"Of course you can!" Zhu Ziyang nodded with a warm smile. "Not only you—everyone here can."
"You… you mean, we could all become like Kuikui—free beings with arms and legs?" Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu's voice was filled with surprise and delight.
"Yes. As long as you're willing to give up your spirit bone and spirit ring and become a soul spirit for a soul master, you can leave the Icefire Yin Yang Well and gain a measure of freedom," Zhu Ziyang explained. "What's more, you could even break the curse that prevents soul beasts from becoming gods. If the soul master you follow ascends to godhood, you could ascend with them."
His words dripped with temptation, drawing the young and inexperienced immortal herbs into deep fantasies. Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er exchanged knowing smiles as they watched. Nine parts out of ten of what Zhu Ziyang said was true—and if these immortal herbs believed him, the ultimate beneficiary would be none other than Shrek Academy.
As for the Tang Sect? Too bad—the Tang Sect had long since declined. Its sect master and members were all Shrek students now. The Sect's legacy naturally belonged to Shrek Academy. Perfectly reasonable, right?
"Soul spirit?" Eight-Petal Ice Grass asked with curiosity. "You mean Kuikui's current state is called a soul spirit? What exactly is that?"
"Yes—a soul spirit," Zhu Ziyang explained patiently. "A soul spirit is the essence of a spirit ring. It allows a soul beast to become a soul master's ring while remaining alive in spirit form, bound by a special contract. A soul spirit and its master coexist—keeping all its memories, intelligence, and some of its former power, and growing stronger as its master grows stronger."
"How… how magical!" The immortal herbs were struck speechless by his explanation. After a long pause, Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu finally murmured, half to herself, "Incredible…"
"Well, if you're interested, just tell me. I know many talented soul masters—you could become their soul spirits," Zhu Ziyang continued to entice them.
"We'll discuss it among ourselves. You've achieved your goal here, so you should go," Eight-Petal Ice Grass said calmly. "When you come to see Tea Tea next time, we'll give you our answer. Not now."
"Alright, I respect your decision," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. He knew he couldn't rush this. These immortal herbs couldn't run away, and he was certain that from the moment they'd gained sentience, they had longed for freedom.
"Hehe, Bing Bing, Jiao Jiao, Tea Tea, everyone—then I'll be off first!" Phoenix Chrysanthemum flitted smugly over each conscious immortal herb, her voice dripping with pride. "Oh, and remember to explain things to Youyou for me!"
She landed on Ma Xiaotao's shoulder, only to be swatted back into the soul ring with one impatient slap. Ma Xiaotao clearly wasn't overly fond of her silly, overly playful new soul spirit.
"Senior Sister, Master's Wife—let's head back," Zhu Ziyang said, exchanging a glance with Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er. They understood instantly.
"Alright, let's go," the two women nodded.
In moments, the four disappeared from the immortal herbs' senses. And the moment they were gone, the herbs dropped their polite act, brimming with jealousy, longing, and envy.
"Jiao Jiao, what are you thinking?" Eight-Petal Ice Grass asked Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu.
"I'm thinking—if we became soul spirits for soul masters, would we really be free? Wouldn't we still be bound to them?" Jiao Jiao replied.
"That's still better than staying here in constant fear," Bing Bing said coldly. "Don't you remember what happened to the ones before us? I won't let that be my fate again."
"So… should we really become soul spirits?" Jiao Jiao still had doubts. "You know humans have short lifespans. If our master dies of old age, will we die too? Or will we truly become free? That human didn't say—and I think it's more likely the first. Humans aren't a species that likes to take losses."
"That is… a problem," Bing Bing admitted, frowning. "If we want to become soul spirits, we should choose a master with the best chance of becoming a god. But humans reaching godhood is incredibly rare—only that person and his companions have done so in all these years. It's difficult…"
"Bing Bing, Jiao Jiao, you're overthinking it," Moonlit Tea Tree suddenly interjected. She had overheard everything and spoke with clarity.
"That's easy for you to say—you've already chosen your human," Bing Bing retorted. "We don't want years of cultivation to go to waste."
"You're valuing yourselves too highly," Tea Tea said dismissively. "Staying here, at that person's mercy, is also wasting your cultivation. Can he give us even a chance to become gods? No. He only uses us.
"On the other hand, becoming a soul spirit does give you a sliver of a chance at godhood. One path is impossible; the other is possible. What's there to think about?"
"This…" Bing Bing and Jiao Jiao both hesitated, but her logic was hard to refute.
"You're just worried about picking the wrong person. Then let that Zhu Ziyang choose for you—find you the most talented soul masters," Tea Tea continued. "That girl who took Kuikui wasn't bad—she had seven rings yet could fuse a hundred-thousand-year one, and she's Ultimate Fire. Perfect for you, Jiao Jiao.
"As for you, Bing Bing—let him find you someone with Ultimate Ice. That shouldn't be hard."
Her confident words finally swayed them completely.
"Alright. We understand. Thank you, Tea Tea," they said in unison.
"Hehe, no problem! I love helping my friends solve their problems!" Moonlit Tea Tree giggled.
"Jiao Jiao, Bing Bing—if you've decided to leave, how will you explain to Youyou?" a huge golden chrysanthemum—Odd Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum—asked.
"We don't need to explain ourselves to her," Bing Bing said coldly. In truth, she had long resented Youyou. By rights, Bing Bing and Jiao Jiao should have been the leaders here. But because Youyou kept something for that person, she had become the boss of the Icefire Yin Yang Well. Bing Bing hated it.
"No matter—we'll just tell her the truth. Youyou's reasonable enough," Jiao Jiao said.
The other herbs nodded.
Outside the Icefire Yin Yang Well, Zhu Ziyang and his companions reappeared.
"Ziyang, what now?" Xian Lin'er asked.
"Senior Sister, Junior Sister—take Sister Tao back to the Academy. I'll stay here alone," Zhu Ziyang said.
"You're staying?" Ma Xiaotao asked, puzzled.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er, however, already knew. Mu En had told them Zhu Ziyang would remain in the Sunset Forest for a time.
"I'll be in seclusion here for a while," Zhu Ziyang explained with a smile. "Just send me supplies."
"Alright—but be careful," Cai Mei'er said seriously.
The three women left, and Zhu Ziyang finally turned to the true task ahead—continuing the Death God's third trial.
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