Divine Trials Completed

After everyone else left, only Tang Chen and Ning Zi remained.

"Xiao Zi, the Immortal Herb I picked for you is the one that suits you best."

Tang Chen took the Aromatic Silk Beauty from a jade box.

"This Immortal Herb is called Aromatic Silk Beauty. It can break through your Martial Soul's Innate Shackles. Once you absorb it, your Martial Soul can evolve from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

As he spoke, Tang Chen handed the Aromatic Silk Beauty to Ning Zi.

Ning Zi was about to accept it when the Love God's Remnant Soul inside her began trembling wildly.

The Love God's Remnant Soul said to Ning Zi impatiently, "Ning Zi, I can sense the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. That boy must have it on him."

Ning Zi felt a little embarrassed at the Love God's Remnant Soul's words.

But with the Divine Trial hanging over her, she spoke up hesitantly.

"Brother Chen, do you have the Lovesick Heartbreak Red?"

Tang Chen froze at her question, then suddenly understood something.

He handed Ning Zi the Aromatic Silk Beauty first, then took the Lovesick Heartbreak Red from another jade box.

"Xiao Zi, see if this is it." Though Tang Chen phrased it as a question, his tone was certain.

Seeing him take out the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Ning Zi hesitated again.

"Brother Chen, aren't you going to ask why I want it?"

Tang Chen shook his head. "Xiao Zi, if you don't want to tell me, I won't ask. When you're ready, you'll tell me."

Emotion welled up in Ning Zi, and she nearly blurted out everything about the Divine Trial.

But she quickly regained her senses.

She opened her mouth, yet in the end said nothing more than a strained "Thank you."

Ning Zi reached out and took the Lovesick Heartbreak Red from Tang Chen. The moment it touched her hand, the Love God's Remnant Soul deep within her grew intensely excited.

"Love God's Nine Trials, First Trial complete. Rewards granted: Soul Ring age increased by five hundred years, Soul Power increased by two levels, Love God affinity increased by ten percent."

Ning Zi's Soul Power began rising rapidly.

Level seventeen.

Level eighteen.

In one breath, Ning Zi reached level eighteen, and the age of her First Soul Ring rose from three hundred years to eight hundred.

Seeing her Soul Power soar, Tang Chen knew his suspicions were right.

Ning Zi must have received a Divine Trial.

She completed a Divine Trial the moment she got the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Then it must be either the Flower God or the Love God, Tang Chen thought.

He did not have enough clues to be certain.

As soon as Ning Zi completed the First Trial, the Love God issued the Second Trial.

"Love God's Nine Trials, Second Trial: gain the recognition of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Rewards upon completion: the Lovesick Heartbreak Red becomes your Second Martial Soul, and Love God affinity increases by ten percent. Time limit: ten years."

Hearing the Second Trial, Ning Zi hurriedly asked the Love God a question.

"Lord Love God, how can I gain the Lovesick Heartbreak Red's recognition?"

At Ning Zi's question, the Love God put on an air of unfathomable wisdom. "Love."

The answer nearly drove Ning Zi mad.

"Love what? What love? You've only given me one word—how am I supposed to know what you mean?"

Ning Zi fired her questions at the Love God like a string of firecrackers.

The Love God refused to answer.

She only repeated one word: "Love."

Seeing Ning Zi stand there in a daze, Tang Chen asked tentatively,

"Xiao Zi, what's wrong?"

At his question, Ning Zi immediately gathered herself and returned to her usual gentle manner.

"Brother Chen, it's nothing. I'm just... just curious about the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."

Tang Chen knew she was not telling the truth, but he explained it to her anyway.

"There's a legend about the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."

Tang Chen paused there.

When he stopped, Ning Zi urged him on. "What legend? Go on, Brother Chen."

Tang Chen could not quite remember how the original story went, so he quickly pieced it together from memory.

"Long ago, there was a young man who loved flowers. He buried one, and his kindness moved a Flower Immortal in the heavens. She descended to the mortal world and became his wife. But marrying a mortal broke the laws of heaven. The gods were furious and summoned her back to the Divine Realm. After losing his wife, the young man wasted away in sorrow. Then an old man appeared and told him that the White Peony in his courtyard was his beloved wife's incarnation. If he destroyed it, she could return. But the young man couldn't bear to harm it. Every day, he held the flower and wept, until longing broke his heart and he died. That's why it's called the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."

Ning Zi was moved to tears by Tang Chen's story. But just then, the Love God barged in and spoiled the mood. "Who told you that? I spat a mouthful of heart's blood onto a White Peony as I died. It later fused with one of my Divine Bones and became the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. He made up that story to fool a young girl like you."

Annoyed by the interruption, Ning Zi snapped back at the Love God. "It's a legend! How can you blame Brother Chen for that? Besides, it's such a beautiful story. It really moved me."

Seeing how moved Ning Zi was, Tang Chen continued.

"This flower is the finest of all flowers, and it chooses its own master. To pluck it, you must think of the person you love most and spit a mouthful of blood onto it. Your feelings must be utterly sincere. Otherwise, even if you bleed to death, you'll never pluck it."

At Tang Chen's words, Ning Zi channeled her Soul Power and struck her chest.

She spat a mouthful of blood onto the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

All she could see in her mind was Tang Chen's mighty figure.

The Lovesick Heartbreak Red shook violently. At last, it parted from the Black Jade Stone and floated into Ning Zi's hand.

Blood still stained the corner of Ning Zi's mouth, but she gave Tang Chen a huge smile.

"Brother Chen, I plucked it. It didn't seem that hard."

Looking at Ning Zi's sincere smile, Tang Chen could not hold back. He rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

His sudden hug caught Ning Zi completely off guard.

But once she recovered, she hugged him back.

Only after a while did the two reluctantly let go.

A voice sounded in Ning Zi's mind.

"Love God's Nine Trials, Second Trial complete. Rewards granted: the Lovesick Heartbreak Red as your Second Martial Soul, Love God affinity increased by ten percent."

The Lovesick Heartbreak Red slowly rose from Ning Zi's hand and merged into her body.

A small blood-red flower appeared above Ning Zi's left hand. It was the king of flowers, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

Tang Chen saw the Divine Trial Mark on Ning Zi's forehead glow as the Lovesick Heartbreak Red that had accepted her as its master became the Martial Soul in her left hand.

No need to guess. It's definitely the Love God. And aren't these Divine Trials far too easy? She's passed two already in such a short time.