[Putting aside the Grand Elder's thoughts for a moment, after learning that spirit rings actually possessed the function of storing spirit power, the Grand Elder didn't pause for a single second before beginning to activate this function for his own spirit rings.]
[Doubling the total amount of spirit power, or perhaps even more—this temptation was truly too great.]
[Dugu Bo and Lin Lang, who were standing to the side, thought for a moment and likewise decided to activate their spirit rings first.]
[The immortal grade herbs were right there; they were in no hurry at all.]
[Thus, the Grand Elder and the other two sat cross-legged on the ground one after another, entering a state of cultivation.]
[For a time, within the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, only Yu Xiaogang remained standing.]
[Glancing at the few people deep in cultivation, Yu Xiaogang shook his head, and then his gaze began to scan back and forth across the medicinal ingredients surrounding the spring.]
[He only had a few spirit rings now, so activating them wouldn't take much time. Therefore, at the moment, he was more interested in picking an immortal grade herb to consume.]
[Walking among the various immortal grade herbs, Yu Xiaogang began to ponder which one was most suitable for him.]
[The current him was no longer the Trash he had been back when his Spirit had first awakened.]
[The changes brought to him by his first three spirit rings had caused his Spirit's quality to skyrocket. If there were a tool to test Innate Spirit Power right now, Yu Xiaogang was certain his Innate Spirit Power would be at least rank eight or higher.]
[And that was a conservative estimate.]
[In fact, Full Innate Spirit Power would more accurately reflect his current situation.]
["My talent has already been altered, so immortal grade herbs like the nine-rank purple ganoderma, which focus on strengthening the foundation and improving talent, can be ruled out,"]
[Yu Xiaogang thought to himself.]
[Although Yu Xiaogang knew well that on the Douluo Continent, no one would ever say their talent was sufficient and didn't need more.]
[No one would ever complain about having too much talent.]
[However, with things like immortal grade herbs, a person only gains the maximum benefit from the first one they consume.]
[Consuming a second one would result in significantly diminished effects.]
[So, rather than consuming an immortal grade herb that improves talent, Yu Xiaogang preferred to take one with other effects.]
[For instance, that gazing through autumn water dew.]
[That was an immortal grade herb that could help one Cultivate the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils.]
[Of course, 'Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils' was an exaggeration; the actual effect of the gazing through autumn water dew was to drastically increase one's mental force.]
[Yu Xiaogang's mental force was already quite outstanding. Becoming even stronger would be beneficial for his future spirit ring absorption and the release of his Second Spirit Skill.]
[There was also the mysterious fur celestial chrysanthemum he had seen first upon entering this place.]
[Consuming it could significantly strengthen one's Physique.]
[Yu Xiaogang had already experienced the benefits of an enhanced Physique many times. The reason he could have such a spirit ring configuration now was entirely due to the physical fitness improvements from Whale Glue.]
[And compared to the mysterious fur celestial chrysanthemum, Whale Glue seemed quite mediocre.]
[Besides those, there were the two Immortal Herbs in the center of the spring: the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Apricot.]
[One ice and one fire; consumed individually, they were deadly poisons.]
[But consumed together, the poisons would cancel each other out, and one could even forge a golden body immune to both ice and fire.]
[This wasn't just a simple stat boost; it was adding a whole new mechanic to himself.]
[So, all things considered, Yu Xiaogang actually placed these two immortal grade herbs at the very top of his list.]
[Beyond those, there was the King of Immortal Herbs, the Yearning Heartbroken Red, which Yue Guan had emphasized in his introduction.]
[This immortal grade herb was even more miraculous. Other immortal grade herbs could be consumed as long as they were harvested using the correct methods.]
[But the Yearning Heartbroken Red was different. To consume this immortal grade herb, one first had to gain its recognition.]
[If consumed without recognition, it would cause a backlash.]
[To gain its recognition, one had to have a lover, and their feelings for that person could not contain the slightest hint of falsehood.]
[To be honest, when hearing about the Yearning Heartbroken Red, Yu Xiaogang had sighed, not expecting that consuming a Heaven And Earth Treasure would actually require a test of one's sincerity.]
[If a loving couple came before the Yearning Heartbroken Red and failed the test, the drama would be quite something.]
[After circling around several times, Yu Xiaogang's choice paralysis kicked in; he simply couldn't find the single most suitable herb for himself.]
["If that earth dragon golden gourd were a Light Attribute herb, I wouldn't have to struggle like this,"]
[Yu Xiaogang glanced at the earth dragon golden gourd he had previously recommended to Dugu Bo.]
[The earth dragon golden gourd was a type of immortal grade herb that carried some dragon attributes, but its primary attribute was the Earth Attribute.]
[If it were Light Attribute, Yu Xiaogang could have consumed it directly. But being Earth Attribute, if he consumed it, although it would add the Earth Attribute to him...]
[...it might also directly transform his Light Attribute into the Earth Attribute.]
[So, it was impossible for Yu Xiaogang to take that gamble.]
[Frowning and pondering for a moment, the indecisive Yu Xiaogang suddenly thought of Little Dragon.]
[Although Little Dragon was his Spirit, it existed in a form separate from his body, essentially acting as a Spirit Beast.]
[And most Spirit Beasts have very keen senses; they can easily judge situations that he might not be able to discover.]
[Besides, what was the use of just thinking here by himself? Wouldn't it be better to let Little Dragon out to think along with him?]
[Thus, Yu Xiaogang summoned Little Dragon.]
[Little Dragon appeared, and before it could happily greet Yu Xiaogang, its gaze was immediately drawn to everything before it.]
["Awoo!!!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ"]
[Looking at the numerous immortal grade herbs before it, Little Dragon was so shocked its mouth wouldn't close.]
[It even rubbed its eyes to make sure that everything before it wasn't a hallucination.]
[Little Dragon had been present when Yu Xiaogang was learning about immortal grade herbs, so it knew very well how high the value of these herbs was.]
["How about it? Stunned, right?"]
[Yu Xiaogang walked to Little Dragon's side, stroked its head, and said with a smile.]
["Little Dragon, if you were to choose one of these immortal grade herbs to consume, what would you want to take?"]
[After speaking, Yu Xiaogang looked at Little Dragon, waiting for its answer.]
[Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Little Dragon snapped out of its daze, and then its eyes began to emit a brilliant light.]
[They literally lit up.]
[It flapped its tiny wings, flew onto Yu Xiaogang's head, tilted its head up, twitched its nose, and sniffed the surrounding scents with all its might.]
[Soon, Little Dragon's eyes brightened. It flew near the earth dragon golden gourd and pointed toward the ground below for Yu Xiaogang.]
[Coming to the spot Little Dragon pointed out, Yu Xiaogang scratched his head.]
["You mean, there's another herb underground here?"]
[Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Little Dragon nodded rapidly. Its impatient look made Yu Xiaogang's heart fill with anticipation as well.]
[Just how many treasures were hidden around this valley spring?]