Only after resting for a while did Yang Podi gradually open his eyes.
His dad hurriedly asked, "Podi, how do you feel now? Is there anything wrong with your body?"
Yang Podi carefully checked his body. "Dad, I-I'm fine. This Nine-Leaf Sword Grass really is excellent. After absorbing it, I feel like I've gained a lot of insight into sword Qi and spear momentum. My whole body also feels especially unimpeded. I reckon my Soul Power will increase faster when I cultivate from now on."
"Also, my Soul Power is still at rank 22, but I keep feeling as though my body has already broken through some sort of bottleneck. I shouldn't encounter any more bottlenecks in my cultivation in the short term."
Yang Podi couldn't help thinking that his body was now a little like the innate sword physiques in the fantasy novels of his previous life. Unfortunately, his Martial Soul wasn't a sword, or his gains would probably have been even greater.
Only upon hearing this did Yang Zhentian breathe a sigh of relief. "Podi, Nine-Leaf Sword Grass improves a person's understanding of the sword. Viewed from another angle, it actually also improves a Soul Master's understanding of Geng Metal Qi. After absorbing it, a Soul Master will gain a much better understanding of both sword Qi and spear radiance. Your Soul Breaking Spear Martial Soul should be sharper now, and the Geng Metal Qi on it will be stronger too."
"That's true. I feel that my understanding of the Soul Breaking Spear has deepened, and my combat strength has improved tremendously."
The two chatted for a little longer, and then his dad prepared to leave.
Yang Podi hurriedly spoke up. "Dad, aren't you forgetting something?"
"Am I? I don't think I've forgotten anything."
"Did you forget that we need to restore this place to how it was? We can't let anyone discover that we have immortal herbs."
Hearing this, Yang Zhentian was speechless for a moment. Wasn't his son being a little too cautious?
Next, the two dealt with the pits and hollows in the ground, filling in some of the holes before planting weeds or younger medicinal herbs over them. After half a day of work, the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had been restored to its original state. Outsiders wouldn't even be able to tell that the soil had been dug up.
Once they were done, Yang Zhentian took his son's hand and swiftly flew out through the cave opening.
"Dad, are you really not going to get your Eighth Soul Ring now?"
Yang Zhentian rolled his eyes at his son. "No, let's go home first. With something this important, we'd better go home and take care of it before anything else. I just feel a little uneasy. These past few days have felt like a dream."
"Dad, you absolutely have to remember not to tell anyone about these immortal herbs, or we'll really be in serious trouble."
Yang Zhentian patted his son's head. "You little brat, I'm your dad. Do I need you to teach me something like that?"
Their return was much quicker this time, and the two left Sunset Forest in less than a day.
After retrieving their carriage, they headed straight back to the Breaking Clan.
The moment the two arrived home, his mom gave them a scolding. "Honey, Podi, you only went to hunt a Hundred-Year Soul Beast this time. Why did you take so long? Don't you know we'd worry? The clan leader nearly organized a party to search for you."
Father and son exchanged a glance, both momentarily speechless.
Yang Zhentian hurriedly said, "Honey, Podi's Soul Ring this time really is excellent. It was for this Soul Ring that we spent so much time."
"No matter how good a Soul Ring is, it shouldn't take this long. Besides, both of your presences seem a little different from before. Did you run off somewhere on a treasure-hunting adventure?"
Father and son both couldn't help grumbling inwardly. Mom's-my wife's-intuition is far too sharp. No, we have to make a quick escape, or she'll find out everything.
"Honey, now that we're back, I want to go see Dad and explain a few things so he won't worry."
"Mom, Soul Hunting in Sunset Forest was really exhausting this time. I'll go back and rest first."
Father and son spoke at the same time, then slipped away before Niu Jinfeng could react.
Yang Podi returned to his room, lay straight down, and fell asleep. They really had spent quite a long time in Sunset Forest, and his nerves had been taut throughout. He was mentally tired too.
Yang Zhentian, meanwhile, found his father and second uncle. Without saying anything, he led them straight into a secret chamber.
Yang Wudi was a little puzzled. "Zhentian, what do we need to discuss in a secret chamber? Why all the secrecy?"
Seeing Yang Wudi's puzzled expression, Yang Zhentian said nothing and directly took the aromatic silk beauty out of his Soul Tool.
The moment Yang Wudi saw the aromatic silk beauty, he snatched it without a word, while Yang Wushuang immediately leaned in as well.
The two gazed at the aromatic silk beauty as though looking at a peerless treasure. They began trembling from head to toe, their hands shaking nonstop, as though they had encountered the woman they loved most.
Just like that, the two kept examining and stroking the aromatic silk beauty, unwilling to let go for a long time, utterly entranced.
Only after a full hour did the two come to their senses and return to normal.
"Zhentian, how did you get this aromatic silk beauty? There won't be any trouble, will there?"
"Dad, Second Uncle, I discovered this aromatic silk beauty in Sunset Forest. Podi and I went to hunt for a Soul Ring this time, and we found it amid a cloud of poisonous mist?"
Seeing that the two still had doubts, Yang Zhentian described the entire Soul Ring hunt in detail, including their discovery of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. As for the immortal herbs he had on him, he said nothing about those.
When Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang heard about the pair's experiences that day, both were extraordinarily shocked. In particular, when Yang Wudi heard that they had found the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he grew even more excited. His grandson really was a lucky star. A mere Soul Ring hunt had actually brought such an enormous surprise.
Just as the two were eagerly about to head for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yang Zhentian stopped them.
Yang Zhentian laid out his son's entire plan and also took out two Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Kings, the earth dragon golden melon, the nine-grade purple ganoderma, and the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Ganoderma.
Yang Wudi and Yang Wushuang both fell silent. Only after thinking for a long while did they speak. "Zhentian, this plan of yours is very good. Some matters really do require care. You're the Breaking Clan's young clan leader now, and you'll become its clan leader in the future. Let's follow your plan."
Hearing this, Yang Zhentian also breathed a sigh of relief. "Dad, Second Uncle, in that case, absorb these Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Kings first. Later, I'll ask Jinfeng to come over so we can discuss things together. The four of us will prepare to make another trip to Sunset Forest together. There may be quite a lot to do in Sunset Forest this time. I'm already at rank 80 now, and I still need to obtain a Soul Ring."
"Zhentian, I remember you were only at rank 76 a little while ago. Now you're already at rank 80. Did you eat something at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Hearing this, Yang Zhentian knew he could no longer hide it. "Dad, I also found a nine-grade dragon ganoderma and a Nine-Leaf Sword Grass at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I ate the nine-grade dragon ganoderma, and Podi ate the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass."
Hearing this, Yang Wudi grew a little angry. "Reckless! You two were utterly reckless. Nine-grade dragon ganoderma does suit you, but Podi is only eight years old. How could he withstand the Geng Metal Qi of Nine-Leaf Sword Grass? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
Seeing that his elder brother was truly angry, Yang Wushuang hurriedly tried to persuade him. "Big Brother, don't be angry. Podi does know what he's doing. Didn't he succeed this time?"
"I'm just afraid Podi will take another risk next time. That boy has enough nerve to defy the heavens."