Elder Yi's voice echoed in Zhou Sichen's spiritual sea:
"Sichen, Tianmeng is right. Your spiritual power has undergone a qualitative transformation. In the future, if you continue to improve and reach the Tangible and Substantial realm, you'll be able to fully manifest your spiritual power into form."
"If you reach that stage, you'll be capable of standing at the very peak of this world. My own soul fragment is a partial embodiment of spiritual power in its tangible, substantial form."
As he finished speaking, a pair of dazzling golden eyes slowly opened within the sea of spirit. Tianmeng instinctively turned to meet that gaze.
Elder Yi also turned, and it was as though he were looking directly into Zhou Sichen's awakened eyes.
"You're very fortunate. That herb enhanced—or perhaps even evolved—the eye aspect of your martial soul."
"Yes. These Soul Eyes allow me to perceive the essence of a soul. But I haven't fully adapted to them yet, so I don't know the full range of abilities."
Elder Yi's smile didn't waver:
"That's fine. You'll come to understand their power in time."
Tianmeng, however, wasn't so patient:
"Elder Yi, if you know what Sichen's Soul Eyes do, could you stop being cryptic about it already?"
Elder Yi chuckled in response:
"The Soul Eyes are rooted in the uniqueness of his innate martial soul. Not only is his body a martial soul, but so is his soul itself."
"By consuming that herb, he essentially merged and purified the power of his soul and eyes. These eyes will continue to evolve over time. As for what they'll become, that depends on Sichen's own development."
Zhou Sichen agreed silently. Even with only a fragment of soul remaining, Elder Yi's insights were as deep as ever—worthy of someone who had once transcended space itself.
With Zhou Sichen's spiritual power rising so dramatically, the happiest one was undoubtedly Tianmeng.
The stronger Zhou Sichen's spiritual force, the more comfortable and nourished Tianmeng felt while residing within him.
Meanwhile, the Fragrant Silk Beauty, under Zhou Sichen's soul-penetrating gaze, fidgeted uncomfortably.
"It's rude to stare at a girl like that, you know," she muttered, clearly flustered.
"Thank you. It seems the herb you gave me wasn't poison after all—it was a treasure."
Hearing that, the Fragrant Silk Beauty swayed with delight, giggling softly:
"Oh, you're embarrassing me... But really, it was your own courage. If you hadn't dared to eat it, you wouldn't have reaped the reward!"
"Now that you've passed my test, we're friends! You can call me Youyou."
Zhou Sichen accepted her offer with a warm nod.
"Youyou is a lovely name. If you ever took human form, you'd be a stunning beauty."
That compliment made her laugh uncontrollably, her petals trembling with joy.
And indeed, through Zhou Sichen's Soul Eyes, her soul's form appeared as a beautiful girl—vivid proof of how these immortal plants could manifest as either gender or none, depending on their nature.
"You're so sweet—and have such good taste! I really picked the perfect herb for you. The Longing Dewdrop might not be the most powerful here, but it's one of the few best suited to you."
"It's easy to absorb and didn't even cause you pain!"
Zhou Sichen clasped his hands in thanks.
"Then I must thank Youyou properly. Since I've passed your trial... may I receive the book now?"
To his surprise, Youyou shook her blossom gently.
Zhou Sichen raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? Is there another test?"
Youyou nodded enthusiastically, her soft pink petals bouncing with energy:
"The first test proved your character can be trusted."
"But to receive that book, you must also prove your strength. What good is it if you can't protect the book once you have it?"
"So... as per his instructions, you must face a true challenge. That means fighting a powerful soul beast!"
As she finished, a ball of red light flared up on the far side of the red lake.
There stood a towering, crimson plant—roughly three meters tall. It wasn't quite a flower, yet not quite a fruit. Its shape resembled a cabbage, but its petals gleamed like carved rubies.
As its glow intensified, the air in the valley noticeably heated up.
This was none other than the Blazing Apricot Delicate Stem—a fire-attribute immortal herb imbued with Ultimate Fire Poison.
It spoke in a clear, crisp female voice:
"Human. I am the opponent you must face. Defeat me, and you may claim the book."
Unlike Youyou's soft and elegant voice, hers was vibrant and full of spirit.
Youyou giggled beside him:
"Her name is Ajiao. You can call her Jiaojiao. Her full name is the Blazing Apricot Delicate Stem. And let me warn you—she's hot, in every sense of the word!"
"You'll be fighting on the Blazing Yang Spring's side, so you'll be under heat suppression while she gets a massive boost!"
Zhou Sichen's face changed slightly:
"Wait—you want me to fight her? Even if she's only ten thousand years old like you, she's clearly on the hundred-thousand-year level! I only have three soul rings!"
"And she gets full terrain advantage on top of that. Isn't this a bit much?"
Youyou's petals twitched with disbelief.
How had someone at the Soul Elder level made it through the Bilirubin Poison Miasma and the Poison Formation?
And right now, Zhou Sichen radiated an aura so fierce that even hundred-thousand-year soul beasts might flinch. Wasn't he just pretending to be weak to lower the difficulty?
Still, she liked him too much to argue.
"You dummy," Youyou huffed playfully.
"No one said you had to win. You just have to pass the test."
"Go on then! And don't ask me how to pass—each of us tests people in our own way. It's up to you to figure it out."
As she finished speaking, Ajiao's massive body flared. A red beam of light shot into the air, and the surrounding plants parted to form a path leading directly to her.
Zhou Sichen sighed dramatically and walked forward.
Behind him, Youyou called out:
"Good luck! Go get her! Don't hold back!"
To be honest, with Zhou Sichen's current power, he could already contend with most hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Victory wasn't guaranteed, but he wouldn't be defeated easily either.
Though the Icefire Yin Yang Well consisted of just two lakes, the entire area wasn't vast. Zhou Sichen walked with steady steps until he arrived before Ajiao.
Compared to Youyou's neutral aura, Ajiao's presence was domineering. Within a radius of twenty meters around her, not a single other plant grew.
Even outside that range, almost all the vegetation was red or reddish, clearly fire-aligned.
While Youyou's position between the twin lakes signaled her balance between Ice and Fire, Ajiao was the ruler of the Fire-aligned plants, reigning over the very heart of the Blazing Yang Spring.
As Zhou Sichen stepped into her twenty-meter zone, a wave of scorching heat hit him—the terrifying intensity of Ultimate Fire.
But Zhou Sichen wasn't fazed. His own body armor, dark gold in hue, flared to life as ice-blue runes danced along its surface. His Ultimate Ice aura surged forth, resisting the sweltering heat.
"Jiaojiao, that's a lovely name. You seem more battle-ready than Youyou. I hope I can pass your test."
Ajiao's petals flicked in irritation:
"Don't call me that so casually. You're only here to steal my treasure. I'd prefer if you didn't come!"
"Since you possess Ultimate Ice, let's see whose power is superior—mine or yours."
Her tone was fiery and unyielding. She didn't care about courtesy—if he wanted respect, he had to earn it.
"Flattery won't get you anywhere. My trial is already set."
"You'll be fighting against an opponent equal in strength to you—but armed with my Ultimate Fire. It will receive the full support of the Blazing Yang Spring. Defeat it, and you pass."
As she spoke, Ajiao's massive form leaned back. A red vortex appeared in her center, sucking up a large quantity of blazing spring water, then launching it skyward.
The water arced high, refusing to disperse—and everywhere it passed, the air shimmered with unbearable heat. The entire valley's temperature rose again.
"The trial begins." Her emotionless voice rang out.
The water column plummeted straight toward Zhou Sichen.
"One more thing—you're not allowed to leave my twenty-meter zone. If you do, the test is over. We don't want to harm others."
Zhou Sichen sighed inwardly.
So he had to fight in the hottest zone in the entire valley, with severely limited space and restricted flight.
His Ultimate Ice would be greatly weakened, while Ajiao's Ultimate Fire would reach its peak.
Even with his own Hellfire, it was still inferior to true Ultimate Fire.
And now, facing Ajiao's spring-infused Ultimate Fire, Zhou Sichen could immediately feel the power of this attack.
The temperature of the Blazing Yang Spring was beyond compare—even Ma Xiaotao's Evil Phoenix Flame paled in comparison.
This... was the true power of Ultimate Fire.
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