Everyone fell into thought at those words. Zhu Jiazhen suddenly spoke up. "Elder Qing, so you belong to the Evergreen Vine clan. I never knew that."
Elder Qing nodded with a smile. "Yes, I am an elder of the Evergreen Vine clan, and my true form is an Evergreen Vine—the 'evergreen' here means enduring through the ages. There are dozens of kinds of vine soul beasts, and our Evergreen Vine clan excels above all others at Life Attribute soul power. Once we reach the seventh-grade pinnacle soul beast realm, we become Evergreen Vines."
As he spoke, he sketched the form and characteristics of the Evergreen Vine on the ground.
Then he glanced at the withered body of the eight-thousand-year-old Life Vine lying on the ground, a trace of regret flashing through his eyes.
His gaze left everyone feeling somewhat embarrassed, and they lowered their heads.
Elder Qing paid it no mind and continued, "The mutation into a Life Vine you mentioned is actually the process of an Evergreen Vine ascending into the enduring Evergreen Vine realm. That may make it clearer. When you first named this kind of vine the Life Vine, I said nothing, because I felt that name suited it better."
"Then, after being nourished by the Spring of Life, a Life Vine should be able to become an eighth grade soul beast?" Chen Cong asked.
Elder Qing nodded. "Yes. Nourished by the Spring of Life, a Life Vine can grow rapidly and improve its quality. As for me, I qualify as a ninth grade soul beast. An Emperor, however, is a transcendent soul beast. Her power and majesty are beyond our imagination."
Reverence shone in Elder Qing's eyes. He gave Xiao Yi a long look and said slowly, "And Xiao Yi is the Emperor Bloodline Successor of