Early in the morning, after Oscar and Dugu Yan packed their belongings, they set off directly with Gai Yue. Their destination was the Far North, a place north of the continent known as the Forbidden Zone of Humanity.
The Far North was called the Forbidden Zone because of its extreme cold. Ordinary humans and beasts could not survive there; only powerful soul beasts could live in such a place.
To most people, the danger of the Far North was no less than that of the Star Dou Great Forest. In fact, this was true: both the size of its territory and the number of soul beast populations were not any fewer than in the Star Dou. The only difference was that 99.9% of the soul beasts in the Far North possessed water or ice attributes. Only a very tiny fraction had undergone some sort of mutation.
The reason Oscar chose this bitter and desolate land for his fourth soul ring was his own decision. His target was a special soul beast that only lived in the Far North.
Dugu Yan accompanied him because her soul power had already reached the peak of level 39, just a step away from level 40. She could possibly break through within a month. By traveling with Oscar, she could directly search for a suitable soul ring once she advanced.
Moreover, the soul beast Oscar sought was considered top grade even among the creatures of the Far North. Finding one would require some serious luck.
Oscar was prepared for a long stay, but after telling Gai Yue what kind of soul beast he needed, Gai Yue seemed to know something about its whereabouts.
Before joining Shrek Academy, Gai Yue had lived in seclusion in the Far North for cultivation.
Since his Frost moon Sword carried an ice attribute, the Far North was the perfect place for him, like a natural training ground.
Having lived there for decades, Gai Yue knew the land well. Thus, the three encountered no major delays or accidents, and within just half a month, they reached the outskirts of the Far North.
Guided by Gai Yue, they went directly to his former residence inside the region.
His retreat was located in the inner zone of the Far North, where thousand year soul beasts and tenthousand year soul beasts overlapped. To survive there required at least the strength of a Soul King.
To live there long term and ensure one's safety, the cultivation of a Soul Emperor was the bare minimum.
After all, soul beasts in the Far North received a natural boost from the environment. Their strength far surpassed soul masters of the same level unless the master's attribute matched the land.
Gai Yue's home was a beautiful courtyard carved halfway up an icy mountain. Even though he had been away for over three years, apart from thick layers of snow, the place was spotless, not even a weed in sight.
A wooden cabin stood quietly, undisturbed by soul beasts, making it a natural place for seclusion.
When they arrived at this paradise like place, Oscar did not rush to acquire his fourth soul ring. Instead, he took out something he had long prepared the Lovesickness Heartbreak Red.
Yes, it was that legendary immortal grade herb, the so called Emperor of Immortal Plants. At Shrek Academy, Oscar had never taken it out for Dugu Yan, because Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had not been given any immortal herbs either not even the lower tier Nine Grade Mysterious Ginseng.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Oscar simply never revealed it.
Besides, at that time, Dugu Yan's body had just been detoxified and was still being nourished, not suitable for consuming such a potent treasure.
Now that her body had fully recovered, taking the immortal herb posed no issue.
When Dugu Yan saw Oscar take out the Lovesickness Heartbreak Red, she immediately recalled the tragic yet beautiful love story he once told her.
Long ago, there was an extraordinary young man. Gentle by nature, he loved tending flowers and plants, surrounding himself with lotuses, orchids, and countless blossoms.
He often recited poems to the flowers, toasted the moon, and whenever petals fell, he was filled with sorrow. He would carefully collect the fallen petals, bury them, and weep over them.
It was said that his deep love for flowers touched the Flower Fairy in the heavens. She descended to the mortal world and married him. From then on, the two lived in harmony, joy, and love.
But the happiness did not last. The gods discovered this union and, angered that immortals and mortals could not be joined, ordered the Flower Fairy back to the divine realm. The young man, heartbroken, fell into despair, abandoning his garden. His once vibrant yard grew desolate.
When Dugu Yan first heard this story, her eyes grew moist.
One day, a white haired old man came and told him that his beloved white peony in the garden was his wife's incarnation. If he destroyed the flower, she would lose her immortal body and fall to the mortal realm to be with him again. But he must never abandon his care for the flowers.
The old man vanished into the wind.
The young man, realizing his neglect, regretted it deeply. He cared for the garden again, cherishing the peony even more. Though he loved his wife, he could not bear to destroy the flower. He wept day and night, until his heart broke from lovesickness and he died. At his death, his blood fell upon the petals of the flower, giving birth to the Lovesickness Heartbreak Red.
Though the tale seemed fanciful, it was profoundly moving and the herb indeed deserved the title "Emperor of Immortal Plants."
After all, in the original story, Xiao Wu could only revive after her sacrifice because she had consumed the Love sickness Heartbreak Red. Otherwise, Tang San would have lost her forever.
Now, standing before Dugu Yan, Oscar held this extraordinary herb. It looked like an ordinary white peony, palm sized, without leaves, its root attached to a pitch black stone. The flower carried streaks of bloodred, making it appear both eerie and breathtaking.
This was the Love sickness Heartbreak Red.
Oscar said softly:
"Elder Sister, this immortal herb is called the Love sickness Heartbreak Red. It is the supreme treasure among all immortal herbs."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. She knew Oscar had long chosen this for her, and it was the most unique of all.
"I've already told you the method before. To pick this flower, you must think of your beloved with true sincerity, and then spit a mouthful of blood onto its petals. If your heart wavers even slightly, you will die from blood loss without ever being able to pluck it."
"Once the flower is picked, as long as it remains near its chosen master, it will never wither."
"The stone beneath it is called Wu Jue. If it is destroyed, the herb's power will vanish completely. That's why I have kept it until now."
"Of course, if consumed, it grants near immortal strength. I estimate that if you eat it, your soul power will rise by at least ten levels, and your body will undergo a complete transformation."
Even Gai Yue was awed by its miraculous power.
After all, he himself had once benefited from Oscar's gift of an immortal herb, the Black Jade Bamboo Pill, which had allowed him to reach level 88 and evolve his martial spirit.
With deep emotion in her eyes, Dugu Yan took the herb from Oscar's hands.
After a moment, she spat a mouthful of blood onto it.
The Love sickness Heartbreak Red glowed with brilliant crimson light. At dusk, it swayed gently between Oscar and Dugu Yan, glowing like a living bond between two lovers.
Bathed in red light, their figures drew closer, and their lips met.
Gai Yue, bewildered, silently left the courtyard…
After a long while, their lips parted. Dugu Yan held the Lovesickness Heartbreak Red delicately in her hand.
Caressing its petals, she whispered:
"Oscar, that story… it's true, isn't it?"
Oscar nodded softly.
"Though our love shouldn't be judged by a flower, it can indeed prove our feelings."
"Eat it. It will give you the best support. You'll always be by my side, and we'll grow together."
Dugu Yan shook her head gently, eyes full of affection:
"No, Oscar. How could I bear to consume such a flower? Didn't you say it would never wither once bonded? I want to keep it with me, to love and cherish it."
Oscar was momentarily stunned. Wasn't this exactly what Xiao Wu once said to Tang San in the original story? Could this herb itself hold some strange charm?
Still, Oscar knew such a treasure had to be consumed to realize its true value.
He said sincerely:
"Elder Sister, this flower is precious, but only power can protect everything. Without strength, we can guard nothing. If you take it, you may even be able to absorb a ten thousand year soul ring, and your martial spirit might evolve as well. Its value lies in being consumed, not stored away."
Moved by his words, Dugu Yan wavered.
Oscar continued:
"I'm only thirteen, while you're seventeen four years older. Yet my soul power has already reached level 40, and you're still at 39. Without this herb, I'll only leave you further behind. I don't want you to just stand behind me I want you at my side, facing the future together."
Dugu Yan's eyes trembled slightly.
"Facing the future together…?"
Oscar held her hand.
"Or would you rather watch me walk farther and farther away, unable to catch up?"
She shook her head firmly.
"No. I want to grow with you, side by side."
Her gaze turned resolute.
"Oscar, I understand. I won't be willful."
Oscar smiled softly.
"Go then, take it. I'll accompany you to find a suitable fourth soul ring afterward."
She nodded firmly and walked into the wooden cabin.
Oscar watched her back, eager to see how this Emperor of Immortal Herbs would transform her.
He then turned to ask Gai Yue about the Mirror Image Beast, only to find him gone.
Yes Oscar had already decided his fourth soul ring would come from the Mirror Image Beast. In the original tale, it was this beast's ring that transformed him from a mere food type support into a versatile soul master.
Now, with his physique and mental power already at the level of a Soul Emperor, even a thirty thousand year soul ring was within his reach. His goal was naturally the Mirror Image Beast.
Without it, his current abilities remained too limited compared to other soul masters.
But with it, he could become a true all rounder.
Not seeing his teacher, Oscar muttered:
"Where's my teacher? How could such a big man just vanish…?"
Failing to find Gai Yue, he gave up and instead sat in meditation, guarding Dugu Yan.
After all, this was the inner zone of the Far North soul beasts could appear at any time.
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