Immortal Herbs Astonish the Entire Sect, Rongrong's Test

Above the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

Having just stepped out of the spatial rift, Gu Feng's expression instantly tightened. He turned to Gu Rong.

"Grandpa Bone, don't waste time on the road. Use your full strength and return to the sect at once!"

His tone was extremely grave, even carrying a hint of urgency.

Gu Rong shed his usual carefree demeanor and seized Gu Feng and Ning Rongrong's shoulders with his withered hands.

"What happened?"

Gu Feng glanced at the storage ring containing the Aromatic Silk Beauty and said in a deep voice,

"Something that concerns the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's foundation for the next ten thousand years. Return to the main hall and see Uncle Ning and Grandpa Sword immediately!"

Half an hour later.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, council hall.

The hall's heavy stone doors slammed shut. Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi were already seated at the head of the room.

Seeing the three of them covered in dust from their journey, Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly, just about to ask about their trip to Sunset Forest.

Gu Feng stepped forward and took a smooth jade box from his storage ring. Before Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, he lifted its lid.

Inside lay the Aromatic Silk Beauty.

Ning Fengzhi leaned forward, studying the strange plant with some confusion.

"Little Feng, what is this?"

Gu Feng remained composed, clasping his hands as he spoke.

"This is called the Aromatic Silk Beauty. It was born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, nourished by the essence of the sun and moon.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul is constrained by the laws of heaven and earth and can never break through to the eighth Soul Ring. But this immortal herb has a very high chance of shattering those shackles, allowing the Martial Soul to undergo a heaven-defying evolution and advance into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

The hall fell silent.

Gu Rong's mouth hung half-open. He had expected the spiritual medicine in Gu Feng's hands to be stronger than what Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had taken, but he had never imagined it would be this powerful!

This was a spiritual medicine capable of allowing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to break through its limits!

Chen Xin was equally stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief. How was that possible?

Even Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, lost his composure.

Break the Martial Soul's shackles?

The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?

This was the miracle that generations of ancestors of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had dreamed of and pursued bitterly for centuries!

Ning Fengzhi hurried down from his seat, his voice tense.

"Little Feng, is that true?"

"It is!"

Gu Feng answered calmly.

"To consume this herb, one must absorb the essence of its stamen and refine it with Soul Power, cleansing and tempering the Martial Soul's foundation. That will allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to advance!"

Ning Fengzhi clapped repeatedly.

"Good! Excellent! Heaven truly favors my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

Ning Rongrong was so excited that her feet left the ground as she tugged wildly at Gu Feng's sleeve.

"Brother Feng, you're amazing!"

Gu Feng glanced sideways at Ning Rongrong, reached out to press down on her fidgeting head, then turned to Ning Fengzhi.

"Uncle Ning, I want Rongrong to use this Aromatic Silk Beauty."

Ning Rongrong froze, and her waving hands stopped.

She hurriedly took half a step back and repeatedly waved her hands in refusal.

"No, no! Brother Feng, it's too precious! If it can truly advance someone to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, then giving it to Dad would be best!

"Dad is already a level seventy-nine Soul Sage. After taking it, he could enter the Soul Douluo realm, and might even challenge the Titled Douluo realm in the future! It would be such a waste for me to take it!"

Hearing his daughter's words, Ning Fengzhi smiled with relief.

But Ning Fengzhi did not reach for the jade box. Instead, he placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, his voice gentle.

"Silly girl, don't be foolish. Father is already old, and my potential has long been exhausted. Even if I forced a breakthrough, my upper limit would still be there. You are still young, and the road ahead of you is far longer."

Ning Fengzhi looked at Gu Feng and added,

"Besides, Little Feng's talent is extraordinary. He is destined to stand at the peak of the continent in the future. If you do not advance to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, how will you be qualified to remain by Little Feng's side?"

Ning Rongrong's cheeks grew warm. She secretly glanced at Gu Feng, then lowered her head shyly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Then... then all right. I'll listen to Dad and Brother Feng."

Seeing this, Gu Feng took out three more jade boxes from his storage ring.

He opened the first jade box. Inside was a huge purple chrysanthemum, its petals fluffy and soft, while its central stamen glimmered with golden light.

"Grandpa Bone, you follow the path of defense. This Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum suits you best. Consuming it will send its energy through your limbs and unblock all eight meridians, allowing you to forge an indestructible body. It will greatly benefit your Bone Dragon Martial Soul."

Gu Rong's withered cheeks twitched. He accepted the jade box with both hands, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Good lad, you really put thought into this!"

Then Gu Feng opened the second box.

A rich, mellow orchid fragrance rushed forth. Inside lay a pristine, crystalline white eight-petaled orchid.

"Grandpa Sword, this herb is called the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. Its medicinal properties are exceptionally gentle and rich. It strengthens one's foundation and nourishes one's essence, cleansing hidden injuries and impurities from the body.

"You have immersed yourself in the sword path for many years, so your meridians have inevitably been worn down by sword energy. This can help you clear those hidden ailments and stabilize your foundation."

Chen Xin rose to his feet and solemnly accepted the jade box, giving a slight nod.

"This gift is too precious. This old man will remember it."

Finally, Gu Feng handed Ning Fengzhi a smaller jade box. Inside lay a grayish-white herb resembling an enormous caterpillar fungus.

"Uncle Ning, although this Snow Silkworm is not as high-grade as an immortal herb, it excels at gentle nourishment. It replenishes qi and blood, moistens the meridians, extends one's lifespan, and is most suitable for your daily conditioning."

Ning Fengzhi held the jade box, his expression somewhat blank.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthier than any other. What heavenly treasures had they not seen before?

Yet these divine treasures before him were all priceless and impossible to find, treasures that had existed only in ancient records and legends!

How long had Gu Feng been in the sect?

Aside from arranging a mimicry cultivation chamber and several cartloads of medicinal ingredients, the sect had given him almost no substantial support.

Yet with a mere turn of his hand, Gu Feng had brought out treasures capable of changing the sect's fate for a thousand years!

"Little Feng, the sect has given you nothing, yet you have brought such immense fortune to the sect. This... how should I possibly repay you?"

Ning Fengzhi sighed, looking somewhat at a loss.

Gu Feng's tone was relaxed, even casual.

"Uncle Ning, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Rongrong is already the best reward you could give me."

The moment Ning Rongrong heard that, a blush instantly spread across her cheeks. She stamped her foot shyly and hid behind Gu Feng.

Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Chen Xin exchanged glances, then burst out laughing together. The atmosphere in the hall became especially harmonious.

"All right, Uncle Ning, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone. I'll take Rongrong back to her room first to refine the immortal herb, so its medicinal potency isn't wasted."

"Go on, go on!"

Gu Rong waved his hand, urging them along.

Ning Fengzhi also nodded and reminded her,

"Rongrong, follow Little Feng's arrangements wholeheartedly. Do not be willful."

A short while later, inside a bedroom in the side courtyard.

The door was tightly shut. Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged on the soft couch, holding the jade box containing the Aromatic Silk Beauty in both hands, yet she did not open it for a long time.

Gu Feng sat across from her, watching her quietly without urging her.

The room was silent. They could clearly hear each other's breathing.

Ning Rongrong grew a little uneasy under Gu Feng's gaze. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she muttered softly,

"Brother Feng, why do you keep staring at me? It's not like flowers are growing on my face."

Gu Feng did not respond.

He was considering whether he should let Ning Rongrong try the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

If Ning Rongrong could pluck the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and consume it, she would forge an unparalleled foundation and instantly raise her Soul Power.

But... the Lovesick Heartbreak Red was not so easily plucked.

At the very least, he, Gu Feng, had plucked it.

Forget it. It would be good to give it a try.

Gu Feng's smile vanished. With a flick of his wrist, he took out the Wujue Stone from his storage ring.

Above the stone grew a palm-sized white flower, its petal edges stained with streaks of crimson blood. It was heartbreakingly beautiful and strangely bewitching.

The king of immortal herbs, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

Ning Rongrong's attention was drawn to the strange flower. She blinked her large eyes.

"Brother Feng, is this also an immortal herb? It grows on a stone. How strange."

"This herb is called the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."

Gu Feng's voice was low and even.

"It is the king of immortal herbs, more effective than any medicine in the world. But there is an exceptionally harsh rule for plucking it."

Ning Rongrong tilted her head.

"What rule?"

"When plucking it, your heart must be entirely occupied by the one you love. With complete sincerity and devotion, you must spit out a mouthful of heart's blood onto its petals. If your thoughts contain even the slightest distraction, or if your feelings are not sincere enough, then even if you vomit blood and die, you will never make it leave the stone."

Gu Feng looked into Ning Rongrong's eyes.

"Rongrong, are you willing to try?"