"Of course you can!" Zhu Ziyang nodded with a warm smile on his face. "Not only you, all of you can!"
"You… you mean, we can all become free beings like Kuikui, with hands and feet?" Infernal Delicate Apricot's voice was full of surprise and delight.
"Yes. As long as you're willing to give up your soul bone and soul ring and become a spirit soul of a soul master, then you can leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and obtain relative freedom," said Zhu Ziyang. "You can even break through the limitation that prevents soul beasts from becoming gods. When the soul master transcends and becomes a god, you can ascend alongside them!"
Zhu Ziyang's words brimmed with temptation, plunging the naïve immortal herb soul beasts into deep fantasies. Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier noticed this and exchanged satisfied smiles. Zhu Ziyang's words were ninety percent true—as long as the herbs believed him, the ones to benefit would be Shrek Academy.
As for the Tang Sect? Sorry, the Tang Sect had already declined. Its sect master and members were all Shrek students. For Shrek Academy to inherit Tang Sect's assets—wasn't that only natural?
"Spirit soul?" The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass looked at Zhu Ziyang in confusion and asked, "Are you saying that Kuikui's current state is called a spirit soul? What kind of existence is that?"
"Yes, spirit soul," Zhu Ziyang explained. "It's the soul of a soul ring—where the soul beast retains its life while becoming a soul master's soul ring, living in spirit form and bonded through a special contract. Spirit souls coexist with soul masters, retaining their previous memories, intelligence, and a portion of their strength. They grow stronger alongside the soul master."
"Such a miraculous existence!" The herbs were all left speechless in astonishment. After a while, Infernal Delicate Apricot finally murmured.
"So, if any of you are interested, just let me know. I know a lot of talented soul masters—you could become their spirit soul!" Zhu Ziyang continued enticing them.
"We'll discuss it amongst ourselves. You've already achieved your goal, so please leave for now." Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass's voice had calmed considerably. "When you come back to find Tea Tea next time, we'll give you an answer. But not now."
"Alright. I respect your decision." Zhu Ziyang knew he couldn't rush this. He smiled and agreed. After all, these immortal herbs weren't going anywhere. Letting them think it over was fine. From the moment they gained sentience, they must have yearned for freedom.
"Hehe, Bingbing, Jiaojiao, Tea Tea, and everyone, I'll go first!" Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower flew proudly over each awakened herb, voice full of bragging. "Oh right, remember to explain things to Youyou for me!"
She landed on Ma Xiaotao's shoulder—only to be slapped back into the soul ring. Clearly, Ma Xiaotao was not at all pleased with this silly creature.
"Senior Sister, Little Sister, let's leave," Zhu Ziyang gestured to Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier. The two women immediately understood.
"Alright, let's go." Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier nodded.
The four quickly vanished from the senses of the immortal herbs. Once they were gone, the herbs could no longer contain themselves and erupted into waves of envy and longing.
"Jiaojiao, what are you thinking?" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass asked Infernal Delicate Apricot.
"I'm wondering—if we become spirit souls, would that really be freedom? Aren't we just bound to that soul master instead?" Infernal Delicate Apricot had accurately grasped the flaw in the spirit soul system.
"Still better than living in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, constantly afraid our years of cultivation will be taken from us by that man," said Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass bitterly. "Have you forgotten what happened to our former selves? I don't want to repeat that fate."
"Then are we really going to become spirit souls?" Infernal Delicate Apricot empathized but still hesitated. "You know soul masters have limited lifespans. If we become a spirit soul for one, when they die… will we die too? Or will we become truly free beings? That human never said. But I suspect it's the former. After all, humans hate being at a disadvantage."
"That's a real concern," Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass admitted, troubled. "If we're going to do it, it should be with someone who has a chance to become a god. But human gods are rare. After all these years, only that one person and his companions ever succeeded. Ugh, this is really troubling."
"Bingbing, Jiaojiao, there's no need to worry so much. If you want freedom, you'll have to pay a price." Moon Immortal Tea Laurel had listened to their entire conversation. Seeing clearly, she spoke up.
"Tea Tea, it's easy for you to say that. You've already chosen your human. Of course you don't care," Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass replied. "But us… we can't bear to throw away centuries of cultivation."
"You're overvaluing yourselves," Moon Immortal Tea Laurel scoffed. "You think becoming spirit souls will waste your cultivation? What about being at that man's mercy—doesn't that waste it too? Will he give you any chance to become a god? No. He'll only exploit you."
"Becoming a spirit soul at least offers the possibility of godhood."
"One path leads nowhere, the other has a chance. What's there to think about?"
"...That…" Even Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot had to admit Moon Immortal Tea Laurel had a point.
"You're just afraid of choosing the wrong person. Then let that Zhu Ziyang pick someone with the most talent for you," said Moon Immortal Tea Laurel. "I think that red-haired girl who took Kuikui was pretty good. A seven-ringed soul sage who could absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, and she has ultimate fire—it's a perfect match for you, Jiaojiao!"
"As for you, Bingbing, let him find someone with ultimate ice. That shouldn't be hard."
Her bold words helped the two extreme-attribute immortal herbs make their decision.
"Mm! We understand. Thank you, Tea Tea!" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot spoke in unison.
"Hehe, no problem! I, Tea Tea, love helping my friends solve their worries!" Moon Immortal Tea Laurel said cheerfully.
"Jiaojiao, Bingbing, since you've both decided to leave… have you thought about how to explain it to Youyou?" A giant golden chrysanthemum swayed as it spoke—this was the immortal herb Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
"Hmph! We don't need to explain anything to her!" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass's tone turned cold. Her resentment toward Jade Beauty Immortal Flower was deep.
By all rights, she and Jiaojiao should be the leaders among the herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—one born in the Yin Spring, one in the Yang. Yet Jade Beauty Immortal Flower, simply because she was storing that man's items, had risen from equal status to the leader of them all. That made Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass furious.
"It's fine. We'll just tell her honestly. Youyou may serve that man, but she's still reasonable," said Infernal Delicate Apricot.
"Oh!" The immortal herbs all nodded.
——
Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zhu Ziyang and the others emerged.
"Ziyang, what now?" Xian Lin'er asked.
"Senior Sister, Little Sister, take Sister Xiaotao back to the academy first. I'll stay here for a while," said Zhu Ziyang.
"You still have things to do?" Ma Xiaotao looked at him with curiosity. She didn't know the real reason he wanted to stay.
But Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier had been briefed by Mu En—Zhu Ziyang would be entering seclusion in the Sunset Forest for a while. They had to keep an eye out.
"I'll be cultivating here for some time," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile—the explanation he and Mu En had prepared. After all, fewer people knew about the God Trials, the better. Only once everything was settled could he reveal it to the world. "Just send supplies for me as needed."
"Alright then, we won't stay any longer. Take care of yourself!" Cai Meier gave him a deep look.
Soon, Xian Lin'er, Cai Meier, and Ma Xiaotao vanished from sight—and Zhu Ziyang could finally begin the Death God's Three Trials!
(End of Chapter)
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