Time passed minute by minute, and three hours later, the effects of the divine herbs began to manifest in Zuzong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling, each showing different degrees of change.
After consuming the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Xiao Wu's appearance transformed significantly compared to the original depiction of Dai Mubai. Her previously rosy cheeks turned a creamy jade white, and the baby fat on her face disappeared, giving her a more mature look.
If Xiao Wu had been in her youthful soul-beast form earlier, she was now beginning her early transformation into maturity. Her beauty had now reached a level on par with Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong's transformation was the most dazzling. The colorful glow from her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda floated quietly in front of her, with two light rings flickering around it, bathed in a rich golden glow emanating from her body. The golden light enhanced the radiance of the pagoda, making it appear even more magnificent, like a goddess descended from the heavens.
Zhu Zhuqing, after consuming the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, was enveloped in a faint jade hue. As the herb's effect took hold, she shifted from sitting cross-legged to standing upright, placing her hands on her ample chest, quietly absorbing the herb's power.
Ye Lingling sat calmly, her body surrounded by a faint purple light. A delicate fragrance filled the air as a white light, shaped like flower petals, slowly descended from above. Unlike the previous nine-petal flowers, this time, the flower had ten petals.
Cradled in Ye Lingling's hands was a beautiful pink begonia flower, composed of five white and five pink petals, elegant and lovely. The flower's leaves and tendrils flowed gracefully, like a lady hiding her face in her long hair, exuding a gentle charm.
While Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling gradually awakened from their cultivation, they noticed that Zuzong was still deep in his.
At that moment, Zuzong sat cross-legged, surrounded by an intense red glow. His blue-silver hair fluttered in the air despite the absence of wind.
The four girls focused their attention on Zuzong.
"What's happening to Xiaozong?" Xiao Wu asked in alarm, sensing the fluctuating temperature from the red glow around Zuzong. At times, it felt like the icy chill of winter, while at other times, it was warm like the heat of the sun. This alternating cold and heat seemed to form a strange balance.
Zhu Zhuqing held Xiao Wu's hand and raised an elegant eyebrow, comforting her, "We need to trust Xiaozong. Besides, didn't he say the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew would benefit his eyes? Perhaps…"
She left the rest unsaid: perhaps it would lead to the evolution of his Sharingan.
Xiao Wu glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, then nodded firmly.
Suddenly, the fiery red light condensed, and with the fading glow, a two-meter-tall ribcage structure formed, surrounding Zuzong in the center.
Anyone familiar with Naruto would immediately recognize this as the initial form of Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo.
"What is that?" Ning Rongrong pointed at the fiery red ribs.
Just as she spoke, Zuzong opened his eyes. A powerful burst of soul power surged around him, creating a shockwave that knocked over the nearby furniture. His eyes had turned blood red, and the three tomoe in his pupils spun rapidly, eventually forming the shape of a triangular pinwheel.
As the shockwave subsided, Zuzong stood up, and the fiery red ribcage vanished into thin air. Looking at the mess around him, Zuzong smiled wryly, "Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Ning Rongrong was the first to snap out of her shock. She pulled out a mirror she normally used for makeup and handed it to Zuzong. "Take a look at your eyes."
Zuzong froze for a moment, then his heart raced with excitement. Could this be Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan?
In his mind, Zuzong called out to the system, "System, didn't you say I needed to absorb a 100,000-year-old soul ring to awaken the Mangekyō again?"
[Ding! The host absorbed a heavenly treasure, the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, which greatly enhanced your eye power, restoring the nearly blind Mangekyō Sharingan to full strength.]
"So, I won't go blind from overusing it like Itachi, right?"
[Ding! The host has temporarily awakened the Mangekyō. Once the Mangekyō's eye power is depleted, it will automatically revert to the three-tomoe Sharingan. To awaken the Mangekyō again, you will need to absorb a 100,000-year-old soul ring.]
Hearing the system's explanation, Zuzong breathed a sigh of relief. He was genuinely worried about going blind, but it seemed his situation was more like Tang San's temporary upgrade in the original novel. Even so, the strength of his eye power in the three-tomoe state had at least doubled.
Without wasting any time, Zuzong returned his Sharingan to its three-tomoe form. The Mangekyō's eye power was too precious to waste and might save his life in a critical moment.
Zuzong turned to Ning Rongrong, his expression serious. "Rongrong, can I trust you?"
Ning Rongrong, sensing Zuzong's masculine presence so close to her, blushed and lowered her head. "Y-Yes, you can."
Zuzong nodded, then looked at Ye Lingling. "Lingling, please listen as well."
"This is my second martial spirit, the Sharingan," Zuzong said, pointing to his eyes. "It's not that I don't trust all of you, but I know how shocking it is to have twin martial spirits. One wrong move, and it could bring disaster upon me. Since you've all seen it now, I won't hide it, but I hope you can keep this secret, even from your parents."
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu also turned to Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, saying in unison, "Please, keep this secret for us."
Ning Rongrong, still in shock, had her mouth agape, while the usually calm Ye Lingling showed a flicker of surprise on her face.
"Understood," Ye Lingling replied with her usual cool tone.
Ning Rongrong, now snapping out of her daze, smiled. "No wonder Aunt Erlong asked if your martial spirit was Blue Silver Grass or the Sharingan. I finally understand. Don't worry, not even my father will know."
As she spoke, she even patted her chest in reassurance.
Zuzong nodded, closed his eyes, and deactivated the Sharingan. "Alright, everyone, let's stop focusing on me and see what you all gained from your cultivation!"
"I'll go first! I'll go first! My soul power jumped five levels, from level 35 straight to level 40!" Xiao Wu raised her hand and pouted.
Zuzong was momentarily stunned, then carefully observed Xiao Wu. The five-level soul power increase didn't surprise him, but her appearance had undergone a significant change.
--
Check out my pa**on to read 100 advanced chapters. Link is in synopsis/description of this fic.