Chapter 71: Top-tier Forces Gather
Chapter 71: 71. Top-tier Forces Gather
Zhou Ting, you really are a big jerk!
Ning Rongrong didn't even know what she was angry about; she just turned her head in resentment and ran away huffily.
Although she was angry, she still had to share this huge piece of good news with her father and the others so they could make plans early and not miss the opportunity.
At this time, Dugu Yan finally recovered and asked Zhou Ting.
"Where is the herb garden?"
Zhou Ting had long been secretly making his own little plans, and now was the perfect time to speak up.
"I only know it's in the Star Dou Great Forest, but I don't know the exact location. However, you can have your grandfather discuss it with School Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
This was why Zhou Ting was telling them everything he knew.
To be honest, among the major powers on the continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School really didn't have an advantage.
Two Titled Douluo, plus Ning Fengzhi's support, seemed very powerful.
But once Ning Fengzhi was targeted... no, everyone on the continent knew that when facing an enemy, one must first kill the support Spirit Master.
Therefore, Ning Fengzhi would definitely be targeted!
When that time came, the two Titled Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would have to be distracted to protect Ning Fengzhi, and their combat power would definitely be greatly reduced.
With the addition of a principled Poison Douluo, the situation would be much better.
Besides, in the unknown poisonous mist, the Poison Douluo's role would be immense!
Having learned everything, Dugu Yan got up to leave and find her grandfather to discuss.
Just as she walked out two steps, she turned around and said softly to Zhou Ting.
"I'll only tell Grandpa that a person wearing a tiger mask attacked me, and I didn't see anything else!"
After saying that, she turned and left.
This girl... she couldn't have fallen for me, right?
Zhou Ting had a strange feeling in his heart.
Then... what about Yu Tianheng?
Zhu Zhuqing walked to Zhou Ting's side and said faintly.
"Did something else happen between you two?"
Not good, I'm exposed.
Zhou Ting's face stiffened. He didn't want to say anything, but looking at her serious eyes, he couldn't help but say guiltily.
"Ahem, well, her sleeping posture was very ungraceful!"
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, suddenly realizing that Zhou Ting had seen it when he woke up, and she couldn't help but "pfft" into a laugh.
Her smile was like a flower, so beautiful and moving.
Zhou Ting stared blankly, unable to get enough.
Such a blatant gaze was more than the young girl Zhu Zhuqing could handle. Her face turned red, and she changed the subject.
"Thank you!"
"Why the sudden thank you?"
Zhu Zhuqing said seriously.
"I'm about to Breakthrough to Rank 30."
This was even though most of the honey's effects were spent on compensating—compensating for the potential she had over-consumed before.
"Just in time. We're going to the Star Dou Great Forest this time, so we'll find a suitable Spirit Beast along the way..."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Zhou Ting seriously for a long while, a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth, and she softly agreed.
"Okay."
"I'm going to Cultivate..."
What was originally three girls and one boy happily "playing" had turned into Zhou Ting being all alone in the blink of an eye.
"I should work hard too!"
Soon, Zhou Ting's figure disappeared into the academy library, submerged in endless books.
With his talent, plus quite a bit of help from the six-hundred-year Jade Emperor Bee royal jelly, Cultivating to Rank 30 in a month was still... a bit difficult.
Well, to be honest, in one month, it was simply impossible for him, at Rank 26, to rise four ranks in a row!
But Zhou Ting wasn't in a hurry. At this moment, his next summoned beast target hadn't even been determined... Time flew by, not stopping for human will.
A month later, at the Star Dou Great Forest, outside the sinkhole's Immortal Herb Garden, the poisonous mist still shrouded the entire sinkhole. Its toxicity was no longer decreasing and had basically stabilized.
At this time, the major forces gathered were:
Spirit Hall.
The Upper Three Sects: Clear Sky Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The Lower Four Sects: White Tiger Sect, Wind Sword Sect, Elephant Armored Academy, and Fire Leopard Sect.
The four single-attribute families: Strength, Speed, Defense, and Breaking.
As for the two great Empires, some experts and outstanding juniors were mixed within the various Sects.
Zhou Ting even saw... Xue Beng inside!
As for why the sinkhole was so large yet many forces were standing in one place.
It was really... because the concentration of the poisonous mist around the sinkhole varied.
After a month, only the direction directly facing out of the forest had the most obvious reduction in toxicity.
Only this spot was the safest.
Zhou Ting stood in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's camp, looking at the other surrounding forces, feeling suspicious.
"Is Spirit Hall's methods really this poor... This intelligence leak is way too serious."
Looking towards the Spirit Hall direction, Zhou Ting's first glance caught the woman in the center of the crowd.
Elegant, noble, time had failed to leave any marks on her... No, it should be said that time made her exude a mature aura, her charm unparalleled.
She drew the attention of countless people.
Bibi Dong held her scepter and stood there casually, as if she didn't care at all about those prying eyes.
Suddenly, she noticed the gaze of a little fellow in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's camp.
She couldn't help but frown slightly: What is this kid... thinking?
Zhou Ting felt as if he was being watched by a predator and immediately shrank behind Sword Douluo.
There was no helping it; that gaze reminded him of someone... Tang Hao. Although different, both were terrifying.
In any case, Ning Fengzhi, who was only at the Spirit Saint level, definitely couldn't block it.
On the other side, Bibi Dong glanced slightly and asked the Chrysanthemum Douluo beside her, who exuded a feminine aura.
"Just now, the kid behind Ning Fengzhi... that was Zhou Ting, right?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was in charge of the intelligence from Heaven Dou City.
Although Bibi Dong didn't say it, he was well aware and paid extra attention to Qian Renxue and the people around her.
He even... knew all about her transaction with Zhou Ting.
Qian Renxue wanted to keep it a secret, but Bibi Dong was the... Supreme Pontiff!
"Your Holiness, it is indeed him!"
"This kid is a freak. There was another equally strange existence in the Saint Spirit Village where he's from..."
"Oh?"
"There was one called Tang San who awakened with him, with Innate Full Spirit Power, but his Spirit was just ordinary Blue Silver Grass..."
Bibi Dong's heart stirred, and she asked.
"Who is his father?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo actually knew about this and said with a smile.
"Coincidentally, Tang San's father is an ordinary blacksmith, but he actually has the same name as the Clear Sky Douluo."
Tang San must have... twin spirits.
Then, Tang Hao is real!
Interesting, truly interesting.
Bibi Dong felt the spirit power within her body, as deep and unfathomable as the sea, and a confident smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
In the Clear Sky Sect camp, Tang Hao, Tang San, Yu Xiaogang, and others were actually mixed in.
It was unknown what had happened between them.
Yu Xiaogang looked at Bibi Dong, his eyes incredibly complex.
"She's still so beautiful! But..."
At this moment, his heart was twisted with pain.
Once, that was such a beautiful love, and it was his first love.
That night, he waited all night.
But... she broke the appointment!
He left Spirit City all alone, despondent, and wandered the world... "Zhou Ting..."
Hearing this familiar voice, Zhou Ting's mood instantly soured.
Turning his head, he indeed saw that ordinary, cold, and annoying face.
Tang San!
In fact, the relationship between the two of them was already on the verge of falling apart, only separated by a thin layer of paper.
Besides, who was this kid putting on a stinking face for?
Since that was the case, Zhou Ting naturally wouldn't give him a good face either, and asked coldly.
"What's the matter?"
A flash of Killing Intent passed through Tang San's eyes, but he didn't explode. Instead, he took out an empty glass bottle from his belt, handed it to Zhou Ting, and said:
"Xiao Wu asked me to give this to you, and you'll understand!"
Zhou Ting didn't ask the stupid question of why Xiao Wu didn't come herself.
One must know that dozens of Titled Douluo and hundreds of Spirit Douluo were gathered here; the moment Xiao Wu appeared...
Spicy rabbit head could be served on the table, and the feast would officially begin.Chapter 72 – Xiao Wu's Intentions
Chapter 72 – Xiao Wu's Intentions
Tang San was in a terrible mood.
Xiao Wu had told him to hand the glass jar to Zhou Ting, and he really couldn't understand why she wouldn't share whatever it was with him—her own big brother.
Besides, why did Xiao Wu even need to contact Zhou Ting?
In short, Tang San's mood was awful; for a moment he'd wanted to kill Zhou Ting outright.
But… looking around, there were more than a dozen Titled Douluo in plain sight, and who knew how many more hidden in the shadows.
Now wasn't the time.
'Conduct yourself with care!'
Tang San didn't give Zhou Ting a chance to reply; he turned and left.
'That brat… is threatening me, right?'
'That's definitely a threat!'
Zhou Ting clutched the glass jar, speechless.
He couldn't figure out what he'd done to offend this killer.
Not far behind him, Sword Douluo appeared out of nowhere, smiling faintly.
'Kid, did you steal someone's girlfriend again?'
This little old man really speaks without thinking!
Zhou Ting glared at the hateful yet still-handsome middle-aged face, itching to tear it apart.
Pity—he couldn't win.
Zhou Ting stressed solemnly,
'Nothing of the sort. Don't assume that just because you're a Titled Douluo you can spout nonsense and ruin my reputation.'
Chen Xin perked up and mocked,
'Hah, didn't you once say reputation isn't worth a single copper coin?'
He… really had said that.
Zhou Ting retreated in defeat.
Ning Rongrong popped up, grinning wickedly as she added,
'Grandpa Sword, you've got it wrong this time. It's not the girlfriend—it's the sister!'
Chen Xin saw the light, looking as if everything made sense.
'No wonder the boy's Killing Intent toward you is so strong.'
As the master of the Seven Kill Sword, his perception of Killing Intent ranked among the continent's finest.
Of course, with the cheat-like Slaughter God Domain existing, he didn't dare claim first place.
Zhou Ting saw Sword Douluo's point; he bowed deeply, gratitude all over his face.
'Thank you for your guidance, Sword Douluo!'
'Heh.'
Chen Xin turned away, a smile on his lips—so teachable.
Zhou Ting examined the jar Xiao Wu had given him: nothing unusual, just an ordinary honey bottle.
Thinking about it, if there had been anything off, it couldn't have escaped Tang San's Purple Demon Eye.
If so, she might as well have asked Tang San to pass a message!
So what exactly did Little Rabbit mean?
He pocketed the jar and recalled everything about Xiao Wu.
'My name is Xiao Wu… the Wu of dance…'
Well, he hadn't actually heard that introduction.
Then came a year of living together, the trip to Soul Hunting Forest, the Bee Queen… and suddenly he had an idea about the jar.
'She can't be planning to…'
'But what would be the point?'
'Even if…'
'No way!'
Zhou Ting's eyes widened in disbelief.
'Little Rabbit… has nerves this big?'
He murmured to himself.
'Whatever—find her first.'
Slipping behind the temporary camp, he looked at the gloomy sky and muttered,
'Weather's about to turn.'
With a thought, over ten thousand under-hundred-year Jade Emperor Bees scattered in every direction.
'Go, find nearby Jade Emperor Bee hives.'
After cultivating during this period, he'd discovered a new way to use his summoning Spirit Ability.
Feeding different amounts of spirit power let him control the virtual bees' age.
It was useless in combat, but invaluable for other tasks.
For instance, scouting: even Spirit Masters rarely notice under-hundred-year Spirit Beasts scattered throughout a forest.
Or concealing the fact that his Spirit Ability… could grow.
'What are you doing?'
The sudden voice behind him made Zhou Ting jump.
He turned, face grave.
'Dugu Yan, do you know that scaring people… can literally scare them to death?'
'Heh, if anyone else said that I might believe it—but you? Tch…'
Dugu Yan gave a meaningful look toward her grandfather.
Great, another person here to threaten me!
Cold sweat dotted Zhou Ting's forehead; he asked helplessly,
'What do you want?'
Dugu Yan turned serious.
'What was that Spirit Ability you used against me last time?'
'It's a summoned Spirit Beast called Soul Passing Worm; it drains the enemy's spirit power, stamina, and other energies.'
She stretched out a hand—pale skin, green nails.
Eyes expectant, she said,
'Send me a Soul Passing Worm to absorb the energy inside me.'
Zhou Ting couldn't understand; his first thought: Is she… a masochist?
Everything about her flashed through his mind, and he exclaimed,
'You want my worm to absorb the toxins in your body!'
Her biggest secret exposed, Dugu Yan stared in shock.
'H-how did you know?'
He couldn't tell the real reason, so Zhou Ting smiled and asked instead,
'Can you sense your own Spirit Ability?'
Was this guy looking down on her with such a rookie question?!
Dugu Yan snapped, scornful.
'Of course I can—that's common knowledge!'
Zhou Ting spread his hands.
'Well then, when the worm devoured your spirit power, I sensed toxins just like your poison mist.'
So that was it.
She felt a bit ashamed, but remembering what Zhou Ting had done, she thought: I'm the victim here—he should be the ashamed one!
She became righteous again, curling her lip.
'Enough babble!'
Zhou Ting was speechless.
Suddenly inspired, he rubbed his chin.
'Tell you what: I'll teach you a way to completely solve the poison problem for you and your grandpa. In exchange, we wipe the slate clean—deal?'
Dugu Yan hesitated only a moment before nodding firmly.
'Fine—but it has to really work.'
She had no choice; the Bilingshe Spirit had claimed countless lives in her family—father, mother, grandmother… even she herself suffered.
If it could truly be solved, past grudges were just 'misunderstandings'.
Zhou Ting had expected this, but her word alone wasn't enough—what if Dugu Bo played dirty?
'Go tell your grandpa; with just you… there's no way to verify.'
He phrased it politely, but Dugu Yan wasn't stupid; she quickly caught his meaning.
She shot him a glare through gritted teeth.
'Fine—just you wait!'
Zhou Ting covered his face, bitter.
'And I was so tactful…'
Nearby, Dugu Yan leaned to Dugu Bo's ear and whispered.
Soon Zhou Ting was under a Titled Douluo's stare.
First Killing Intent, then anger, doubt, and finally surprise… The shift in Dugu Bo's gaze let Zhou Ting breathe again.
'Looks like it worked!'Chapter 73 – Reunion of Two Invincible Spirit Masters
Chapter 73 – Reunion of Two Invincible Spirit Masters
Dugu Bo's reaction meant everything was moving in the right direction, and Zhou Ting's nerves finally settled.
Then it hit him—What the Hell am I so jumpy about?
The Dugu Family ought to be thanking him!
Without him, Tang San would have stripped the entire herb garden bare, not leaving a single Immortal Herb.
At best, whether it was Dugu Yan or Dugu Bo, all they would've gotten was an antidote—nothing more.
But now, everything was different.
Though the garden was no longer in Dugu Bo's hands, he finally had a chance—an opportunity to obtain an Immortal Herb.
Whether that was a gain or a loss… who could really say?
With that thought, Zhou Ting straightened his back, lifted his chin, and stood tall—smack!
A slightly darkened palm landed heavily on the shoulder of the rising Zhou Ting.
'Kid, you've got guts, I'll give you that!'
The grip was crushing; the voice, bone-chilling.
Zhou Ting's knees buckled. Forcing a smile uglier than tears, he croaked:
'A-hem, Your Excellency jests. I wandered in by accident, no harm intended…'
'Heh.'
Dugu Bo neither accepted nor rejected the apology. He was tempted to press the matter, but caught sight of his granddaughter watching him anxiously.
His gaze slid back to Zhou Ting's rather handsome face, and he withdrew his hand with a sigh.
'So I hear you've got a way to cure the poison afflicting our Family. Let's be clear—if it harms spirit power or Spirits, don't even mention it.'
Zhou Ting wiped the sweat from his brow, confidence shining.
'Of course not!'
'You can force the toxin into a Spirit Bone…'
Zhou Ting spilled the method without holding anything back.
Dugu Bo's heart stirred; he happened to possess a ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone. Focusing, he pushed a wisp of toxin out with spirit power and into the Empress Medusa Spirit Bone.
'My body feels lighter—your method really works!'
Surprise and joy flashed across Dugu Bo's face; his eyes toward Zhou Ting softened considerably.
Dugu Yan's gaze, too, glittered as she tugged gently at her grandfather's sleeve.
Seeing his granddaughter so clearly smitten, Dugu Bo felt a tangle of emotions, then finally said to Zhou Ting:
'Since the cure works, all past grievances are written off.'
'The old lord is magnanimous…'
Dugu Bo waved a dismissive hand, disgust written on his face.
'Cut the flattery—this old man has no patience for it.'
With that, he dragged his reluctant granddaughter back into the tent.
Now that they knew the cure, the sooner they used it, the better.
Zhou Ting muttered under his breath:
'Whew—one headache down!'
'Let's tally it up: still left—Shrek, Tang San, Yu Xiaogang… and maybe Clear Sky Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon…'
'Ssss!'
Zhou Ting again contributed to Douluo Continent's warming, his heart bitter.
'The more I count, the longer the list gets!!!'
As for Xue Beng—he hadn't even made the tally: a powerless prince, hardly worth worrying over.
Besides, in that poison mist… safety first, right?
Speaking of which, Emperor Xue Ye was ruthless.
The moment he learned his brother Prince Xue Xing sided with his youngest son, he realized:
If his second son Xue Qinghe could be cured and take the throne, Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng would be a major instability.
Therefore, with Prince Xue Xing dead, Xue Beng would pose no threat to Xue Qinghe.
If the cure failed, Xue Beng was still young and had acted absurdly—whether an act or not, Prince Xue Xing would seize power.
Either way, Prince Xue Xing's very existence was a mistake—BOOM!
'It's going to rain.'
CRACK!
Another thunderclap sent everyone scurrying back to their tents.
Suddenly someone pointed at the sky and shouted:
'Hey! Look—someone's up there!'
CRACK!
The black stormclouds split under repeated lightning, illuminating the world in stark relief.
Two figures hovered in mid-air, facing each other across the flashes.
One sprouted three pairs of golden wings, radiating sacred light like a descended angel.
The other grew bat wings, horns, and gripped a blood-red sword, a demon crawling out of Hell.
The demon's blood-red eyes locked on the angel as he spoke coldly:
'Qian Daoliu, so you finally stepped out of your temple.'
Qian Daoliu had been puzzled—he hadn't recognized this man who could threaten him.
Now he remembered.
'So it's you… Tang Chen!'
Back then, he had lost by a single move to Tang Chen and sworn never to set foot on Clear Sky Sect's mountain while Tang Chen lived.
He had never expected to see him again.
Qian Daoliu smiled warmly, like greeting a dear old friend, yet his words were brutal:
'Tang Chen, in that monstrous state of yours, I'm afraid… you don't have long to live!'
Tang Chen's eyes changed—one cold and cruel, the other calm with a hint of fury.
It was as if another soul shared his body.
Even the seasoned Qian Daoliu felt a chill at the sight.
'Inside your body…'
Tang Chen erupted with boundless spirit power, blood-mist shrouding him; in an instant both eyes turned calm.
He spoke coldly:
'None of your business!'
Qian Daoliu fell silent, an unexpected sadness in his heart.
Once the unrivaled overlord who looked down upon the world, now reduced to this miserable state.
Their relationship had always been complicated—part political rivalry, part love triangle, part rivalry, part friendship—impossible to define.
He gave Tang Chen a long look, his tone complex:
'The world has changed; if you still seek godhood, only one path remains.'
Without waiting for a reply, he descended into Spirit Hall's camp.
Tang Chen soon left as well.
The show was over.
Zhou Ting sat in his small tent, hand stretched out to let the rain patter on his palm.
Nothing better to do—might as well Cultivate.
He flopped down to sleep, paying no heed to the councils in the larger tents.
With so many Titled Douluo present, entering the sinkhole would not be simple.
Every major power needed to agree on rules—rules everyone could accept.
Otherwise, open conflict could shake the entire continent.
Naturally, Zhou Ting couldn't care less.
'In… out…'
Unconsciously his breathing shifted to a subtle new rhythm.
He slipped into a wondrous state.
Zhou Ting felt himself become a blade of grass merging with the forest, nourished by soil, kissed by rain, supported by companions—safe, serene.
Flowers, trees, heaven, earth, nature—one with him!
In that trance Zhou Ting grasped the true meaning of the Universal Meditation Method.
Natural Meditation Method—truly worthy of its name.Chapter 74 – The True Meaning of the Meditation Method
Chapter 74 – The True Meaning of the Meditation Method
Raindrops drummed nonstop against the delicate grass; the blades bowed and rose yet stood defiant.
Wind howled, rain lashed—I stayed unshaken.
Zhou Ting was utterly lost in the moment, unable to pull himself free.
He had no idea his body was undergoing a wondrous change, strange energies gathering from every direction—different from the power he usually captured while he Cultivated.
This new energy slipped into him, then darted out again, frolicking back and forth like mischievous Little Sprites.
The first shift came in Zhou Ting's body: the vast power hidden in his cells was roused.
It was all the jade emperor honey he had failed to digest, now…activated.
Bit by bit it merged into every cell, from crown to sole, inside and out, leaving nothing untouched.
Skin, flesh, organs, nerves, brain, fascia, bones, marrow—all blazed with vibrant life.
This was no ordinary strengthening; it was a qualitative leap, a promotion of life itself.
More and more energy gathered around Zhou Ting, playing with greater delight, lingering so long that some never returned.
Moments later his Sea of Consciousness began to quake, yet he remained immersed in that mysterious Concept, savoring its incomparable beauty.
Boom!
The special energy had entered his Sea of Consciousness!
The once-calm sea instantly churned, monstrous waves rising.
Countless foreign powers poured into the ocean of spirit power, merging with the water—Zhou Ting, still unaware, simply reached out with his mental force and dove in.
Everything else happened without effort.
Boom!
A terrifying tsunami was born!
Buzz!
The nine-tiered black pagoda within the sea trembled; the doors of the first, second, seventh, and ninth levels cracked open a sliver.
Rainbow, black hole, flame, and fire-within-ice emerged in turn and dropped into the ocean.
Clack!
An oil-like energy flowed down the tower and joined the revelry.
Rumble…
The entire Sea of Consciousness was flooded, not a gap left.
Colors flashed in every hue.
At that instant the Sea of Consciousness looked like a nightclub, dazzling enough to dizzy anyone.
Yet all of it stayed confined within the sea.
The black energy from the pagoda fused into the very walls—or rather, every part—of the Sea of Consciousness.
Through it all, Zhou Ting knew nothing. "Whew, what a great sleep."
The rain had stopped!
He lifted the tent flap and saw a seven-colored rainbow.
"Haha, a fine omen—my bright future is waving at me!"
Buzz!
The Bee Queen's call came, followed by a thread of mental force.
Zhou Ting gazed toward the sun and murmured.
"Found them."
"But no rush—let's see what I gained from that session first."
"Inner sight!"
In a flash his view shifted.
"This… how is it possible?"
Every inch of skin he looked at was absorbing the special energy from outside.
Each cell was breathing, drawing in and releasing that power, evolving toward something better.
"I've switched on auto-evolution!"
He also discovered his body now held endless vitality!
Steeling himself, Zhou Ting drew a carving knife and made a light slash.
A white line appeared on his left forearm—"What?"
"This skin… even a blade that sharp can't cut it!"
Zhou Ting's grin stretched ear to ear.
"In that case, let's get rougher."
He channeled spirit power into the blade and flicked it; a thin red line appeared.
Special energy within his body surged over; in the blink of an eye the arm was flawless again, blood not even given time to spill.
"Excellent!"
"Fantastic!"
Zhou Ting could barely contain his joy.
"Natural Meditation Method, I underestimated you."
Inside his Sea of Consciousness—Zhou Ting was stunned—perhaps it needed a new name; even calling it the World of Consciousness felt more fitting than "Sea of Consciousness."
Mountains, rivers, lakes, seas—it was a whole World!
Except for living creatures, it had everything.
Wait…living creatures. Zhou Ting's mind stirred; he looked to the center of the World, where a towering mountain pierced the sky and the nine-tiered black pagoda stood.
"Open the door!"
The first-level gate of the pagoda swung wide. A rather dopey Male Bee rose on its hind legs, trembling as it stretched one tiny foot—"Swish!"
The foot came out.
"Whoosh!"
It went back in.
"Swish!"
Out again.
"Whoosh!"
Back in.
After three rounds of this, amid the black expressions of Zhou Ting and the Bee Queen, the Male Bee finally stepped out unscathed.
Zhou Ting and the Bee Queen reached the same decision: under no circumstances could this one be allowed mating rights—never!
With the Male Bee's entry Zhou Ting sensed a subtle… shift in his World of Consciousness.
The change was too faint to notice just yet.
"Everyone out!"
Buzz…
Tens of thousands of bees obediently flew out in order; even the Bee Queen emerged.
Outside the first level, the six-hundred-year spirit ring stayed rock-solid, unmoved by the Bee Queen's departure.
"Found it!"
Zhou Ting's face lit with delight.
With the Jade Emperor Bee swarm added, his World of Consciousness had become far tougher.
From now on, when facing experts who strike at the mind, Zhou Ting would have a much easier time.
"Second level—open!"
"Seventh level—open!"
"Ninth level—open!"
Only the Soul Passing Worms of the second level flew out.
Zhou Ting wasn't disappointed; this was exactly what he'd expected.
"A huge haul this time! My spirit power Rank is still only twenty-seven, but my body, spirit power, and mental force are all stronger!"
Zhou Ting clenched his fist, confidence shining on his face.
"Right now, I'm stronger."
But when he thought about actual combat—well…
All that strength had nowhere to go!
He didn't have Tang San's built-in martial arts; he was like a man sitting on a treasure mountain with no way to spend it.
He stepped out of the tent into the rainbow—when several gazes locked onto him.
His good mood popped like a bubble.
One of those stares brimmed with hatred and killing intent.
He didn't need to look to know it came from Dai Mubai.
He turned—exactly as expected.
Zhou Ting shot back a look of open scorn.
Dai Mubai's lungs nearly burst, his chest heaving up and down.
The pride in his bones tormented him.
He… couldn't endure any longer.
Just as he strode forward, a jade-white hand caught him.
Flames roiled in Dai Mubai's eyes, terrifying to behold.
"Tang San, you—?"
Tang San met his gaze without fear and spoke forcefully.
"Dai Mubai, hold it—this isn't the place to settle scores!"
Dai Mubai had no choice but to stop; he looked toward Zhou Ting, only to find Zhou Ting had already dismissed him.
Dai Mubai seethed, his breathing turning heavy.
"Hah…"
A faint sweet-sour scent hung in the air.
Dai Mubai's face was ashen, humiliation flooding him; he forced down a breath and called back.
"Little Ao, give me a recovery sausage…"
Tang San shook his head in resignation: Boss Dai's capacity is too small!
Easy to say when you're not the one standing there!
The next moment Tang San looked toward Zhou Ting, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes from time to time.
Zhou Ting had no interest in Shrek's people; he was searching for the owners of the other gazes.
"Spirit Hall… why are they watching me?"
Zhou Ting couldn't understand.
He'd had almost no dealings with Spirit Hall; to hide his talent he hadn't even taken their assessment, so he'd never collected the Spirit Master stipend.
Come to think of it, the stipend wasn't exactly small.
Spirit Master level—one gold coin a month.
Spirit Grandmaster level—three gold coins a month.
The more Zhou Ting thought about it, the more it hurt!Chapter 75 – Entering Again
Chapter 75 – Entering Again
Spirit Hall camp, command tent.
Inside the vast command tent only two people sat; it felt terribly empty.
"Such sharp perception; Xue's eye is spot-on!"
Qian Daoliu withdrew his mental force. A faint golden ring circled the black of his pupils, sacred and mysterious.
"Why deliberately leak the information?"
Qian Daoliu carried an air of authority even when calm; ordinary folk would crumble, and a common Titled Douluo would barely withstand that terrifying pressure.
Bibi Dong's lips curved slightly as she replied with perfect composure.
"Since you're here, it seems the Angel Family has severed all ties with the Angel God."
Her words struck home, yet Qian Daoliu showed no anger; his gaze stayed placid, indifferent.
"Haven't you already checked for yourself?"
Bibi Dong's eyes sharpened, her Aura flared, and the atmosphere inside the tent instantly turned heavy.
In an instant, the Titled Douluo standing guard outside quietly widened their perimeter... Whether Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong fought, or what was said, no one knew.
Only when Qian Daoliu left did he murmur, "The young are fearsome," a remark that invited endless speculation.
The next morning.
After a full day of discussion the great powers returned; a conclusion had been reached.
The moment Ning Fengzhi stepped back into camp Ning Rongrong rushed over, hugging his arm and asking urgently,
"Daddy, what did you decide?"
Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly, glancing around at the younger generation... "Hmm, why does that boy Zhou Ting look so troubled?"
The thought flashed by and vanished without a trace.
He patted his daughter's head and said,
"Too many experts are here, the factions tangled, no clear leader, and the quarrels produced no good plan."
"Alas, Spirit Hall..."
He shook his head, unwilling to continue, and changed the subject.
"Still, everyone did agree on one thing: no one lifts a hand against another until we reach the true Immortal Herb Garden."
"Is that so!"
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong and the others rubbed their fists in eager anticipation.
Only Zhou Ting, meeting Zhu Zhuqing's worried gaze, managed a strained smile.
Then... "Xiao Wu, what exactly are you planning?"
World of consciousness, second floor of the Black Tower.
In the dark Void Realm, empty and silent, the Soul Passing Worm nest was the only source of light—utter lifelessness.
Now an uninvited guest had arrived... Xiao Wu.
Instead of answering Zhou Ting, she curiously poked a Soul Passing Worm, then said in disappointment,
"So this dump is where Soul Passing Worms live!"
After her complaint she retreated to the first floor of the Black Tower.
A twenty-mu garden bloomed, its fragrance filling every corner.
"Haha, this place looks much better."
Xiao Wu sidestepped the question and sighed.
"I planted the first batch of seeds here, you know!"
Zhou Ting understood: she didn't want to answer.
Yet he desperately needed to know.
"Let's speak plainly, Xiao Wu. I already know who you are—what else can't be said?"
Her hand froze mid-pluck; she finally met the solemn eyes outside the tower and asked,
"If you want to kill me for my spirit ring, I'm right inside your Spirit—go ahead anytime."
Zhou Ting rubbed his forehead, headache setting in!
He spoke helplessly,
"You know my Spirit is special; I don't need to do that!"
Xiao Wu lifted her "delicate" little face, looking utterly at his mercy.
"Come on—'don't need' doesn't mean you can't! A Hundred Thousand Year spirit ring—don't tell me you're not tempted!"
What was this Little Rabbit thinking?
Zhou Ting's head ached; he sighed.
"Fine, I can't out-argue you. If you don't want to talk, forget it."
Xiao Wu finally turned serious and asked gravely,
"Have you... ever thought about locking me up?"
Zhou Ting didn't hide it; he admitted openly,
"I did consider it, but then I gave up."
Xiao Wu was astonished—she hadn't expected him to confess.
"Why?"
"Because I realized cultivation age isn't my top priority; racial traits are what matter!"
Understanding dawned on Xiao Wu.
"Jade Emperor Bee, Soul Passing Worm... you need special Spirit Beast species!"
"But... a Soft Bones Demon Rabbit works too!"
What a bold statement—selling herself!
Black lines crept across Zhou Ting's forehead; he stared at her in disbelief.
"Do you even hear what you're saying?"
This time Xiao Wu was more earnest than ever.
"I'm serious. The Soft Bones Demon Rabbit clan has tempered Soft Techniques, plus Teleportation and Paragon Golden Body..."
She wasn't wrong—those two were life-saving miracles!
And another benefit: rabbits reproduce explosively.
Though a single rabbit can't match the Bee Queen, a bee colony has only one queen,
whereas the rabbit population has countless pairs.
In a fertility contest, rabbits might not lose to bees.
Zhou Ting wavered; his gaze swept over her with new appraisal.
Feeling offended, Xiao Wu barked,
"Hey, what's with that look?
Don't stare at me like that!"
Ahem..."
Zhou Ting coughed and asked again,
"What are you getting at?"
Xiao Wu straightened and declared,
"Don't say Sister Xiao Wu never looks out for you—there's a group of thousand-year Soft Bones Demon Rabbits in Star Dou Great Forest that fit your needs perfectly."
Zhou Ting finally saw her plan and was... dumbstruck.
Suddenly inspired, he blurted,
"They... couldn't be—?"
Mortified, Xiao Wu jumped to hit him, but Zhou Ting wasn't there.
She puffed her cheeks and snapped,
"Hmph, stop imagining things—that's my youngest little brother..."
Saying this, she sat on the grass, hugging her knees, pink rabbit ears drooping.
"Our Soft Bones Demon Rabbit clan holds a low place in Star Dou Great Forest; we're basically prey for most carnivore Spirit Beasts..."
Her voice dropped; her eyes reddened.
"When Mama was alive, as a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast she sheltered many of us, but she... was hunted by human Spirit Masters.
"Under Mama's protection I reached a hundred thousand years, but I chose to transform and leave Star Dou Great Forest, and now... the clan..."
Recalling what she had seen since returning,
those once lively eyes now shimmered with tears.
Zhou Ting offered no comfort; gravely he spelled out the consequence.
"Think carefully—if something happens to me, they won't survive either..."
Xiao Wu lifted her head, stubbornly asking,
"So will you agree or not?"
Since she didn't care, why should he hesitate?
Zhou Ting answered solemnly,
"All right, I agree!"
The mist in Xiao Wu's eyes vanished; she beamed: Hehe, the survival rate might be low, but the numbers are huge—he really is my youngest little brother...Chapter 76 – A Spectacular Vanishing Act
Chapter 76. A Spectacular Vanishing Act
Zhou Ting's consciousness returned to reality, and only then did he realize he still hadn't asked Little Rabbit why she insisted on entering the Immortal Herb Garden.
He knew the Garden would soon become a battleground dominated by Titled Douluo; if she showed herself to anyone, her true identity would be exposed.
Once that happened, capture, ring extraction, skinning and deboning would be routine.
How dare she?
"Sigh, in this World there really are people who don't fear death."
Worse, Zhou Ting had actually been fooled by a Little Rabbit.
He shook his head helplessly and gave a bitter laugh.
"Forget it, I brought her; I can't throw her out now."
"Come to think of it, she… actually trusts me this much."
The thought left Zhou Ting's feelings in turmoil.
Across two Worlds, this was the first time anyone had placed such faith in him.
So he resolved: he would never let her out.
"Let's move."
Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Poison Douluo formed a triangle, shielding Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, Zhou Ting, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan in the center.
Yes, they had brought only four juniors.
It wasn't lack of strength; the environment inside was simply too treacherous.
They had to guard against pervasive poison mists, unknown venomous beasts, and, even more, the other entrants.
Though a consensus had been reached, consensus—like rules—was made to be broken.
"Whoosh…"
From the Spirit Hall camp: Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, leading Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan… From the Clear Sky Sect camp: Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, Tang San… Like dumplings dropped into a pot, every major power leapt down together, keeping sizeable distances.
Just as everyone plunged into the poison mist, far away in Saint Spirit Village a violent storm was raging.
A rare, unprecedented storm.
"Boom!"
A colossal bolt of lightning struck the hill beside the village—right at Tang San's home.
The lightning ripped open a doorway that hovered mid-air, flickering in and out of sight.
The flash vanished instantly; darkness returned, only wind and rain remaining.
Village chief Old Jack stood on his second floor, eyes full of bewilderment.
In that final flash he had seemed to see several masked, white-haired elders.
They stepped through the door onto Tang Hao's roof and gazed out at the World.
"How strange."
Old Jack shook his head, suspecting age was playing tricks.
"Must've been my eyes."
"Creak—bang!"
"Why is the door open?"
Old Jack turned, saw a ghostly silhouette in the doorway, stood frozen, face twisted in terror.
Meanwhile, phantom-like figures flitted through Saint Spirit Village; the once-peaceful hamlet seemed plunged into a netherworld.
Heaven and earth lost their light.
"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!"
Tang San exploded backward, retreating behind his father.
The Immortal Herb Garden had appeared, his grandfather Tang Chen had returned… for many reasons, father and son had successfully rejoined the Family.
Learning he had a Sect and so many relatives, Tang San needed days to accept the surprise.
Then came participation in this struggle for Immortal Herbs.
Lightning crackled over Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer, keeping poison mist at bay.
"Little San, watch this strike!"
The Clear Sky Hammer rose like a mountain peak hoisted by gods and smashed down.
"Clang!"
The ground burst open, forming a huge pit; six black poison needles hovered before Tang Hao, then vanished in despair.
Facing a mighty, bizarre scorpion, Tang Hao had merely used the Family secret Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method to erase it in one blow, himself unscathed.
Tang San's eyes shone; enlightenment flickered yet remained veiled, leaving him dazed.
A complicated look flashed across Tang Hao's eyes; he patted his son's shoulder.
"Little San, don't rush. When the time is right, everything will fall into place."
"I understand."
Tang Hao nodded with satisfaction and looked around; poison mist obscured all sight and direction.
Unaware, they had even become separated from their Sect comrades.
"This mist can actually suppress mental force!"
Tang San's eyes turned fully purple, yet still failed to pierce the haze.
"Keep going."
Father and son pressed forward, resolute.
Meanwhile, Zhou Ting held Zhu Zhuqing's hand, walking alone through darkness.
Their group had scattered too.
"What do we do?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Zhou Ting beside her, at a loss.
An agility-attack system Spirit Master, she excelled at neither defense nor detoxifying spirit abilities.
Zhou Ting's Soul Passing Worm could devour the poison mist, yet the mist seemed endless, replenishing faster than he could absorb—there was no escape.
Zhou Ting stretched out a hand, feeling for the wind's direction.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Whether to persuade Zhu Zhuqing or simply an excuse, he didn't know.
He swept her into a familiar princess carry.
She offered no resistance.
Lowering his gaze, he took in the fair, rosy view.
Running—that was all Zhou Ting could do.
Behind them the poison mist churned as something huge stirred within.
"Roar!"
A beast bellowed, the ground quaking.
"This one's big."
Earlier they had met a hundred-zhang serpent of incredible strength whose fangs sprayed venom that corroded anything it touched.
Recalling this, Zhou Ting suddenly realized: how large was the sinkhole?
Could it hold such a monster?
The answer: yes.
But they had encountered more than the serpent.
Countless venomous beasts—giant or tiny, spiders with bamboo-like legs, gnats like grains of sand… could it all be fake?
A thought stirred; his inner World shook.
A stone dropped into a pond, ripples racing outward.
Waves slapped the shore.
"Clang!"
A resonant bell rang, deafening.
In the thick mist the youth cradling a beauty snapped his eyes open, filled with joy.
"Finally… awake!"
Around them the poison mist still glared like a ravenous beast.
Zhou Ting knew he owed his life to the Soul Passing Worm.
With a wave he swapped the surviving worms for their phantom copies, thankful for his habit of keeping the real ones on him.
Looking down: "Why is it flat?"
Ignoring that feature, he glanced at her face—and froze.
Ning… Rongrong?
How?
He clearly remembered grabbing Zhu Zhuqing and running.
Yet the girl had changed.
Compressing his mental force into a needle, he drove it into Ning Rongrong's brow.
"Ow, that hurts!"
Ning Rongrong jolted awake, rubbing her forehead.
A drop of water?
She brought her hand close—no, it was blood.
Only then did she notice the culprit.
He… never yielded to her.
"You—"
Looking up, she finally grasped her plight—cradled in his arms.
"Where's my father and the rest?"
Zhou Ting spread his hands.
"We fell for an illusion and got separated."
Recalling the events, Ning Rongrong felt something off, yet mostly puzzled.
"Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, Poison Douluo—three Titled Douluo—why?"
Zhou Ting had no answer.
Safe as she felt, Ning Rongrong still found the intimacy awkward.
Since when were they this close?
"Put me down! How long will you keep taking advantage?"
Who cares, Zhou Ting sneered at the flat runway.
What eyes?!
Ning Rongrong straightened herself.
"Hmph, keep looking; someday I'll rival Zhuqing."
"Heh…"
Zhou Ting neither agreed nor teased further.
The poison mist now was far more toxic; without Titled Douluo strength withdrawal was impossible.
Yet the spirit power within hadn't increased, which was why the Soul Passing Worm could barely protect them.Chapter 77 – Entering the Immortal Herb Garden
Chapter 77 – Entering the Immortal Herb Garden
Anger +999!
Such disgrace was something Ning Rongrong had never experienced in her life.
She looked down; her white shoes sprang into view, the view crystal-clear.
Yet compared with her best friend Zhu Zhuqing, there was simply no contest.
Ning Rongrong sank into depression again—and… gave up.
"Since those venomous beasts were all illusions, let's find Dad and the others first."
"We've been trapped in illusions the whole time; we've lost our bearings long ago!"
As Zhou Ting spoke, he casually waved a hand; a dozen Soul Passing Worms shot out in every direction.
Ning Rongrong asked what she already knew.
"What are you doing?"
"Scouting."
Brief and to the point—no wasted words.
The Soul Passing Worms streaked away like arrows loosed from a bow, piercing the misty wall and vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Three breaths later, Zhou Ting frowned, his face full of shock.
Ning Rongrong asked anxiously.
"What's wrong?"
"The worms are dead—all of them!"
And none had died of poison!
Some were burned to death, others frozen!
They'd perished too fast; they hadn't had time to react, let alone devour the energy attacking them.
Zhou Ting suspected that even if they had reacted, they wouldn't have survived two breaths.
That spirit power was simply too terrifying!
Not just in quantity, but in its horrifying quality—unlike any mortal spirit power.
"Could… they have come alive?"
Zhou Ting turned inward to his World of Consciousness, arriving at the Ninth Level of the Black Tower and gazing down into the volcanic crater.
He saw the Fire Dragon and Ice Dragon chasing each other like tireless children, happily playing even though they knew they could never catch one another.
Crack…
The 108 spirit beast eggs were disturbed once more; sesame-sized fragments of shell were swept up by the two dragons, dancing in the air.
Suddenly, the fragments couldn't withstand the watery impact, ground into fine powder and becoming part of the two dragons, no longer separate.
Those scraps were less than one ten-thousandth of the total shell.
Zhou Ting understood: the stimulus still wasn't enough!
When he opened his eyes, he found Ning Rongrong tiptoeing closer.
"What is it?"
Watching the safe zone steadily shrink, Ning Rongrong's face flushed with urgency.
"Your bugs are useless—already a third of them are dead!"
A pampered young lady suddenly thrust into danger could hardly be expected to react any other way.
Zhou Ting understood; with a flick of his wrist, he released dozens more Soul Passing Worms.
"Don't worry, I've plenty of bugs. Even if we starve or die of thirst here, the bugs won't run out."
What a formidable Spirit Ability!
Ning Rongrong recalled her father's veiled warning; hesitation, conflict, and hope swirled in her eyes, the heart of a girl in turmoil.
"So what do we do now—head back or go deeper?"
Was that even a question?
No. Having lost their way, neither retreat nor advance was within their control.
"Let's just keep walking and see."
Meanwhile, the others trapped in illusions woke one after another.
Even the mighty Titled Douluo who commanded respect outside were jolted awake.
Only now did they realize this was no playground they could enter at will, but a Forbidden Land on the continent that could bury countless experts.
Sky and every direction were choked with poison mist; only the ground stood out.
Spotting this, Zhou Ting smiled.
"Rongrong, look at the ground."
Ning Rongrong crouched and studied it, finding nothing.
"Nothing special—just weeds and roots…"
Zhou Ting chopped a nearby sapling, stripped it with a sweep of his hand, and produced a straight staff.
Truly… a fine toy for a man!
With that silent sigh, he began demonstrating for the puzzled Ning Rongrong.
The staff lay flat… one end hovering in mid-air!
"The ground isn't level!"
"It's subtle, but this is a sinkhole after all."
Ning Rongrong nearly jumped for joy; wrapped in poison mist felt like being locked in a dark room, and she was going crazy.
"Which way do we go?"
"Inward!"
They hadn't gone far before the illusions struck and scattered the group.
If they pressed on with just the two of them, how perilous would that be!
Ning Rongrong couldn't fathom it; her bewilderment showed on her face.
Zhou Ting remained calm; pros and cons were crystal-clear.
"Does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School have enemies?"
The question was too inane; Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes.
"Our school is always kind to others, but some people still grow jealous."
Zhou Ting pointed toward higher ground, a wicked grin on his face.
"Turning back means we're more likely to run into Titled Douluo!"
A shiver ran down Ning Rongrong's spine.
If they met a friendly Titled Douluo it would be fine, but if it were a hostile one—say, from Spirit Hall—killing here would leave no trace.
Even her elders would have nowhere to begin searching.
"Hss—let's move!"
This time she was the anxious one, dragging Zhou Ting downhill.
In truth, the way down wasn't safe either.
Not to mention those sudden Ice-Fire attacks—how could they defend against something they couldn't even see?
Luck finally sided with them.
Step!
Clouds part to reveal the sun; after rain, a rainbow appears.
After a long, nerve-wracking trek, everything suddenly opened up.
The poison mist formed a giant bowl overhead, shutting out the sky.
Inside the Immortal Herb Garden, mist drifted, flames surged, rare blooms vied for beauty, hazy and breathtaking.
At such a sight, Ning Rongrong forgot her fatigue and fear.
Rubbing her eyes, Zhou Ting tried to recall… identical, or merely similar? Impossible to say.
"In that case, let's treat it as our first visit!"
The poison mist could block ocular skills, corrode flesh, spirit power, even mental force.
Yet here there was no poison mist!
A wild beast loosed in the garden swept through unhindered.
Beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a strange large bloom caught Zhou Ting's eye.
Its stems and leaves resembled hanging vines, but atop sat a golden tulip whose rich fragrance exuded opulence.
"qiluo tulip!"
Zhou Ting grasped Ning Rongrong's delicate hand and strode toward the spring, pointing at the flower.
"This is qiluo tulip. Inhale its essence and you can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the radiance of sun and moon."
The qiluo tulip mustn't be swallowed whole; the proper method is to gently breathe in the stamens, drawing the essence slowly into the body.
Then meditate and cultivate, letting the potency spread through every limb and bone, doubling the effect.
And Ning Rongrong knew all this.
Facing the hope of mending her Spirit's flaw, claiming indifference would be a lie.
Yet there was only one qiluo tulip, while those with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit numbered more than one.
Selfishness or… The girl's heart battled, caught in endless struggle.
"Don't hesitate—if Uncle Ning and the rest got here first, fine. If someone else did, unless you consume it now, we can't protect it!"
Instantly sober, Ning Rongrong plucked the bloom, parted her soft lips, and the fragrance in the air grew richer.Chapter 78: 78 Dividing the Spoils
Chapter 78: 78. Dividing the Spoils
Breaking through the Void Realm, a pitch-black Nine-layered Pagoda arrived in this colorful World, like a needle in a pouch, its tip showing immediately.
The door to the first floor of the black tower opened, revealing the intricate yet surprisingly logical passages within the beehive.
Gathering nectar was the natural duty of the Worker Bees, their movements gentle and skilled; the medicinal herbs in the Immortal Herb Garden did not resent them, but instead accepted them gladly, filled with joy.
To be precise, they possessed no sapience, only the instincts of plants.
Zhou Ting walked quickly to the side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and saw two singular Immortal Herbs growing on either side.
By the Glacial Ice Spring grew the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass; it was both an Immortal Herb of the ultimate ice attribute and a peerless poison, a terrifyingly cold toxin.
Opposite it was the Infernal Delicate Apricot, an Immortal Herb of the ultimate fire attribute; similarly, it contained a World-scorching fire poison that could burn anything to ash.
If either were consumed alone, one's life and Dao would surely be extinguished.
But if they could be taken simultaneously, using poison to fight poison as ice and fire melted together, their medicinal effect would transform into the water of life, nourishing the Origin; a complete transformation of the body was merely its basic effect.
Most importantly, one could gain a Physique immune to both water and fire.
This was the second choice of the protagonist Tang San; yes, he also consumed a Gazing Through Autumn Water Dew to Cultivate his Purple Demon Eye.
Ultimately, he broke through the second Realm of the Purple Demon Eye... the Microscopic Realm, entering the third Realm, the Mustard Seed Realm, which allowed him to see through all mists.
It was also then that he saw through Xiao Wu's true form as a Spirit Beast.
Tang San knew everything, yet he still arrogantly believed that the Yearning Heartbroken Red could mask all abnormalities.
Then, an accident arrived unexpectedly.
Now, everything has changed; it is different.
Xiao Wu would also have a different fate.
"Time is running out!"
Zhou Ting pointed with both hands and activated his first Spirit Ability; hundreds of Jade Emperor Bee phantoms rushed out, transforming into fine needles condensed from spirit power that pierced into the ground.
"Since it's poisonous, I'll just take the soil along with it!"
Having successfully secured the two herbs, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance.
"So fast!"
Pairs of long legs stepped through the black tower's portal above Zhou Ting's head, each pair emitting an alluring floral fragrance that made one's mouth water.
Restraining the greed in his heart, Zhou Ting strode to Ning Rongrong's side and looked warily toward the direction of the sound.
"Tap... tap..."
It was the sound of high heels; the newcomer was a woman!
Zhou Ting didn't know if it was psychological or if the opponent's strength was supreme, but his heart rate gradually matched the frequency of the footsteps!
It was very... exhausting; this feeling was extremely uncomfortable, an indescribable kind of discomfort!
"Thud!"
A magnificent and majestic scepter struck the ground heavily, and Zhou Ting's gaze was drawn to it.
Hands like soft sprouts, skin like congealed fat.
What a beautiful pair of delicate jade hands!
Admiration flashed through his eyes for a moment, followed by a bitter smile.
"To think the first one to enter would be her... Bibi Dong!"
Thinking carefully, it wasn't surprising.
Setting aside combat power, Bibi Dong's cultivation was the highest among them, placing her in the very top tier.
The other two great experts, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, were nowhere to be seen; it wasn't even known if they had entered.
Facing Bibi Dong, Zhou Ting did not dare to be presumptuous and acted with extreme caution.
"Tap, tap!"
She walked leisurely with a slight smile on her lips, as if nothing in existence could disturb Bibi Dong's state of mind.
That perfect figure, mature charm, and the regal majesty radiating from her whole body possessed a fatal, alluring attraction.
Zhou Ting had been prepared, but facing this peerless beauty directly, he still dazed for an instant.
"So beautiful!"
As if she had heard his inner thoughts, Bibi Dong looked at the boy before her with surprise.
Although he was 1.7 meters tall and had a somewhat mature temperament, his youthful face still exposed Zhou Ting's true age.
"This little fellow's gaze..."
"To think I would actually see it in such a young child!"
Bibi Dong's smile became much more sincere.
"Master!"
Behind Bibi Dong stood a young girl with ordinary features.
Bibi Dong had only one disciple, Hu Liena, who would later be titled the Holy Maiden.
Compared to Bibi Dong, no... even compared to Dai Mubai's pair of twins, Hu Liena would be a step behind.
But if you stared for a long time, you would surprisingly find that she was very pleasant to look at, an indescribable kind of attractiveness.
Bibi Dong suddenly turned her head, her gaze piercing through numerous obstacles to see two figures rushing toward them at high speed.
"Nana, the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid!"
"Yes."
Spirit Hall was the greatest power on the continent with an incredibly deep foundation; as long as Bibi Dong wished it, information regarding Immortal Herbs would be placed before her within moments.
Regarding the key points for consuming Immortal Herbs, both Master and disciple were very clear in their hearts and naturally would not make mistakes.
Bibi Dong scanned the area, her gaze settling firmly on an Immortal Herb whose petals were as white as snow, yet sprinkled with drops of fresh blood.
A light breeze blew, and the blood droplets swayed, looking exceptionally miraculous.
"Yearning Heartbroken Red!"
Bibi Dong recalled the past, her expression becoming extremely complex.
As that figure echoed in her mind, a drop of heart's blood drifted from her mouth, and her jade hand reached out tentatively to grasp it... but it was empty!
A hint of bitterness appeared in her phoenix eyes, followed by deep contemplation.
"In the end, he is no longer my only one."
"Swish!"
Two more people entered!
The newcomers were the father and son pair, Tang Hao and Tang San.
"Little San, find one that suits you!"
Tang San's eyes were filled with purple Qi as he took in the entire Immortal Herb Garden; when he saw the two large pits near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he froze for a moment.
Then, he went to the side of the Gazing Through Autumn Water Dew to Cultivate his Purple Demon Eye.
The humiliation of the secret room, added to years as the Supreme Pontiff, had made Bibi Dong's mind incredibly resilient.
In just a moment, she regained a calm and natural state of mind where nothing could disturb her.
"Tang Hao, I have long heard of your great name."
Tang Hao held the Clear Sky Hammer with full confidence; even facing the inscrutable Bibi Dong, he remained completely undaunted.
"Bibi Dong, are you here for revenge?"
Revenge—how ridiculous those words were!
For her, Qian Xunji only represented a hatred that all the water in the World could not wash away; what talk could there be of revenge for him?
Bibi Dong gave a cold laugh.
Suddenly, several more people entered.
"Rongrong!"
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo came rushing over, and Zhou Ting finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With two peerless experts like Bibi Dong and Tang Hao here, the pressure was truly mountain-high!
Especially Tang Hao; he possessed a kind of power that Zhou Ting could not comprehend. The Clear Sky Hammer and the Clear Sky Sect's ultimate techniques were all existences beyond understanding.
Fighting above his level was common practice for him.
The Clear Sky Sect... was ahead of the entire era!
"How is Rongrong?"
Ning Fengzhi was confused by his concern, but Sword Douluo saw more clearly; he pulled Ning Fengzhi back and looked at Zhou Ting.
"Has Rongrong consumed it?"
"Yes, it should be finishing soon!"
"Good, very good!"
Sword Douluo's gaze was appreciative, thinking for the first time: This kid isn't bad!
Ning Fengzhi realized the situation, and his favor toward Zhou Ting, who had acted as a Protector for his daughter, increased greatly: Perhaps, I should increase our support.
"Ah!"
Ning Rongrong opened her eyes and saw her father's expectant face; she blinked in disbelief, and her father's figure was still there!
"That's great! Dad, you're finally here!"
"My dear daughter, how are you feeling?"
Ning Fengzhi was very anxious; this concerned the great cause of the Sect's Legacy, and he could not afford to be lax.
Ning Rongrong felt the spirit power within her body so full it was about to overflow, as well as the Nine-layered Pagoda in her Sea of Consciousness, and nodded solemnly.
"Good!"
Following Ning Fengzhi's loud shout, the sound of chaotic footsteps came from all directions; the others had arrived!
"So these are the Immortal Herbs!"
Sitting on a mountain of treasure yet not knowing how to use it, the blind Dugu Bo was the first to strike, his target clear.
With the information shared by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Immortal Herbs still in the positions he was familiar with, his speed was the fastest.
In less than three breaths, the Narcissus Jade Flesh Bone already had an owner!
Ning Fengzhi finally recovered his reason from the immense surprise; he remembered that in order to protect his daughter, Zhou Ting had not yet gained anything.
"Which one do you want?"
By the time he asked, the famous herbs all had owners.
Zhou Ting immediately pointed to a Ganoderma, but before he could speak, a pale skeletal hand reached out and took the Ganoderma back.
In less than the blink of an eye, the Immortal Herb Garden... was completely empty.
Whether it was Immortal Herbs or other precious medicinal herbs, they were all divided up cleanly by the crowd.
Everyone sized each other up, the atmosphere eerie.
The wind howling through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains!Chapter 79: 79 Escape
Chapter 79: 79. Escape
"Thump, thump..."
"Zhou Ting, come out!"
"Little Ting, come out quickly!"
"Little Zhou..."
Xiao Wu cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone to amplify her voice. This girl, "shut away" inside the pagoda, was becoming increasingly rowdy, making Zhou Ting's head ache.
Zhou Ting thought helplessly that he might as well hear what she had to say.
"What do you want?"
Zhou Ting, who had been playing deaf and mute, finally agreed to appear, making Xiao Wu so happy she almost jumped for joy.
She truly lacked the self-awareness of someone living under another's roof, making her request with perfect composure.
"I want..."
As soon as she spoke, Zhou Ting felt his heart race with a bad premonition and immediately cut her off.
"If you want to come out, then forget it!"
Was such vigilance really necessary?
Xiao Wu curled her lip, looking down on his cowardice.
"It's so dangerous outside; I'm not stupid. I want you to leave that honey jar here!"
Zhou Ting couldn't figure out her intention, but compared to letting her out, leaving a honey jar seemed insignificant.
Zhou Ting shrank behind Sword Douluo and stomped the jar into the dirt.
The atmosphere was at a stalemate; some had gained, while others had nothing.
It is not scarcity that is feared, but inequality!
Although they were seasoned experts, their inner thoughts were laid bare on their faces.
While some were anxious to leave and digest the fruits, others naturally wanted to snatch some... "Gurgle!"
In the pin-drop silent Immortal Herb Garden, a strange sound suddenly erupted, interrupting the imminent battle.
Countless gazes converged on the culprit... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed.
"Immortal Herb!"
Unintentionally, the herb garden, which had been full of small pits, had returned to its original state. Lush, exotic flowers and herbs reappeared, shocking everyone.
This situation was very eerie!
Incredibly eerie!
These top powerhouses, rare on the continent, had never seen such a strange sight in their decades of brilliant lives.
Like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showed their own Divine Ability!
Using physical force, Spirit Abilities, mental power, and various other means to test it, they all reached the same conclusion.
Their expressions grew solemn, and many retreated to the wall of toxic mist.
"The Immortal Herbs are all real!"
This conclusion was terrifying; the formidable powerhouses could no longer maintain their composure.
illusion!
They had fallen into an illusion again!
The key question was, when did it happen?
Whatever the answer was, it was terrifying!
It meant there was a power in the Immortal Herb Garden that did not belong to the Mortal World, capable of ensnaring over twenty Titled Douluo simultaneously without them noticing. It was truly terrifying.
Zhou Ting's expression changed. Familiar with the plot, he knew the origin of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well: it was a special treasure land created by the dragon pearls of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, two God Kings from the God Realm, rare in both the human and God Realms.
But... an illusion?
Did the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings have this skill?
"Is it a chain reaction?"
Retreat!
Those with clear heads all made the same choice.
With the Immortal Herb right before her eyes and the chance to change her fate within reach, having to retreat made Zhu Zhuqing... unwilling.
Given her Family's fate, she couldn't let even the slightest chance to become stronger slip away.
A powerful hand caught hers. She looked back in confusion, meeting the young man's unwavering gaze.
"Go!"
As if possessed, Zhu Zhuqing obediently followed the boy's lead and plunged into the toxic mist.
Looking back gloomily, some people were advancing instead of retreating, ecstatic and completely ignoring the eerie environment.
In the face of such immense profit, how many could think calmly?
Zhou Ting admitted... he couldn't.
But in terms of gains, he was already the biggest winner of this trip.
On the Ninth Level of the Black Tower, at the mouth of a volcano, two strange Immortal Herbs were rooted in magma and an icy spring, with red and white divine light flowing. At the bottom, the one hundred and eight spirit beast eggs shook even more violently.
This wasn't even Zhou Ting's greatest gain. The scene shifted to the beehive on the first level of the black tower.
The pollen collected by the Worker Bees from the Immortal Herb Garden filled the Bee Queen's chamber. Surprisingly, the pollen from these great Immortal Herbs hadn't been taken out to make honey.
The room was filled with pollen, its fragrance pungent and even choking, with the Bee Queen buried within it.
Indeed, the Bee Queen had ceased all activity, dormant like a silkworm cocoon, undergoing evolution toward a new future.
Zhou Ting had a premonition that once she woke up, the Bee Queen would bring him unimaginable gains.
The future was unpredictable, but... promising! This thought diluted the gloom in his chest.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was bottomless; a special energy, enveloping a mass of ice and fire divine force, surged up from ten thousand meters below the surface.
"Crack!"
Mist billowed, resembling a celestial palace in the heavens, with Immortal Qi drifting about.
Before the immortal herb, Dai Mubai's eyes were filled with obsession. The first immortal herb had been taken by Chrysanthemum Douluo, but he was determined to get this second one; neither Tang San nor Ma Hongjun could hold him back.
The hatred of having his fiancé taken—such a humiliating disgrace had to be avenged!
"Zhou Ting, you just wait!"
Desire blinded his eyes, and hatred polluted his Heart-Nature.
He was completely oblivious to the changes around him, entirely immersed in those vain expectations.
Separated by a single wall, the toxic mist and the white mist were clearly divided, not encroaching upon each other.
Immortal Qi entered the Mortal World, permeating everywhere... The Immortal Herb Garden fell completely silent, leaving only a pitted clearing and numerous snow-white cocoons, dormant and waiting for their moment.
Breaking out of the cocoon to become a butterfly and soaring through the Nine Heavens... A month later, the sun was shining brightly, and the flowers and grass by the roadside had become extremely lovely and vibrant.
On a narrow winding path, a dashing young man looked at the girl beside him with infinite satisfaction.
The girl looked up at the young man, quickly looked down, looked up again, and down again... like a startled Little Rabbit, fearful and hesitant. The girl, once so cold and aloof, was now so... interesting.
"Don't be nervous. Saint Spirit Village is just an ordinary village; there are no man-eating tigers there!"
Zhou Ting's words didn't comfort Zhu Zhuqing at all; she remained very nervous and uneasy.
Seeing it was ineffective, a teasing Spirit arose in him.
"Besides, an ugly daughter-in-law always has to meet her parents-in-law eventually!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Zhu Zhuqing was embarrassed and annoyed, her face turning crimson as she defended herself.
"This is just visiting an ordinary friend's house!"
These words... she probably couldn't even convince herself.
Her self-deceiving manner was truly adorable; Zhou Ting laughed heartily.
"Haha..."
"Hmph!"
Zhu Zhuqing ran ahead, not wanting Zhou Ting to see her flushed face.
That day, the group safely walked out of the sinkhole and returned to the Star Dou Great Forest.
The first Immortal Herb was real. The powerful medicinal force of the qiluo tulip not only helped her complete the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda but also pushed her to level thirty in one go, a jump of three levels.
Not only that, there was still residual spirit power in her body. Once she obtained her third spirit ring, she could rise a few more levels.
Immortal Herbs are truly rare treasures!
With Ning Rongrong reaching level thirty, her father, Ning Fengzhi, immediately took his daughter to hunt for a Spirit Beast.
Zhou Ting, meanwhile, pulled Zhu Zhuqing along, preparing to head home for a visit.
As for Xiao Wu inside the black tower, Zhou Ting hadn't forgotten her. After consulting her, he opened the black tower door at the original location.
Zhou Ting had asked her what her plans were for the future.
She didn't answer, her attitude being quite intriguing.Chapter 80: Shocking News of the School
Chapter 80: 80. Shocking News of the School
Bringing a young wife home, no matter which World it is, is a joyous occasion that overflows with happiness.
"It's so... quiet!"
Zhu Zhuqing walked ahead, not wanting to pay attention to Zhou Ting, but she unexpectedly discovered another side of life—a side she had never experienced in that place called home.
Peace of mind!
Listening to the footsteps behind her, the image of a cynical young man formed in her mind, with a trace of a... mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.
The sound of the wind, the swaying of grass and trees, the chirping of insects and birds—everything was so beautiful.
Her life... had never been this beautiful!
Ever since she was old enough to understand, she knew that what she faced in the future was a cruel, life-or-death competition that was impossible to avoid.
She had no one to rely on; her Family, parents, and elders would only provide limited resources and Cultivate guidance.
In the future, she could only rely on her own strength to carve a path through her sisters, using their blood, and even their lives, to forge her glory.
From childhood to adulthood, the only thing she could barely consider a source of hope was her never-before-met fiancé... Dai Mubai.
Since she was young, all the elders in the Family had told her that the two of them were a pair and had to face the future together.
But later, like a bolt from the blue, her sister brought her shocking news: Dai Mubai had fled the palace and the Star Luo Empire... That year, she was only eight years old, her Spirit Awakening had been less than two years prior, and her strength was extremely weak.
The Family's cruel competition mechanism severed all familial ties. Her heart was filled with endless anxiety, and every moment was an ordeal.
With nowhere to vent and no one to rely on, despair gradually shrouded her soul.
But she was Zhu Zhuqing after all; even in a desperate situation, she was unwilling to give up. Hard work became her only focus.
Relentless effort, never giving up.
Three years later, within the Family, she found her situation becoming increasingly dangerous, and ahead... she could not see a single shred of hope.
The young girl resolutely ran away from home, narrowly escaping her sister's pursuit to reach a strange country and a strange city to find him.
In the end, after meeting him, the last trace of expectation in her heart was extinguished... On the mountain, birds sang and flowers were fragrant; below the mountain was a peaceful and serene village.
"Is this Saint Spirit Village?"
"Yes, a small village where no one disturbs you, a good place for seclusion."
Saint Spirit Village was not completely isolated from the World, but outsiders rarely set foot there. The village was basically self-sufficient, and no one had much money.
If one wanted to make money, the best way was Nuoding City, which was a hub city connecting the two great Empires and had a high demand for grain and vegetables.
Saint Spirit Village was the same as it had been a few months ago, without much change.
The villagers upheld the habit of working at sunrise and resting at sunset.
The glitz and glamour, the love and hatred, and the turmoil of the bustling World were just... the outside World!
"Tinger, you're back!"
His most outstanding grandson had returned. Old Jack's eyes lit up, and he walked as if he were flying, not at all like a man in his seventies who had labored his whole life.
Consuming jade emperor honey daily and nurturing his body for five or six years, he had long since regained his youthful vitality.
However, he hadn't lost the habit he'd built up over the years; his cane never left his hand, or perhaps, it was because... it was very handy to use!
Zhou You: ?!!
"Grandpa."
"Who is this?"
Old Jack looked at the fairy-like girl next to his grandson, his heart full of surprise: This girl is much better than Xiao Wu; my grandson is so successful.
Old Jack was greatly relieved. He had long wanted to say that Xiao Wu's personality was too flighty and she wasn't a good match.
But... his grandson was a Spirit Master now, different from ordinary people, with a new way of conducting himself that he shouldn't interfere with.
"Grandpa, her name is Zhu Zhuqing, she's a good friend of mine. We're just stopping by to visit."
Zhu Zhuqing tried her best not to look at Old Jack's gossiping eyes and greeted him in a low voice.
"Hello, Grandpa."
"Good, good, good!"
This sensible young girl, the more he looked at her, the more he liked her!
Old Jack's eyes narrowed with laughter as he stroked his silver-white beard, looking extremely satisfied.
"Don't be polite, you are very welcome to visit..."
Tapping his grandson's thigh with his cane, Old Jack began to urge him.
"What are you standing here for? Hurry up and take Zhuqing home..."
Zhou Ting smiled helplessly, honestly playing the role of the grandson.
After returning home and meeting his parents, and exchanging pleasantries for a long while, Zhou Ting finally smiled and rescued the blushing Zhu Zhuqing from his Family's surrounding.
"Are you adjusting alright?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, then shook her head.
Is that not adjusting, or adjusting?
She successfully left Zhou Ting confused.
"I'm a bit unaccustomed to your parents' enthusiasm, but... it feels very comfortable!"
Yes, being cared for by so many people... she was a bit at a loss and didn't know how to respond, but in her heart, she felt very comfortable.
This was an entirely new experience, unlike anything before.
As the young couple whispered to each other, the Family tacitly did not disturb them.
Zhou Ting, however, noticed a detail: someone was missing from the house. Where were those two chirping little rascals?
"Where are Ruoruo and Zhou Shi?"
It had to be said that Mother Zhou's womb was truly impressive; she had given birth to twins, an extremely rare pair of a boy and a girl.
Since then, Mother Zhou had been the greatest contributor to the Zhou Family, while the father... Zhou You's status had dropped even lower!
Of the twins, the older one was the girl, named Zhou Ruo, and the younger one was the boy, named Zhou Shi.
When Zhou Ting had returned home a few months ago and first saw them, they were both well-behaved babies.
But after spending less than two days together, their mischievous nature as bratty kids was exposed, turning the house upside down.
Now they were so quiet; it wasn't normal!
Old Jack glanced at his son and daughter-in-law, gave them a look, and said.
"It's like this: a month ago, a few scholars came to the village. They are very knowledgeable, knowing everything from astronomy to geography. Later, they set up a School by the stream outside the village. All the children in the village are there learning to read and do Arithmetic."
It sounded reasonable, but Zhou Ting felt something was off in his heart.
Saint Spirit Village was remotely located, and besides nearby villagers, there were few visitors.
The outsiders who came most often were the Spirit Masters from Spirit Hall who helped the children awaken their Spirits, once a year.
It was because of this that Tang Hao had been able to hide in Saint Spirit Village for many years without being discovered.
So, why would these highly knowledgeable scholars come to Saint Spirit Village, and not just one of them?
Starting a School was even more against common sense.
What exactly was their purpose?
Saint Spirit Village was Zhou Ting's home. Since he was suspicious, he naturally had to take action.
Immediately, right now, without delay.
"Is that so? Then I must go take a look."
Zhou Ting took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and started walking out. Zhou You's expression changed, and he hurriedly called out.
"Don't..."
Old Jack's cane instantly landed on his son's thigh, cutting off his words.
Zhou Ting looked back, his face showing suspicion, pretending not to know, and... asking despite knowing better.
"What's wrong?"
Temporarily at a loss for words, Zhou You's expression was stiff and unnatural.
Old Jack, being old and shrewd, smiled and gave a reasonable explanation.
"Isn't it because we're afraid you don't know the way? It's almost noon, and Ruoruo and the others will be finishing School soon. How about we eat first..."
Mother Zhou's expression became more natural as she quickly chimed in.
"Yes, Tinger, let's eat first. There will be plenty of chances to go see them later..."
Zhou You also echoed repeatedly.
"Right, right, plenty of chances later."
The reactions of the three were too abnormal; there was a big problem here!
Zhou Ting pondered in his heart, but his mouth agreed readily.
"Alright then, I won't go for now."
As if a heavy burden had been lifted, the three of them were instantly relieved.
Zhu Zhuqing pulled Zhou Ting's hand, her eyes inquiring; she had also noticed the Zhou Family's concealment.
"Is it because of me?"
Zhou Ting returned her look with a solemn expression: "No, they don't want anyone to know, including me."