Dividing the Immortal Herbs: Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone for Yin Yu, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid for Tuoba Xi?

Yin Changqing nodded.

"I already have a preliminary plan.

"The Earth Dragon Golden Melon is best suited to Mother. It's a perfect match for her White-Armored Earth Dragon martial spirit and should be enough to help her become a Titled Douluo.

"The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone and Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid are for you and Father, Grandpa."

The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone could be reserved for the Sect's elite disciples to cleanse their meridians and marrow, improving their overall aptitude.

The Snow-Colored Swan Kiss would be sealed away for now as a deterrent to be used only in the most extreme circumstances.

"I haven't touched the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew or the Aromatic Silk Beauty yet. We can discuss them in detail once we return to the Sect."

Tuoba Xi nodded repeatedly as he listened.

"Sensible and well thought out.

"We'll do as you say.

"When your mother returns, give her the Earth Dragon Golden Melon to refine. Let's get her breakthrough taken care of first."

Yin Changqing smiled faintly.

"A wise decision, Grandpa."

Tuoba Xi turned to Dugu Yan.

"Yan, since you're transferring to Holy Dragon Academy, get your withdrawal paperwork sorted out as soon as possible."

"If Prince Xue Xing has anything to say about it, tell him to come to me. I'll speak with him myself."

Dugu Yan bent her knees in a grateful curtsy.

"Thank you, Sect Master."

"No need to be so formal."

Tuoba Xi waved a hand, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Your grandfather is now our Sect's grand elder. That makes you family."

"If anything troubles you at the academy, come straight to the Sect Master's Hall. I'll take care of it."

Dugu Yan answered with a bright smile, though she stole a glance at Yin Changqing from the corner of her eye, secretly delighted.

Seeing that his granddaughter had fully settled into the atmosphere of the Holy Dragon Sect, Dugu Bo finally put his last worry to rest.

He turned to Tuoba Xi and Yin Yu, his expression growing serious.

"Sect Master, Brother Yin, since we've come this far, I won't hold anything back.

"I may have kept to myself in the past, but I do have some assets.

"I own several properties and shops in Heaven Dou City. I also have three underground intelligence channels dedicated to uncovering secrets among the city's nobles.

"I'll turn them all over to the Sect to manage and use."

Tuoba Xi's eyes lit up.

"Oh?

"You have intelligence channels in Heaven Dou City, Mr. Dugu?"

"Nothing worth mentioning. Just a few contingencies I set up back when I worked alone."

Dugu Bo smiled calmly.

"Now that I've joined the Sect, they naturally belong under its command. They'll be far more useful there than in my hands."

Yin Yu nodded approvingly.

"That's generous of you, Brother Dugu.

"The Holy Dragon Sect could certainly use a few more eyes inside Heaven Dou City to keep track of its nobles and their schemes."

"Those three channels fill that gap nicely."

Yin Changqing added,

"If we link Elder Dugu's channels with the intelligence network we previously shared with Young Mistress Qian Renxue, they'll be twice as effective."

A gleam flashed in Yin Yu's eyes.

"Good idea, Changqing. I'll arrange it later."

The three Titled Douluo, together with Yin Changqing and Dugu Yan, sat around the table for another half hour, discussing the situation in Heaven Dou, the Sect's plans, and what needed to be done next.

The longer they talked, the more Tuoba Xi marveled at how absurd—and how real—it all was.

That morning, he had worried Dugu Bo might have come looking for trouble over the Spirit Bone auction.

By evening, the Poison Douluo was sitting across from him, calling him "Sect Master" with more warmth than his own son.

"Life's twists and turns really are a bit much."

Tuoba Xi lifted his teacup with a sigh.

"I've had my fill of them today."

Dugu Bo laughed.

"Sect Master, you haven't seen anything yet.

"In a few years, when the young mistress has truly come into her own and the Holy Dragon Sect sweeps across the continent, rising above the Upper Three Sects,

"you'll look back on today and think it was nothing more than a minor episode."

Yin Changqing leaned against a nearby pillar, watching the three Titled Douluo talk and laugh. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Three days later, in the Star Dou Great Forest.

The fifth spirit ring was the real prize.

That evening.

In a secret chamber within the restricted grounds behind the Holy Dragon Sect.

Tuoba Xi, Yin Yu, and Yin Changqing sat facing one another around the stone table at its center.

Tuoba Xi looked at his composed grandson and rubbed his hands together, anticipation plain in his eyes.

"Changqing, there were too many people in the hall today, so I held back from asking.

"Can the Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well really help your father and me break through our current Soul Power bottlenecks?"

Yin Changqing smiled faintly. Rather than answer at once, he swept a hand over the Wishful Hundred Treasures Pouch.

In an instant, two dazzling lights illuminated every corner of the dim chamber.

With them came a refreshing fragrance that seemed to reach straight into the soul.

After just one breath, all three men felt the Soul Power within them begin circulating several times faster.

Hovering above the left side of the stone table was a translucent flower. Its white-jade petals looked like smooth, lustrous skin, while a faint jade glow played over its center. Beneath its gentle appearance lay an extraordinary resilience.

On the right hovered an Immortal Herb with eight unusual orchid leaves. Each was crystal clear and gave off a rich, gentle white mist. Its lingering fragrance hung in the air without dispersing.

Yin Yu fixed his gaze on the two herbs and exclaimed,

"What extraordinary treasures of nature!

"Their fragrance alone resonates with the Soul Power inside me. Changqing, are these the Immortal Herbs you mentioned earlier?"

"That's right."

Yin Changqing pointed to the white-jade flower and addressed Yin Yu.

"Father, this Immortal Herb is called Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. It nourishes sinews and bones and opens the extraordinary meridians.

"Your Demon Dragon Martial Soul is fierce and domineering, built around overwhelming power and destruction.

"After years of being scoured by such violent Soul Power, your meridians are bound to have suffered tiny hidden injuries and some hardening.

"Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone is gentle and restrained in nature. It can rebuild your bones and meridians, making them far more flexible. It can also bring your vast Soul Power into balance and take your Demon Dragon body to a new level."

A sharp glint flashed in Yin Yu's eyes, and he nodded.

"Ever since I reached level 95, I've felt my meridians straining against the Demon Dragon's violent power each time my Soul Power completes a full circulation.

"If I can widen my meridians and make them more flexible, the barrier to level 96 will be swept away."

Yin Changqing pointed to the other Immortal Herb and turned to Tuoba Xi.

"Grandpa, this one is called Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.

"It's a supreme restorative among Immortal Herbs, with exceptionally rich yet gentle medicinal properties and none of the violent side effects.

"It can strengthen your foundations and cleanse impurities from your body. Its medicinal power will also settle throughout your limbs and bones, continuing to nourish your meridians and martial spirit for a long time to come.

"You've remained at level 91 for years. Your foundation is solid, but your potential is nearly exhausted. Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid is the best choice to reverse that decline and restore your potential."