Zhu Zhuqing was hesitating.
Then, Tang Lan's voice echoed in her mind.
"Our love is as clear as the sun and moon—there is no need to prove it."
Zhu Zhuqing's head snapped up, her gaze locking onto Tang Lan's.
Her usually cold eyes were now overflowing with love.
Tang Lan smiled and sent another message—
"I've gained a lot this time. I no longer need to maintain a pure Yang body to speed up my cultivation."
Zhu Zhuqing blinked—
Then, realization dawned upon her.
A touch of shyness flickered across her face—
Then, her gaze softened further, filled with seductive charm as she threw a playful wink at Tang Lan.
She opened her delicate lips,
Lightly licking the petal of the Lovesick Heartbroken Red—
Before slowly, bit by bit, consuming it.
That posture.
That expression.
It was as if she was—
"HISSS—!"
This little demoness—
Wait, no!
This BIG demoness!
Tang Lan forcefully suppressed his impulse, quickly looking away—
And accidentally met Tang San's gaze.
"Huh? Little San, why haven't you started absorbing yet?"
Tang Lan asked, puzzled.
But—
Tang San's eyes flickered, and he quietly asked—
"Brother, we all got something… what about you?"
Oh?
Did he think that little Nine-Grade Purple Lingzhi wasn't enough and was now eyeing Tang Lan's private stash?
Heh.
Too bad for you—
Tang Lan actually did have one last immortal herb.
Originally, it was meant to be Tang San's fortuitous encounter,
So Tang Lan hadn't planned to take it out.
But since you asked—
Tang Lan slowly pulled out a small jade bottle.
The moment Tang San saw it—
His eyes nearly popped out of his skull!
"Autumn Water Dew?!"
"Brother!"
"I want it!"
"With this, my Purple Demon Eye can advance to the next realm!"
Tang Lan chuckled coldly in his heart.
He didn't even have to say anything.
"SLAP—!"
That familiar loud smack.
That familiar rhythm.
Tang Hao swung his arm in full force, slapping Tang San repeatedly as he scolded—
"You think you're the only one with Purple Demon Eye?!"
"Little Lan can't use it himself?!"
"How many chances have I given you? You keep failing—yet you still try to snatch things?!"
"If you weren't my flesh and blood, I'd have smashed your head in already!"
"Motherf—!"
"I should've just shot you against the damn wall back then!"
"How the hell did I end up with a son like you?!"
That was both a physical and psychological double attack.
Tang San was completely stunned.
He had just been "negotiating"—why was his father so furious?!
But most importantly—
This time, Tang Lan didn't step in to help him!
—Even a clay figure has a temper. If he kept playing the good guy, it would just look fake.
Sure enough.
Dai Mubai and Oscar, who hadn't yet taken their immortal herbs, looked on with secret joy.
—This little bastard deserved a beating!
Tang Lan put on a reluctant expression.
Then, he raised the Autumn Water Dew bottle to his lips,
Tipped it slightly, and let a few drops of clear liquid fall into his mouth.
At that moment—
The entire Autumn Water Dew plant withered away.
Tang Lan sat down in a meditative position,
Beginning to absorb the medicinal effects.
But in reality—
He was watching the "Tang San Punishment Show" through his Soul Spirit Domain.
Damn!
This little bastard was truly absurd!
Thirteen years had passed, and he hadn't leaked a single secret.
Yet when Tang Lan gave him things, he never refused.
He just took and took—never giving back.
Was he a goddamn Pixiu or something?!
Speaking of which—
It had been a long time since Tang Lan had harvested these immortal herbs.
Where was his system reward?!
Instead of feeling impatient,
Tang Lan hoped it would be delayed even further.
—The longer it took, the better the rewards would be!
Hopefully, it would drop a full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones right into his hands!
Hmm.
That means Tang San can't actually die—otherwise, the reward might get messed up.
Tang Lan opened his eyes, feigning pain.
"Dad, you're making too much noise. It's distracting me from my absorption."
Tang Hao immediately stopped,
Then sent Tang San flying with a kick.
"You're lucky this time!"
"With your brother always protecting you!"
"If you ask me, a rebellious son like you should just—"
"Dad!"
Tang Lan called out helplessly.
Tang Hao's face remained grim, but he didn't continue.
Meanwhile, Tang San, who had just been beaten black and blue,
Could only swallow his anger, crawling to Tang Lan's side.
Only then did he finally breathe a sigh of relief—
It still felt safer next to his brother.
Tang Lan sighed, then closed his eyes again to focus on absorption.
After a brief moment of adjusting his breath, he ate the underaged Nine-Grade Purple Lingzhi,
Beginning its absorption process.
As for Tang Hao—
He just tossed his Nine-Grade Purple Lingzhi into his storage ring
And continued glowering at Tang San.
Even while cultivating, Tang San was breaking into cold sweats from the pressure.
Time Passed.
Night had fallen.
Thick clouds covered the sky, concealing the moon and stars.
The effects of the immortal herbs had begun to show,
Each person experiencing different transformations.
Oscar: The Most Peaceful
He looked like he was napping.
A gentle white mist rose around him, shimmering faintly,
Carrying the fragrant scent of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.
Dai Mubai: The Complete Opposite
His transformation was explosive!
His clothes had been completely burned to ashes,
Revealing muscles flushed a deep red,
Like a freshly boiled shrimp.
A black, sticky liquid seeped from his pores—
The impurities being purged from his body.
But the process…
Dai Mubai was shaking like a malfunctioning engine,
His face twisted in sheer agony!
Even Gu Rong couldn't stand it anymore—
He used soul power to lock Dai Mubai in place,
So he could finally scream out his suffering.
—In one word: MISERABLE.
Yet, despite the unbearable pain,
Dai Mubai endured with determination.
His body, soul power, and even his foundation were steadily rising!
Immortal herbs truly lived up to their name—absolutely incredible!
Ning Rongrong: The Most Stunning Transformation
Her Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone with rainbow-colored light,
Now enveloped by a brilliant golden aura.
This golden light didn't come from the pagoda itself—
But from Ning Rongrong herself.
She radiated a rich floral fragrance,
The scent of the Mystic Golden Titled Chrysanthemum.
With every pulsation of the golden glow,
Her Seven-Treasure Pagoda shimmered even more brilliantly.
Her transformation was beautiful, divine, otherworldly—
Like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens.
Zhu Zhuqing: The Fastest Growth
A red glow enveloped her,
Her aura ethereal and transcendent,
Her power skyrocketing at an astonishing rate.
She was advancing faster than anyone else—
With unparalleled stability and zero pain.
In stark contrast to Dai Mubai's miserable suffering.
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong nodded approvingly.
—Paid users really do get VIP treatment.
The Five Who Took Nine-Grade Purple Lingzhi
Oscar, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Jing Ling, and Zhao Wuji—
All had a very similar reaction.
A gentle violet glow surrounded them,
And just like Dai Mubai,
Their skin secreted a black liquid as the herb cleansed their bodies.
However—
Unlike the aggressive purification of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower,
The Nine-Grade Purple Lingzhi worked gradually and harmoniously.
Its upper limit was lower,
But the process was significantly more comfortable.
Tang Lan: Subtle Yet Profound Changes
His transformation wasn't flashy.
A faint crimson-golden glow surrounded his head,
With silky threads of golden light continuously gathering in his eyes.
The Autumn Water Dew's effects were clearly taking hold.
Meanwhile…
The strange energy fluctuations and fragrant herbal scent leaked through the gaps in the bone barrier,
Drifting into Sunset Forest.
This attracted the attention of several spirit beasts.
Gu Rong, still determined to "wash away his shame,"
Would not let them get close!
He unleashed his full Title Douluo aura,
Sending most of the spirit beasts fleeing in terror.
As for those that were foolish enough to "gamble" their lives—
A single bone spike pierced them through the skull.
—If it came down to a massacre, then so be it. There would be no more disgrace today!
"Oh?"
Gu Rong suddenly smirked,
His gaze shifting toward Tang Lan.
"This spirit beast… might be useful to that little monster."
(End of Chapter.)
Notes-Read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X