"Pavilion Master Zang Xin, please don't joke around. I've already joined the Spirit Transfer Pagoda under Her Majesty, Heavenly Phoenix's faction."
"Naturally, I won't be joining the Tang Sect."
Tang Luochuan suppressed his inner exasperation as he responded.
Join the Tang Sect?
Join his grandmother's leg!
"Zang Xin."
Beside them, Yun Ming remained silent for a moment, his expression dark as he spoke.
He respected Luo Chuan's decision and had already clearly informed the other party beforehand that Luo Chuan had joined the Spirit Transfer Pagoda—no poaching allowed.
After all, the boy merely wanted to visit the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. His attitude toward the Tang Sect's identity had been made abundantly clear the moment he chose not to join.
"Understood, Brother Ming."
"So Young Friend Luo Chuan has already joined the Spirit Transfer Pagoda? What a pity. But since both you and Na'er wish to visit the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, I'll take you there now."
Zang Xin quickly chuckled, cutting off his own line of conversation before turning to the two of them and gesturing for them to come closer.
"Teacher, aren't you coming?"
Tang Luochuan and Na'er approached, and the latter blinked curiously at Yun Ming, her voice soft as she asked.
"Luo Chuan, Na'er, your Senior Zang Xin will take you to the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. I won't be accompanying you."
Yun Ming shook his head lightly with a smile.
As the deputy leader of the Tang Sect and an Ultimate Douluo from the same era as himself—a Four-Word Battle Armor Master—Zang Xin's strength was beyond question. There would be no issues with him escorting the two.
As for Yun Ming, the Atlas Douluo of Shrek Academy, he rarely left the academy grounds these days—precisely to guard against any unforeseen incidents.
After all, the continent hadn't been particularly peaceful in recent years.
"Luo Chuan, Na'er, you're in good hands with me. Brother Ming, Sister Ya Li, I'll take them now."
With another smile, Zang Xin bid farewell to Yun Ming and the others before instantly soaring into the air with Tang Luochuan and Na'er, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
"Zang Xin..."
"I hope he doesn't bring up recruiting Luo Chuan for the Tang Sect again along the way."
Yun Ming sighed softly.
"The Cloud Abyss Pavilion Master didn't come..."
"That's excellent news."
Meanwhile, Tang Luochuan, now beside Zang Xin, inwardly celebrated. While he had expected the Atlas Douluo not to accompany them, it was undoubtedly a favorable development.
In his plan, he intended to provoke a conflict with the Emotion Douluo using the Dragon Souls, thereby seizing the Icefire Yin-Yang Well for the Dragon Valley Small World.
Without the continent's strongest fighter present, just Zang Xin alone would be manageable with the two Dragon Kings of Ice and Fire—no need to reveal the other Dragon Kings.
"This time..."
"Success is guaranteed."
A glint of anticipation flashed in Tang Luochuan's eyes. Beside him, Na'er observed this with curiosity—what was Brother thinking about?
Within moments, Tang Luochuan and Na'er found themselves in a peculiar, vast valley, their destination lying at its very core.
"Just ahead lies the Icefire Yin-Yang Well."
"Our Tang Sect has erected a Protective Array here—ordinary individuals couldn't possibly break through."
Not long after Zang Xin spoke, Tang Luochuan and the other followed him into the protective barrier, quickly descending to the ground.
At this moment, the two were even more astonished. Previously, they had arrived in a desolate valley, yet the scene before them now was unexpectedly vibrant and colorful.
What appeared before them instead resembled a lush forest brimming with vitality. Even the medicinal herbs scattered everywhere exuded an extraordinary aura.
"So this is the forest belonging to the Icefire Yin-Yang Well..."
A trace of amazement flickered in Tang Luochuan's eyes. His impression of the Icefire Yin-Yang Well still dated back to Tang San's era, when it was likely far less magnificent than the sight before him now.
"Indeed."
"Ever since the Icefire Yin-Yang Well came under the Tang Sect's... well, under our protection, without outside interference, the fierce Soul Beasts within have been able to thrive."
"Now, it has gradually evolved into a forest."
Zang Xin smiled as he leisurely explained.
"Protection..."
Hearing this, Tang Luochuan chuckled noncommittally. A nice way to phrase it—but in reality, it was just a means to monopolize the resources, allowing the Tang Sect to continuously harvest the herbs.
Ownership was ownership; there was no need to dress it up in righteous words.
"This is merely the outermost area, equivalent to the periphery of a Soul Beast Forest. The truly top-tier Immortal Herbs, as well as the Icefire Yin-Yang Well itself, lie further within."
"Luo Chuan, Na'er, are you both very interested in the Icefire Yin-Yang Well?"
As he spoke, Zang Xin suddenly asked with a cheerful tone.
"Mhm! I'm very interested in the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. I've also heard there's an Immortal Herb called the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. If possible..."
"Senior Zang Xin, I'd love to see what kind of Immortal Herb it is—perhaps even obtain it in the future."
Na'er answered without hesitation. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red was what intrigued her the most.
"The Lovesick Heartbreak Red? Of course. We can gift it to Na'er later..."
Zang Xin immediately took note of her request. This Immortal Herb, renowned as the flower of unrequited love, was naturally appealing to a young girl.
If there was one here, he could certainly find it for her.
"And you, Luo Chuan?"
Zang Xin turned to the silent young man, speaking softly.
"I've heard stories about this place since childhood and have always been fascinated by it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked Pavilion Master Yun Ming to help me secure an opportunity to visit the Icefire Yin-Yang Well."
Tang Luochuan smiled faintly, speaking candidly.
"Merely looking isn't enough."
"Luo Chuan, how about I help you pick one? With your talent, refining an Immortal Herb would undoubtedly elevate your strength further."
Zang Xin grinned, his gaze lingering on the young man.
"I appreciate Your Excellency Zang Xin's kindness, but as the saying goes, one should not accept unearned rewards. These Immortal Herbs are far too precious—how could they be given to me?"
Tang Luochuan shook his head without hesitation, entirely indifferent to the offer.
"Immortal Herbs are precious, but they are meant for the right people. I believe Young Friend Luo Chuan is worthy of the finest among them. Your future achievements will not be inferior to mine—an Immortal Herb would merely be the icing on the cake."
Zang Xin smiled faintly, speaking with straightforward sincerity.
His words were by no means empty promises. On the contrary, they were as sincere as his attitude. So what if Tang Luochuan joined the Spirit Transfer Pagoda?
As long as the benefits offered were substantial enough, nothing was beyond reach. Hadn't even Mu Ye, the sect master of the Body Sect, joined the Tang Sect and become the branch leader on another continent?
As for Luo Chuan, he was even more connected to the Tang Sect. Such a genius, whose talent surpassed even Yun Ming's—he absolutely had to recruit him!
"..."
"Senior Zang Xin, may I ask—is this your idea, or the Cloud Abyss Pavilion Master's?"
In response, Tang Luochuan shook his head with a smile and countered with a question.
"Of course, it's my own idea."
Zang Xin was momentarily taken aback but still answered.
Shrek and the Tang Sect were closely tied, but they weren't entirely one and the same. Yun Ming's views differed from his.
For instance, Yun Ming respected Luo Chuan's choices.
But he, on the other hand, clearly wanted to bring such a top-tier genius into his sect, to become a future pillar of the Tang Sect.
"The Cloud Abyss Pavilion Master already told me the requirements for obtaining the Immortal Herbs from the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. Knowing I couldn't meet them, I merely came to take a look."
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but it's truly unnecessary."
Tang Luochuan nodded, then smiled. How could he not see the other's attempt at poaching? He inwardly scoffed.
Did they think a single Immortal Herb could buy him over?
Hah, if he took the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, all the Immortal Herbs would be his!
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