It wasn't that Yun Yibai's perception was stronger—he was simply sharper-eyed.
While everyone focused solely on the four Zhuqing Ice Toads, he caught sight of their shadows cast on the ice below.
The ice-blue against ice-blue made them nearly indistinguishable to most, but Yun Yibai's eyes had been honed by the "Wang Chuan Qiu Shui Lu" (Longing-Piercing Dew), granting him piercing vision capable of seeing through mysteries.
Following his gaze, Yang Wudi and the others saw it too: perched at the top of the ice cavern, a lotus.
The Snowheart Lotus floated serenely at the dome's apex, emanating a faint chill. Its heart-shaped, translucent petals gleamed with a soft luminescence, blending with the surrounding frost yet standing apart in elegance and purity. Each petal, carved seemingly from the finest ice, exuded a quiet nobility and icy beauty.
At its center were four deep-blue petals, one fading from blue to white, while the rest remained pure white.
"Ah—an elite herb, the Snowheart Lotus!"
"Unbelievable—it's nearly five thousand years old."
"What's gotten into me? Those top-tier herbs and celestial-grade treasures I longed for, now here they are before me in succession," marvelled Yang Wudi.
"Although this Snowheart Lotus may not rival the heavenly treasures of the Ice–Fire Biaoyi Eye, it remains an extremely rare top-grade herb."
A five-thousand-year-old Snowheart Lotus may not match the value of a nine-grade Purple Ganoderma or a ten-thousand-year Ginseng King, but it's nonetheless extraordinary—capable of improving a soulmaster's cultivation and, for ice-aligned soulmasters, a priceless boost to their martial soul.
"This explains why Zhuqing Ice Toads are here, near the human border of the Northern Region—they intend to feast on the Snowheart Lotus."
"Possessing the bloodline of the Divine Toad, they have a built-in trait for seeking out divine treasures. These four must have detected the Lotus long ago and waited centuries for it to mature."
Du Gu Yan observed, "Quite a lucky discovery!"
Du Gu Bo merely glanced at the Lotus but his focus remained on the four toads.
"You two know more about these beasts," he turned to his companions. "How old are they each?"
Studying their motionless forms—each toad sipping the aura emanating from the Lotus above with their bluish skin glowing under the ice-light—he continued:
"They've already released their deadly cold-hot toad toxin in this ice cavern. Anything that gets too close becomes prey. Only absolute extremes—like absolute fire or absolute ice—can neutralize it. That's part of why they avoid the core of the Northern Region, which is also infested with their natural enemy, the Ice Scorpion."
"Hmm, if I'm right," Yang Wudi added with authoritative confidence, "these four Zhuqing Ice Toads are respectively 3,000 years old, 6,000 years, and two—at 10,000 years."
"A whopping ten thousand years," Du Gu Bo murmured in awe.
3,000, 6,000, and two at 10,000—it looked like a family. But concerning Du Gu Yan's fourth spirit ring, none reached the ideal 7,000+ year mark required.
Yes, Du Gu Bo thought, since she'd already consumed a celestial grade herb, she could probably attempt to take a higher-tier circle—like Yibai's earlier leap past age limits.
Every grandparent dreams of their grandchild's greatness, and with the groundwork already laid, why not aim higher?
But he worried whether she truly could absorb a 10,000-year toad spirit ring. Was that love-lotus herb truly enough to provide a +10-level power surge? It sounded exaggerated.
Sure, a 10,000-year spirit ring would be ideal—but if she failed, a lower-tier circle might be more prudent.
Now came the choice: settle for a lower-age toad for her fourth ring, or take the risk?
"You needn't be so anxious," Yang Wudi saw his hesitation. "Since those toads haven't consumed the Lotus, they are aware of its growing power—and they have awareness."
"Such divine-blooded creatures don't devour at first sight—they wait."
"This Lotus matures only every thousand years—and look: four petals are dark blue, one is turning—almost five thousand years old."
"A regular beast would have devoured it immediately."
Divine beast instincts are something else.
"Your Highness can wait here and observe; I'll take them two on to scout for other suitable beasts—it won't cost much time."
"Yan Yan, what do you think?" Du Gu Bo ultimately yielded the decision to his granddaughter.
"Grandpa, if this toad can yield just one spirit ring, why can't it potentially provide two?" Du Gu Yan smiled.
Her logic broke the deadlock.
Yang Wudi and Du Gu Bo looked at each other, minds now clear: why limit to just one? These Zhuqing Ice Toads could yield multiple spirit rings.
Overall, even the 6,000-year-old toad is fine—perhaps Du Gu Bo had set his ambitions too high.