Nine Provinces State-Guarding Cauldron

"A top-tier earth-attribute immortal herb."

"Speaking of which, Xiao Xiao, does your Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron count as earth-attribute?"

Wang Dong turned to Xiao Xiao and asked.

"I suppose so. The Soul Beasts I absorbed my first two Soul Rings from included an earth-attribute Soul Beast."

Xiao Xiao hesitated, then nodded and explained.

She looked at the Earthgold Dragon Melon. Its skin had a dark-gold base covered in winding, raised patterns of Earth Dragon scales, like a young dragon curled up beneath the soil. The patterns glowed faintly as Soul Power flowed through them, and its skin looked hard and heavy. It was extraordinary to behold.

"I'll take this one."

In a flash of inspiration, Xiao Xiao suddenly felt that this Earthgold Dragon Melon suited her perfectly, and immediately chose it.

"You have a good eye. The earth dragon golden melon already has over ninety thousand years of medicinal potency. It only looks like this because we've suppressed their intelligence."

Youyou's smug voice rang out again. If they had not suppressed the intelligence of the local plant Soul Beasts, this place would long since have become a wild dance of demons.

As for the earth dragon golden melon with over ninety thousand years of medicinal potency, it did not count as one of their companions until it crossed that threshold.

After all, they could reach a hundred thousand years of Cultivation in just ten thousand years. Compared with ordinary hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts, their foundations were much weaker when they broke through, and they often perished beneath the heavenly tribulation, their lives and paths extinguished. Those left behind would then, as a matter of routine, bury the seeds remaining in the ashes and await the next cycle.

Precisely because of that, Youyou cherished plant Soul Beasts that crossed that threshold and developed intelligence all the more.

"Are you sure?"

Tang Wulin looked at Xiao Xiao, confirming her decision once more.

"Yes. This earth dragon golden melon really is the best fit for me."

Xiao Xiao nodded emphatically, her pretty little face filled with anticipation.

Tang Wulin and Huo Yuhao had both made such tremendous progress. Watching the gap between their strengths widen to the distance between heaven and earth in a single day, Xiao Xiao could hardly restrain her own desire to grow stronger.

"Go ahead and eat it."

"I'll stand guard for you."

Tang Wulin smiled, his words full of reassurance.

Youyou obligingly plucked the earth dragon golden melon from its vine. Xiao Xiao took it and, following the instructions, bit straight into it. The hard rind cracked at once, and abundant juice spilled from her mouth, bringing an incomparably refreshing sensation as it touched her tongue.

Boom!

An immense surge of energy erupted like a volcano, coursing through Xiao Xiao's limbs and every part of her body, constantly strengthening her flesh, meridians, and bones.

Within mere breaths, a faint golden glow spread over Xiao Xiao's skin. Golden patterns emerged dimly across her body, as though an Earth Dragon lay dormant within her flesh.

Incomparably pure earth-attribute essence and dragon aura washed freely through Xiao Xiao's body, rebuilding her foundations.

Humm-

A deep, weighty cauldron chime resounded through the cavern, making the surrounding air tremble.

Three ancient, pitch-black phantoms of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron quietly appeared behind Xiao Xiao. Under the cleansing force of the earth dragon golden melon's essence, the normally plain, unremarkable Soul-Suppressing Cauldrons shuddered violently, and strange runes gradually lit up along their bodies.

Golden patterns spread upward from the cauldrons' bases, replacing their original dull black, and an ancient, domineering aura erupted.

The three Soul-Suppressing Cauldrons instantly merged into one. This cauldron was larger than any of the previous three and looked exceptionally magnificent.

Rumble-

Another muffled rumble suddenly filled the air. An immense force that suppressed all directions and steadied heaven and earth soared from Xiao Xiao's body.

The original Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron suppressed souls, evil, and spirits.

But now, Xiao Xiao's Martial Soul was undergoing an unprecedented transformation.

Its three-life trait had vanished. Three lives returned to one, and soul suppression became state protection.

The cauldron was no longer a monotonous bronze-black. Its base color turned black-gold, engraved with patterns of mountains and rivers stretching for ten thousand miles, along with faint dragon-shaped reliefs. Its mouth was square and substantial, and it stood as though holding up heaven and rooting itself in the earth, seemingly bearing the stability and fortune of an entire realm.

Everyone watched the scene in astonishment. Xiao Xiao's Martial Soul had clearly evolved, though they did not know what Martial Soul it had become. Niu Tian stood to one side, studying the phantom behind her thoughtfully without saying a word.

At that moment, the natural energy throughout the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well grew stagnant. The power of the earth veins for several miles around bowed in submission, gathering toward the enormous cauldron in homage.

Xiao Xiao suddenly opened her eyes, a golden gleam flashing through them. Her formerly sweet, lively demeanor acquired a touch of gravity, becoming gentle, composed, and dignified.

"Wulin, I love you to death!"

Just as everyone was marveling at the change in Xiao Xiao's demeanor, she suddenly sprang up and lunged toward Tang Wulin.

"Xiao Xiao, what are you doing?"

Xiao Xiao caught nothing. Her embrace passed straight through Tang Wulin's body. He was hiding in a fold of space, watching her as he asked in confusion.

"Thanking you, Wulin."

Xiao Xiao lightly clenched her teeth. She had never expected to offer a child an embrace of her own accord only for him to dodge it. Was my embrace not warm enough, or were my thanks not sincere enough?

"Let's leave it for next time. I still have to control my strength. It wouldn't be good if I accidentally hurt you."

Tang Wulin teleported to the other side, scratched his head, and spoke sheepishly.

He had not deliberately avoided her. If he really lost control, a single hug might snap Xiao Xiao's waist.

"All right."

Xiao Xiao sighed, then broke into a beaming smile again.

"I gained so much this time."

"My Martial Soul evolved from the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron into the Nine Provinces State-Guarding Cauldron!"

Xiao Xiao summoned the Nine Provinces State-Guarding Cauldron. No longer a phantom, it instantly radiated a majestic force that overlooked mountains and rivers and suppressed all directions.

"The Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron's core abilities were suppressing the divine soul, restraining evil, and shaking Soul Power. The Nine Provinces State-Guarding Cauldron is different."

"First is the Martial Soul's innate domain-the State-Guarding Domain. Everything within its range is my territory, and I can freely control every blade of grass and every tree inside it. The domain also has an inherent suppressive force that weakens spatial Soul Skills. Our side's mental resistance increases dramatically, granting immunity to Spiritual Power attacks within two major ranks. The enemy's fortune is suppressed by the cauldron's power, making their attacks more likely to expose openings. They might even suffer cultivation deviation and be gravely injured just as they're about to use a Soul Skill. It can also suppress all of an enemy's attributes by thirty percent."

"Why haven't I awakened a domain?"

Tang Wulin sank into utter self-doubt. He retreated to one side, crouched down, and drew circles on the ground with his finger, resentment radiating from his entire body.

They all have such powerful domains. Why am I the only one without one?

"Ahem. Apart from the domain, the Nine Provinces State-Guarding Cauldron has other effects too."

Xiao Xiao hurriedly changed the subject and continued her explanation.

"Suppress Mountains and Rivers-my physical body, Soul Power, and Spiritual Power achieve the utmost stability. I'll never suffer cultivation deviation, and no matter how badly I'm injured, my combat strength will always remain at its peak."

If a transmigrator had been present, they would certainly have recognized this as something akin to a video game player's trait. Even with only one hit point left, the next attack would still strike with maximum attack power.

"Suppress Evil-it holds absolute suppressive power over evil forces such as vengeful spirits, sinister beings, and negative emotions, countering all evil-attribute Martial Souls and Soul Skills."

"Suppress Fortune-"