"Who do you think you are? How dare you interfere with the Lord's decision!"
Before Yuhao could even respond, Di Tian shouted coldly once more.
The sound wave carried terrifying pressure, rolling forward like a violent storm. A fierce gust of wind surged through the valley, causing the spiritual energy of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes to fluctuate violently. The Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin was so frightened that her flower stem shook uncontrollably, and she no longer dared to utter a single word.
Yuhao paused slightly, his gaze sweeping calmly across the immortal herbs in the lake. After a moment of contemplation, he thought to himself:
"Since these guys are so 'easy to reason with,' I might as well take a bit more. It'll save me from making another trip in the future."
Immediately, Yuhao turned his attention to the delicate apricot-shaped fruits floating in the hot spring lake and spoke in a flat, indifferent tone:
"Hand over the blazing jelly as compensation for your earlier hostility toward us."
Liehuo Xingjiaoshu was furious to the extreme, yet she dared not refute him. Suppressed by Di Tian's overwhelming dragon aura, she could only obediently condense a red, translucent gelatinous substance about the size of a fingernail and float it forward.
This was an extremely precious immortal-grade treasure, personally bred from her origin essence—Liehuo Xingjiao Jelly. It could greatly temper a soul master's physique and even enhance or refine a fire-attribute martial soul.
Yuhao glanced at it briefly, then frowned slightly, his expression instantly turning cold.
"Not enough."
Liehuo Xingjiaoshu's body trembled violently. Under Di Tian's oppressive gaze, she had no choice but to painfully extract another, much larger piece of blazing jelly and present it as well.
Such a quantity of Liehuo Xingjiao Jelly was enough to elevate an ordinary fire-attribute martial soul into the realm of ultimate fire. Even among soul masters, this was a heaven-defying opportunity.
Yuhao originally did not possess a fire-attribute martial soul. However, after fusing with the Eye of the Fire-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast, his Spiritual Eyes had gained a special attribute. It was not pure fire, but a higher-level spiritual flame that carried both mental and elemental characteristics.
Therefore, this blazing jelly would still be of considerable benefit to him.
Holding the blazing jelly in his hand, Yuhao finally revealed a trace of satisfaction. Then, his gaze shifted toward the Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin.
He knew very well that this immortal herb was the true coordinator and spokesperson of all the fairy grasses and elixirs within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes. Even the medicinal and poison records left behind by Tang San were under her control.
There were countless immortal herbs and elixirs in this valley. Naturally, it was impossible for Yuhao to recognize all their properties on his own. What he needed were the Medicinal Chapter and the Poison Chapter.
"Hand over the book from ten thousand years ago," Yuhao said calmly.
The moment these words left his mouth, Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin was struck as if by lightning. Her flower stems swayed violently, radiating panic.
"That is impossible! Since you know of that book, you should understand who entrusted it to me!"
"If you anger him, none of you will be able to escape!"
Yuhao sneered faintly.
"Of course I know his nature. Stop wasting words and hand it over. Otherwise, I'll retrieve it myself."
"N-No… I'll give it to you!"
Seeing Di Tian take a step forward, Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin immediately panicked and hastily stopped him.
Soon after, she produced a completely white book made of an unknown material. The surface was smooth and flawless, untouched by time.
Yuhao accepted it, flipped it open casually, then directly tore off the first two pages and crushed them into fragments.
"It says the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes are a gift from the heavens."
"It says one must not dare monopolize it."
"It says greed and anger are forbidden."
"It says he doesn't know who leaked the path here into his sect."
"It also says he doesn't know who left these so-called 'tests.'"
Yuhao's expression darkened slightly.
"Disgusting."
Yuhao cursed inwardly. Tang San had sealed this place with the Blue Silver Emperor's power and forbidden both humans and soul beasts from entering. The only route leading here was preserved within the Haotian Sect. On the surface, he claimed that only his descendants could obtain the immortal herbs here.
Wasn't this simply treating the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes as his personal backyard, while pretending to be righteous and detached?
It was the classic act of erecting a moral monument while hoarding everything behind the scenes.
Seeing Yuhao tear up the book, Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin could not help but cry out:
"This was written by him ten thousand years ago! It records the effects and usage of all immortal herbs and elixirs!"
"Written by him?" Yuhao laughed coldly.
"That's hilarious. He secretly learned his sect's forbidden techniques, yet still had the nerve to claim authorship."
"You—you are not allowed to insult him!" Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin retorted anxiously.
"He is a good person! He could have taken all of us away back then, but he didn't. He even made long-term plans for us, so that—"
"Enough."
Yuhao interrupted her mercilessly.
"So he let you grow freely, yet left a map within his sect and set up layers of restrictions. Not even his disciples could come here—only his closest bloodline."
"If I'm not mistaken, no one has entered this place for thousands of years."
"This…"
"Other than you… no one."
Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin wanted to refute him, but the words caught in her throat.
Yuhao sneered.
"That's because his daughter has only recently descended into the lower realm. Until then, he wouldn't allow anyone else to touch his 'treasures.'"
"To put it bluntly, this valley is his private forbidden land. You are nothing more than immortal herbs cultivated for his descendants to harvest when the time is ripe."
"This—this is impossible!"
"That's not true!"
One by one, Qiluo Tulip, Octagonal Black Ice Grass, and the other immortal herb soul beasts spoke up in agitation.
Yuhao remained calm.
"Then explain the lingering restrictions and methods he left behind."
Silence fell over the valley. Doubt quietly began to take root in their hearts.
Even so, a proud voice rang out.
"Even if that's true, what makes you any different from him? Aren't you also here for us immortal herbs?"
It was Liehuo Xingjiaoshu.
Yuhao turned around slowly, his expression unchanged.
"You're right. But I never pretended otherwise."
"Unlike him, who spoke of righteousness while acting despicably. He neither allowed others to enter, nor allowed you to leave."
The final words—"not allowed to leave"—struck the hearts of every immortal herb soul beast.
They had developed spiritual intelligence and even reached the level of ten-thousand-year soul beast kings. Yet they were plant-type soul beasts, forever bound to this valley.
Their fate was either to wither and die naturally or be harvested by his bloodline.
Nothing more.
"Then… what can we do?"
Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin sighed softly, her voice filled with helplessness.
Yuhao observed them coldly. He never held much affection for these immortal herbs, believing them to be nothing more than obedient tools, cultivated and controlled for another's benefit.
Originally, he intended to uproot the entire valley when the time was right.
But now, seeing Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin's wavering attitude, a new thought emerged.
After a brief silence, Yuhao spoke:
"I have a way to let you leave this place."
"Any way?"
Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin asked urgently, while the others turned their attention toward him.
"Become my soul rings," Yuhao said calmly,
"and help me ascend to godhood."
The moment those words were spoken, it was as if thunder struck the valley. Deathly silence followed.
After a long while, an ethereal voice echoed:
"Become a god? How is that any different from ascension? Do you really believe your talent surpasses that man from ten thousand years ago?"
Yuhao laughed loudly.
"You dare compare me to that hypocrite?"
"That alone is an insult to me."
His voice rang with absolute confidence.
"I will become a god in this lifetime."
"And not just any god—"
"I will become the co-lord above all gods."