Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in Sunset Forest.
A half-dead Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor was being used as a specimen in an experiment unprecedented in the past and never to be repeated in the future.
One grade-eight spirit herb after another was tossed into the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor's mouth as though they cost nothing, transforming into a mass of pure, vast power.
Under the catalytic effect of this power, the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor's jade body, originally harder than metal and stone, slowly swelled like a balloon, its entire body becoming exceptionally bloated.
"Hiss~"
Under the catalytic effect of the vast quantity of spirit herbs, a tenth dazzling golden band slowly condensed on the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor's body.
"Old man, hurry up and act!"
"If we wait until it absorbs the medicinal power and fully recovers from its injuries, the few of us probably won't be its match!"
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Great Tribulation was a hurdle for Soul Beasts. If they survived it, all was well; if they failed, everything turned to nothing.
There was an enormous difference between Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. Even the most ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast could rival a low-ranking Titled Douluo.
Moreover, the Soul Beast before them was no ordinary Soul Beast, but the renowned exotic serpent-the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor!
Once a Soul Beast like this reached a hundred thousand years and fully recovered its fighting strength, it could rival a Super Douluo among human Soul Masters.
"All right!"
Meng Zhongqi nodded. He had realized this too.
One had to be as biting as winter toward enemies. Softhearted mercy was never acceptable-this was an iron law carved into the bones of Soul Masters.
"Head Soul Bone skill-Medusa's Gaze!"
Meng Zhongqi released a petrifying ray from his eyes, interrupting the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor's regeneration and reining in this disaster.
"Go to your death in peace!"
Meng Zhongqi's voice was utterly cold. He immediately released his Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Martial Soul and unleashed a Soul Skill to slay the Soul Beast.
"Buzzz~"
The instant the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor died, the surrounding air became impossibly stagnant. Endless red light flared, and terrifying Soul Power surged forth.
A blood-red Soul Ring quietly condensed above the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor's corpse. This was a tangible manifestation of the laws of the Heavenly Dao.
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"To think we actually succeeded!"
Meng Zhongqi was overjoyed. Normally, a Soul Beast could only become a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast after surviving its heavenly tribulation.
What they had done today could be considered exploiting a bug in the Heavenly Dao, artificially creating a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is guaranteed to yield a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. With a blessed land like this, why worry that our family won't rise again?"
Meng Zhongqi gazed at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. This place truly was a rare blessed grotto-heaven, just as his grandson had said.
With this blessed land in their hands, their family would surely flourish!
"Heavenly treasures belong to the virtuous!"
Meng Qianqiu had no habit of giving good things away to others. Besides, he was all the happier to snatch away Great Buddha Tang's opportunity.
"Sigh!"
"It's just a shame that mass-producing Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts costs far too much. It takes over twenty grade-eight spirit herbs in total."
"Even with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well at our disposal, we can't afford that!"
Meng Qianqiu did the calculations. This Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor had been over ninety-two thousand years old. Only after swallowing over twenty grade-eight spirit herbs had it made up the remaining eight thousand years and successfully advanced.
In other words, even if they used every spirit herb in the garden, the Meng Family could only raise a dozen or so Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
This deal was hardly worthwhile!
In the Soul Master World, a grade-eight spirit herb was of immeasurable value, comparable to an ordinary Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. That showed just how precious spirit herbs were.
"The value of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone is immeasurable. How could mundane money buy them?"
"You're still far too petty!"
Meng Zhongqi shook his head, then stopped paying Meng Qianqiu any attention. He immediately released his Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Martial Soul and began refining the Soul Ring.
Thanks to the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, Meng Zhongqi successfully refined the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring in just under half a day.
Although there had been a few complications along the way, they had not affected the outcome!
"My dear grandson!"
"Come over here and absorb this Soul Bone!"
Nangong Wan had not been idle. While standing guard over Meng Zhongqi, she had also inspected the unexpected gains from this Soul Hunting trip.
"A hundred-thousand-year gemstone-type skull!"
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was guaranteed to yield a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, and the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor was a rare gemstone-type Soul Beast.
Thus, after its death, it had also produced a hundred-thousand-year gemstone-type skull, which was now in Nangong Wan's hands.
"The Hundred-Thousand-Year Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor Skull!"
"Speaking of which, what a coincidence!"
"The Queen Medusa actually became mates with the Nine-Section Jade Snake Emperor. Both these exotic serpents were gemstone-type Soul Beasts."
"We've gained quite a lot from this Soul Hunting trip!"
Nangong Wan looked at Meng Qianqiu. Although her eldest grandson had his own little secrets, his heart was still with his family.
Her Eighth Soul Ring was over eighty thousand years old!
Such a heaven-defying Soul Ring Configuration already surpassed that of many ordinary Titled Douluo, and this gave her tremendous confidence.
If things continued developing like this, Nangong Wan would also have a very good chance of hunting down a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring for her Ninth Soul Ring.
"Grandma!"
"Why don't you absorb this hundred-thousand-year gemstone-type skull? Logically speaking, you should need it more than I do!"
Meng Qianqiu shook his head. He was merely an ordinary One-Ring Soul Master. Absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was practically courting death.
An ordinary man was innocent; possessing a jade made him guilty.
Meng Qianqiu's strength was too low. He had yet to grow, and rashly absorbing this hundred-thousand-year skull would instead put him in danger.
"After absorbing the Queen Medusa's Soul Ring, my Soul Power reached rank eighty-two. My foundation hasn't completely stabilized yet!"
"Grandma is already old. My Innate Soul Power was only rank seven. Being able to cultivate to Soul Douluo was already a blessing from heaven."
"This old woman dares not hope for anything more in this lifetime!"
Nangong Wan put it delicately, but that was the truth. The level of one's Innate Soul Power almost determined a Soul Master's potential.
Someone with rank-seven Innate Soul Power had a very good chance of becoming a Soul Saint and could break through to Soul Douluo with the right opportunity. But with the potential of rank-seven Innate Soul Power, they were certain to have no chance of reaching Titled Douluo in their lifetime.
This had practically become a consensus in the Soul Master World!
Nangong Wan also knew perfectly well that without the help of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, she probably would never have had a chance to reach Soul Douluo in this lifetime!
After hearing this, Meng Qianqiu gave a faint smile and immediately said, "Lacking aptitude? That's simple. Why not just make up for it?"
With that, he entered the herb garden and turned his gaze toward an unusual orchid. Reaching out, he plucked it.
"The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid is snowy white and crystalline throughout, with eight petals in total. It doesn't wither for a thousand years, and its medicinal properties are mild yet rich."
"It excels at strengthening the foundation and nourishing vitality. It can also increase a Soul Master's Innate Soul Power, forcibly making up for their potential for subsequent cultivation."
"An ordinary Soul Master who consumes it can improve their aptitude for subsequent cultivation, bringing their potential into the ranks of Innate Full Soul Power!"
"Oh, right, Grandma!"
"This is an Immortal Herb. Consuming it has no side effects!"
The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid was an Immortal Herb rarely seen in the world. For Nangong Wan, it was undoubtedly like timely rain.
Holding the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Meng Qianqiu came to Nangong Wan's side. Pointing at the Immortal Herb in the jade box, he continued speaking softly and slowly.