"Huff... My soul power feels purified, more refined than ever. This Nine-Petal Purple Lingzhi is truly extraordinary," Nan Tianchen remarked as he stood up, a satisfied expression on his face.
He had always been skeptical of relying on external aids for strength. But ever since Nan Feihuang used a divine herb to heal Lan Xue's injuries and help her ascend to the rank of Titled Douluo, his perspective had shifted. Now, he believed that a good external boost, when used wisely, could significantly expedite progress.
Today's experience solidified that belief.
Before this, no matter how hard he cultivated, becoming a Soul Douluo was the best he could hope for. Even then, his potential would be limited to the level of the three education committee members at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—far from reaching the heights of a Titled Douluo.
But now, for the first time, he truly felt the possibility of achieving that legendary rank.
"Father, with a bit more cultivation, you'll be able to break through to Soul Douluo," Nan Feihuang assured him with a smile.
Nan Tianchen nodded, his joy unmistakable. "Thanks to you, my son. How's your mother doing?"
"She's still refining the herb's power," Nan Feihuang replied, glancing toward Lan Xue. "I suspect Er-Lai will finish first, though. While Mother's cultivation is deeper, the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum's effects are milder compared to the Mixed Essence Herb.
"Moreover, Mother already consumed the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng before, so she's leveraging its unique ability to integrate the Mixed Essence Herb. That makes the process at least ten times harder for her. Without her Titled Douluo-level foundation, this kind of dual refinement would've been impossible."
Nan Feihuang's gaze shifted to Dian Wei. He was acutely aware of the man's potential—far beyond even Lan Xue's.
In the lore of his past life, a famous saying ranked warriors:
"One Lü, Two Zhao, Three Dian Wei; Four Guan, Five Ma, Six Zhang Fei."
Dian Wei, a martial giant of ancient times, was one of the top-ranked fighters. The first few names in the list were almost equal in strength, often requiring hundreds of rounds to determine a victor.
Such a figure was destined to become the spearhead of Nan Feihuang's army—a veritable war god. Apart from himself, Dian Wei would undoubtedly be the strongest fighter in the kingdom's future.
"Arghhhh!"
A sudden roar cut through the air. Dian Wei's eyes snapped open as he let out a guttural howl that echoed like a beast's cry—a mix of a tiger's roar, a lion's bellow, and a dragon's growl. The sound reverberated through the palace, shaking the very ground beneath them.
If Dian Wei's cultivation were any higher, that roar alone might've shifted the heavens and earth.
"Er-Lai, looks like you've successfully absorbed it. Truly worthy of being the ancient Er-Lai," Nan Feihuang said with a wide grin.
"Thank you, my lord, for your praise," Dian Wei responded, his expression as earnest as ever. But his speech was noticeably more fluid than before.
It seemed the herb hadn't just strengthened his body but had also improved his mental faculties. If his intelligence before had been a mere ten points, it was now closer to twenty. Still far from being a genius, but at least enough to hold proper conversations.
"Dian Wei's soul power is still at Rank 30," Nan Tianchen observed, "but I can clearly sense that his true strength far surpasses that level. He's only lacking a soul ring to display his full potential."
That single roar spoke volumes about Dian Wei's soul power. It was likely a self-created soul skill, and if he could produce such a shockwave now, his future roars might rival the ninth skills of Titled Douluo.
Nan Tianchen shook his head, torn between disbelief and amazement. "Is this boy a simpleton or a prodigy?"
In truth, Dian Wei was both—a simpleton in all but battle, where he was an unparalleled genius. Such people, when properly nurtured, were treasures beyond compare.
Now, only Nan Feiling and Lan Xue remained refining their herbs.
Unexpectedly, Nan Feiling finished before Lan Xue. The Seven-Radiance Ginseng she consumed had a milder yet more comprehensive effect, making it easier to absorb.
"I'm at Rank 29! This Seven-Radiance Ginseng boosted my soul power by more than eight levels!" Nan Feiling exclaimed, her joy overflowing. "If cultivation were always this easy, who'd bother with training? I'd just eat herbs all day!"
Of course, she knew better than to expect that. Such treasures were rare, and consuming more than one herb was virtually impossible.
Nan Feihuang chuckled, unsurprised by her rapid improvement. In the original story, even Oscar, a food-type soul master, gained five levels from his herb. The difference in their gains wasn't as vast as it seemed, considering the exponential growth in soul power required at higher levels.
"Third Sister, the Seven-Radiance Ginseng hasn't fully displayed its effects yet. With diligent cultivation, you'll notice your training speed improve significantly. I wouldn't be surprised if you're now comparable to innate full soul power battle soul masters," Nan Feihuang said encouragingly.
Nan Feiling beamed, clasping his arm affectionately. "You're the best, little brother! I always knew being nice to you would pay off."
Her excitement was more than justified. As someone who had been pressured to marry for political alliances, gaining such talent changed everything. No one would dare send a rare genius away for mere diplomacy.
Finally, only Lan Xue remained. The Mixed Essence Herb she consumed was one of the most potent treasures in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, second only to the Lovesickness Heartbreak Red. Its domineering energy demanded immense effort to refine.
After an entire day and night, Lan Xue's body radiated an intense chill as she awakened. Frost spread rapidly across the palace, freezing everything in sight. Just as the icy power threatened to expand further, it abruptly withdrew, leaving no trace of its presence.
Her Ultimate Ice attribute had momentarily surfaced but didn't fully activate—the herb wasn't aligned with her element.
"Xue'er, what's your rank now?" Nan Tianchen asked eagerly.
"Ninety-five," Lan Xue replied calmly. "But there's more. I can feel that the remaining medicinal energy could push me to Rank 97. However, advancing past Rank 95 requires more than soul power. It demands a deeper fusion of soul power and martial soul—what some call a breakthrough in one's realm. For now, it feels like being a soul master at the bottleneck without a soul ring."
Nan Tianchen's joy was undiminished. "That's more than enough! Ninety-five is already incredible. Take your time with the rest."
Ninety-five marked the entry into the Super Douluo realm—a strength far beyond ordinary Titled Douluo. With Lan Xue at this level, the kingdom's foundation grew immeasurably stronger.
Lan Xue walked over, scooping Nan Feihuang into a warm embrace. "My precious son, you truly are my lucky star—the greatest gift heaven could've given me."
Her ascent from healing her injuries to becoming a Super Douluo in such a short time was entirely due to him.
"Ninety-five isn't enough," Nan Feihuang thought, even as he basked in her affection.
He knew Lan Xue dreamed of settling the score with Tang Hao. But Tang Hao was also at Rank 95, with six soul bones and a terrifying array of abilities: a 100,000-year soul ring, the Exploding Ring technique, and the Killing God Domain.
Even now, Lan Xue couldn't match him unless Tang Hao's hidden injuries flared up.
"If Mother's latent Ultimate Ice can fully awaken," Nan Feihuang pondered, "then surpassing Tang Hao will no longer be a dream."