A Bold Experiment in Grafting and Cultivation

When Qin Yun began cultivating the plant,

he followed the Aromatic Silk Beauty's particular growing requirements throughout.

He precisely reproduced the temperature, humidity, and balance of water and soil the immortal plant needed.

Combining Uranium Crystal Radiation with nourishment from both ice and fire spiritual energy, he created an environment suited to its transformation.

Qin Yun knew the Aromatic Silk Beauty was the only immortal plant in the world capable of breaking the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's innate limits and evolving it into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was the continent's foremost support Martial Soul, its seven-level limit kept its wielders from ever surpassing the peak of rank seventy-nine. This had long been the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's greatest weakness.

If Ning Fengzhi used the Aromatic Silk Beauty to evolve his Martial Soul, he could break that limit and unlock nine levels of amplification.

That would strengthen the entire sect.

But there was only one Aromatic Silk Beauty in the world. Nothing could replace it.

Waiting for it to propagate naturally would take decades, perhaps even a century. It was far too slow.

It could never keep pace with Qin Yun's plans to build up his forces quickly.

So Qin Yun abandoned natural cultivation.

He settled on a faster, more radical approach—grafting onto a living plant.

His earlier Radiation-induced mutation and plant selection experiments had prepared him for this.

From among many Spirit Plants, he had selected several mutated specimens that could withstand Uranium Crystal Radiation, possessed hardy vitality, and thrived on Ice and Fire Spiritual Energy.

Their resilience meant they would not wither when different energies mingled within them. They were ideal grafting stock.

Working with practiced care, Qin Yun took tender buds and shoots from the mutated plants.

He grafted them onto the Aromatic Silk Beauty's main stem, aligning each cut tightly and cleanly to preserve as much of the plants' vitality as possible.

At that moment, the Hundred Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone he had just finished absorbing quietly played a crucial role.

Most Soul Bone healing abilities used Soul Power to mend wounds and nourish meridians, and worked only on their wielder.

Without reaching rank seventy in Soul Power, healing someone else was difficult.

But grafting plants was different. It required no great burst of Soul Power.

The Soul Bone's innate life-healing property was suited to mending the graft wounds.

A pale blue glow of life flowed from Qin Yun's right leg.

It spread through his fingertips and enveloped the grafts.

The Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone's deep reserve of life force gently soothed each cut, repaired severed channels, and eased the rejection between the different plants, greatly reducing the risk of failure.

With the Soul Bone's healing power, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's potent spiritual energy, and Qin Yun's carefully controlled growing environment all working together,

the graft took remarkably well.

Then came a miracle. The joined surfaces healed, bonded, and became one at astonishing speed.

New, delicate channels ran through the stems. The grafted shoots no longer rejected the parent plant; instead, the Aromatic Silk Beauty's immortal essence rapidly assimilated them.

The leaves slowly unfurled, drawing in spiritual energy faster and faster.

The whole plant surged with vitality. Its flowers and leaves grew brighter and more lustrous, its immortal aura richer.

Qin Yun bent close and studied every detail of the fusion, sensing the channels connect and the plants' vitality merge.

Satisfaction filled his eyes.

They were fusing far faster than he had expected.

The rejection between the different plants had almost vanished. The transformation was steady and smooth.

At this rate, another month or two of nourishment and assimilation would be enough.

The grafts would fully develop into new Aromatic Silk Beauty offshoots.

With the immortal plant's cultivation settled, Qin Yun had one less thing to worry about.

Besides, he had reached rank fifty and become a Soul King.

He needed to return to the sect and unlock his Martial Soul's fifth-stage evolution.

He had already asked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to gather the rare elements required for that advancement.

The materials for this stage were now complete.

After a brief rest, Qin Yun set out for Heaven Dou City.

Heaven Dou City!

Crowds filled the main thoroughfare, and carriages streamed past without end.

Qin Yun walked on, preparing to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ahead of him, a graceful figure in white suddenly stopped.

It was Qian Renxue, who had spent years posing as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire while secretly laying her plans.

Dressed in plain white, she wore a gentle, modest expression and carried herself with royal poise.

To outsiders, she looked every inch the courteous Crown Prince, gracious to those of talent.

No one could see her true identity.

Qian Renxue stared at Qin Yun, unable to hide her astonishment. What she sensed seemed impossible.

She remembered clearly that when they last met, Qin Yun had been only a rank-forty-four Soul Ancestor.

Yet in less than a month,

He had broken through one barrier after another and reached rank fifty, entering the realm of a Soul King.

His cultivation speed defied reason.

Suppressing the myriad thoughts in her heart, Qian Renxue kept a warm, composed smile on her face.

"Brother Qin Yun, it's been some time. Where have you returned from?"

"Your aura seems steady and refined. You must have gained a great deal."

Qin Yun looked up, clasped his hands, and answered with a smile.

"So it's you, Brother Xue."

"I went out to train with Poison Douluo Dugu Bo. It turned out to be quite an opportunity."

It was a safe explanation.

Almost everyone at Heaven Dou Academy knew

that Dugu Bo had taken Qin Yun away under mysterious circumstances. It was no secret.

His answer was plausible and would arouse no suspicion.

Qian Renxue's gaze shifted. With concern tinged by curiosity, she asked softly,

"Did he give you trouble or treat you harshly?"

"If he did, you can tell me."

"You've worried for nothing, Brother Xue. There was no trouble."

"There was a small misunderstanding between Poison Douluo and me because of Dugu Yan, but we've cleared it up. It's nothing worth mentioning."

"In fact, I gained quite a lot from the trip."

Qian Renxue smiled, relieved.

"Brother Qin, it's been so long, and we've happened to meet today."

"Now that you've returned, do you have some time to spare?"

Qin Yun had just reached rank fifty as a Soul King. Eager to return and unlock his Fifth Soul Ring, he had no time to linger and chat.

He looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Brother Xue. Uncle Ning sent an urgent message asking me to return to the sect. I can't delay."

"I'll have to leave you today, but I'll come visit another time and make it up to you."

Qian Renxue smiled magnanimously.

"If my teacher needs you, I won't keep you. Hurry back."

"Thank you for understanding, Brother Xue. I'll be going!"

Qin Yun wasted no more time. He turned and hurried toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.