"Esteemed sirs and lady… will you spare us now?" You You's voice was weak, her petals drooping from lost essence—but she still mustered the strength to beg.
"Brother Junting, look at them," Ning Tian said, her face twisted in rare disgust.
Chen Junting gazed coldly at the groveling herb, a sneer curling his lips. "How fickle—arrogant one moment, submissive the next. Pathetic."
Stripped of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well' power, the seven Fierce Beast Immortal Herbs had been swiftly overwhelmed by the eight Elders—amplified by Ning Bowen's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Infernal Delicate Apricot, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, and Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had their spirits eradicated. Aromatic Silk Beauty's Beautiful Silk Tulip Heart was already in Yang Zihan's hands. Only Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grassal Mysterious Ice Grass, Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, and Beautiful Silk Tulip remained relatively intact.
"Xiao Chen."
"Aunt Yang."
Chen Junting approached Yang Zihan just as she sealed the spiritless Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum—roots, soil, and all—into a soul engineering device, then handed it to him.
"This is Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum," she explained. "A neutral immortal herb. It channels qi through your limbs, purifies your meridians, and forges an unbreakable body. Harmless to you. Once the Golden Bone Immortal Spirit's effects fade, consume it. And because it's a Fierce Beast immortal herb, severing its roots will grant you a 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone."
"Understood, Aunt Yang." Chen Junting accepted it without hesitation—but didn't stow it away immediately. As Yang Zihan turned, he sifted through the flower's stamen, searching for its immortal essence.
Just as he'd expected—nothing.
Meanwhile, Ning Bowen examined a blood-red gemstone beside the fallen Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, his gaze icy as he turned to You You.
"What is this?"
"A drop of Kui Kui's immortal essence," You You mumbled, petals trembling. "If larger, it'd equal a full herb. But Kui Kui hadn't held 100,000 years long—so its essence is weak."
(T/N: Kui Kui is the name of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower)
"Like your Beautiful Silk Tulip Heart," Ning Bowen mused. "Do all immortal herbs produce such essence?"
"Only after reaching 100,000 years—to help them survive heavenly tribulations," You You confessed, thoroughly cowed.
Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Little Eight, and Beautiful Silk Tulip seethed at her spinelessness—but dared not speak under the Title Douluos' glares.
"How potent is this essence?" Ning Bowen pressed.
"At most… it'd purify fire," You You guessed. "No effect on talent or cultivation."
Ning Bowen's eyes gleamed. Perfect. He pocketed the essence, then replanted the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower's seeds before sealing the herb and soil for Elder Wu Yan.
Wu Yan took it, then approached You You for details on Infernal Delicate Apricot. From its core, he extracted a fist-sized, crimson gel—Blazing Resin (Rubber)—its heat warping the air.
"This goes to Xiao Feng," Wu Yan declared, sealing the resin in a soul-preserving device. He hesitated, then left the herb intact. "She'll need its 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone later."
With three spiritless herbs dealt with, all eyes turned to the remaining trio.
"We'll surrender our essences!" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass declared, the calmest of the three. In moments, their petals and leaves wilted as they offered their cores.
"We never sought your deaths," Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass pleaded, bowing low. "We only fought to survive."
The Elders looked to Ning Bowen.
After a pause, he smiled. "Then let's revisit your original rule. If we pass your test… what do we earn?"
Relief flooded the herbs. "Seven immortal herbs!" they cried. "That was the person's decree!"
Ning Bowen nodded to Yang Zihan, who selected five herbs for the elders: Star Luo Holy Pearls (two), Black Jade Divine Bamboo, Phantom Netherbloom, and Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone.
When she reached for a sixth—for Elder Tai Yu—
"Pick Snow Swan Kiss for the sixth," Chen Junting said, handing Tai Yu a golden bead. "Nothing suits a Giant Ape martial soul like Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum's essence. And since Dugu Xin gave us this map, he deserves a herb."
Yang Zihan sighed. "You're right." Under Ning Bowen's silent approval, she plucked the Snow Swan Kiss and handed it to Chen Junting, her tone grave: "Remember—this herb multiplies toxicity a thousandfold. Until that boy transfers his venom into his external soul bone and upgrades it to withstand such potency, do not let him use it."
"Rest assured, Aunt Yang," Chen Junting assured her, stowing the herb.
He really wanted to see if the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Venom, with the addition of the Snow Swan Kiss Immortal Herb, could be considered 'Ultimate Poison'.
The remaining herbs grew uneasy. "Aren't you taking the last herb?" Eight Petal Immortal Orchid urged.
"The last herb I want… is you."
Ning Bowen's eyes locked onto Beautiful Silk Tulip. The herb froze, sap turning to ice. "Y-you promised to spare me!"
"Did I?"
The words—different phrasing, same meaning—cut deeper than any blade.
Two Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagodas manifested. Ning Bowen's voice turned glacial. "I need to break my limits. Your essence alone can only elevate one to the Nine Treasures Pagoda."
Despair crushed Beautiful Silk Tulip.
Then, Eight Petal Immortal Orchid whimpered, "M-my essence can't match Beautiful Silk Tulip's… but it'll get you to Eight Treasures Pagoda! Please spare it!"
Ning Bowen remained unmoved. Eight Treasures? Worthless compared to Nine.
Beautiful Silk Tulip gritted its… petals.
A resplendent golden light erupted—then dimmed. A shrunken essence floated to Ning Bowen, leaving the herb dull and lifeless.
To save itself, it had forcibly extracted its core—reducing its heavenly tribulation survival chance from certainty to 30%.
"This is enough," Ning Bowen said, pocketing the essence. "We honor our word."
He plucked one last herb—Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew—then turned away without a backward glance. "Let's go."
The sect departed as if the valley burned their feet.
Behind them, the surviving herbs wailed in anguish—directing all fury at You You.
"YOU YOU!!!"
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Author's Note:
In my view, any immortal herb can be taken—except the Yearning Heartbroken Red. That one's tied to Tang San's "dog-training" scheme and must remain untouched.
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