Chapter 54: The Carved-Leaf Purple Fairy Violet
After arranging Xiao Wu's food, clothing, and lodging, Ning Bei planned to visit Dugu Yan. Of course, the main reason was still to check the Eyes of Ice and Fire to see if the immortal herb the Ten Thousand Monster King had mentioned really existed there.
Setting out from Seven Treasure City with practiced ease, Ning Bei soon arrived at a small town on the edge of Sunset Forest and headed straight for Dugu Bo's courtyard.
"Yan Zi, I've come to see you."
The fourteen-year-old Dugu Yan had already blossomed into a graceful young lady. Her chest was no longer the flat plain of years past—there was now some shape to it. She skillfully leapt into Ning Bei's arms, where he caught her, and offered him a fragrant kiss.
"Ah Bei, didn't you say you were going to obtain your sixth spirit ring? Have you already succeeded?"
Setting her down, Ning Bei looked at the girl before him. He had to admit, youths in the Douluo Continent matured quickly. According to Oscar's theory, by the time Oscar's father was this age, Oscar was already born.
"That's right, I've successfully obtained my sixth spirit ring. You may now call me Emperor Ning."
The young woman rolled her eyes in an elegant yet amused manner. Over the years, she'd grown used to Ning Bei's occasional bouts of showboating.
"Alright, alright, Lord Emperor Ning, may this humble girl have the honor of seeing your sixth spirit ring?"
Last year, Ning Bei had already told Dugu Yan the true abilities of his martial soul. Back then, she had scolded him for deceiving her for so long, so there was no longer any need to hide it.
"It's a forty-thousand-year-old Pure Water Profound Turtle spirit ring. Now I can produce a kind of pill called the Dou Ling Pill, which can raise a Spirit King's spirit power by one level. You're about to break through to Spirit King yourself, aren't you? You can take it when the time comes."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up at the description. The idea of leveling up without cultivating was just too wonderful. She took the jade bottle Ning Bei handed her, shot him a "you know your place" look, and promptly pulled him into the house.
Inside, Dugu Bo was mixing poisons. When he saw the two of them walking in hand in hand, he shifted his gaze to them.
"So, brat, you're here? How's it going? Have you become a Spirit Emperor?"
"Hello, Grandpa Dugu. Yes, I am now a Spirit Emperor."
At his side, Dugu Yan teased,
"Grandpa, mind your words—he already told you, you should call him Emperor Ning now."
Dugu Bo almost couldn't keep a straight face.
"Oh? Is that so? Then should this old man change how I address you?"
Ning Bei shot Dugu Yan a glance—was this how you undercut your own man? He then turned to Dugu Bo with an awkward smile.
"That won't be necessary. Just call me the same as before. 'Brat' sounds just fine."
After chatting for a while, Dugu Bo also learned the special effects of Ning Bei's sixth spirit ring and sighed over how he'd never met such a cheat-like ally to help him soar in strength instantly.
He also began to look forward to Ning Bei's level rising even higher—perhaps one day there would be a pill suitable for Title Douluo, in which case he could truly rise with the tide.
"Grandpa Dugu, take me to the Eyes of Ice and Fire again. I need to look for a medicinal herb there."
At Ning Bei's words, Dugu Bo's mental alarms went off instantly. Was this brat trying to harvest his crops again?
"Brat, what kind of trick are you pulling this time?"
Knowing what Dugu Bo was thinking, Ning Bei answered honestly,
"I need to find a herb with blue-violet petals. It can help my spirit beast evolve its bloodline, but it has no effect on humans and may even be highly poisonous."
Only then did Dugu Bo nod. If Ning Bei's spirit beast became stronger, it would mean Yan Yan would be safer with him in the future, so he put aside his stinginess.
"Alright, let's go then."
He said no more and took Ning Bei and Dugu Yan flying straight toward the forest's depths.
They passed through the poison fog with practiced ease, and the twin-colored spring once again came into view.
"Go look for it yourself. I won't disturb you."
Ning Bei nodded and began searching among the herb patches.
Before long, he really did find a herb in a corner that matched the Ten Thousand Monster King's description. Its petals were purple-blue, somewhat like a poppy flower.
Excited, Ning Bei approached the herb, summoned the Pill Tower, and stored it inside.
The name "Carved-Leaf Purple Fairy Violet" surfaced in his mind—a highly poisonous plant that could, with some chance, elevate a plant's life level. For humans, consuming it meant certain death.
Seeing Ning Bei store the herb, Dugu Yan's face lit up with excitement as she walked over, and Dugu Bo's gaze also turned to him.
"Ah Bei, how is it? Is that the herb you were looking for?"
Ning Bei nodded.
"That's the one. With this, my Demonic Eye Magic Tree might complete its transformation."
"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up!"
Under the curious gazes of the grandfather and granddaughter, Ning Bei summoned the Demonic Eye Magic Tree from the Pill Tower.
A tree nearly ten meters tall with purple branches appeared before them.
The spirit beast, nicknamed Yao Yao, glanced around. Its tree-like eyes looked questioningly at Ning Bei, as if asking why he had disturbed its cultivation since there was no battle going on.
Ning Bei silently marveled at the patience of plant-type spirit beasts—they could stay in the Pill Tower forever if undisturbed.
Without explanation, he took out the Carved-Leaf Purple Fairy Violet and placed it in front of Yao Yao.
Its tree eyes never left Ning Bei's hand. The herb's allure to it was overwhelming.
Its branches began to tremble wildly, as if asking whether the herb was really for it.
Ning Bei nodded and handed it over.
Without the slightest hesitation, Yao Yao swallowed the herb in one gulp, then rooted itself into the ground to absorb its medicinal power.
Now all they could do was wait.
Dugu Bo clicked his tongue in amazement at the sight of the tree entering cultivation.
"Where did you learn that this herb could evolve a plant-type spirit beast?"
Ning Bei shot him a mysterious look, deciding to give him a scare.
"It was a senior Demonic Eye Magic Tree with a cultivation of five hundred thousand years who told me. Yao Yao is its junior, entrusted to me to raise."
As expected, Dugu Bo's eyes widened.
"Brat, you're making that up! How could there be a five-hundred-thousand-year spirit beast?"
It wasn't strange for him to think so—he'd run from hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts himself, never daring to stir trouble in the Star Dou Forest's core.
"It's true. And the Emerald Swan was also given to me by a senior with more than five hundred thousand years of cultivation."
The message was clear: be careful how you treat me—I have more than just two Title Douluo behind me.
Dugu Bo clicked his tongue again.
"You little monster only meets old monsters."
You're the monster—your whole family's monsters! …Well, now I guess I count as part of that family too.
Yao Yao took even longer to absorb the herb than Ning Bei expected. Seven days passed with it still rooted and motionless. Sword Douluo even came once, worried that Ning Bei was in danger, but relaxed when he saw they were just helping a spirit beast advance before returning to the sect.
On the eighth day, under the watchful eyes of the group, Yao Yao finally began to stir.
(END CHAPTER)
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