Xu Zihuang continued his act.
"You're a hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beast?"
"I'm not a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. I've only just turned ten thousand."
The petals of the pink flower, the Fragrant Silk Beauty, opened slightly, her voice returning to its original gentleness, soothing to the ear, as if she hadn't minded what had just happened.
"Hm, so you carry such a strong aura of Destruction. No wonder you could break through the Jade Phosphor Poison Array outside and come here. But I don't recall ever hearing of a martial soul on the Douluo Continent that inherited the attribute of Destruction. Could it be—"
At this, Xu Zihuang's mind sank, considering the possibilities. In his spiritual sea he even contacted the Skydream Iceworm, ready to retreat at the first sign of danger.
But then the Fragrant Silk Beauty's tone shifted, becoming excited.
"Forget it, I won't think about it. How did you find this place? Let me tell you, you were lucky to run into me. If you'd met those with worse tempers, they'd have killed you outright and used you as fertilizer. But it's been many years since a human has come here. I'm very happy to see you. Talk with me more. Who knows, I might even give you some benefits."
Xu Zihuang's face stayed calm, but he carefully weighed the tone of the Fragrant Silk Beauty.
She certainly had the traits of a chatterbox. Whether her nature was truly simple, however, was uncertain.
"Zihuang, this Fragrant Silk Beauty seems a bit silly," the Skydream Iceworm chuckled mischievously in the spiritual sea.
"Why don't you chat with her and string her along? Who knows, you might even snatch a few heavenly treasures."
"It won't be that easy," Xu Zihuang replied.
Just then the Fragrant Silk Beauty's voice rang again, suddenly urgent.
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? Talk to me! Keep me company, or I won't protect you anymore. Without my fragrance shielding you, the aura of the plants here and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well will harm you."
Xu Zihuang's thoughts raced, and he feigned surprise. "So this really is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? I didn't come to the wrong place after all."
The huge pink blossom trembled violently. "Could it be you were sent by him? It's actually him! How is he?"
Xu Zihuang of course knew who she meant. But he had no intention of linking himself to that man.
On the surface, though, he acted clueless.
"Who are you talking about? I think you're mistaken. I only stumbled on a map describing this place and came here by chance. With so many heavenly treasures here, may I take some?"
"Ah, so that's it." The violet pistil of the Fragrant Silk Beauty pulsed lightly, but her excitement didn't diminish. She giggled.
"According to that man—oh no, I mean, according to the rules of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—you must first pass a trial before you may take any seven immortal herbs here."
"A trial?"
"Yes. It's very simple. You just have to eat one of the herbs here. Then you pass. But I'll warn you first: many herbs here are poisonous. You might even die. Think carefully."
"Zihuang, the Fragrant Silk Beauty truly is a bane of all poisons. Near her, any toxin can be neutralized with a breath, as long as she doesn't intentionally retract her ability," the Skydream Iceworm cautioned seriously.
Its meaning was clear—never drop your guard.
"Don't worry, Tianmeng. I know many of these herbs. Let's see what she offers me first." Xu Zihuang responded in his spiritual sea.
Then aloud he said firmly, "Please let me take the trial herb. I am willing."
"Heehee, good! You really have courage. Let me think… which one should I give you?" The Fragrant Silk Beauty swayed happily.
After a moment of leisurely thought, a violet light drifted from her pistil, enveloping Xu Zihuang.
He didn't dodge. With the Skydream Iceworm's powerful spiritual sense, any malice would have been warned in advance.
Moments later, the light withdrew. The flower trembled slightly, muttering to herself:
"So that's why your aura felt familiar—pure Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. You must be a descendant of that great sect. But why is your spiritual power so strong? And that Destruction attribute earlier too. How strange."
Xu Zihuang stayed silent. Luckily, she didn't pursue it further.
"Fine then, I'll give you that one."
Another violet beam shot from her pistil, stretching more than a hundred meters to a distant patch of plants. After pausing, it slowly drew something back.
Watching carefully with his Golden Eyes, Xu Zihuang saw the herb at its end.
It was unremarkable, emerald green, but at its center were three snow-white leaves holding several drops of crystalline dew.
Soon it floated before him.
"Autumn Dew Tear."
Xu Zihuang recognized it instantly from his past life's memories.
So the Fragrant Silk Beauty bore him no ill intent after all.
Sensing his shifting emotions, the Skydream Iceworm asked, "Zihuang, do you know this one?"
"Yes. It's called Autumn Dew Tear. It should greatly benefit the growth of my spiritual power."
Externally, Xu Zihuang drew a deep breath and asked solemnly, "How should I take it?"
The Fragrant Silk Beauty asked, "First, tell me—why did you come to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? Don't say it was only out of curiosity."
"Of course, I heard this was a treasure land and came for the herbs."
"All this risk just for a few herbs? Don't you humans value your lives?" she said incredulously.
"Fortune comes with risk." Xu Zihuang smiled carelessly, leaving her dazed.
She could never know he carried past-life knowledge of nearly every immortal herb here.
The flower hesitated, then resumed her chatter.
"Well, it's your choice. By the way, my name is Youyou. Lovely name, isn't it? I'm telling you because you're so brave. Now, open your mouth and tilt your head back."
Xu Zihuang inhaled, hesitated slightly, then obeyed—though every nerve was taut, ready to unleash martial soul and soul skills instantly if needed.
The Autumn Dew Tear tilted under her control, the dew dripping into his mouth.
Sweetness slid down his throat, followed by refreshing fragrance filling every corner of his body.
The Skydream Iceworm also sensed it resembled her own aura—easy to absorb, instantly fusing with Xu Zihuang. Coolness spread through him.
Confirming its safety, the Iceworm sighed in relief. "Zihuang, focus on absorbing it. I'll keep watch."
Xu Zihuang sat cross-legged, attuning to every subtle change.
The cool sensation spread through his body, then gradually receded, flowing with his blood instead of soul power, rising to his head—
And exploded.
His brain cleared, the coolness surging into his eyes. His Golden Eyes were washed by a strange force, then infused with new energy.
"This is… a sign of the Martial Soul's second awakening!"
Excitement surged. On Moon Pivot Island, he had strained his potential for years to reach this, but failed. The higher the martial soul's quality, the harder the second awakening. As one of the finest, his Golden Eyes had nearly no chance.
Yet now, aided by the Autumn Dew Tear, he saw hope.
The coolness turned warm, soothing his eyes. Soul power and spiritual power aided the fusion. No pain—only comfort. Energy nurtured the Golden Eyes, wave after wave.
His spiritual power transformed qualitatively. In his spiritual sea, the golden waters gained a violet sheen, merging into brilliant purple-gold.
Everything within bent to his will. Even the Skydream Iceworm now bore a faint violet tint.
In one corner, the silvery-white light sphere of the Silver Scaled Whale's spirit imprint also subtly shifted.
But the Iceworm was alarmed. "Zihuang, another hundred-thousand-year plant beast is awakening—stronger than the Fragrant Silk Beauty!"
Just then, Xu Zihuang finished absorbing the last of the herb's power. Opening his eyes, the world looked utterly different.
Colors and details everywhere multiplied. Without even releasing his martial soul, he saw mysteries hidden in the smallest things.
The rainbow poison clouds were tiny particles. The Fragrant Silk Beauty glowed with circulating pink vitality. Even the fluctuations of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were visible to him.
But he had no time to savor it. His gaze froze on the fiery-red plant at the center of the scarlet lake.
Nearly three meters tall, its flower nearly as wide as the Fragrant Silk Beauty's, ruby-like as if carved from flame.
A hundred-thousand-year Flame Apricot.
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