"Eh? If you're not that person's descendant... Then how did you know about the book?" You You's enormous body tilted, confused.
Obviously Huo Yuhao had secretly read through its memories while Jianxin was talking, but he wasn't going to say that.
Thanks to its memories he now knows what this place was, what these plants were, and the entire purpose of this place.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, an extremely rare and valuable natural environment. It is one of the places in the world where destiny congregates.
The reason why the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is good for plant-type soul beasts, why these immortal herbs are abundant here, is because of the water of chaos produced by the two extreme springs!
Ordinary plants are basically unable to grow in this environment since they cannot adapt to the special atmosphere, but certain valuable plants can nevertheless be cultured. The cultivation of rare plants would be increased by tenfold.
So despite the aura released by You You, Ah Jiao, Star Anise, and other immortal herbs similar to hundred thousand year old soul beasts, the truth was that their true ages are around 10,000!
This place was truly divine.
If Huo Yuhao could add some kind of seal around the area to speed up time, then wouldn't he be able to cultivate even more immortal herbs? Possibly even...Divine Herbs!
"How I know about the book isn't important. Let's just say you're lucky that it wasn't the descendant of Tang San that came here, or all of you would've been dead." Huo Yuhao calmly stated.
The purpose of this place was to be a cultivation garden, ready to be harvested by the descendants of the person who had "saved" them.
Now, who was this person? Well, it was none other than the kind and benevolent Sea God, Tang San.
Not only that, but Tang San had also arranged for the Jade Phosphorous Flowers outside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well—leading to the present-day desolation of the Sunset Forest and preventing any adventures from entering.
All of the immortal herbs in this place have zero interactions with the outside world, thus they were naive and inexperienced of schemes. So even after ten thousand years, they didn't realize that they were cultivated by Tang San so that they can be harvested.
Huo Yuhao felt a margin of pity for them, but that's it.
The strong win and the weak grovel. That was the universal law.
Which is why he wanted to harvest them and take anything else of value in this place. But that's going to be hard if they were to suddenly self-destruct if he corners them too much.
Of course, considering how innately cowardly they are, it was a low chance. But he wasn't going to take it! That's a fool's gamble.
"D-Dead? What do you mean by that?! And how do you even know his name if you aren't his descendant?" Despite You You's words, it remained quite polite.
Unlike Ah Jiao, known as the Infernal Delicate Apricot and has a very explosive temper at the slightest provocation, this flower was much easier to talk to.
Huo Yuhao took off his straw hat, placing it against his chest, and flashed a smile. "Tang San is now a God King of the Divine Realm. What that means is that he holds a very high status and lives a supposedly happy and fulfilled life."
"Really? Oh, how wonderful!"
"You You, did you forget about what he said earlier? If Tang San's descendant appeared, we'd be dead!?" Ah Jiao quickly reminded.
"Ah! That's right! Are you saying that Great Person would really kill us? But he saved our lives!"
Huo Yuhao inwardly chuckled, his eyes half-lidded.
What a masterclass in brainwashing. Even he had to respect such schemes.
Tang San took everything useful, left behind a few seeds for future generations to harvest, and somehow still managed to make the herbs see him as a benevolent God.
It was no different from farming crops!
Such tactic... Impressive!
As stated beforehand, these herbs have been stuck in this land ever since they became spiritually aware. Their innocence was akin to sheltered children.
Their innocence made them easy to manipulate.
Jianxin had to look away, trying to hide the dumbfounded expression on her face.
She couldn't believe there were actually such naive and stupid soul beasts.
They're a hundred thousand years old! They're more than an adult with the wisdom of a human. How could they not realize their dire situation?
'Well, I can't exactly blame them. Even if they realize the situation, they can't exactly leave this place on their own. They're plants.'
And it wasn't like other 100,000 year soul beasts weren't any better.
Look at Xiao Wu!
Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, "That person left you all here for one reason— to be resources used for his descendants. If not, he would've uprooted you all a long time ago."
"Think carefully, why did he say for you all to wait for his descendant to arrive? To hand over a book that he could've simply handed it over to them in some other way? After all, he's a God! He's still alive after all."
"Since he left for the Divine Realm, I am probably the first human you've seen since then."
You You and the other herbs were stunned.
Why was this man so knowledgeable?!
You You hesitated but still defended Tang San, "No, he probably wanted to temper his descendants first rather than simply handing the book and... As long as he or she passes the trials, we will reward them. That would make sense!"
Huo Yuhao almost burst out laughing, but tightly kept a straight face.
"I'm sure you've realized it already. Do you really think his descendants have any other way to absorb 100,000 years old soul rings and soul bones so easily?"
"The book was simply a bonus. This place and the immortal herbs are the real prize for his descendants!"
You You and the other herbs fell silent.
Thanks to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, plant-type soul beasts grew faster than normal by at least 10x. But even if it had cultivated for 100,000 years, its wisdom was lower than its peers due to its safe and isolated environment.
But Huo Yuhao's words forced it to think harder.
Tang San's descendants would be human soul masters.
And what did soul masters need most?
Soul rings and soul bones.
For the first time since their sentience, Tang San's "Buddha image" cracked within the minds of the immortal herbs.
Huo Yuhao calmly waited.
If he could convince the immortal herbs to willingly leave with him, that would be ideal.
It would be better for him to make them into spirit souls than just soul rings and soul bones, not for him, but for his friends.
Of course, if reasoning doesn't work, then he and Jianxin would show these herbs why they should obey.
He wasn't a hero or a saint after all.
But a Shinobi.
You You finally spoke up again.
"You didn't come all this way just to tell us this."
Now that doubt had been planted, it wanted to know what Huo Yuhao really wanted.
What makes him different from Tang San?
Huo Yuhao smiled and held out his right hand, saying,
"Aside from exposing the true nature of Tang San, my purpose in coming here was to use you in order to increase my strengths and foundation."
"But that changed upon meeting you all. Unlike what I had initially expected, you are not some unintelligent herbs waiting to be eaten but wise 100,000 year old soul beasts."
"This lets me give you all a choice."
Huo Yuhao's expression was calm and eerie, sending chills up the stems of the immortal herbs. Even the Star Anise was shaken.
"I annihilate your consciousness, take out your essences, use your bodies and souls for myself and my friends. All the while I plant your seeds in this place and reuse you all again later on."
The Sharingan spun slowly in his eyes, faint red light reflecting off the icy mist.
He didn't release any of his soul power or spiritual power, yet the immortal herbs felt as if a blade had brushed their roots.
This is what makes him and Tang San different.
Tang San would try to cloak everything in a veil of righteousness.
He would speak of fate. Of destiny. Of giving them purpose.
That they would be of help to the greater good of soul beasts and mankind.
Huo Yuhao didn't bullshit.
This is a simple and clean exploitation.
A deathly silence fell.
"You—" You You's voice came out thin, almost choking. "You'll do what?! Y-You can't...you can't just—!"
"I'm giving you a choice. This is just the first option," Huo Yuhao's smile didn't reach his eyes. He leaned forward, the brim of his hat cutting off the light so that only his sharingan eyes flickered visible beneath.
"And this is the last. Follow me, your consciousness stays and you'll benefit immensely."
"H-How...?" You You nervously asked.
"Do you desire eternal life?"
"Uh..." It froze. The plant processed Huo Yuhao's words. "Huh? Well, yeah. All of us here are a bit cowardly, even Ah Jiao."
'A bit?' Jianxin inwardly snorted.
"Hey!"
"—We've only lived for ten thousand years, and we have spent our entire lives in this place. We were hoping that we could stay here longer and possibly even outlive humanity and other soul beasts." You You honestly replied. They really don't want to die.
Jianxin's eyes held a bit of disdain upon hearing his words. Fearing for death was natural, she had secluded herself in her territory for thousands of years after suffering a severe injury.
But these immortal herbs were different. They wanted to be shut-ins, basking in safety and comfort; never growing, never fighting, never changing.
Not understanding that would become their downfall.
'That bed of Jade Phosphorous Flowers and their poison could only keep them safe for a short while. Humanity's technology is constantly evolving, it wouldn't take them long to develop soul tools that could overcome their poisonous barrier.'
After seeing the novelty of soul tools in the Sun Moon Empire, Jianxin finally understood just how terrifying their soul tool technology could be.
Huo Yuhao's lips faintly curved. "Then I'll give you that chance."
"Follow me, and I'll make you into Spirit Souls. Your forms will evolve beyond the limits of plants and beasts. You'll be free from decay, free from the weakness of roots. And given time... you'll achieve eternal life, by extension of divinity."
"D-Divinity?"
Huo Yuhao then began to brief them about the Spirit Soul Method, his terrifying talent, and his friendship with most of the Great Beasts in the continent.
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AN: Sup