"Senior, I've thought it through. Like I said before—cultivation is like defying the heavens. If I don't even have the courage for this, how could I talk about the future?"
Gu Han nodded seriously. Though Bibi Dong still had that second-year bravado in her words, he agreed with the sentiment. If one couldn't even absorb the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot Delicate, what future was there to speak of? Sometimes, you just had to give yourself a blade to the back.
"Besides, the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum matches Senior's martial soul perfectly. Once you absorb it, the effects will be even greater."
"You're bold, I'll give you that." Yue Guan nodded, then turned to Ghost with a serious look. "Old ghost, these two herbs have to be pulled out at the same moment. You and I will work together. You take the Ice Grass, I'll take the Fiery Apricot. We must hand them to Xiao Han at the exact same time."
"Hmm!"
Ghost stepped toward the Ice Grass, the freezing aura forcing a frown onto his face as he wrapped his right hand in powerful soul power. Yue Guan approached the Fiery Apricot Delicate.
"I'll count—three, two, one, and we move together!"
"Ohnd!"
Ghost focused intently. Gu Han moved toward the spring, ready to leap in the instant he swallowed the herbs.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
Whoosh!
Their martial soul fusion skill gave them perfect synchronicity. Almost at the same instant, they pulled the herbs from the ground.
"Xiao Han!!"
With no delay, they channeled soul power to deliver both herbs straight into Gu Han's hands. He caught them and swallowed them in one motion.
At once, hot and cold energy surged through him. Without a second thought, he tossed aside his soul guide and plunged into the spring.
"Ah! Why did my brother jump in!?"
Bibi Dong hadn't expected that at all. Her eyes widened in shock. Even Yue Guan and Ghost couldn't endure the spring's energy—yet her little brother jumped in headfirst!
"Your Highness, don't get close to the spring!"
Ghost quickly stopped her. Even he felt uncomfortable near this water; for a young soul master like her, it was dangerous beyond words.
Compared to their shock, Yue Guan remained calm.
"No need to worry. With the Ice Grass and Fiery Apricot's power, Xiao Han can handle it. In fact, the spring will help him absorb the herbs more thoroughly—ice and fire training."
"Hah… scared me half to death."
Bibi Dong let out a long breath, patting her chest. She'd really thought he was done for. Then she pouted. "Hmph! Really, jumping in without a word."
"Alright, Xiao Dong, come here. This Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone is for you. Absorb it first—by the time you're done, Xiao Han will be almost finished too."
Yue Guan picked up a crystal-clear plant, white and green like twin lotuses, and beckoned her over.
"After you take this, it will nourish your tendons, strengthen your bones and meridians—and make your skin smoother and more delicate."
The first effects barely moved her, but the last words made her eyes light up. She rushed forward, took the herb, and looked at Yue Guan with sparkling eyes.
"Senior Yue Guan, do I just eat it?"
"Only the petals, then suck the stamens."
"Got it."
She nodded, following his instructions before sitting cross-legged to absorb the energy.
"Old ghost, this Huangquan Life Soul Grass suits your martial soul perfectly. It boosts dark attributes and mental strength. Only eat the leaves, not the roots. I'll protect you while you absorb—after you're done, I'll take mine."
With care, Yue Guan plucked the dark, weed-like herb and handed it to Ghost.
"Hmm."
Ghost could feel his martial soul's craving for it. Once he swallowed the leaves, a vast yet gentle energy spread through his body, flooding every meridian. Even his mental strength sharpened.
He wasted no time, sitting cross-legged to refine it.
Meanwhile, Yue Guan approached the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, inhaling its fragrance with intoxicated joy.
"Qirong Tongtian Ju… I never thought I'd see you in my lifetime."
Since Gu Han had chosen not to take it, Yue Guan wouldn't waste the chance—but for now, he kept watch over the others, happily fussing over the pile of immortal herbs like a child with treasures.
Inside the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, Gu Han felt half of his body frozen, the other half blazing. The heat and cold even battled within his veins.
Running his nameless secret art, he refined the opposing energies into pure, attribute-less power, which then condensed into ice-cold soul power in his dantian.
His level quickly surged to 30, with excess energy still flooding in, ready to explode once he gained his next soul ring.
Time passed. Ghost, with the highest cultivation, finished first. His eyes shone with excitement.
"This herb increased my soul power by three levels! And the bottleneck I felt before—gone!"
"You're telling me… I'm at level 87 already!"
For a level 84 Soul Douluo, such a leap was nearly impossible. Yet here it was—not only had his strength surged, but his martial soul felt subtly evolved, hidden injuries healed. Where before he'd only dared dream of level 95, now 97… even 98 or 99 felt within reach.
Yue Guan smiled knowingly. "Of course. This is an immortal herb—something from the heavens themselves. How could mortal treasures compare? We owe this all to Xiao Han."
"True." Ghost nodded. Without Gu Han's guidance, they might never have come here in their lifetimes.
"Alright, I'll watch over you now. Absorb that Chrysanthemum."
"Alright."
Knowing this plant better than anyone, Yue Guan sat cross-legged, refining the energy that matched his martial soul perfectly.
Just as he began, Gu Han leapt out of the spring. His clothes had been destroyed by the water, but he didn't panic—he simply took out a fresh set from his soul guide and dressed himself.
(End of Chapter)