Even so, Ye Tian wouldn't recklessly consume anything. Taking Immortal Herbs was like selecting Spirit Rings—only the suitable ones were the best. His two Soul Skills, the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the Bright Soul Nourishing Pill, accumulated over time, were no worse than Immortal Herbs. For him, Immortal Herbs were merely the icing on the cake. He would soar sooner or later—Ye Tian had no doubt about that!
Feeling pleased with himself, Ye Tian didn't forget to ask Qian Renxue in return, "Little Xue, what about you? What kind of Immortal Herb do you hope to get?"
"I'm not sure," Qian Renxue replied, gazing at Ye Tian's confident back. She pursed her red lips and gently shook her head, then added persistently, "I'm just a little curious if there might be the king among the Immortal Herbs there…"
"The king among the Immortal Herbs?" Ye Tian was taken aback, slowing his pace considerably. Wasn't Qian Renxue referring to the King of Immortal Herbs, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red? It possessed the powerful medicinal effect of transforming the body and reviving the dead! If Qian Renxue consumed it now, it could boost her by at least ten levels or more!
However, during the harvesting process, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red could also be called a 'true love detector.' Could it be… that this Sacred Angel, Little Xue, was already beginning to feel the stirrings of spring?
At this thought, Ye Tian couldn't help but look at her with a strange expression, turning back to glance at Qian Renxue.
"What's wrong, Ye Tian?" Qian Renxue feigned calmness, meeting his eyes with a questioning gaze, though the ears hidden by her hair were nearly burning crimson.
"N-nothing," Ye Tian shook his head and continued looking ahead. Perhaps he was overthinking it. Maybe she was simply curious about the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. But once such thoughts arose, they grew wildly and spread uncontrollably like untamed weeds.
Ye Tian couldn't help but wonder: if Qian Renxue truly had feelings for someone, who could it be? It seemed that, since childhood, the male peer she had interacted with the most was none other than himself…
As soon as this idea surfaced, Ye Tian's heart skipped a beat. He quickly dismissed what might be a presumptuous assumption. Shaking his head slightly, he acknowledged that he was not immune to human desires, but he wouldn't let occasional impulses cloud his judgment.
Impulse was a devil—the greatest distinction between humans and animals was rationality. No matter the situation, Ye Tian demanded himself to remain as rational as possible, including when it came to matters of love, which still felt distant to him. He had always scoffed at claims that "love makes people lose their reason." Those without rationality were no different from beasts, driven solely by the urge to mate. Moreover, losing rationality undoubtedly placed one in danger.
Just as Ye Tian steadied his mind, Qian Renxue's voice sounded beside his ear again. "Ye Tian~ you still haven't answered my question from earlier."
"Huh? Oh!" Ye Tian snapped back to attention and replied quickly, "I think there might be, but I'm not entirely sure."
"Is that so~" Qian Renxue watched his flustered demeanor and couldn't help but pout, feeling somewhat amused. It seemed Ye Tian wasn't entirely dull—just far too proper. Even leaning on his shoulder would earn her a firm push away, with no understanding of how to cherish a delicate beauty.
Jin Yue'er quietly observed from the sidelines, unaware of what the King of Immortal Herbs truly represented. But she had long known that Qian Renxue was actually quite repressed—more than her, she actually wanted to throw herself into Ye Tian's embrace.
During their nights sharing a bed, it wasn't only Jin Yue'er who talked in her sleep.
The journey continued in silence.
When the blazing sun in the sky grew dull and the forest light turned dusky, Ye Tian finally understood why this forest was named 'Sunset'.
The trees here weren't as dense as those in the Star Dou Great Forest, far from blocking out the sky. This allowed the twilight to freely weave through the forest, delivering its final warmth to every corner.
If one could look down from above at this moment, the entire forest would appear golden, the trees bathed in sunlight truly deserving the description 'golden branches and jade leaves'!
From afternoon until sunset was about to sink below the horizon, Ye Tian and the others finally arrived before the valley shrouded in the Serpentine Venom Array.
Just as they approached, the dozing Golden Crocodile Douluo immediately became alert. He keenly detected enormous energy fluctuations within the toxic mist before them.
"What a treasure trove!" Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes lit up as he murmured.
Both Ye Tian and Qian Renxue's gazes undoubtedly grew fervent.
At the front of their formation, Dugu Bo had already formed hand seals to disperse the toxic mist.
Along the way, with an eighty-seventh level Soul Douluo like him present, there was no need for Jin E to intervene.
Soon, a passageway slowly appeared before Ye Tian and the others.
"Your Excellency, Young Friend Ye Tian, please..." Dugu Bo turned back, slightly bowing and stepping aside.
"Thank you, Senior Dugu," Ye Tian expressed his gratitude before turning to look at Qian Renxue.
After exchanging a glance and nodding, Ye Tian immediately channeled his Soul Power, preparing to dash through the passage and advance deep into the valley.
"Yue'er, let's go!"
"Alright!"
Hearing Ye Tian's instruction, Jin Yue'er quickly summoned her Martial Soul with a cheerful laugh.
A purple Spirit Ring unfolded under the astonished gazes of Dugu Bo and his family.
A Golden Crocodile coiled into a golden full moon merged into Jin Yue'er's body, covering her in golden armor. With one leap, she nearly overtook Ye Tian.
"Another Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?!" Dugu Xin's eyes widened in shock.
Before Dugu Bo and the others could recover from their astonishment, a brilliant golden Holy Light nearly blinded them.
Qian Renxue spread her snow-white Six Wings behind her, with three purple Thousand-Year Spirit Rings clearly visible at her feet. As her Six Wings vibrated, the golden figure surpassed Jin Yue'er.
"Soul... Soul Venerable?!" Dugu Yan's eyes grew dazed as she unconsciously swallowed hard.
These three... each more formidable than the last!
"Father, what kind of strong medicine has the Spirit Hall been feeding them?!" Dugu Xin couldn't help but lament.
Just as Dugu Bo was about to speak, exclamations of surprise suddenly came from ahead.
"Ah! Damn it!"
Looking forward, Dugu Bo saw Qian Renxue swoop over Jin Yue'er's head, reaching down with both hands to grab Ye Tian's arms and lift him into flight.
But the flying altitude was far from sufficient.
With a giant rock rushing toward them, Ye Tian could only perform a difficult mid-air split, enduring the excruciating pain as he exclaimed, "Little Xue, fly higher! I don't want to end my family line!"
"S-sorry..." Qian Renxue awkwardly apologized, immediately pulling Ye Tian up and directly into her embrace, ultimately holding him from behind with her arms around his waist.
Her snow-white face pressed against the back of Ye Tian's ear.
"Is this alright, Ye Tian?"
"Uh—y-yes, I suppose."
This position made Ye Tian feel somewhat awkward.
He secretly swore to himself once again that he must obtain a flight Soul Skill!
Of course,
it couldn't just be ordinary flight either.