However, the spirit beasts within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were all herbs. Perhaps it was more suitable to describe it as a medicinal garden.
The vehicles stopped. Huo Yuhao and the others got out one after another.
"Your Majesty Duoqing."
It was only then that Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng realized that the driver of one of the vehicles was Duoqing Douluo. They quickly bowed.
Huo Yuhao also explained Duoqing Douluo's identity to Xu Xiaoyan and the others, making them inwardly click their tongues.
They had really met a lot of important figures today.
"No need for formalities."
Duoqing Douluo reminded them, "Stay close to me from now on. Do not wander off. This place is filled with poisonous plants. If you are poisoned, it will be troublesome. Muzi, Yinmeng, you may stay at the wall to rest."
With that, he took the lead and walked toward that wall.
The others followed closely.
With Duoqing Douluo leading the way, the route was naturally unobstructed. The guarding Three-Word Battle Armor Masters directly let them in.
Passing through the wall, a valley could be seen ahead. And on the path from the wall to the valley, there were colorful mists.
Xie Xie was still wondering what function these mists had when he saw Duoqing Douluo's spirit power protective hood being eroded. He immediately sucked in a breath of cold air.
This was a Limit Douluo. Even his spirit power was being eroded. Could an ordinary person truly survive entering here?
"This is a colorful poisonous miasma, one of the most dangerous toxins in the world. It can corrode any substance. At least a Super Douluo is needed to resist it."
After explaining, Duoqing Douluo saw that the several powerful individuals had already deployed protective hoods to protect the juniors. He said no more and continued leading the way.
The poisonous fog gradually thinned. After a few dozen paces, the view suddenly opened up. A hidden valley, surrounded by mountains, appeared before them like a paradise.
When their eyes fully adjusted, many people were left speechless, their breath taken away by the wonders before them.
Most striking was the magical lake in the center of the valley. The lake water presented a clearly divided two-color spectacle. One half was as blue and clear as polar ice. The other half was as red and blazing hot as lava. The two colors of lake water formed a straight dividing line at the junction junction.
"So this is... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Ye Xinglan murmured softly.
Along the lake's shore grew countless unheard-of strange and exotic flora. Some were entirely sparkling like crystal. Some had petals that danced with flame. Still others had vines that shone with star-like points of light.
The The air was thick with a rich medicinal fragrance. Each breath invigorated the spirit. But within this intoxicating fragrance, a few strands of dangerous scent were faintly mingled, reminding visitors that this place was both a treasure and a peril.
And the moment they appeared here, several powerful strands of spiritual power were explored up from below.
But upon discovering the lineup on this side, those strands of spiritual power quickly withdrew, as if afraid of angering them.
Duoqing Douluo could guess the shaking and anger of the beings within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He smiled helplessly and led the group down into the valley.
The dense vegetation parted like a tide, revealing a small, barren circular clearing, just large enough for their group to land.
Truly at the bottom of the valley, the scene before them made everyone hold their breath. This was a plant kingdom magnified several times over. The flowers and trees here had all swollen into behemoths. Their colors were so gorgeous, as if the creator's palette had been knocked over.
And among the many exotic flowers and exotic plants, seven or more figures gradually appeared in human form.
Among them was a man in a purple robe. His sleeves fluttered, exuding an ancient air. His face was strikingly handsome, his posture tall and slender, as if he had stepped out of an ancient painting.
Beside him, a woman in white walked gracefully. She had a Qingli appearance. Five others came with them toward this direction. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Seeing these seven, the strongest immortal herb spirit beasts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a flicker of something passed through Duoqing Douluo's eyes. He took the initiative and stepped forward.
"How many of you, have you been well recently?"
The man in purple, Qiluo Tulip, looked at him. Instead of responding to his greeting, he frowned. "What is the meaning of this? The next time the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is scheduled to open is still several decades away. Why are you bringing people here now?"
A Level 98 Super Douluo and three Limit-level powerhouses. Were they trying to pack the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and take it away?
Rage burned in his heart, yet he did not dare show a shred of resentment. With such a lineup before him, even if he released the Two Dragon Lords, it would be meaningless.
They were not uneducated beasts. Because some immortal herb Inherited Spirit Souls occasionally went out and returned to chat with them, they knew a bit about the outside world. In this era, the continent was filled with powerful individuals. Even their trump card for self-preservation, the Two Dragon Lords, could not protect them.
The Two Dragon Lords were only demigods. Together, they were no match for Atlas Douluo alone. So they had long since suppressed any little thoughts. But was Tang Sect directly bringing powerful individuals to demand things going too far?
Duoqing Douluo coughed lightly. "This is an agreement between Shrek Academy and the Spirit Transmission Tower. You need not concern yourselves with us. Just let the immortal herbs here act according to their own wishes. If they themselves agree to sign a contract with these children, they will be taken away. There will be no coercion."
Upon hearing this, the immortal herbs immediately understood his meaning.
So that was it. Shrek Academy had gotten into trouble outside and pushed the trouble trouble onto the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Still, as long as it was not outright plunder...
Glancing at Snow Empress and the others, then at Huo Yuhao and his group, the woman in white, Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb, curled her lip.
"Fragrant, agree. They're just children."
(Note: There was a bug in the third installment of Douluo, confusing Qiluo Tulip and Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb, writing Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb as Qiluo Tulip. I originally thought I could just change the name, but then I realized that Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb had appeared in The Unrivaled Tang Sect. By years, the one in the third installment should have been her. But the one in The Unrivaled Tang Sect was called Youyou, a female. Her personality and gender were different from the one in the third installment. The difference was simply too large. So in this novel, both immortal herbs are included.)
Qiluo Tulip was silent for a moment, and finally nodded. "Let them in. But the few Your Excellencies should step back. With you here, my companions will be very uncomfortable."
Even though, under their suppression, not many immortal herbs with higher intelligence had been born in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, those hundred-thousand-year immortal herbs still had the intelligence of ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. Four powerful individuals watching them, and still talking about letting the immortal herbs choose voluntarily?
This lineup looked like they were here to plunder. Qiluo Tulip really did not want these to stay here.
A flicker of something passed through Duoqing Douluo's eyes. He inwardly gave Qiluo Tulip's assist a like.
"The three Tower Masters, we would indeed influence things here by staying. How about we move elsewhere?"
He was truly worried that these three, seeing their juniors not chosen by the immortal herbs, might simply start grabbing. Even if Atlas Douluo arrived in time, a fierce battle would be unavoidable.
Upon hearing this, Bear Lord immediately condensed his brow and looked at Duoqing Douluo. "If we leave, won't these creatures make things difficult for our juniors?"
"Of course not." Qiluo Tulip took a deep breath. "Our cultivation is far inferior to yours. How would we dare make things difficult?"
"But then, wouldn't we have come for nothing?"
Bear Lord looked unwilling to leave. "We still need to escort the children out later. It's better for us to stay here. Besides, I simply do not trust you few."
Duoqing Douluo and Qiluo Tulip were momentarily speechless.
Just then, Snow Empress and Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance. She spoke at the right moment. "I can use spatial power to envelop this place and place the exit outside the illusion. Those who wish to leave can do so through the spatial passage. If something unexpected happens, we can also rush back immediately. Duoqing Douluo, what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of doubt appeared in Duoqing Douluo's eyes. Before he could answer, Qiluo Tulip had already nodded.
"Excellent! With Your Excellency's spatial power, you can descend at any time. We would naturally not dare act lightly."
Bear Lord grunted, not very satisfied. "Fine."
Snow Empress said no more. Her fingertip lightly tapped. A ice-blue halo spread from her palm, instantly enveloping the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Space twisted slightly. A ethereal doorway appeared beside the group, leading to the outside.
"Yuhao has a means I left on him to contact me. If something happens, we can be here in an instant."
Snow Empress's gaze coldly swept over Qiluo Tulip. Her tone, though calm, carried a faint faint warning.
Qiluo Tulip smiled bitterly and nodded, not daring to speak further.
Seeing this, Duoqing Douluo thought no more. He cupped his hands. "Then we will trouble you, senior immortal herbs."
Snow Empress, Bear Lord, and Tianfeng Douluo exchanged a glance. Their figures gradually faded and disappeared.
After that, Duoqing Douluo also turned and stepped into the spatial channel channel, leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Although Snow Empress's spatial power gave him some doubts, those immortal herbs were not pushovers either. If something happened, there would be movement. He did not need to worry too much.
After the four powerful individuals left, the sense of depression within the valley eased somewhat. Qiluo Tulip let out a long breath and looked at Huo Yuhao's group with complex eyes.
"Alright. You may now begin your selection. Remember, the immortal herb chooses its master. It cannot be forced."
"Uh..."
Le Zhengyu scratched his head. "Senior, even if you say that, we don't know what immortal herb is suitable for us."
He stopped mid-sentence and looked at one of the seven immortal herbs, a woman in red. Her appearance was gorgeous, exuding a burning hot breath.
It was Blazing Apricot.
Le Zhengyu's eyes lit up. "Senior, would you be willing to sign a contract with me? My martial soul is the Holy Angel. Light and flame are mutually reinforcing forces. If you are willing to become my Spirit Soul, my Holy Flame will certainly break through the shackles, reaching an unprecedented level."
Blazing Apricot was taken aback, then gave a cold snort. "I have already survived my second heavenly tribulation. I am a two hundred thousand year savage beast. I could live another ten thousand years. Why should I become your Spirit Soul?"
Huo Yuhao looked at Blazing Apricot at this, thoughtful.
In this era, Blazing Apricot had originally been only over a hundred thousand years old, hadn't she? Now she had become a two hundred thousand year savage beast... Was it the butterfly effect?
After all, he had not come to harm her.
The special special environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well allowed the immortal herbs to grow at ten times the normal rate. Ten thousand years ago, Blazing Apricot had already been a hundred thousand year spirit beast. As long as she grew according to plan and survived her second heavenly tribulation, becoming a savage beast should have been taken for granted. But according to the original plot, ten thousand years ago, she would have been deprived of much of her essence by the original body, her cultivation greatly damaged, leaving her unable to survive the second heavenly tribulation.
That was obviously not the case now. Shrek Academy's method of using the immortal herbs was also Inherited Spirit Souls. These immortal herbs would certainly not be willing to hand over their essence to others. This had allowed Blazing Apricot to become a truly true savage beast.
And one must know, ten thousand years ago, quite a few immortal herbs had been deprived of their essence. Among them were Autumn Dew That Gazes Through and Octagonal Mystic Ice Grass, which had needed to regrow after being used. Since these things had not happened, the years of the immortal herbs here...
Huo Yuhao looked at their ontologies in the distance.
Octagonal Mystic Ice Grass, two hundred thousand years. (Originally 110,000 years.)
Qiluo Tulip, two hundred thousand years.
Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb, 190,000 years. (The original Qiluo Tulip, actually Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb, was initially set as a savage beast that had survived the second heavenly tribulation, but after three chapters, it was changed to 190,000 years, unable to survive the second tribulation. In this novel, Qiluo Tulip uses the first setting, Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb still uses the second.)
Autumn Dew That Gazes Through, 190,000 years. (Originally 110,000 years.)
Earth Dragon Golden Melon, 190,000 years.
Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, 160,000 years.
Huo Yuhao: "..."
After judging their years from their auras and appearances, Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment.
A small change had created three savage beasts. The ones originally in Octagonal Mystic Ice Grass and Autumn Dew That Gazes Through, were now at the forefront. Truly... there was nothing much to say. He was used to it. This world had changed too much. The facts were before him. He would simply accept them.
Because of their attributes, Octagonal Mystic Ice Grass and Blazing Apricot were among the more powerful combatants among the immortal herbs. Plus Qiluo Tulip, which could absorb the essence of the sun and moon, it was not too unbelievable that they could survive the second heavenly tribulation. But the other immortal herbs obviously could not.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Autumn Dew That Gazes Through.
Although the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had a growth buff of one year to ten, these immortal herbs ultimately lacked the accumulation of time. Moreover, plant spirit beasts were somewhat frailer than animal spirit beasts. Very few had survived the first heavenly tribulation. Naturally, even fewer were confident about surviving the second.
Autumn Dew That Gazes Through was afraid to undergo the second heavenly tribulation and had deliberately suppressed its cultivation. Otherwise, it would not have been stuck at 190,000 years.
After roughly analyzing the situation of the six top-tier immortal herbs, Huo Yuhao's gaze turned to the one he was most interested in, Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb.
Wasn't this one alimitedlimited NPC from the era of The Unrivaled Tang Sect? In this era, her function and name seemed to have been co-opted by Qiluo Tulip, hadn't they? Why was she still here?
Had the version update not cleared this remnant of a bygone era?
A sudden chill ran down Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb's back. She instinctively scanned the ten people, found nothing unusual, and frowned slightly.
What was going on? Was her second heavenly tribulation coming? Surely not so soon?
"Besides us, there are over a dozen other hundred-thousand-year immortal herbs here. Although we have suppressed their spiritual wisdom, preventing them from developing higher intelligence, their intelligence still rivals that of ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. You can go try and see if you can gain their recognition."
On the other side, seeing that Le Zhengyu still wanted to continue question Blazing Apricot, Qiluo Tulip pointed out what he considered a a dead end but the others considered a a clear road.
Given these children's current cultivation levels, the possibility of gaining the recognition of a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast was simply too low. Except for...
Qiluo Tulip narrowed his eyes, looking at Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.
There was something wrong with these two. He could not see through them.
***
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