"Senior, I've made up my mind. Just as Senior Sister once said—cultivation is like going against the will of heaven. If I don't even have the courage to face this much, how can I talk about the future?"
Gu Han nodded seriously. Although Bibi Dong's earlier words had sounded a little theatrical, he deeply resonated with them. If he couldn't even absorb the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, how could he ever think about what lay ahead?
He might as well stab himself and be done with it.
"Besides, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum shares the same type as your martial soul. If you absorb it, the effects will be even more potent."
"You've got guts, kid," Yue Guan nodded approvingly, then turned to Ghost with a solemn gaze. "Old Ghost, these two immortal herbs must be pulled out at the exact same time. We'll work together—you take the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, I'll take the Infernal Delicate Apricot. We must hand them over to Xiao Han simultaneously."
"Got it!"
Ghost nodded and walked up to the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. The bone-chilling cold made him frown. He enveloped his right hand in soul power to resist the freezing aura.
Yue Guan stepped in front of the Infernal Delicate Apricot, ready as well.
"I'll count down—three, two, one—then we move!"
"Alright!"
Ghost nodded firmly. Gu Han also walked over to the edge of the spring, prepared to jump in the moment he swallowed the herbs.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
Shuaa!!
The two of them, seasoned users of a Spirit Fusion Technique, moved with flawless coordination. In perfect sync, they uprooted their respective herbs.
"Xiao Han!!"
In the blink of an eye, both herbs were infused with soul power and hurled into Gu Han's hands.
Without hesitation, Gu Han caught them, crushed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot together, and swallowed them in one go.
A surge of intense cold and searing heat erupted simultaneously inside his body. Without a second thought, he tossed aside his soul tool and dove straight into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Ah! Junior Brother just jumped in?!"
Bibi Dong was caught completely off guard. She hadn't expected Gu Han to dive into the spring immediately after consuming the herbs. Her eyes widened in shock. Even for Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo, the energy emitted by the spring was nearly unbearable—and her junior brother just jumped right in?! Was he trying to die?
"Your Highness, step back! Don't go near the spring!"
Ghost quickly moved to block her path. Even he could feel the discomfort from the spring's energy. For someone like Bibi Dong, who had just broken through to the Soul Ancestor rank, it was far too dangerous.
Unlike the alarmed reactions of Bibi Dong and Ghost, Yue Guan remained calm and composed.
"You two don't need to worry. With the effects of the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Xiao Han will be fine. In fact, by utilizing the spring's unique energy, he'll be able to absorb the medicinal properties of the herbs more effectively. It's a chance to temper his body through ice and fire."
"I see... You scared me to death."
Bibi Dong let out a sigh of relief, patting her modestly developing chest. For a moment, she'd really thought her junior brother was about to meet his end.
Then, with a huff of irritation, she muttered, "Hmph! Honestly, jumping in all of a sudden like that... made me worry for nothing!"
"Alright, Dongdong, come here," Yue Guan called out, holding a crystal-clear herb that resembled a pale green lotus mixed with white jade. "This is the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone. Absorb it first. By the time you're finished, Xiao Han should be back up."
"This herb strengthens the muscles and bones, clears the meridians, and—most importantly—makes your skin smoother and more radiant."
The first few benefits didn't interest Bibi Dong much, but the last one made her eyes sparkle. She rushed over, took the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, and looked up at Yue Guan with shining eyes.
"Senior Yue Guan, do I just eat it as is?"
"Mm. Eat only the petals, and then suck out the stamen of the herb."
"Got it."
Bibi Dong nodded and followed his instructions, then sat cross-legged to begin absorbing the herb's power.
"Old Ghost, this one's for you. The Yellow Springs Lifesoul Grass has a dark attribute and enhances spiritual power—it's a perfect match for your spirit. Just eat the leaves, avoid the roots."
"I'll keep watch while you all absorb your herbs. Once you're done, I'll go last."
As he spoke, Yue Guan gently plucked the seemingly unremarkable weed that radiated a dark aura and handed it to his longtime partner.
"Mm."
Ghost nodded. He could already feel his martial soul yearning for the herb.
He consumed the Yellow Springs Lifesoul Grass, and instantly felt a warm, powerful force spreading through his meridians—his soul power surged, and even his mental strength was noticeably enhanced.
There was no time for awe. He immediately sat down to absorb and refine the energy, converting it into his own power.
Yue Guan turned to the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, plucked it, and brought it close for a delighted inhale.
"Oh, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum... I never thought I'd live to see you in person."
Since Gu Han had chosen not to absorb it, Yue Guan certainly wouldn't let it go to waste. However, he didn't eat it immediately. He still needed to watch over the others.
Instead, he stood before the pile of immortal herbs and rare flowers, practically bursting with excitement.
He looked like a child in a candy store.
Meanwhile, submerged in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Gu Han felt one side of his body burning hot and the other freezing cold. Even his internal organs mirrored this duality.
It was the truest form of ice and fire coexisting—inside and out.
He began circulating his nameless cultivation technique, channeling and absorbing the twin energies.
Whether ice or fire, under the technique's refinement, both transformed into pure, neutral energy—before being converted into extreme cold-based soul power and stored within his dantian and spirit sea.
His soul power surged rapidly, reaching Level 30 in a short span. The remaining energy was absorbed and stored, waiting to be unleashed after obtaining his next soul ring.
As time passed, Ghost—being the strongest of the three—was the first to complete his absorption.
He opened his eyes, a rare excitement gleaming within them.
"This herb... boosted my soul power by three levels!"
"Even the bottleneck I vaguely sensed before—it's gone!!"
"This herb is truly miraculous!!!"
Keep in mind, Ghost was already Rank 84 Soul Douluo. At such a high level, advancing required an astronomical amount of soul power.
Yet this single herb had pushed him to Rank 87.
And that wasn't all—he could faintly feel that his martial soul had undergone some kind of evolution. Though its appearance hadn't changed, its power clearly had.
Even the lingering internal injuries from his youth had been healed. If he previously believed he might break through to Level 95, now he felt that even 97, 98, or perhaps even 99 were within reach.
How could he not be elated?
Seeing his old friend so thrilled, Yue Guan smiled with quiet confidence. "Of course. These are immortal herbs—treasures that belong in the heavens. It's rare to encounter even one in a lifetime."
"This time, we really owe Xiao Han. Who would've thought there'd be a whole stash of them here?!"
"Indeed."
Ghost nodded. If not for Gu Han's hunch about this place holding immortal herbs, they would never have come—and would've missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Alright, Yue Guan. Let me take over guard duty. You go absorb that Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum now."
"Alright."
Yue Guan nodded. Of all the people on the continent, he knew this herb the best. With that, he sat down and began refining the energy that resonated so deeply with his martial soul.
Not long after Yue Guan began meditating, Gu Han emerged from the spring.
His clothes had been reduced to tatters by the spring's energy, but he remained unfazed. From his soul tool, he retrieved a fresh outfit and calmly changed.
~~~
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