Dragon Core, Immortal Herbs

The Fire Dragon King looked at Lu Yuan and nodded solemnly. Then, he stirred the crimson-hot spring water, and a fiery red pearl etched with dragon patterns flew out of it.

"This is my Dragon Core, little one. I'm giving it to you!"

"Not only can you take it out during your daily cultivation to absorb its energy, but it can also lend you a hand when you become a god someday!"

Lu Yuan accepted the Dragon Core and thanked him. "Thank you for this gift, Senior!"

"Mm. Cultivate diligently, and do not disappoint my expectations!"

Di Tian asked again, "Uncle, Aunt! Is there really no way to take you away?"

The Ice Dragon King sighed softly. "Little Di Tian, our dragon bones are here. To leave, you would have to move the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. How could that be easy?"

"Besides, only a wisp of our remnant souls remains now. We no longer have the strength to help you with anything."

"Let us sleep here. If you miss us, come visit us!"

"Uncle... Aunt..."

The four dragons gazed at one another affectionately for a long while. Lu Yuan, standing nearby, felt embarrassed even looking at them.

In the end, the two Dragon Kings of Ice and Fire returned to the spring water and continued slumbering within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After their emotions had risen and fallen so sharply, Gu Yuena and Di Tian brought Lu Yuan back to the Lake of Life.

Gu Yuena held Lu Yuan in her arms, stroked his head, and said softly, "Xiao Yuan, go back and rest first. We can discuss anything tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Lu Yuan nodded and turned to leave.

Di Tian looked at Gu Yuena. "My Lord, we..."

Gu Yuena drew a deep breath and said, "Di Tian, the Fire Dragon King was right. We cannot remain so despondent. The Dragon God was at fault, and the human gods were also at fault!"

"Asura and the others are still our enemies. We must take revenge!"

"Mm!"

Di Tian nodded heavily.

Gu Yuena added, "By the way, distribute those Immortal Herbs among the other Ferocious Beasts and the Soul Beasts with potential."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Di Tian answered.

"Remember not to forget Xiao Yuan's share!"

Di Tian nodded and turned to leave.

Outside the tree hollow by the lake.

When the Three-Eyed Golden Lion saw Lu Yuan return, her eyes immediately lit up. "Lu Yuan, you're back? Where did the Lord and Uncle Di Tian take you?"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly. "That's a secret!"

"Hmph! Fine if you don't want to say. So mysterious."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion curled her lips, somewhat displeased.

She raised a paw and pointed into the tree hollow. "About those seasonings you mentioned earlier, I didn't know exactly what they were, so I took out all those bottles and jars. Take a look yourself."

"Not bad, Little Blondie. You're a real pal!"

"Call me Blondie again and I'll bite you!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion immediately bared her teeth in warning.

Lu Yuan chuckled and stopped teasing her. "Can you find me a high-capacity Storage Soul Tool?"

"I don't know. Go look inside yourself. I tossed all the things I picked up into a pit."

"Fine..."

Lu Yuan felt rather helpless.

Just then, Di Tian appeared in front of them in a flash.

"Uncle Di Tian? Why are you here?"

Di Tian ruffled the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's fur and forced a smile. "Nothing much. We found some Immortal Herbs today, and there's a share for you."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes lit up, and her tail began wagging wildly.

"Immortal Herbs? Those are legendary treasures! Where are they?"

With a casual flick of his hand, Di Tian produced an enormous chrysanthemum.

The flower was a gorgeous purple, and every petal was fluffy, making it look adorable and strange.

The entire flower radiated rich spiritual energy. Just one whiff made one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes instantly turned starry. "Wow! What Immortal Herb is this? It's so beautiful!"

Di Tian smiled and held the chrysanthemum out before her. "This is the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, an immortal-grade medicinal herb. Eating it allows energy to flow through the limbs and blood through the eight meridians, tempering an Indestructible Body."

"An Indestructible Body?!"

"Exactly!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion held the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in her mouth and asked indistinctly, "Is there anything special about eating it?"

"Eat the flower core first, then consume the petals one by one. Do not eat the stem. Afterward, circulate your Soul Power to refine the medicinal effects."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded repeatedly. "Then I'm going first!"

With that, she ran into the tree hollow with the flower in her mouth.

Di Tian looked at Lu Yuan. "Xiao Yuan, your Martial Soul's attributes are unusual, so I don't know what would be best for you to eat."

"So I brought you the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. It can increase your spiritual power and let you challenge a ten-thousand-year limit for your third Soul Ring."

"If you need anything else later, we can look at the other Immortal Herbs."

Lu Yuan nodded.

The Immortal Herbs had all been moved back to the Lake of Life. They were not going anywhere, so could he not simply eat whichever ones he wanted later?

Di Tian turned his hand over, and an inconspicuous-looking herb appeared in his palm.

The herb was entirely emerald green. At its center were three snow-white leaves, with several droplets of dew resting in their middle.

"Just consume the dew."

Lu Yuan accepted the herb. "Okay!"

Then he slipped into the tree hollow.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was already lying on the ground, circulating her Soul Power to absorb the medicinal effects.

Lu Yuan sat cross-legged nearby, raised the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew before him, and tilted it slightly. Several drops of transparent liquid immediately fell into his mouth.

He circulated his Soul Power and began absorbing it.

The next day.

With his spiritual power greatly increased, Lu Yuan was eager to break through to level thirty as soon as possible.

He got up early, washed up, and began meditating to cultivate.

Lu Yuan arrived at his cultivation spot, arranged his things, and could not help letting out a Tang-style laugh as he looked at those treasures.

"Kehehehe..."

Life Gold, the Fire Dragon King's Dragon Core, Golden Jade Fruit...

One bite of Golden Jade Fruit, then another breath of the pure energy radiated by things like Life Gold—his entire body felt wonderful!

His cultivation rose steadily, steadily, steadily. Awesome!

By evening.

Lu Yuan finally opened his eyes and ended the day's cultivation.

He sensed the Soul Power within his body.

He was already past level twenty-seven and not far from level twenty-eight. Soon, he would reach the level Gangzi had attained after cultivating for fifty years!

"Oh? You're finally awake?"

A voice rang out.

Lu Yuan turned his head and saw the Three-Eyed Golden Lion lying not far away, watching him.

"Why are you here?"

"I came to get you so we could hunt! It's almost dark. If we don't go now, it'll be too late!"

Lu Yuan said, "Can't you go hunting while I handle the cooking?"

"No! Hunting is technical work, physical work, dangerous work, hard labor... Anyway, this Auspicious Beast cannot bear it all alone. You have to come with me!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion spoke with perfect seriousness.

As if hunting could possibly be dangerous for you.

Lu Yuan was speechless inwardly.

"Fine, fine. I'll reluctantly go with you."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go!"

Lu Yuan put his things away and stuffed them into the Storage Soul Tool.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion looked at those treasures with envy and said, "I won't even mention that Dragon Core, but why did the Lord give you Life Gold too?!"

"Sister Na stuffed it into my hands. What could I do?"

Lu Yuan shrugged, looking immensely pleased with himself.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion curled her lips.

This guy really was... unbelievably annoying!

Meanwhile, at the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.

Xiao Yun stopped walking, her eyes sweeping over the surroundings with caution in their depths.

Her clothing was simple, yet the Soul Power fluctuations around her revealed that she was a Soul Emperor. Among ordinary Soul Masters, she already counted as a formidable expert.

The young girl beside her was petite and delicate, with clear, lively features. Her expression carried the nervousness and curiosity of someone who had just entered the great forest.

Xiao Xiao stayed close to Xiao Yun's side and asked quietly, "Aunt Yun, can we still find a suitable Soul Beast today?"

Xiao Xiao was only six years old. She had awakened her Martial Souls not long ago and possessed exceptional talent, being a wielder of Twin Martial Souls.

She now needed a compatible first Soul Ring to stabilize her foundation.

Her family was neither particularly great nor particularly small. After awakening her Martial Souls, Xiao Xiao had become the family's precious treasure and everyone's hope.

The two could only try their luck along the outermost edge, but after traveling for an entire day, they had still failed to find a suitable Soul Beast.

Xiao Yun raised a hand and rubbed Xiao Xiao's little head, warning her gravely, "It's getting too late. Soul Beasts become far more active at night, and the danger increases greatly. We'll set up camp here and rest first, then continue searching at dawn tomorrow."

"Xiao Xiao, remember to stay close by my side. You must never wander off on your own."

"The Star Dou Forest has been very unsettled lately. Strange disturbances have repeatedly been reported from the outskirts, and there are rumors that someone spotted a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Whether they are true or not is hard to say, but we must be cautious in all things."

Xiao Xiao's heart tightened. She instinctively clenched the hem of her clothes and nodded obediently. "I understand, Aunt Yun."