Under the expectant gazes of everyone, the zu zong handed the Heartbreaking Red Peony to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu stared blankly at the beautiful, blood-stained peony before her, nodded gently, and looked directly at the Clan Elder. "I'll try." She
circulated her soul power, urging her blood and qi to flow. Xiao Wu parted her cherry lips slightly, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the petals.
In that instant of spitting blood, her mind was filled with the image of the Clan Elder. From their first meeting at Dormitory Seven of Notting Academy to his heartfelt confession, every moment they had shared over the past six or seven years flashed through her mind.
Blood fell onto the petals. The zuzong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling all focused their gazes on the flower, waiting silently.
The Heartbreaking Red Peony didn't sway at all, but it had already quietly left the Black Stone and fallen, landing in a slender, jade-like hand.
Xiao Wu wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, a smile appearing on her pretty face. Her eyes, slightly glazed, gazed at the beautiful flower in her hand. "I succeeded."
Everyone, including the zu zongand Zhu Zhuqing, smiled knowingly.
However, a shocking scene unfolded. The Acacia Heartbreak Red, which had been in Xiao Wu's hand, suddenly began to tremble violently, its body glowing red. It broke free from Xiao Wu's grasp, its roots returning to the Black Stone.
The swaying of the Acacia Heartbreak Red gradually stopped, showing no sign of falling. Xiao Wu had thus severed her connection with the Acacia Heartbreak Red.
"What on earth is going on?" Xiao Wu exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone's faces showed confusion.
The zu zong frowned slightly. Logically, after successfully harvesting the Acacia Heartbreak Red, it should have belonged directly to Xiao Wu! Why did it return to the Black Stone? Could it be that true affection alone wasn't enough, and a destined person was required? But who was this destined person?
The zu zong comforted her, "Xiao Wu, don't worry. Your feelings are undoubtedly genuine, otherwise the Acacia Heartbreak Red wouldn't have fallen from the Black Stone. Perhaps you and she are simply not meant to be."
As he spoke, the zu zong handed the Acacia Heartbreak Red to Zhu Zhuqing, smiling, "Zhuqing, why don't you try?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded; this time she didn't refuse. Since Xiao Wu couldn't pick it because of fate, she had no reason not to try. After all, she believed her feelings for the clan elder were no less than Xiao Wu's.
Following Xiao Wu's example, a soft "poof" sound rang out, and Zhu Zhuqing spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed on the Acacia Heartbreak Red. Just like Xiao Wu, the Acacia Heartbreak Red, after falling, returned to the Black Stone.
While Zhu Zhuqing's face darkened, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although she hadn't successfully picked the Acacia Heartbreak Red, it had confirmed her feelings for zuzong.
Zhu Zhuqing said sadly, "Little zu, it seems I'm not the destined one either. Perhaps we should give this Narcissus Jade Bone to Xiao Wu?"
zu zong waved his hand, saying, "No need, I have spare herbs."
Just as zu zong was about to put away the Acacia Heartbreak Red and get the spare herbs for Xiao Wu
, a soft "poof" sound suddenly rang out. Zu zong turned his head and saw a mouthful of blood had fallen onto the Acacia Heartbreak Red.
Before he could react, the Acacia Heartbreak Red began to shake violently. Although it wasn't as fast as Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, after some effort, it still managed to detach from the Black Stone and fall into a slender hand.
Ning Rongrong wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, a sweet smile appearing on her pretty face, "I never thought I was the destined one."
However, before zu zong and the others could be shocked, the Acacia Heartbreak Red in Ning Rongrong's hand returned to the Black Stone.
Ning Rongrong didn't seem to mind at all, smiling slightly, "What a pity."
Although he was a little curious about Ning Rong's genuine feelings, the clan leader breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't succeeded in picking it. If the person who picked it wasn't his wife, the zu zong would rather have kept this king of immortal herbs in the system's storage space forever. Giving her the Qiluo Tulip to repay her previous favor was already more than enough.
The zu zong pretended to shake his head, saying, "One shouldn't be too greedy. Each of these immortal herbs is a treasure favored by heaven. Having more is not only useless but also harmful. You already have the Qiluo Tulip; consuming other immortal herbs will prevent them from being fully absorbed."
As he spoke, the zu zong stored the Acacia Heartbreak Red into his system storage space.
With a flash of golden light, a large chrysanthemum appeared in the clan leader's hand. The chrysanthemum was a magnificent purple, and strangely, each petal looked fluffy and exceptionally cute. The entire chrysanthemum was perfectly integrated, yet it emitted no fragrance. The central stamen rose more than half a foot above the petals, and the tip of the stamen shimmered with a faint golden light.
The zu zong walked up to Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu," he said, "this herb is called the 'Strange Treasure Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum,' a neutral-grade immortal herb. Consuming it circulates qi throughout the limbs and opens the eight meridians, allowing one to cultivate an indestructible body."
Xiao Wu was astonished. "An indestructible body? Really?"
The zu zong smiled. "While the indestructible body is a slight exaggeration, this herb is quite compatible with your martial soul. Your martial soul, the Soft Bone Charming Rabbit, is an offensive type, with neutral soul power. Your power is all in your body. With this herb, your cultivation will be twice as effective.
Its effect is similar to Zhu Qing's Narcissus Jade Bone and Muscle Bone.
If you eat it now, she might..." "You'll be able to break through to level 40 soon. I think it will definitely help you overcome the difficulties. After you obtain the Soul Ring, the effects of the medicine will continue, and it should provide an even greater boost."
Xiao Wu kissed the zu zong on the cheek. "Thank you, Xiao Zong."
The zu zong smiled slightly and said, "Alright, everyone, hurry up and refine it! Aunt Erlong is guarding us outside the door."
As he spoke, he took out a seemingly inconspicuous herb from the system's storage space. The herb was entirely emerald green, but strangely, in the center of the herb were three snow-white leaves, with a few drops of water in the center of the leaves, like morning dew.
Xiao Wu asked疑惑地, "Little zu, what is this? Is it also a celestial herb?"
"This herb is called 'Looking Through Autumn Water Dew.' Eating it can cultivate fiery eyes, allowing one to see through all strange things. Although the description is a bit exaggerated, it is quite beneficial to my eyes. It can be considered a celestial herb. Most importantly, its effects are very mild and do not conflict with the two celestial herbs I've taken before."
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu both showed knowing expressions; they both knew that the zu zong's second martial soul was his eyes.
The zu zong thought to himself, "I hope this 'Looking Through Autumn Water Dew' can evolve my Sharingan!"
As he spoke, the zu zong held the 'Looking Through Autumn Water Dew' in front of him, tilted it slightly, and a few drops of the transparent liquid immediately dripped into his mouth. When those drops of liquid completely left the herb, the entire 'Looking Through Autumn Water Dew' had completely withered in the zuzong hand, turning into dust and scattering in his hand in the blink of an eye.
The zu zong didn't say anything more, went straight to an empty corner, sat down, and quietly began cultivating with his palms facing upwards.
In the small courtyard, the only one conscious was Liu Erlong, who stood guard outside the house. Her gaze, through the door, remained fixed on the zuzong , a struggle flickering in her eyes. In her heart, a voice only she could hear echoed:
"zuzong, are you really not my little zuzong?"