Fertilizing the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin's Response

Sword Douluo had been holding back a mountain of questions.

He had kept them to himself throughout the journey.

Ever since Ning Fengzhi had personally ordered him to set aside his duties guarding the sect and secretly escort Qin Yun to a remote village, he had been baffled.

He knew one thing for certain.

A mission that required a level ninety-six Titled Douluo as a covert bodyguard was no ordinary treasure hunt or training expedition.

There was a good chance they would have to face a Titled Douluo.

Yet Titled Douluo were few and far between across the entire Douluo Continent.

He had run through the possibilities in his head and still could not make sense of it.

What sort of person could be hiding in this obscure, impoverished Holy Soul Village?

At last, he spoke.

"Qin Yun, we've reached our destination."

"Can you tell me honestly what kind of opponent we're up against? You do need me to step in personally, don't you?"

Qin Yun nodded and replied.

"Our target is a complete Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."

"And the opponent we may face is Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao."

"Tang Hao?!"

One of the Clear Sky Sect's twin stars, Tang Hao was known as the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent.

Chen Xin frowned. "I remember Tang Hao clashed with Spirit Hall over a decade ago. After that, the Clear Sky Sect closed its gates, and Tang Hao vanished without a trace."

"You're saying Tang Hao might be here?"

Qin Yun went on. "Is a complete Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone worth a clash with Tang Hao?"

Soul Bones were among the rarest and most precious treasures on the continent, the sort one could only hope to stumble upon.

A complete Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was a treasure at the very pinnacle.

Each possessed extraordinary attributes and a top-tier soul skill unique to it. No amount of money could buy such a resource.

"It is."

Chen Xin's answer was firm and unequivocal.

"If it's a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, any danger is worth facing."

"Just lead the way. With me here today, even if Tang Hao himself shows up, I'll keep you safe."

Sword Douluo belonged to the generation above Tang Hao, and he still had the pride that came with it.

With Sword Douluo's assurance, Qin Yun said no more and turned to lead the way.

They threaded through the dense forest until they reached a secluded cliff face where a waterfall plunged down amid the sound of rushing water.

The waterfall roared as it fell, and drifting mist concealed every irregularity in the rock face.

Even someone passing right by would have been hard-pressed to discover the hidden cave there.

Qin Yun said, "It should be behind this waterfall!"

Chen Xin waved a hand, and the waterfall stopped. Sure enough, it revealed a man-made chamber behind it.

Qin Yun entered first, with Chen Xin close behind.

The cave was fairly spacious, clearly a hidden stone chamber that someone had carefully prepared.

At the very center of the chamber, a plant with pale-blue leaves and gently winding vines stood rooted in the soil.

It was the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin's true body.

Looking at the Blue Silver Emperor, whose life force was faint and whose growth was stunted, Qin Yun could not understand it.

Blue Silver Grass was a plant-type soul beast that depended heavily on sunlight and rain, flourishing beneath the sun.

Yet Tang Hao had transplanted her into this dark, sealed stone chamber where daylight never reached. It made no sense.

Such an environment would only drain the Blue Silver Emperor's vitality. It offered her no benefit at all.

Qin Yun did not dwell on it.

His gaze swept across the chamber walls, and he slowly felt along the rough stone with his fingertips.

A moment later, his fingers stopped.

Click—

A faint sound rang out.

He had found an elegant black wooden box with an antique design.

Qin Yun pulled it free and gently lifted the lid.

A rich pale-blue glow burst forth. Pure, concentrated life energy filled the entire chamber in an instant.

Inside lay a right leg bone of deep blue, covered in intricate, delicate patterns.

Light flowed around the bone, which gleamed with a lustrous translucence.

Every line seemed naturally formed and pulsed with a profound rhythm of life.

Beside him, Sword Douluo stared at the Soul Bone, shock filling his eyes.

"That's right. This is definitely a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!"

But even through his astonishment, Chen Xin could no longer suppress his questions. He turned to Qin Yun.

"I have to ask, Qin Yun. How did you learn of a hiding place this well concealed?"

Qin Yun casually closed the box.

"That involves a private opportunity of mine. I can't explain it for now."

"We have the treasure. We shouldn't linger here, so let's leave as soon as possible."

Chen Xin took the hint and asked no more.

Everyone had secrets of their own.

Qin Yun was levelheaded and knew what he was doing. Chen Xin had no need to pry.

After putting away the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, Qin Yun looked back at the Blue Silver Emperor in the center of the chamber.

He took out a small jade box containing the fertilizer he had prepared in advance.

It contained high-purity nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers essential for plant growth, along with trace amounts of biological growth hormones.

He had precisely purified every ingredient using his Elemental Martial Soul.

Qin Yun crouched and focused. Controlling elemental power, he spread the fertilizer evenly over the soil around the Blue Silver Emperor's roots, then used gentle Soul Power to help her absorb it.

Within a few breaths, something remarkable happened.

The Blue Silver Emperor visibly came back to life.

Her vines unfurled, and her leaves turned a vivid, translucent green.

The whole plant grew several inches taller. A faint, shimmering blue glow surrounded her, and rich life energy filled the chamber.

The Blue Silver Emperor was highly sentient and naturally attuned to all living things.

Sensing Qin Yun's kindness and the nourishment he had given her, she dropped her guard completely. Her soft leaves swayed, and she reached out with the tip of one leaf to brush gently against his fingertips.

Qin Yun made up his mind to transplant the Blue Silver Emperor to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Just as he moved to do so, he gathered his Soul Power and carefully supported the soil around her roots.

A terrifying surge of Soul Power, mighty and domineering, bore down on them, laden with boundless fury and blood-soaked killing intent.

The force was dense and violent. It penetrated the rock walls, setting the entire chamber trembling.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had remained vigilant throughout, tensed.

"That violent aura carries the unmistakable, crushing weight of the Clear Sky Martial Soul."

"Tang Hao must be back!"

Before he had finished speaking, a hoarse roar exploded outside the cave.

"Who's there?!"

"How dare you trespass on my territory!"

"Leave everything in the cave where it is, and I might spare your lives!"

Tang Hao had never imagined anyone could find this place.

He stared at the cave entrance, stunned and furious.

This secret refuge, where he had hidden Ah Yin's true body and sealed away her Soul Bone, lay far from the heart of the continent. There was no reason for anyone to discover it.

No one had set foot here in more than a decade.

But he sensed a powerful presence inside the cave.

It was quite possibly a Titled Douluo.

A troubling thought flashed through his mind, and suspicion took hold.

Had Spirit Hall finally tracked him down?