On the journey home, Yang Fan obsessively pondered the Breaking Clan's "auto-soul ring" curse.
A terrifying idea surfaced:
Ring Detonation!
But he quickly dismissed it.
Soul rings were part of a soul master's essence. Detonating one risked catastrophic backlash—severe power loss or instant death.
Though… Ring Detonation did exist.
It was one of Hao Tian Sect's secret techniques.
Upon detonation, the ring's energy would erupt, channeling entirely into the user's attack—a desperate trump card for overcoming stronger foes.
Rumors claimed recovery took three days, with a 36-day cooldown before reuse… or permanent loss.
Meaning…
Soul rings could be permanently destroyed.
What happened afterward? That was unknown.
If the energy permanently fused with the soul master… it would revolutionize cultivation.
Yang Fan shared this theory with Yao Lao.
Yao Lao's reply was blunt: "Madness."
Then he asked the critical question: "How do you detonate a ring?"
Yang Fan had no answer.
Only Hao Tian Sect held that secret—and even their own clansmen were barred from learning it. It would never leak to the general Douluo Continent.
…
Time flew.
The clan's caravan soon reached Yunluo City.
Before they even entered the gates, a clansman rushed to Yang Wudi:
"Bai He and the Speed Clan have arrived!"
It was no surprise to Yang Fan.
With the Four Attributes Sects' gathering mere days away, Bai He—Yang Wudi's closest brother—always arrived early and left last.
"Old White Bird?!" Yang Wudi boomed with laughter, handing his luggage to a clansman and striding toward the hall.
Clansmen exchanged bewildered glances.
They hadn't heard their chief laugh so freely in years.
Later, those who'd accompanied him to Star Luo City revealed: the trip succeeded beyond hope. Not only was the Star Luo noble channel secured, but the Zhu Family became their largest client. Only grandfather and grandson knew the full story.
…
"Old White Bird! Didn't expect you to be so early!" Yang Wudi's voice preceded him into the hall.
Bai He was Yang Wudi's dearest brother in Douluo. Only here did Yang Wudi shed his burdens.
"Old Goat!" Bai He shot back.
Yang Fan nearly choked.
Only the other three sect heads used this nickname—earned not from his martial soul, but his stubbornness.
After warm embraces and chatter, Yang Fan noticed Bai Chenxiang had grown taller. At seven, she'd become a true soul master.
"Ah… this must be Yang Fan?" Bai He's expression shifted the moment Yang Fan stepped forward.
"Brat! Vanishing without a word—do you know how worried your grandfather and the entire Breaking Clan were? Next time, Old Bai won't spare you!"
Normally, elders would inquire about a youth's cultivation. But Bai He directly avoided it.
He'd already learned Yang Fan was "only" a one-ring soul master at nine—a disappointment for one with innate full soul power.
Yet understandable. Three years alone must've hindered his training.
His own fault for running off!
Bai He's heart softened. He reached to ruffle Yang Fan's hair—but Yang Wudi smoothly intercepted.
"Xiao Fan, take Chenxiang out to play. Your Grandpa Bai and I have much to discuss."
Play?
Yang Fan sighed inwardly. She's just a little girl.
But as host, he led her out.
Bai Chenxiang, shy yet brave, tilted her head:
"Yang Fan… I heard you're a fire-attribute soul master?"
"Yeah? What about it?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Can you… warm flatbread? Like, hold it in your palm until it's crispy?"
She mimed it earnestly.
Good heavens.
Yang Fan's heart ached. How destitute must the Speed Clan be for her to dream of warmed bread?
"You have bread… do you have fire?" her hopeful gaze seemed to ask.
"Sure," Yang Fan said. "But answer me one thing first."
As predicted, she pulled two flatbreads from her tiny satchel.
"Ask away!" she chirped.
"Is Grandpa Bai still carrying the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng?"
Her face froze. She stuffed the bread back. "Not hungry."
And fled.
'Seven-year-olds aren't that gullible!' Yang Fan sighed.
But he was certain: the ginseng had to be on Bai He. The penniless Speed Clan had nowhere else to hide it.
…
That evening, Yang Fan visited Bai He's room.
"Grandpa Bai, I brought hot water. Do you need anything else?"
"I'm just an old man—no need to fuss over me."
Seeing Yang Fan linger, Bai He sighed. "Is there something else?"
"Nope." Yang Fan turned to leave… then doubled back.
"Grandpa Bai… I found this in the soul beast forest. It boosts speed. As a pure agility-type Soul Douluo, you'd know what it is."
He placed the Yin Wind Pearl in Bai He's palm.
"This… Swift Wind Pearl?" Bai He murmured (though Yang Fan knew it as the Yin Wind Pearl).
"It does enhance speed," he admitted, testing it in the room.
Whoosh—!
Even Yang Fan's eyes couldn't track him. Pure agility-type Soul Douluo speed, amplified by the pearl, left only empty air where Bai He stood.
"Excellent! Truly remarkable," Bai He breathed. For ordinary soul masters, it was trivial. For him? Irresistible.
Then his face hardened. "You're after the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng."
Caught red-handed.
Yang Fan dropped the act. "Grandpa Bai… trade this Swift Wind Pearl for your ginseng?" He grinned.
"Hmph! That old man couldn't pry it from me—now the brat tries?" Bai He snorted. "No."
Expected. The ginseng's value dwarfed the pearl's.
"What if I add 10,000-year Fire Spirit Grass?"
"No."
"Fire Spirit Grass and the pearl?"
"No."
"Plus 10,000-year Golden Sun Ganoderma?"
"No."
Yang Fan's scalp tingled.
Grandfather's 'goat stubbornness'? Bai He's is worse!
Desperate, he pulled out an eight-petaled orchid, snow-white and luminous.
Silence.
No words—just let the immortal herb's aura strike Bai He's soul.
"This…?" Bai He's ancient eyes gleamed. He couldn't name it, but sensed its divinity.
"This is the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid," Yang Fan said softly. "It boosts soul power dramatically. Purifies meridians and expels impurities."
In terms of quality? It far surpassed the ginseng.
However, Yang Fan willingly took this loss—for Yao Lao's soul restoration.
And only because the owner was Grandpa Bai, his grandfather's dearest brother.
For anyone else? He'd already be plotting a "free acquisition."
"Magnificent… a true divine treasure," Bai He murmured. The Yang family truly thrives.
"Now can we trade?" Yang Fan pressed.
By any logic—quality, utility—the orchid was superior. Only a fool would refuse.
"No."
"No?!" Yang Fan snatched the orchid and stormed out.
Old man… utterly useless!
Now he understood why the Speed Clan remained destitute despite having a Soul Douluo. Bai He had zero business sense.
Why is the ginseng so precious to him?
Was there a tragic love story hidden that he didn't know about?
Grandfather was right: Bai He valued it more than his own life.
"Brat!" Bai He's voice halted him at the door. "I don't know where you got that orchid… but never flaunt such treasures publicly."
Yang Fan froze.
He understood.
A single immortal herb could ignite bloodshed across the continent.
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