Upon Xue Qinghe's reminder, Wu Tong finally recalled the matter of compensation.
"Has Brother Xue decided which two immortal herbs you wish to exchange?" he asked without preamble.
Xue Qinghe saw no need for pretense—Wu Tong would learn soon enough. "Naturally. I've settled on the Heavenly Heart Orchid and the Leaf of Vitality."
The Heavenly Heart Orchid, a supreme-grade herb, could heal mortal wounds and purge foreign contaminants, restoring even the dying to peak condition. The Leaf of Vitality, equally precious, contained such concentrated life energy that it could reverse aging and extend one's lifespan.
Wu Tong showed no particular reaction to Xue Qinghe's choices—how the prince used the herbs was none of his concern. With a flick of his wrist over his taiji bracelet, two jade boxes materialized in his hands.
"Here you are," Wu Tong said, passing the containers to Xue Qinghe. "Guard them well. If they're lost, don't expect replacements—I've no duplicates of these."
Xue Qinghe chuckled at the admonition. "Ever the perfectionist. Rest assured, I'd misplace my own head before these treasures."
"Good. The consumption methods are inscribed on the boxes—no need for further explanation."
Having concluded their transaction, Wu Tong turned eagerly to the two spirit beasts, poised to absorb their rings.
"Brother Xue, I'll need you to stand guard while I assimilate these."
"Of course. Though no powerhouse, I'm more than capable of warding off interruptions."
Xue Qinghe understood Wu Tong's urgency—what soul master wouldn't hunger for new rings?
No sooner had he spoken than Wu Tong struck. A single palm strike and fist thrust, sharp as blades and unstoppable as tides, slammed into the beasts. Hidden energy channeled through the blows shattered the Voidbloom's stem and liquefied the Spirit Cicada's brain, extinguishing both creatures instantly.
As the beasts expired, two profound black spirit rings coalesced above their corpses. Without hesitation, Wu Tong willed the rings toward himself, settling them over his body as he closed his eyes in concentration.
The rings bucked violently against absorption, but what resistance could dead things offer that living beings had failed? Slowly, inexorably, Wu Tong assimilated them.
[Alert: New spirit ring modules detected. Analyzing...][Analysis complete. Acquired skills: Hall of Wisdom, Absolute Focus, Photosynthesis, Devour...]
Wu Tong paid little mind to Wisdom King's mechanical announcements. So long as the analysis commenced, the desired skills were guaranteed. His focus remained on channeling the rings' energy through Infinite Origin's conversion.
Six hundred twenty-one... six hundred twenty-two... six hundred thirty... six hundred forty.
By the time the last wisp of energy settled, twenty additional acupoints within Wu Tong's body blazed with power.
——
Nearby, Xue Qinghe observed Wu Tong's absorption process until certain no issues would arise, then turned his attention to the herbs in hand—and the schemes they enabled.
The Heavenly Heart Orchid was Qian Renxue's personal safeguard, meant to purge inner demons and resolve her fractured psyche.
The Leaf of Vitality, however, had been Emperor Snow Night's request.
To the aging ruler, his crown prince was the model of filial piety—gentle, respectful, ever-dutiful in tending his father's illnesses with personally prepared tonics. Surely, Snow Night mused, Qinghe would rejoice at my restored health.
How could he know his "son" was an imposter? That every "tonic" had been poison? That his very illnesses were orchestrated?
Had the truth been known, Snow Night would never have entrusted Xue Qinghe with this exchange. Yet fate's irony ran deep—not only had the prince come, but every attendant was a planted agent of the Spirit Hall.
"Extend your lifespan, Snow Night? How quaint."
Xue Qinghe's fingers tightened around the jade box. "Decades as crown prince are enough. The throne is overdue for new ownership."
Cold calculation crystallized in his mind. An "accidental" overdose of life energy would leave no evidence—just scattered ashes even resurrection couldn't mend.
No wonder Xue Qinghe's patience had frayed. After fifteen years of meticulous infiltration, just as Snow Night teetered on death's edge, the old fool sought to cling to life for decades more?
Unacceptable. This delivery would be the emperor's last.
——
While Wu Tong honed new skills and Xue Qinghe plotted regicide, turbulence stirred in another world.
Gu Ruoyi stared at the vial of third-generation angel genes obtained from He Xi through backdoor dealings, her hands trembling with exhilaration.
At last—
Though the price had been light, the weight of owed favors chafed. Yet the reward justified all: survival in this world's perilous dawn.
Wasting no time, Gu Ruoyi uncorked the vial and drank deeply.
"Mm? Sweet and tangy—better than expected."
No horrific aftertaste assaulted her—just a pleasant, juice-like flavor. Even as she marveled at this, overwhelming drowsiness struck like a tsunami.
Without even time to panic, consciousness fled.
...
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