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Golden Crocodile Douluo held the Golden Crocodile Dragon Fruit in his hand, and his martial soul immediately radiated a deep sense of kinship with it, as though they shared the same origin. He had a strong premonition—if he consumed this fruit, he might truly reach the pinnacle of human cultivation.
However, as Golden Crocodile thought about his family, he hesitated. After much deliberation, he eventually stored the fruit away instead of consuming it.
Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly reminded him, "Second Worshipper, once immortal herbs are removed from their protective tools, the longer they are exposed to air, the more their medicinal potency fades. You should consume it immediately."
Golden Crocodile Douluo responded calmly, "No need. I'll save this herb for my descendants instead."
Qian Xunji immediately understood. Golden Crocodile Douluo's martial soul, a supreme lineage martial soul, was passed down through a single bloodline. Over generations, however, his descendants' martial souls had degraded, falling from the kingly Golden Crocodile King to the lesser Golden Crocodile. Despite his family's efforts to produce talented heirs, none had ever inherited the Golden Crocodile King. Golden Crocodile Douluo now hoped to use this immortal herb to help his descendants' martial souls evolve back into the Golden Crocodile King.
Qian Xunji spoke up, "Second Worshipper, you have dedicated your entire life to Spirit Hall with unparalleled contributions. It's only right that you receive an additional immortal herb."
The other elders and worshippers nodded in agreement. Though Golden Crocodile Douluo ranked second in the Worship Hall, even referring to Qian Daoliu as "Big Brother," the truth was that Golden Crocodile had watched Qian Daoliu grow up. Compared to his age, the rest of them weren't even half as old as Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Seeing their reactions, Golden Crocodile Douluo was slightly moved. His years of devotion to Spirit Hall had not been in vain—he had always considered this place his home.
Chrysanthemum Douluo thought for a moment and used his soul power to levitate a golden fruit, roughly the size of a fist. The moment it appeared, the air seemed to grow heavier, and a unique fragrance spread through the room.
"Second Worshipper, this is the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. It contains traces of the Earth Dragon's bloodline. While it doesn't match the compatibility of the Golden Crocodile Dragon Fruit, it is still highly suitable for the Golden Crocodile King martial soul."
Among the herbs, the Golden Crocodile Dragon Fruit was the most compatible with the Golden Crocodile King. However, the best match of all—the Invincible Celestial Chrysanthemum, which could temper the body into an unbreakable fortress—was a herb Chrysanthemum Douluo coveted for himself. It was perfectly suited to his martial soul, and even the most selfless individual would find it hard to resist such a treasure.
After receiving the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Golden Crocodile Douluo's thoughts cleared, and he asked, "Your Holiness, you mentioned earlier—who brought these immortal herbs back for us old folks?"
"It was Xiao Han," Qian Xunji replied.
"The Young Master."
At that moment, shame stirred in Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart. As a devout follower of the Angel God, he had distanced himself from Qian Renhan ever since the young man awakened the Fallen Angel martial soul—a direct antithesis to the Angel Clan. He hadn't reached out to Qian Renhan even once since his return, and yet the boy had selflessly handed the immortal herbs to Qian Xunji for distribution among them.
Golden Crocodile Douluo asked, "Where is the Young Master now? I must thank him properly."
"Xiao Han has moved to reside at Jianfeng Peak," Qian Xunji answered. Upon returning to Spirit Hall, Qian Renhan had instructed people to build a residence atop Jianfeng Peak and moved there directly. He even had his meals delivered, a clear sign of his partial separation from the Angel Clan.
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly and stepped back, allowing the distribution of immortal herbs to continue. The worshippers each received their share, one by one.
"This Invincible Celestial Chrysanthemum aligns perfectly with my martial soul. I, Yue Guan, will shamelessly claim it for myself," Chrysanthemum Douluo announced, ignoring the envious stares of the elders as he stored the Invincible Celestial Chrysanthemum in his soul tool. Without pausing, he resumed the distribution of the remaining herbs.
When it came time to distribute to the elders, Bibi Dong, who held a status equivalent to theirs as the Holy Maiden, was naturally placed last. Her current cultivation level was only that of a Spirit Douluo, making her the weakest present.
Bibi Dong's gaze fell on Qian Xunji. Seeing his silence, resentment bubbled in her heart, but she forced herself to remain patient and wait.
When it was Ghost Douluo's turn, Chrysanthemum Douluo rummaged through the herbs several times but failed to find one with the cold and sinister attributes that matched Ghost Douluo's martial soul. With some disappointment, he said, "Old Ghost, I'm sorry, but none of the immortal herbs here are compatible with your martial soul. Would you like one of the gentler herbs to stabilize your foundation instead?"
"No need. I've already taken plenty of foundational herbs from you," Ghost Douluo said, waving his hand nonchalantly. But deep down, he was overjoyed. Just moments ago, Porcupinefish Douluo had secretly informed him that the Young Master had prepared a dark, sinister herb specifically for him, which he could collect later.
This gesture deeply moved Ghost Douluo. If the future saw Qian Renhan becoming the next Pope, Ghost Douluo resolved to strongly petition to become his Grand Worshipper—a direct supporter and protector. After all, the Fallen Angel martial soul was an absolute superior to his Ghost Phantom martial soul. Serving under Qian Renhan's command would not only be comfortable but might even present an opportunity for further breakthroughs.
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong grew slightly excited. Her martial souls, the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor, carried death attributes similar to Ghost Douluo's Ghost Phantom. She asked, "Elder Chrysanthemum, is there an immortal herb here that matches my martial soul's attributes?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo paused briefly before answering, "Your Highness, the Holy Maiden, unfortunately, there are no herbs here that match your martial soul's attributes. However, I can suggest you take the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. Its medicinal properties are mild yet rich, capable of strengthening your foundation and cleansing impurities. While it may not compare to the herbs matched to the elders, it can help someone at your Spirit Douluo level improve by one or two ranks."
Bibi Dong understood what he meant. This herb would merely accelerate her soul power cultivation within her current potential—it couldn't enhance her innate talent. For soul masters who had already reached their limits, such herbs were essentially useless.
"I'll take this one," Bibi Dong said, her confidence in her natural talent unwavering. She had already obtained the divine trials. As long as she killed Qian Xunji and initiated the trial, she believed she could reach the pinnacle sooner or later. Without a matching herb, a slower increase in strength was a minor concern.
At this moment, Qian Xunji spoke up, "Elder Chrysanthemum, leave us for now."
"Understood, Your Holiness," Chrysanthemum Douluo replied without hesitation. Knowing the complicated relationship between Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong, he obediently left the room.
Once the door closed, Qian Xunji's gaze softened. He spoke gently, "Dong'er."
Bibi Dong immediately took a step back, her face twisting in disgust. "Qian Xunji, don't use that tone with me!"
Qian Xunji sighed. "Dong'er, why can't you see it clearly? Yu Xiaogang is nothing but a talentless fraud who relies solely on plagiarism."
Bibi Dong's expression darkened, and she shouted furiously, "Shut up! Don't you dare insult Xiaogang! So what if your strength surpasses his? In my eyes, Xiaogang's intellect is worth a thousand—no, ten thousand of you! If Xiaogang possessed your martial soul, he would be the most flawless man in the world!"
Hearing this, Qian Xunji sighed helplessly. He began recounting his recent encounter with the Golden Iron Triangle but deliberately left out the part where he had grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the throat and forced him to kneel and swear. He feared that if Bibi Dong knew the whole truth, she might actually turn on him.
(End of Chapter)