Dugu Bo had left. Although he had not found the imagined ruins, and had even paid the price of some precious immortal herbs, he still did not come away empty-handed.
Because he had not only gained a promise from Shui Wuhen and established a connection with him, but also further perfected his Poison Core technique under Shui Wuhen's guidance, greatly increasing his strength. This was something no amount of medicinal herbs could ever exchange for.
"Brother, that core technique was something you worked so hard to develop. You just gave it to him so easily?"
Shui Bing'er was somewhat puzzled. In her view, such things should not be taught casually. If Dugu Bo spread it out, wouldn't that be strengthening enemies?
In the future, when they faced other opponents, wouldn't that mean losing one advantage?
Shui Wuhen smiled and patted Shui Bing'er's head. "It's just a core technique. It's nothing to me. Besides, Dugu Bo isn't that foolish—he won't pass it on to others."
The core technique was nothing—at least to Shui Wuhen. If he wanted, given some time, he could create an even more perfect and stronger version. Others, however, did not have such ability.
For Dugu Bo, this core technique was a trump card when facing other opponents—a life-saving method. He would never pass it on to anyone else.
Moreover, with Dugu Bo's talent, although he had completed the sublimation of the core technique under Shui Wuhen's guidance, fully mastering it would still take a long time.
"Besides…"
At this moment, Shui Wuhen looked at the three top-tier herbs on the table and smiled faintly. "What he gave isn't bad either."
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er temporarily stopped thinking about the core technique and turned her gaze to the herbs on the table.
"Come out, Articuno."
Shui Wuhen summoned Articuno and picked up the immortal snow lotus, asking, "Articuno, is this useful to you?"
Upon hearing this, Articuno looked at the immortal snow lotus in Shui Wuhen's hand. After a moment, it shook its head.
"If it were in the past—even after you absorbed the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow—this snow lotus would still have been useful.
But now, my quality has already surpassed the level that this snow lotus can enhance. Even if I consume the entire plant and its seeds, it would only slightly increase my soul power. For you now, it's merely a drop in the bucket."
"I see."
Hearing Articuno's words, Shui Wuhen fell into thought.
Its answer was roughly what he had expected. After being tempered by the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, a 990,000-year soul ring and soul bone, and fragments of the Ice God God Position, Articuno's quality had already surpassed the limits of ordinary top-tier martial souls.
Even the Six-Winged Angel martial soul—one of the highest-quality he had ever seen—could not compare to the current Articuno.
Although this immortal snow lotus was a treasure not inferior to the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, it was no longer very useful to him.
Thinking of this, Shui Wuhen placed the snow lotus into Shui Bing'er's arms.
"Bing'er, this immortal snow lotus is yours. After you refine your cultivation a bit more, just consume it. It may allow your Ice Phoenix martial soul to unleash its true divine beast might."
Given Shui Wuhen's current situation, minor soul power could be accumulated in a short time. There was no need to waste such a precious immortal herb.
On the other hand, Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix martial soul, after being perfected by the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow and the ten-thousand-year Ice Phoenix inner core, was now only one step away from a god-level martial soul. With the help of this snow lotus, there was a chance for further advancement.
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er silently accepted the snow lotus without refusing, because she knew it was meaningless.
Shui Wuhen's current level was already beyond her understanding. All she could do was become stronger as quickly as possible so she could stay by her brother's side and not be left behind.
Then, Shui Wuhen looked at Shui Yue'er and hesitated for a moment before pushing the Purple Leaf Ginseng King in front of her.
Shui Yue'er stared at the Purple Leaf Ginseng King in front of her, swallowed, and then seemed to make up her mind, pushing it back.
"Wuhen, I can't accept this. I've already taken your pills before. If I take this heavenly treasure too, I really wouldn't know how to repay you."
Shui Yue'er's expression was somewhat bitter. Now Shui Wuhen's strength had already far surpassed hers. She could no longer help him with anything.
Taking his pills before had already been her limit. Accepting the Purple Leaf Ginseng King again would be nothing but greed.
However, Shui Wuhen simply shook his head slightly.
"I'm giving you this Purple Leaf Ginseng King not for repayment. You are Bing'er's teacher. Bing'er needs you—that's all.
This herb is not very useful to me, but it is very useful to you. Take it. With it, you should be able to break through to Titled Douluo within five years."
Saying this, he pushed the Purple Leaf Ginseng King forward again, then stood up and left the pavilion together with Articuno.
Shui Yue'er stared at his departing back, slightly stunned. The once-small child had already grown to a height she now had to look up to.
Perhaps the best decision she had ever made in her life was accepting Shui Bing'er as her disciple.
Taking a deep breath, Shui Yue'er finally picked up the Purple Leaf Ginseng King.
On the other side, Articuno asked with interest, "You just gave her that Purple Leaf Ginseng King? Just because she's your sister's teacher?"
"Is there a problem?" Shui Wuhen raised an eyebrow and glanced at it.
Articuno: "Not that there's a problem. It's just… that reason is a bit too thin."
Shui Wuhen was silent for a moment before speaking again.
"You should also be able to sense it—we can faintly perceive the locations of other Ice God God Position fragments."
Upon hearing this, Articuno nodded. "Yes. But what does that have to do with giving her the Purple Leaf Ginseng King?"
"Once the God Position fragments are gathered, I will become a god soon."
Shui Wuhen's gaze seemed to pierce through time, looking toward the fog-shrouded future. "I don't know what will happen after becoming a god—whether I will ascend, or face some great unknown terror. So I intend to cultivate Yue'er.
That way, even if something happens to me, there will still be someone to accompany my sister."
Purple Leaf Ginseng King is indeed precious, but to me now, it is merely a useless object. It can no longer increase my strength."
In the eyes of outsiders, someone like Shui Wuhen was the most troublesome kind—neither greedy for power nor money, and uninterested in pleasure. Only his younger sister, who grew up with him, and the increase of his strength mattered to him.
Beyond that, even this world could not leave any trace in his heart.
It could only be said that fortunately, he had a sister as his anchor. Otherwise, even Shui Wuhen himself did not know what he would end up doing.