The moment they stepped outside the classroom, Xiao Wu teased, "Brother, you finally decided to come back, huh!"
Su Ming coughed lightly. "Well, there were some unexpected things that came up. After helping the old monster, Dugu Bo, detoxify himself, I found quite a few treasures in his treasure trove and took some time to cultivate. But don't worry, all three of you will get your share too."
Su Ming then briefly recounted what had happened during the past two months. Although Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing already had some idea, hearing the detailed and humorous account from Su Ming made it more vivid and engaging.
When Xiao Wu heard that Su Ming had secretly returned to Holy Soul Village, she pouted. "Brother, you went back to the village without telling me! I haven't seen Grandpa Jack in so long."
Su Ming smiled. "You'll see him soon."
Then Su Ming turned to Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, I need a favor."
Ning Rongrong had a hunch and smiled playfully. "You want me to help find a place to settle Grandpa Jack and the villagers, don't you?"
Su Ming nodded. "Exactly right. You're so smart, Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong blinked mischievously. "That's no problem. Our sect owns plenty of land. We can allocate some of it to resettle the people from Holy Soul Village. As for the houses, I'm sure you can handle that, right?"
She added with a smirk, "How about we go to my sect now and get things sorted? Let's settle Grandpa Jack and the others first."
Su Ming shook his head. "There's no rush. For now, I've arranged for them to stay at a hotel in the city. Once everything is ready in a few days, we can make proper arrangements."
"There's something more important to do now—improving your strength! Let's find a quiet training room."
Su Ming led the three to a secluded room, where he pulled out three immortal herbs from his storage. He handed them to each of the girls, explaining, "Xiao Wu, this herb is called 'Lovesick Heartbroken Red,' it's for you. Rongrong, this one is 'Glorious Qiluo Tulip,' it might have a special effect on your martial spirit. And Zhuqing, this one is 'Netherworld Water Narcissus,' perfectly aligned with your attributes."
Yes, Su Ming didn't give Zhu Zhuqing the "Yearning Heartbroken Red" as in the original story. Instead, he offered her the herb that best suited her own abilities. The "Yearning Heartbroken Red" was originally meant for Xiao Wu, and in the story, it was only exchanged with Zhu Zhuqing because she couldn't get its recognition. In Su Ming's view, using herbs to purely enhance spirit power was a waste; it was far better to use them to strengthen their inherent attributes and cultivation speed.
Then, Su Ming looked at Xiao Wu and said, "Xiao Wu, this herb is unique—it's the king of all flowers. You must earn its approval before you can absorb it."
He explained the lore behind the "Lovesick Heartbroken Red," emphasizing that only true love could unlock its power. Xiao Wu, filled with love for Su Ming, didn't hesitate. As she touched the flower, a small prick caused her finger to bleed, and the blood trickled down the petals. Memories of her time with Su Ming flashed through her mind, reinforcing her determination. No matter what happened in the future, she vowed to stay by his side, even if it meant facing death.
At that moment, the petals of the flower detached on their own and floated toward Xiao Wu, indicating it had recognized her.
Su Ming sighed in relief, happy that Xiao Wu passed the test. He'd been worried, knowing he was a man with many romantic entanglements. If Xiao Wu had held any reservations, she likely wouldn't have gained the flower's approval. However, what Su Ming didn't realize was that, though Xiao Wu had a slight sense of jealousy, it was completely overshadowed by her deep love for him. The "Lovesick Heartbroken Red" had recognized this love and accepted her as its master.
Xiao Wu hesitated. "Brother… can I not absorb it? I want to keep it."
Su Ming knew this was coming. "No, you have to absorb it now. It's already chosen you as its master, and it's prepared to help you grow stronger. I understand why you want to keep it—first, because you feel bad, and second, because you think you can't maximize its effect without the 'Ten Thousand-Year Nine-Hearted Ganoderma.'"
Xiao Wu's eyes widened. "Brother, you even know about that?"
Su Ming chuckled and patted her head. "Of course I know. But the Nine-Hearted Ganoderma is extremely rare. You don't need to wait that long. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to part with the flower. It's better to absorb it now."
Persuaded by Su Ming's words, Xiao Wu agreed. She decided to absorb the herb immediately.
Su Ming was relieved. These immortal herbs weren't meant to be hoarded. They were for boosting strength, and Xiao Wu no longer needed to worry about leaking her aura. Keeping the herb would only bring unnecessary trouble.
While the three absorbed their herbs, Su Ming stood nearby to protect them. He didn't need to absorb any more herbs himself.
After some time, the three girls completed their absorption.
Xiao Wu was the first to open her eyes, filled with joy. The "Lovesick Heartbroken Red" had raised her spirit power by six levels! She had already advanced to rank 43 in the past two months, and now she was at rank 49, even higher than Su Ming! But more importantly, the herb had improved her talent, ensuring smoother cultivation in the future.
Zhu Zhuqing was the next to awaken. She felt the nether energy within her intensify, and her spirit power had also surged to rank 40. She was eager to see how much further it would rise once she obtained her fourth spirit ring.
Lastly, Ning Rongrong opened her eyes. Her spirit power had also risen to rank 40, but what excited her most was her martial spirit. She looked at her hands, and Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu moved closer to her.
The three girls exchanged glances, and Ning Rongrong exclaimed, "Nine floors!"
She covered her mouth in disbelief. Her martial spirit had evolved into the legendary Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!