Domain: Hundred Herbs

Looking at Jiang Baiyu, who was beaming and radiating powerful energy, Su Wu could not hold back. "Well? What soul skill did that thousand-year Soul Ring give you?"

Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo had watched Jiang Baiyu absorb his thousand-year first Soul Ring with their own eyes. Now the two Titled Douluo hovered nearby, studying him with interest and a trace of disbelief.

Qian Renxue, who had been waiting to the side, drew in the Holy Light surrounding her. Her gaze settled on the young man as she waited for him to explain.

With everyone watching, Jiang Baiyu stopped playing coy. His smile faded slightly.

"Everyone, watch closely. My first soul skill—Domain: Hundred Herbs!"

As he spoke, the thousand-year Soul Ring behind him flashed.

A strange domain spread from beneath his feet, green and edged in gold, with golden-red flames curling around its borders. In an instant, it covered the entire valley! Clusters of golden-red fire sprang up throughout the domain, their light gentle and warm.

First soul skill—Domain: Hundred Herbs.

Born from the thousand-year Dragonblood Medicineheart Wood's innate essence, it fused the Shennong Cauldron's true fire with the source of the Medicine Dao. It was both a life domain that commanded all herbs and a vessel for its own Medicine Flame.

The moment the domain took shape, every plant in the valley trembled and bowed. The spiritual energy of grass and trees rushed toward its center as though paying homage to a king. Tiny flecks of golden-green medicinal light drifted through the air, while the violence, bloodlust, and baleful beast-soul energy left by the hunt for the Golden-Light Gilt-Feather Falcon visibly melted away.

Snake Lance Douluo's pupils contracted. The black lance in his hand quivered, and shock surged through his eyes. "Is that... a domain? And it carries an innate Medicine Flame? His first Soul Ring gave him a domain-type soul skill!"

Pufferfish Douluo looked utterly incredulous. "How is that possible? A domain is a power even some Titled Douluo lack, yet it's become the first soul skill of a Soul Grandmaster? There's never been anything like it!"

But Qian Renxue was the most shaken of all. As the wielder of the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, she had been born with a domain herself. She understood better than anyone what one could do: at the same level, a domain could strengthen its wielder in every respect while suppressing an opponent.

A thousand-year first Soul Ring. A level-ten Soul Grandmaster with a domain-type soul skill. If the continent learned of it, the news would cause an unimaginable uproar.

Then Jiang Baiyu spoke again. "This domain uses less than five percent of my Soul Power per hour. I can keep it active for a long time."

"And while I'm inside it, my Soul Power recovers two hundred and twenty percent faster, so I can replenish it quickly even in combat. I can also sense the plants around me. I know the condition of every blade of grass and every tree within my domain.

"If enemies enter, their Soul Power circulation weakens by forty-five percent, making their soul skills harder to use. Their wounds heal sixty percent more slowly, while the domain steadily wears away the toxins and violent energy within them. Even ordinary assault- and agility-type soul masters have the power of their offensive soul skills reduced by thirty-five percent."

A few strands of golden-red Medicine Flame drifted through the air. Their light was warm, without a hint of killing intent.

"And this Heart-Scorching Medicine Flame doesn't burn the body," Jiang Baiyu added. "It burns the mind."

When Jiang Baiyu finished, the valley fell utterly silent. The wind stopped, the grass stilled, and even the spiritual energy seemed to freeze.

Everyone present, including Su Wu, Snake Lance Douluo, and Pufferfish Douluo, stood rooted to the spot, shock filling their eyes.

He was a level-ten Soul Grandmaster.

A thousand-year first Soul Ring was shocking enough. But this soul skill offered a Soul Power boost comparable to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's, rapid recovery, group-wide enhancement, suppression of enemies, and flames that burned the mind.

Qian Renxue felt the deepest shock.

Her silver eyes widened slightly. Those sacred eyes, usually cool and untroubled as they surveyed the world, filled with turmoil for the first time. Everything she thought she knew seemed to crumble.

She herself was a prodigy born at level twenty, with an innate domain. Yet even hers might not be as complete, overbearing, or versatile as the domain granted by his single ring!

Enhancement, healing, battlefield control, purification, suppression, and sacred fire that cleansed evil—six capabilities in one!

Qian Renxue stared at the young man, at the flowing emerald domain around him and the swaying golden-red flames. For the first time, her cool, exquisite face showed unguarded emotion. The pull between their martial souls grew stronger. His Great Dao centered on healing the world, while her Six-Winged Angel followed the Great Dao of divine judgment. They were kindred paths, perfectly matched!

She stepped forward. Holy Light swept outward as her Angel Domain unfurled, answering Jiang Baiyu's Hundred Herbs Domain across the valley. When she spoke, her voice was clear and sacred, carrying a solemn determination to win him over.

"Jiang Baiyu, will you join Spirit Hall? On my honor as its young mistress, I promise you the finest Medicine Dao texts on the continent, boundless rare treasures, and resources reserved for your cultivation. I'll ask my grandfather to guide you personally and protect you until you become a Titled Douluo. One day, you can heal the world with your herbs and Medicine Flame while I pass judgment with the Holy Light of my angel. With our two paths united, we could cleanse the world of evil and sweep away its corruption."

"Join Spirit Hall and stand beside me. What do you say?"

As if remembering something, Qian Renxue added, "My grandfather is the current Angel Douluo, a level-ninety-nine Limit Douluo."

Before Jiang Baiyu could react, Su Wu excitedly tugged at him. Level ninety-nine! He had never even heard of someone reaching that level. And with the possibility of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill between them, the boy was practically Spirit Hall's future son-in-law!

Jiang Baiyu looked at Su Wu, whose eager expression all but begged him to accept, and took a deep breath. "My Lady, you've offered me so much. How could I refuse?"

Seeing Qian Renxue's excitement, Jiang Baiyu continued, "But I need to cultivate with my grandfather in the Star Dou Forest for a while longer. Please wait until I reach level thirty. Then I'll come find you in Spirit City. How does that sound?" He could not join Spirit Hall yet. He still had to claim the opportunity at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Once he joined, others would surely take the Immortal Herbs, leaving him with far less.

Besides, if he remembered correctly, Bibi Dong was the current Pope of Spirit Hall. He admired her talent, but as for the rest... no, thank you.

Once he reached level thirty, he could attempt Martial Soul Fusion with Qian Renxue and put his Medicine Dao into practice more effectively. What was not to like?

"All right. But you don't need to go to Spirit City," Qian Renxue said at once. "When you reach level thirty, come to Heaven Dou City. I'll take you into Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Su Wu's eyes darkened. He was a clever man and caught her implication immediately. So Spirit Hall is moving against the Heaven Dou Empire. So be it. It's for the boy's sake anyway. He said, "If Your Ladyship doesn't mind having this old man, I'll join Spirit Hall too."

Qian Renxue smiled even more brightly. "I would be honored to have you, Senior Medicine King."

At the sound of her surname, Su Wu's eyes narrowed. Just as I thought.

"I'll take the liberty of appointing you to an honorary elder position, Senior Medicine King," Qian Renxue said with a smile. Then she turned to Jiang Baiyu. "And what's your name, little one?"

Jiang Baiyu answered obediently, "Sister Xiao Xue, I'm Jiang Baiyu."

"Good. Here, these are for you." Smiling, Qian Renxue took an honorary elder's token from her Soul Tool and handed it to Su Wu. Then she gave Jiang Baiyu an angel feather. "A meeting gift for you, little one. It can purify and calm your mind. And if I'm nearby, it'll grow a little warm."

Snake Lance hurriedly spoke up. "Young Mistress, that's—"

Qian Renxue cut him off. "That's enough. We should go. Elder Medicine King, little Baiyu, goodbye."

Without waiting for the two elders, she spread her wings and flew off.

Seeing her leave, Snake Lance called out, "Boy, that's a feather from my lady's own essence! Take good care of it!" He and Pufferfish hurried after Qian Renxue.

Jiang Baiyu looked at the soft feather in his hand and scratched his head. "A feather from her own essence? Then it must be precious. Could this... be a token of affection?" The thought made him chuckle.

Su Wu watched Jiang Baiyu's foolish grin with amusement. "Stop smiling, silly boy, and get cultivating. A girl that pretty might be swept away by someone else!"

"Grandpa!" Even after living two lives, Jiang Baiyu blushed at the shameless old man's teasing. "I'm only six!"

"Hahaha! All right, all right! Then hurry up and reach level thirty so you can go find your sister Xiao Xue!" the old man laughed.

In the distance, Qian Renxue heard his teasing, and her ears reddened. The little fellow was cute, sweet-tongued, and talented. They might even be capable of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. In the heat of the moment, she had given Jiang Baiyu a feather from her own essence.

She glanced back at the grandfather and grandson, still bantering in the distance. Once she had composed herself, she said, "Let's go. Back to Heaven Dou City."

"Understood," Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo replied.

Neither held anything against the little fellow. He had talent and a good temperament. They could wait and see; he was still young.

But their young mistress was another matter. The two men exchanged a glance after seeing the unmistakable look of a girl falling in love on her face. "We should tell the Grand Worshipper."