestige in the Soul Master world. The Heaven Dou Imperial Family also did not dare provoke the Ye Family, for fear of inciting the wrath of the Soul Master world!
The Xia Family had close ties with those two families, and only because the two elders stepped forward were they able to live peacefully.
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"
"Spirit Hall?"
"You and Father both came from Spirit Hall's lower ranks, so it's only natural that Spirit Hall would try to recruit you!"
"But we have too many secrets. We can't join Spirit Hall rashly; it wouldn't be worth it!"
Xia Mu knew full well that over the coming decades, Spirit Hall would become a vortex. Whoever entered it would die!
As the Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji held an exalted position, second only to one person and above countless others.
Yet in the end, he died at Tang Hao's hands!
So long as the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall still existed, Xia Mu would never wade into this mess.
Keeping a low profile and developing quietly was the proper path!
As for Ah Yin, a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Xia Mu had no intention of setting his sights on her.
It was not as if she were the only Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
The three mutated Thousand-Jin Ant Emperors and the Evil Orca King—weren't they more appealing than a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor?
Besides, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor could not be killed at all. Other than sacrifice, there was practically no other way!
"I understand your concerns!"
"Spirit Hall has endured for a thousand years. If we join rashly, we might be swallowed whole without even scraps left behind!"
Liu Yuer understood as well. Spirit Hall's upper ranks had always been dominated by a single family. If they entered, they could only become dogs for the Qian Clan. That was not what they wanted.
"Exactly!"
"We now have ample cultivation resources. There's no need to depend on others or watch their expressions."
"We just need to cultivate steadily."
"What we lack most right now is time!"
Xia Mu knew deep down that if he wanted to preserve the Xia Family's legacy, he would at least need to grow into a Titled Douluo!
Then, relying on the advantage of his Twin Martial Souls, he could advance to become a Peerless Douluo. Only then would he have the confidence to speak with authority.
One day, two days, three days!
On the morning of the fourth day, strange phenomena erupted across the area.
Countless streams of spiritual energy gathered and poured into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, wrapping Ling Yuan and Shui Qingwu tightly within.
Water- and fire-attributed spiritual energy converged into a massive cocoon of light.
Boom~
A wave spread outward as terrifying Soul Power overflowed. The cocoon of light gradually vanished, and everything returned to calm.
Two figures appeared within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Their figures were graceful, their beauty breathtaking!
"Ah!"
A scream came from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Shui Qingwu had discovered her own condition.
"What a fuss!"
Ling Yuan woke up. Stepping upon the Blazing Yang Spring, she slowly made her way ashore and calmly put on her clothes.
"Don't just stand there!"
"What? Do you think he hasn't looked long enough?"
After dressing, Ling Yuan slowly turned around and spoke to Shui Qingwu, who stood frozen in place.
"I... I didn't..."
Shui Qingwu's little face turned bright red with embarrassment. Upon hearing that, she hurried to the shore and began putting on her clothes.
"This girl really is beyond saving!"
Ling Yuan shook her head. Shui Qingwu obviously liked Xia Mu, yet she was still foolishly unaware of it!
"Ahem~"
"I stood guard over you for three days!"
"Watch your words. I'm not that kind of person!"
Xia Mu hurriedly turned around and spoke to the two women.
"Xia Mu!"
"You saw everything!"
"You have to take responsibility for us, or... you wouldn't want Ye Ziyi to find out about this, would you?"
Ling Yuan walked over to Xia Mu and threatened him.
"Ling Yuan!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Xia Mu was greatly startled upon hearing that.
"Look how scared you are!"
"I was only joking!"
"You are the young master of the Xia Family. I'm merely an unknown nobody. How would I dare threaten you?"
A flame blossomed at Ling Yuan's fingertips. Wherever it passed, even hard mountain rock melted into magma.
"Ultimate Fire?"
"Your Martial Soul evolved into an Ultimate Martial Soul?"
Xia Mu's pupils contracted. He ignored Ling Yuan's teasing and fixed his gaze on the flame.
"You have sharp eyes, Young Master!"
"This is Ultimate Fire, and my Fire Phoenix Martial Soul has also transformed into an Ultimate Martial Soul!"
Ling Yuan spoke softly, clearly delighted as well.
"Um..."
"My Ice Phoenix Martial Soul has also transformed into an Ultimate Martial Soul, allowing me to control the Ultimate Ice attribute!"
"And I awakened an innate domain-type soul skill, but it's still sealed right now!"
"It seems it won't be unsealed until I reach rank seventy!"
Shui Qingwu's timid voice came from the side.
"I have an innate domain too!"
"But it's currently sealed as well. The condition is the same—it can only be officially unsealed at rank seventy!"
Ling Yuan hurriedly added upon hearing this.
"Congratulations!"
"You've obtained tickets to become Peerless Douluo. From now on, never slack off in your cultivation!"
An Ultimate Martial Soul paired with a Peerless Immortal Herb could give a Soul Master the potential to grow into a Peerless Douluo.
Xia Mu was not simply talking nonsense.
"Peerless Douluo?"
Shui Qingwu froze upon hearing that.
Before you continue