"The baptism is almost over."
As soon as the Fire Dragon King finished speaking, the vortex surrounding Yu Xuan suddenly surged. The water swept up and enveloped his entire body.
The water spiraled into the air, wrapping around Yu Xuan and forming a vermilion cocoon.
Countless scarlet-gold motes of light poured into the red cocoon.
The process continued for a full minute before the flow of scarlet-gold motes gradually came to a halt.
"Boom!!"
The water cocoon exploded!
Yu Xuan fell into the water. Scarlet light flowed over his skin, and wherever it passed, his flesh underwent an astonishing transformation, becoming as smooth and luminous as a newborn child's.
The scarlet light passed over his face, erasing every tiny imperfection and leaving it flawless.
When it reached his hair, his short black locks turned a fiery red in an instant.
"Is this... cosmetic surgery?"
Yu Xuan could clearly sense the changes in himself. He froze for a moment, never expecting that he would be lucky enough to experience this Douluo version of cosmetic surgery.
And this was no ordinary cosmetic surgery, but a full-body makeover.
The Fire Dragon King looked down at him and said, "After the baptism of my origin, your physical body and spiritual power have increased by at least twofold."
"You've also gained the ability to use Full-Body Dragon Transformation. Once activated, your strength will soar."
"However, I don't recommend using Full-Body Dragon Transformation. Unless you run into danger, just use a partial Dragon Transformation that matches your cultivation."
"You can't yet fully control Full-Body Dragon Transformation. Once you activate it, you'll lose your reason and go mad."
Yu Xuan examined the changes in himself. Just as he had said, both his physical body and spiritual power had undergone an obvious transformation.
Why had the Fire Dragon King used his own origin power to baptize him?
There was no benefit in it for him, was there?
Could he be planning to possess him?
But judging by the original story, dragons were generally extremely proud. Even after death, they should have disdained possessing a human.
Yu Xuan simply couldn't make sense of it.
The Fire Dragon King said, "Don't think too much about it. You should be able to clearly sense that I bear you no ill will."
"I told you before, helping you is helping myself. Come back here when you reach level seventy. I have something else to give you."
When he finished speaking, the dragon soul dissolved into motes of light and sank into the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Something else? Could it be his Soul Bone?"
Yu Xuan speculated to himself, a faint premonition stirring in his heart.
The Fire Dragon King had given him so many things and didn't seem to care about his status as the Asura God's inheritor. He didn't know what he would have to give in return someday...
Yu Xuan sighed softly. He didn't believe pies would fall from the sky for no reason.
He could only hope it wouldn't be anything bad.
Forget it. No matter what, the Fire Dragon King's baptism was ultimately a fortuitous opportunity.
Yu Xuan pushed his jumbled thoughts aside, climbed onto the shore, and took out some clothes and put them on. His gaze returned to the Immortal Herbs covering the ground.
His conversation with the Fire Dragon King had dampened some of his joy, but these were still priceless immortal-grade herbs, and Yu Xuan was satisfied as he picked them.
Before long, he had plundered every mature Immortal Herb in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"The Fire Dragon King's baptism didn't raise my Soul Power Level. I'm still at level thirty-seven, so I can take an Immortal Herb and try to raise my Soul Power to level forty."
The Infernal Delicate Apricot and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower were almost useless to him, so there was certainly no need to take them.
After some thought, Yu Xuan took out a lustrous white orchid and swallowed it in one bite without much hesitation.
What he had taken was the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.
The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid's medicinal effects were to fortify the foundation and nourish one's essence, wash impurities from the body, strengthen the foundation, and increase cultivation speed.
His Fire Dragon King Martial Soul could be called the ultimate among Ultimate Martial Souls, and after level thirty, his cultivation had slowed to a turtle's crawl.
This immortal-grade herb should help him, making up for his slow cultivation speed.
This place was quite safe. He had noticed no signs that anyone had been here before, which meant Dugu Bo had yet to discover this treasure land.
Rather than taking the Immortal Herb elsewhere, he might as well take it right here.
About five hours later, Yu Xuan let out a breath of turbid air and slowly opened his eyes, looking toward the still waters. "Level forty. I'll take a Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, then return to the sect."
Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew strengthened eyesight and spiritual power, allowing one to develop an ability akin to fiery eyes and golden pupils, seeing through objects, disguises, and concealment.
Unfortunately, this Immortal Herb did not increase Soul Power.
Yu Xuan picked up the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and tilted the plant slightly, sending the few drops of dew on its leaves sliding into his mouth.
The moment the drops of liquid fully left the leaves, the entire Immortal Herb withered. In the blink of an eye, it turned to dust and scattered from his hand.
Yu Xuan immediately sat cross-legged and began refining it.
After breaking through level forty, he would need to see how things stood before refining another Immortal Herb.
By the time Yu Xuan returned to the sect, five days had passed.
"You went out to gain experience, so how did your hair turn red, and how did you become so much more handsome? What happened?!"
When Yu Yuanzhen heard that he had returned, he personally went out to welcome him. But the moment he saw how much Yu Xuan's appearance had changed, he stared in a daze.
Yu Xuan's expression turned serious. "Father, I have something important to tell you."
Yu Yuanzhen's heart tightened. This was the first time he had seen Yu Xuan show him such an expression. He immediately composed himself and raised a hand in a gesture. "Follow me to the study."
Yu Xuan nodded and followed him to the study.
After closing the door, Yu Xuan took out a blue-purple lingzhi and held it out to Yu Yuanzhen.
"This is... Thunderclap Immortal Lingzhi?!" Yu Yuanzhen had also read the Rare Treasures Pharmacopoeia and recognized the Immortal Herb at a glance. His breathing immediately grew rapid.
Thunderclap Immortal Lingzhi had fierce medicinal properties. Consuming it could purify the lightning within the body and strengthen the flesh and bones.
"Yes, it's Thunderclap Immortal Lingzhi. I came across this immortal-grade herb by chance while I was out gaining experience," Yu Xuan said with a slight smile, offering a casual explanation.
"Hiss... You obtained an Immortal Herb on a single trip out to gain experience? And your Soul Power-I didn't notice before, but now that I look, you've actually broken through to level forty. Don't tell me you took an Immortal Herb too?"
Yu Yuanzhen sucked in a cold breath, his voice full of surprise and doubt.
Yu Xuan smiled. "Yes. I got lucky and obtained a few more Immortal Herbs. I took an Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and a Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew."
"Xiao Xuan, you... don't tell me you stumbled into a nest of Immortal Herbs?" Yu Yuanzhen's expression grew increasingly colorful, his face full of disbelief.
Didn't the Rare Treasures Pharmacopoeia say that immortal-grade herbs were rarely seen in the world?
How had Yu Xuan managed to get so many?
Yu Xuan smiled and said, "I only managed to get a few. Father, go ahead and take that Thunderclap Immortal Lingzhi."
Yu Yuanzhen took a deep breath and suppressed his shock, his face lighting up with delight. "All right, then I won't stand on ceremony."
"Once I've refined the Immortal Herb's medicinal power, I'll take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain your fourth Soul Ring."
He didn't press him about whether there were any other Immortal Herbs.
Since Yu Xuan had obtained the Immortal Herbs, it was up to him to decide what to do with them.
Yu Yuanzhen was already content to receive a Thunderclap Immortal Lingzhi and had no desire to force Yu Xuan's hand.