NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Gaze of the Gods
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At this moment, the Porcupinefish Douluo spoke again, "Young Master, may I also absorb all the poisonous miasma left behind by Dugu Bo outside?"
"Do as you wish," Qian Renhan replied as he continued selecting celestial herbs. The lingering dragon's aura and the remains of the dragon's corpse ensured that no soul beast dared to approach this place.
The Porcupinefish Douluo's face lit up with excitement. Having absorbed the poison from Dugu Bo's entire family, acquired a ten-thousand-year Medusa Skull Bone, and now with the opportunity to devour the toxins permeating the valley, he was confident he could break through to Rank 92. After all, every step beyond Titled Douluo was a significant leap in power.
With that, the Porcupinefish Douluo transformed back into his massive porcupinefish form. Hovering in midair, he opened his cavernous maw and inhaled the toxic miasma shrouding the valley with the force of a raging cyclone.
Meanwhile, Qian Renhan roamed the entirety of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for about ten minutes before finally finding the celestial herbs best suited to him: the Netherworld Underworld Flower and the Mystic Ice Dark Grass. The former was attributed to darkness and death, while the latter carried an icy, chilling attribute. However, the site lacked any herbs tied to the evil attribute that he also needed.
Standing beside Qian Renhan, the Porcupinefish Douluo cast a wary gaze at the two celestial herbs in his hands, his expression tinged with unease. "Young Master, these two herbs give me a sense of danger. It might be better to destroy them," he suggested.
"Read more books," Qian Renhan shot back coldly. "Once you've gained some knowledge in this area, you'll realize how foolish your words are. These herbs are among the most precious treasures on the continent."
Without hesitation, Qian Renhan consumed both herbs following the methods recorded in ancient texts and sat cross-legged to refine their effects.
As the Eight-Winged Fallen Angel martial soul emerged, an overwhelming aura of darkness and icy coldness surged from Qian Renhan's body, released by the celestial herbs. The eight wings of the Fallen Angel spread wide, and its aura grew increasingly powerful, as if it were ecstatic. The chilling energy emitted by the Mystic Ice Dark Grass even froze the black robes he wore, just as he had earlier frozen Dugu Bo's poison miasma into fine ice crystals upon entering this area.
The Porcupinefish Douluo stood guard nearby. His emotions shifted from initial terror to calmness and eventually to curiosity. Though he didn't know exactly what these two herbs were, he could sense that Qian Renhan was growing stronger.
Half a day later, Qian Renhan slowly opened his eyes. The ice that had formed on his robes melted into pure energy, which was absorbed by his Fallen Angel martial soul. However, a slight frown appeared on his face. Not enough. It's still not enough. He was still lacking one final enhancement to elevate his Fallen Angel martial soul to the next level.
The Netherworld Underworld Flower and Mystic Ice Dark Grass had pushed the Fallen Angel's extreme darkness and extreme cold attributes to new heights. For a single-attribute martial soul, reaching the extreme would trigger evolution. However, the Fallen Angel martial soul possessed three extreme attributes. For it to evolve, all three—darkness, coldness, and evil—needed to reach the same level. Without elevating the extreme evil attribute to match the other two, the martial soul's evolution would remain out of reach.
The Porcupinefish Douluo asked, "Young Master, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Qian Renhan replied. "Go handle your own matters. I'm going to gather all these herbs next."
He then produced a set of tools, carefully harvesting the celestial herbs. He didn't trust an amateur like the Porcupinefish Douluo with such a delicate task.
Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Nine-Grade Purple Zoysia, Radiant Golden Sun Grass, Holy Bright Paradise Herb, and Earth Dragon Golden Melon—not a single celestial herb escaped Qian Renhan's meticulous collection. The herbs imbued with darkness and death energy were stored in a separate spatial soul tool. This was to prevent the reckless Qian Xunji from handing them over to Bibi Dong.
As long as the celestial herbs that strengthened the essence of martial souls—such as the foundational Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass—were withheld, there was no harm in allowing Bibi Dong to obtain minor benefits. After all, at her current rank of Soul Douluo (Level 80), foundational reinforcement had little value. However, Qian Renhan had no intention of gifting these herbs imbued with darkness and death energy to Bibi Dong—or anyone else, for that matter.
Why should he give it to her? To strengthen her, only for her to destroy the Angel Clan? To kill Qian Xunji? Even if Qian Xunji had slapped him, and Qian Daoliu along with the six great elders had distanced themselves from him, that didn't mean he harbored hatred toward them.
Qian Renhan approached a snow-white celestial herb. The plant's crystal-clear white leaves glistened as though they were about to drip water. Each blade was long, curved, and resembled the graceful neck of a swan.
The Snow Swan Kiss—a herb with an activating attribute—could exponentially amplify poisons. Any poison affected by this herb's effects would be triggered and magnified a thousandfold. The ideal recipient of this herb was undoubtedly Bibi Dong, as her Death Spider Emperor's poison was the strongest poison in the current era. Even the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison was inferior in comparison. If Bibi Dong were to acquire the Snow Swan Kiss, anyone she touched would die instantly, and even the Six-Winged Angel martial soul might fail to purify such venom.
But, as always, the same principle applied.
"Elder Porcupinefish, take this herb and use it yourself," Qian Renhan said as he dug out the Snow Swan Kiss and tossed it to the Porcupinefish Douluo.
The elder's pupils widened as he carefully caught the herb. He had just witnessed the immense energy hidden within these seemingly small plants.
"Master, how should I consume this herb?" the Porcupinefish Douluo asked.
Qian Renhan thought for a moment before replying, "Try chewing a leaf first. If nothing happens, then eat the entire plant."
"Understood," the elder responded.
Five days passed. Qian Renhan had spent two days tending to the garden and three days admiring the breathtaking scenery of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Now, he soared toward Heaven Dou City, as the day of his duel with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan prodigy was fast approaching. The Porcupinefish Douluo followed closely behind.
At this moment, the Porcupinefish Douluo had reached Rank 93. Under the effects of the Snow Swan Kiss, his body now stored an unfathomable amount of poison. If Dugu Bo's full power could wipe out an entire city, then the Porcupinefish Douluo could likely turn an area spanning a thousand miles into a lifeless wasteland.
Upon leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and losing the energy isolation provided by the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, the skies above the Douluo Continent transformed. Ethereal clouds wove into a mystical tapestry, while soft, radiant light cascaded like a mother's gentle hand caressing the delicate texture of the mist. In the midst of this surreal space, the outline of a majestic palace shimmered between illusion and reality, exuding a beauty that defied words.
Inside the palace stood a man clad in black. His appearance was strikingly handsome, his deep, dark eyes like bottomless abysses capable of consuming everything in existence. There was no doubt—this was the mythical god of Rank 100.
The handsome man rested his chin on his hand, watching Qian Renhan flying toward Heaven Dou City with great interest.
"A Fallen Angel? I never expected such an anomaly to emerge from the Angel Clan. Such profound and overwhelming darkness—if he reaches my level, he could rival a God King with that darkness alone. And with the addition of the other two attributes, he would undoubtedly become the most powerful being beneath the God Kings."
With a slight motion, the man pointed a finger toward Qian Renhan. A stream of dark divine power surged forth as he spoke, "Young one, I choose you. Do not disgrace the godhood I bestow upon you in the future."
At that moment, as Qian Renhan flew toward Heaven Dou City, he was completely unaware of the dark mark that briefly appeared and then vanished from his forehead.
(End of Chapter)