"Yang'er, what do you think about your teacher absorbing the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid?"
After reading the notes, Ning Fengzhi looked at Xu Yang—who was teasing Ning Rongrong—and asked.
"Why doesn't Teacher absorb theBeautiful Silk Tulip instead?" Xu Yang asked, slightly puzzled. "While the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid has mild and rich medicinal properties, is easy to absorb, and helps in strengthening one's foundation and purging internal impurities, it takes a long time to fully refine. It's more suitable for someone like Rongrong, who hasn't fully matured yet."
Ning Fengzhi had been stuck at Rank 79 for several years already. He had accumulated enough, and his cultivation had reached a bottleneck. Although the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid could potentially evolve a martial soul, the time required was excessive. Instead, it would be more beneficial for Ning Rongrong—who had yet to awaken her martial soul. Even if she didn't fully absorb it in four years, it could still help evolve her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"I just wanted to save the Beautiful Silk Tulip for Rongrong," Ning Fengzhi shook his head and explained. "According to your notes, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid primarily improves cultivation aptitude, and there's no absolute guarantee it will evolve a martial soul. Since I've already accumulated enough, I might be able to use its medicinal power to break the limitations of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and reach the Nine Treasures level. It's just a safer option."
"Well, since I've already handed over the immortal herbs to Teacher, it's up to you how to use them."
Although Xu Yang didn't quite agree, he still respected Ning Fengzhi's decision.
What followed was the refinement process. Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were summoned. Sword Douluo was the first to refine the Black Jade Divine Bamboo. The process took less than half an hour. While his soul power didn't increase, the sharpness of the Seven Kill Sword became even more intense, and its potential was enhanced.
"I feel like after a bit more cultivation, I'll reach Rank 97,"
Dustheart (Chen Xin) whispered, gripping his Seven Kill Sword.
The Black Jade Divine Bamboo didn't enhance soul power—it improved the martial soul itself, particularly its sharpness and toughness, boosting the soul master's potential.
Chen Xin had been stuck at Rank 96 for many years. His inability to break through stemmed from a misstep in his mindset after his father was killed by Qian Daoliu. He had believed that soul power was everything and lost absolute confidence in the Way of the Sword.
Although his mindset hadn't changed much, the Black Jade Divine Bamboo enhanced his potential, giving him a renewed chance to improve—thus enabling a breakthrough.
"My turn!"
Seeing that Chen Xin had finished absorbing, Gu Rong sat cross-legged without hesitation and downed the Land Dragon Golden Melon in two gulps, starting the refinement process.
The Land Dragon Golden Melon contained true dragon aura—it had absorbed a wisp of dragon energy from the Ice and Fire Double Headed Dragon Kings during its growth.
For Gu Rong, this was an immense supplement. His martial soul was the top-tier spatial-traversing Bone Dragon. Absorbing that dragon aura, even if it couldn't evolve his martial soul, would still greatly improve its quality. Most importantly, it had the effect of enhancing soul power.
"Hahaha! Old Sword, I'm Rank 96 now. Let me show you what I'm made of!"
After refining the gourd, Gu Rong burst into laughter and turned to the calm-faced Sword Douluo, provoking him.
Although Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo were lifelong friends, they had also been rivals for life—never yielding to the other. In their past duels, Gu Rong rarely won due to a gap in soul power and the dominance of the Seven Kill Sword.
But things were different now. Their soul power was equal, and Gu Rong's martial soul had also evolved. He didn't believe he'd still lose to this old bastard.
He felt terrifyingly strong.
"Then come and try me."
Chen Xin responded, his eyes filled with battle intent. At some point, the Seven Kill Sword had already returned to his hand.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone—let us finish absorbing our immortal herbs first. You'll have plenty of time to spar afterward. Besides, Rongrong still needs both of you to take care of her!"
Seeing the two elders ready to clash, Ning Fengzhi quickly stepped forward to mediate.
At the mention of "Rongrong", the two elderly men instantly calmed down and softened their expressions. Smiling kindly, they walked up to Xu Yang and extended their hands gently:
"Rongrong, come to Grandpa Sword!"
"Get lost, old Sword! Rongrong would never choose you!"
"..."
The two elders began quarreling again right in front of Xu Yang.
"No! I want big brother to hold me!"
Ning Rongrong shook her head, burying it in Xu Yang's chest, completely ignoring the two old men.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong stood frozen, as if their souls had left their bodies. They couldn't believe that after spending so much time with Rongrong, she still preferred a kid who only accompanied her occasionally.
Xu Yang gave a helpless smile, gently patting Ning Rongrong's back.
"Rongrong, big brother has something important to do. Can you stay with your two grandpas for a while?"
"...Okay then!"
Hearing that, Rongrong reluctantly slid out of Xu Yang's embrace, looking back with every step as she walked toward her grandpas.
Xu Yang gave them an apologetic smile, then slowly walked to the side. Ignoring the dirt on the ground, he sat down cross-legged and pulled out the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower from his Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse to begin absorption.
Absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was unlike any other immortal herb. It required one to circulate soul power to guide and absorb its medicinal energy. The process was incredibly painful. If interrupted halfway, a large portion of its energy would be wasted.
As his soul power enveloped the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and channeled its essence into his body, Xu Yang was immediately overwhelmed by a blazing heat like never before. It felt as if he was being roasted alive. His clothes instantly disintegrated into ashes, revealing his impressively toned body. His skin flushed red, like a freshly cooked shrimp.
Layer upon layer of black, oily sweat oozed from every pore—skin, face, and even hair. With every layer of impurity expelled, his physique became more sculpted, more perfect.
His once jet-black hair now shimmered faintly with a dark crimson hue under sunlight.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi and Madam Ning also consumed their respective herbs—the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone,
A thick white mist enveloped Ning Fengzhi's entire body. As he inhaled and exhaled, the mist flowed into his nose and mouth.
Madam Ning's transformation wasn't as visually dramatic, but her skin turned smoother, more supple, and radiant like fine mutton-fat jade—breathtakingly beautiful.
Elsewhere, after much internal struggle, Ning Haiyan finally decided to eat the strange purple Ganoderma. His sole reason: he trusted that Xu Yang would never harm him.
After consuming the herb and circulating his soul power to refine it, purple light radiated from his body. Like the others, layers of dark sweat emerged from his pores, filling the room with a strange odor.
The fastest to refine the medicinal energy was Ning Fengzhi—not only due to his high cultivation, but also because the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid was particularly easy to absorb. Most of its energy would linger in the body, gradually integrating over time.