"Hello, Ah Yin. How are you doing?" Arriving in my inner world, I greeted the massive, vine-like Blue Silver Emperor.
Over the past few months, she had grown from a mere blade of grass into something resembling a tree-like vine, thanks to the abundant Qi in my inner world, the time dilation effect, and the nourishing properties of the Ice and Fire Well.
"Master!" A soft, feminine voice resonated as a delicate face formed from intertwining vines. "I'm doing great! I've reached 30,000 years of cultivation!" she exclaimed happily.
Several vines reached out, wrapping around my body in an affectionate embrace.
"That's great! Keep up the good work." I patted the vine draped over my shoulder, pleased with her rapid growth.
Understanding Spirit Rings and Spirit Beasts
Spirit beasts and their associated spirit rings from the Douluo Dalu world were categorized based on age:
10-year (White) Spirit Ring – The weakest tier.
100-year (Yellow) Spirit Ring – A step up, but still considered basic.
1,000-year (Purple) Spirit Ring – Strong and highly sought after.
10,000-year (Black) Spirit Ring – A mark of true power.
100,000-year (Crimson) Spirit Ring – Rare and almost mythical.
1,000,000-year (Golden) Spirit Ring – Near god-level, virtually non-existent in Douluo Continent.
Some spirit rings changed color depending on their attributes, such as an ice-based million-year ring appearing blue instead of gold.
Typically, a spirit master could only acquire nine rings, provided they reached Titled Douluo status at rank 90. Achieving godhood at rank 100 would allow for a tenth ring. However, for someone like me, who possessed twin spirits, I had the potential to acquire twice the normal amount.
The ideal ring configuration in the current era was: 2 Yellow, 2 Purple, 4 Black, and 1 Red.
Most Titled Douluo had suboptimal rings due to the extreme difficulty of hunting stronger spirit beasts. Even in the original timeline, Yu Xiaogang nearly died from a 420-year-old Mandala Snake at rank 29, that was just trying to get the first and best spirit ring for Tang San. Well that and he was pitifully weak.
As for obtaining a 100,000-year soul beast for a ninth ring? That was almost impossible. Not only were they incredibly rare, but defeating one at rank 90 with only eight rings was a near-suicidal endeavor—unless you were an absolute monster in combat.
A 100,000-year-old beast also granted a spirit bone upon death, bestowing two powerful skills, and the spirit ring also had two spirit skills. Meanwhile, a million-year spirit ring or bone would grant four skills, making them the most valuable treasures in the entire world.
However, it was doubtful that Douluo Continent had even a single million-year-old spirit beast left. The world's laws prevented spirit beasts from achieving divinity. Every 100,000 years, they had to endure increasingly powerful lightning tribulations—a trial few survived. The only way to escape this fate was to transform into a human and cultivate that way.
"Yes! What are you here for today, Master?" Ah Yin's vines caressed my face and shoulders in excitement.
"The Infernal Apricot and Mysterious Ice Grass."
In the distance, I could see the two opposing plants—one a fiery red fruit, the other a crystalline blue grass. They radiated extreme heat and cold, forming a natural balance between ultimate fire and ultimate ice.
Patting Ah Yin's vine, I walked over and withdrew a set of jade tools. Carefully, I harvested the fruit and grass, ensuring that their roots remained untouched so they could regrow.
The moment they were in my hands, their auras surged—searing heat and biting cold clashing violently. Without hesitation, I brought them together and swallowed them whole.
The change was instantaneous.
A burning inferno erupted in my body, clashing violently against a freezing chill. The extreme contrast nearly tore me apart from the inside. These were ultimate attribute treasures—consuming them together would refine my body, granting me a Fire and Ice Alchemical Physique. This would make me immune to fire, ice, and poisons.
Knowing what was coming, I immediately leaped into the Ice and Fire Well.
As soon as I hit the water, my entire body felt like it was being torn apart and rebuilt simultaneously. My cells shattered and regenerated at an accelerated rate, the well's energy amplifying the effects of the medicinal plants.
I gritted my teeth, enduring the unbearable discomfort.
The process took hours.
But when it was over, I surfaced from the Ice and Fire Well—completely unharmed. The once-deadly pool no longer affected me.
I also realized that my clothes had been completely destroyed. Great.
I quickly examined my body for any changes. Raising my hand, I summoned fire. But instead of the usual orange flames from the Flame-Flame Fruit, what appeared was a deep blue flame—hotter than anything I had ever produced before. Well not including lightning or thunderfire.
I flexed my other hand, and to my shock, my fingers turned crystal blue. Ice spread effortlessly, forming intricate patterns along my skin.
I frowned. Wait…
I concentrated, and the ice immediately obeyed my will. I willed it away, and the flames returned seamlessly.
My mind raced. Did I… just unlock the Ice-Ice Fruit's abilities without even eating it?
That was unexpected. I had aimed to enhance my fire element and gain resistance to ice and poisons, but this…
This was far more than I had anticipated.
Sure enough I elementalized my body and became pure ice, I almost looked like Iceman from X-Men. Seems my devil fruits and the immortal herbs had merged together to give me incredible benefits. I suppose devil fruits could be classified as immortal herbs or fruits, they always seemed to come back into existence after the user died and there was usually only ever one.
Same for immortal herbs, there was usually only ever one in existence at a time. Once it was destroyed a new one would sprout up somewhere to start growing almost like magic.
I did a couple of experiments, my Thunderfire had gone from purple to blue and the destructive abilities of it had increased immensely. As for combining ice and fire or ice and lightning well that was something I would need to work on.
I watered Ah Yin with some of my blood and spirit pond water as well as a bit of liquid from the fountain of youth, I also made some pure Qi pearls with the ancient stone talisman and gave them to her.
"Mmm, thank you Master!" All the different items made her feel euphoria as her cultivation started to increase. Her vines once more extending to caress her Ryan happily in excitement. "Master your blood is so much more potent now!"
Having absorbed two immortal herbs along with being bonded with the fountain of youth my blood was now a top quality elixir.
[Send Powerstones and soda money to reward me for the hard work and keep me motivated. Cashapp $Ryantheholy]