After resting at the Academy for two days, Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Zhang Lexuan set out for the Icefire Yin-Yang Well.
For once, Qian Lingyi did not accompany Zhu Ziyang. Instead, she chose to remain at the Academy to cultivate.
The girl had been deeply shaken by Jiang Nannan. Once, Lingyi had brimmed with pride, convinced she would surpass Jiang Nannan and reach Soul Sage first. Yet in less than half a year, her confidence had been crushed. Jiang Nannan had already broken through to the Soul Sage realm, while she was still stuck at Soul Emperor. She simply couldn't understand—how could Nannan, who had only been a Soul Emperor three or four months longer than her, advance so quickly?
Of course, Qian Lingyi had no idea that Jiang Nannan was a chosen inheritor of a god's position. Zhu Ziyang had deliberately kept that secret from her.
As for Zhu Ziyang himself, he was already more than familiar with entering the Icefire Yin-Yang Well—he had been here so many times before.
Outside the twin springs, Zhu Ziyang held Jiang Nannan in his left arm and Zhang Lexuan in his right. For a fleeting moment, having one beauty on each side nearly made him lose his composure. Fortunately, as soon as they stepped into the spring, Zhang Lexuan gently slipped out of his embrace, leaving him with only a lingering sense of regret.
He had little time to dwell on it. An angry, suspicious voice suddenly rang out:
"Hey—you three humans! Which one of you is Zhu Ziyang?"
Startled, they turned toward the source. At the junction of the Yin and Yang springs swayed a massive pink blossom. Though it had no eyes or mouth, its wrath and killing intent were palpable.
Zhu Ziyang immediately recognized her identity—Qiluo Tulip Immortal Herb, Seagod's agent, the true sovereign of the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, nemesis of poisons, the one Lou'er had once called Youyou.
"So, you're Youyou?" Zhu Ziyang stepped forward, regarding the blossom with a thoughtful look. "I am Zhu Ziyang. What business do you have with me?"
"You're Zhu Ziyang? Good! You've got some nerve coming back here!" Qiluo Tulip's fury only grew. Her petals trembled violently as she thundered, "You vile human! While I slumbered, you actually dared to steal Kuikui and Bingbing away!"
"Steal?" Zhu Ziyang arched a brow. "Watch your words. They left with us of their own free will. I forced no one. In fact, this time I've come to bring away one or two more Immortal Herbs. What do you say to that?"
"You… you… you—!" Qiluo Tulip was so enraged she could no longer speak. Instead, she released a storm of pink pollen. At once, dozens of thick green vines erupted from the ground, lashing at the three intruders.
Zhu Ziyang sneered at the assault. Lifting his hand, he released a gray stream of light that sliced cleanly through the vines. The energy fell at Qiluo Tulip's roots like a warning. All the vines it touched withered instantly, turning black and crumbling into dry husks.
"One more move, and you'll be the next to become fertilizer," Zhu Ziyang said coldly.
"You… you…" Qiluo Tulip quailed in terror. Her petals folded tightly inward, trembling uncontrollably. She had never imagined Zhu Ziyang carried the power of Death itself—an absolute bane to all plant-type soul beasts. Against such a force, she had no defense.
Only after cowing her did Zhu Ziyang turn toward the other Immortal Herbs. Raising his voice, he called:
"Chacha, Jiaojiao—are you awake?"
"I'm here!" A lively voice answered as Fiery Apricot Jiaoshu emerged from the Yang Spring. "Zhu Ziyang, don't bully Youyou! She bears a trace of that person's divine sense. If you kill her, you'll definitely draw that one's attention!"
"Relax," Zhu Ziyang said evenly. "As long as she doesn't strike at us again, I won't harm her." Truthfully, he had no desire to provoke the Seagod prematurely.
"But if you can bring someone from the Tang Sect here and take away what was left in her blossom, then that divine sense will vanish," Fiery Apricot added mischievously, her tone laced with schadenfreude.
"Jiaojiao! How could you tell him that?" Qiluo Tulip was stunned. Her greatest secret had been exposed so easily. Outraged, she cried, "Do you really intend to leave? Don't you still want to become a god?"
"Become a god? Ha!" Fiery Apricot laughed with open scorn. "Youyou, only you would be naive enough to believe that one's empty promises. Stay here if you want, guarding nothing but illusions!"
"No… impossible!" Qiluo Tulip shook her head stubbornly. "That person promised to take us to the God Realm, so it must be true!"
"Hmph!" Fiery Apricot snorted coldly, continuing to argue.
Zhu Ziyang, however, had no interest in listening to two plants bicker. He guided Jiang Nannan to the side of a lush tea plant. The Osmanthus Immortal Tea was already waiting, her voice brimming with joy:
"Nannan, you've finally come! I've waited so long my blossoms nearly withered!"
"So this is the Osmanthus Immortal Tea?" Zhang Lexuan asked in surprise, sensing how deeply this herb resonated with her aura.
"Yes," Zhu Ziyang nodded. "If Chacha hadn't already chosen Nannan, she would've been perfect for you, Lexuan-jie."
"That's right. Chacha, I'm here!" Jiang Nannan's smile bloomed like a flower.
"Hurry, Zhu Ziyang! I can't wait any longer," the tea spirit urged. "You've come here twice already, but each time you took someone else away. I was so anxious!"
"Alright, alright, I know. Let's begin." Zhu Ziyang laughed, then nodded to Nannan. "Get ready—the soul spirit contract starts now."
At his gesture, a silver light enveloped Jiang Nannan where she sat cross-legged before the tea plant. The transformation instantly drew the attention of Qiluo Tulip, Fiery Apricot, and many other Immortal Herbs, most of whom radiated waves of envy.
"Damn it… they've taken Chacha too!" Qiluo Tulip seethed, grinding her teeth. She longed to intervene, but fear of Zhu Ziyang's Death Power kept her in check. Moreover, Chacha's choice to leave was her own.
Once Nannan successfully bonded with Chacha, Zhu Ziyang turned to Zhang Lexuan.
"Now, Lexuan-jie, let's find the Immortal Herb suited for you."
"Alright. Just tell me what to do," Zhang Lexuan replied eagerly, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"First, release your martial soul. Let these herbs sense your aura and qualities. Then I'll ask their opinions."
"No problem!" Zhang Lexuan agreed. Her Moon Martial Soul flared to life, its light illuminating the spring. Seven rings—two purple, five black, one red—shone in succession as gentle moonlight bathed the entire area. Shade-loving herbs swayed joyfully, soaking in the radiance.
"It's moonlight! So warm and soothing!" cried a voice. A striking purple lily, shaped like a dragon's fang when viewed straight on and like a crescent moon from the side, glowed resplendently. Regal and noble, it called out:
"Girl, what's your name?"
"What is this?" Zhang Lexuan asked, startled. She didn't recognize the plant, and turned instinctively to Zhu Ziyang. But even he looked puzzled. For all his vast knowledge, he couldn't identify it.
The lily's petals resembled a Dragon Fang Lily, yet they gleamed with crystalline violet, as if carved from amethyst. The whole blossom shone like a crown of purple crystal, its roots like red agate, its leaves like green jade. The entire plant exuded the aura of wealth and nobility.
"She is Yuyu, the Jade Emperor Purple Lily," Lou'er appeared just in time to explain, relieving their confusion. "She's the eldest among us, with a cultivation nearing two hundred thousand years."
"Jade Emperor Purple Lily!" Both Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan gasped in awe.
Basking in their admiration, Yuyu swayed proudly, her dazzling presence leaving them both deeply curious.
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