As soon as the green bead entered Hai Bodong's mouth, before he could even chew, it dissolved into a stream of clear, emerald liquid.
Flowing down his throat, it was swiftly absorbed by his body, nourishing his limbs and bones.
Hai Bodong shuddered violently as an overwhelming sense of transformation swept through him. He had never felt such comfort before—it was as though his entire being had been purified.
After a moment, he slowly closed his eyes, carefully sensing the changes within.
Observing this, Gu He smiled faintly and sipped his tea, giving the old man space to process the experience.
Before long, Hai Bodong's eyes snapped open, brimming with astonishment.
'This Longevity Pearl… It contains an immensely potent life force! It truly can enhance one's physique and extend lifespan!'
He could clearly feel the rejuvenation of his aged body. Without thinking, he touched his face—the wrinkles had visibly diminished, and his appearance had grown noticeably younger.
Gu He set down his teacup and grinned. "How do you feel?"
"Amazing!" Hai Bodong burst into laughter, unable to contain his excitement. "This Longevity Pearl is extraordinary! It's as though I've shed decades in an instant!"
"It's more than just youth," Gu He remarked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "The Longevity Pearl extends your lifespan by at least two hundred years. Moreover, Old Hai, haven't you noticed? Even the hidden injuries accumulated in your body have vanished."
Hearing this, Hai Bodong focused inward—and sure enough, the lingering wounds from years of battle had completely healed.
Even his withered meridians, now bathed in the Longevity Pearl's energy, pulsed with renewed vitality.
The realization made him grin from ear to ear.
His lifelong ambition had always been to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. However, after being sealed for over a decade, his aging body had left him with little confidence.
But now?
With two hundred additional years of life and a body restored to its prime, failure was no longer an option. If he couldn't reach Dou Ancestor now, he might as well discard his title as the Ice Emperor and feed it to the dogs!
"Gu He… Thank you."
After a long silence, Hai Bodong finally calmed his exhilaration and bowed deeply.
Though he had gathered many sixth-tier medicinal herbs for Gu He during this time, the effects of the Longevity Pearl far surpassed their value. In this exchange, he had gained far more than he'd given.
Moreover, Gu He had granted him the pearl before the task was complete. Such trust and generosity were not something Hai Bodong would forget.
Gu He waved a hand dismissively. "No need for formalities, Old Hai. This was our agreement, and your efforts have been more than satisfactory. The Longevity Pearl is merely your due reward."
Hai Bodong's gratitude deepened, and he solemnly vowed, "Rest assured, Gu He. I will spare no effort in fulfilling our pact. As for the herbs needed to refine the Ancestor Breaking Pill, I will mobilize the entire Miteer family to secure them."
Gu He nodded in approval.
He then informed Hai Bodong of his impending departure from the imperial capital. If more sixth-tier herbs were gathered, they could be delivered to his disciple, Qing Lin.
Hai Bodong, who had met Qing Lin before, readily agreed.
With matters settled, Gu He took his leave and returned to the Misty Cloud Sect.
…
Seated cross-legged in his chamber, Gu He focused his mind on the intricacies of the Soul Melting Technique.
This technique provides a method to condense a Soul Palace within the body, allowing the integration of a soul into it. Once merged, the practitioner gains all the abilities and memories of the absorbed soul.
However, there were limitations. Given Gu He's current peak Mortal Soul strength, he could only open three Soul Palaces at most.
The human body contained twelve primary meridians, eight extraordinary meridians, and countless branching pathways—each intersecting at specific acupoints.
The first step of the technique was to reshape these acupoints with soul power, expanding their internal space.
Like a mustard seed containing a universe, these reconstructed acupoints were known as Soul Palaces.
After reviewing the technique's key points, Gu He gathered his soul power and directed it toward an acupoint in his body.
Human acupoints were minuscule—smaller than the eye of a needle. Yet, under the force of Gu He's soul power, the selected acupoint tore open.
Instantly, his surging blood rushed toward the ruptured point.
"BOOM—"
A deafening roar echoed within his body as his consciousness plunged into the acupoint.
Initially, its space was no larger than a baby's fist. But as soul power and blood qi poured in, it expanded relentlessly—finally stabilizing at five times its original size.
The prototype of the Soul Palace had formed!
Now came the most critical phase—stabilizing it.
At this stage, the Soul Palace was fragile, liable to collapse at any moment. Gu He's task was to anchor it with his own blood essence, transforming it into a true Soul Palace.
"HUM—"
His blood essence boiled, surging toward the acupoint. Yet as it drained, his vitality waned rapidly—his face paled, his breath grew shallow.
Without hesitation, he summoned his divine flame, enveloping himself in a scarlet blaze. Thick blood mist seeped from the purple flames, permeating his body and replenishing his dwindling essence.
This was the power of Heavenly Flame—sustaining his life force during the grueling process.
For three hours, Gu He endured, refining the blood mist into his own essence.
And at last—
The first Soul Palace was successfully opened!
…
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