After examining quite a few more Red Spider Lilies of different ages, Gao Shang finally figured out their growth pattern.
At a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years... each time a Red Spider Lily crossed an age threshold, it went through a year without leaves.
During that time, the Red Spider Lily was mature; the only difference lay in the potency of its medicinal effects.
After a year, it would once again absorb enough soul power from the Yellow Springs to regrow nine leaves in an extremely short time, entering another growth phase.
Only when the power within the leaves had been purified and flowed into the flower, and all nine leaves had fallen, would it reach its next maturity.
"How miraculous. An immortal herb that lives entirely off the Yellow Springs?"
Looking at the panel, Gao Shang gradually made up his mind.
The ones with leaves were cheap, but he currently had no way to remove the negative soul power. Even if he bought one, he could not use it.
The mature ones were a little expensive, but he could still afford a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
It was high-quality, could improve his spiritual power, and was within his price range.
Wasn't it just right for him?
"No time like the present. I'll get one first and give it a taste."
As for the restriction that only one immortal herb could be consumed...
The system notification had made it perfectly clear: Red Spider Lilies could be consumed repeatedly, but subsequent doses could no longer trigger Martial Soul Evolution.
Spiritual power was what he wanted in the first place, so he did not need to worry about that.
"I choose you! System, swipe my card!"
Gao Shang ran a hand through his hair and jabbed the purchase button.
[Ding, this purchase cost one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Have a pleasant day.]
"Why, thank you..."
Watching his account balance shrink in an instant, Gao Shang still could not help feeling a pang.
But when he looked at the beautiful flower in his hand, with its slender, curling petals as scarlet as blood, he felt the money had been well spent.
This was an immortal treasure among immortal treasures, and it very likely grew somewhere no living person could ever reach.
Yet now, he had actually bought it for just a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
"When the flowers bloom, no leaves are seen; when the leaves grow, no flowers are seen. Flower and leaf are forever parted, with no hope of meeting."
"If the Lovesick Heartbreak Red represents love that never leaves or forsakes, then the Red Spider Lily represents the regret of never meeting again."
"If the Yellow Springs really are in the Underworld, then one grows in the world of the living, and the other in the Underworld..."
"No wonder it stands alongside the Lovesick Heartbreak Red as a king among immortal herbs."
Under the moonlight, the Red Spider Lily swayed gently like a ball of flame. As Gao Shang watched it, he found himself reluctant to take a bite.
A moment later, he abruptly came to his senses.
Hadn't he bought the immortal herb to eat it? How had he become so entranced looking at it?
"Could this thing have a mind-bewitching effect too?"
"I'd better hurry up and eat it."
Shaking his head, Gao Shang hesitated no longer and raised the Red Spider Lily to his mouth.
But just as the flower was about to enter his mouth, a knock suddenly came at the courtyard gate.
"Boss, are you asleep?"
"Sister Xiao Meng?"
Gao Shang was a little surprised.
At this hour, even Sun Meng would not disturb him unless it was something important.
Putting away the Red Spider Lily, Gao Shang rose and opened the courtyard gate.
Sun Meng stood outside, looking somewhat nervous, with a trace of confusion.
"Sister Xiao Meng, what brings you here so late? Did something happen?"
"I'm sorry, Boss."
Sun Meng apologized first, then spoke hesitantly.
"I don't know what's going on either. I just felt... that I ought to come here."
After speaking, she seemed to feel she had not explained herself clearly and added:
"My Martial Soul suddenly grew restless just now. It seemed to really want to come here, so I came over."
Gao Shang raised an eyebrow as a guess formed in his mind.
"Are you sure it's my place? Can you sense anything more specific?"
Sun Meng looked into the courtyard and concentrated on sensing it for a moment before her gaze returned to him.
"I'm sure, Boss."
"And it seems to be on you. My Martial Soul really wants to get close to you."
Hearing this, Gao Shang was completely certain. This most likely really was caused by the Red Spider Lily.
Could Sun Meng's Martial Soul have some kind of netherworld attribute?
He did not rush to explain. First, he invited Sun Meng into the courtyard, shut the gate, and led her to sit beside the stone table.
"Sister Xiao Meng, I think I know what's going on."
"This should be what's making your Martial Soul restless."
As he spoke, Gao Shang took out the Red Spider Lily again.
The instant Sun Meng saw the Red Spider Lily, her eyes lost focus. Seemingly drawn by its beautiful appearance, she instinctively reached out to touch it.
But just then, a sickle of a kind seen everywhere in Nuoding City materialized in her hand on its own, trembling uncontrollably.
The movement in her hand jolted Sun Meng awake. She glanced down at the sickle, then could not help looking back at the flower.
"Boss, what kind of flower is this? It's so pretty."
Gao Shang's gaze shifted slightly. Judging by Sun Meng's reaction, she seemed completely unaware of what she had just been about to do. She did not even look surprised that her Martial Soul had appeared in her hand.
Then he thought of how entranced he himself had been just now...
This Red Spider Lily probably really did have a mind-bewitching effect.
Perhaps both of them had been able to come to their senses because it was only a hundred years old, and its influence was not yet very strong.
But this silent, imperceptible bewitchment might escape even the notice of its victims. He had to be wary of that.
At least until he was strong enough, he could not casually buy older Red Spider Lilies, even if he had the money.
He glanced at the flower in his hand and held it out to Sun Meng.
"Sister Xiao Meng, this is a Red Spider Lily, an immortal herb that might allow a Martial Soul to evolve."
"Since it attracts your Martial Soul, you should take it."
Although this Red Spider Lily was worth a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, Gao Shang felt no pang this time.
With someone else, he might have hesitated, but Sun Meng had been by his side since childhood.
Previously, he had asked Hong Hua to teach her about Soul Masters because he had planned to give her an immortal herb once he obtained those in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, so she too would have a chance to embark on the path of a Soul Master.
Now, he was merely bringing that forward by a few years.
But when Sun Meng heard that this flower might actually allow a Martial Soul to evolve, she hurriedly stood up and took two steps back.
"N-no, Boss. I can't."
She waved both hands in front of her chest.
"This is too precious. Besides, I have no Innate Soul Power. Giving it to me would be a waste."
"Stop right there, Sister Xiao Meng."
Gao Shang did not let her continue.
"Your Martial Soul has already led you all the way here. How can you know it'll be a waste without trying?"
"Besides, this thing only sounds precious. I have more. Look, if you don't believe me."
Afraid Sun Meng would not believe him, he simply bought another hundred-year-old Red Spider Lily.
He had already decided to give the one in his hand to Sun Meng anyway. He would have to buy another for himself sooner or later, so buying it now made no difference.
"There really is another!"
Looking at the two identical flowers in his hands, Sun Meng was momentarily speechless.
Gao Shang held one of them out closer to her.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out and accepted it.
"That's more like it. We're family. You don't have to stand on ceremony all the time."
Smiling, Gao Shang put away the other Red Spider Lily.
"Sister Xiao Meng, since you're here, take it here. There's no special method for this flower. Just eat the whole thing."
"I'll stand guard for you. I wish you success."
Holding the Red Spider Lily, Sun Meng nodded earnestly.
"Yes, Boss. I'll definitely succeed."
With that, she closed her eyes and brought the Red Spider Lily to her mouth.