Chapter 216: Youyou
Di Tian first channeled soul power to lay down a protective barrier around Furina. The surrounding plants were far too numerous, densely packed together, emitting all sorts of strange and peculiar auras, some of which were likely poisonous.
If anything happened to Furina, it would be no good for him. First, the cooperation between his side and the Water God Church would be in jeopardy. If they truly wanted to storm the Divine Realm, Furina's strength would be indispensable.
Second, the Water God Church's current efforts were extremely beneficial for the development of the soul beast clan. Once techniques like artificial soul rings, artificial soul bones, self-condensed soul rings, and self-condensed soul bones were perfected, it would be a heaven-sent blessing for the soul beasts. There were also those cultivation manuals, which could allow their soul beasts to rapidly increase their cultivation and enhance their overall strength.
That way, even if humans grew strong in the future and completely surpassed soul beasts, they wouldn't need to fear that humans would act against the soul beast clan.
Thus, all possible precautions had to be taken. Furthermore, he was the Beast God Di Tian. How could he commit such a low-level mistake? To bear the title of Beast God, ranked first among the Savage Beasts, yet fail to even protect a little girl at the Soul Sage level—wouldn't that be a laughingstock?
"Speaking of which, it's only been a few days, yet your cultivation has soared dramatically," Di Tian said casually, sensing the aura emanating from Furina.
Furina waved a hand dismissively. "Your reaction is far too slow. I hold two divine trials. Isn't it perfectly normal for my cultivation speed to skyrocket?"
"That's a fair point." Di Tian retracted his gaze, his tone steadying. "Are you prepared? I'm about to make my move."
"Of course. Ready whenever." Furina nodded crisply.
"Mm."
Everything was ready. Just as Di Tian was about to act, a gentle female voice rang out clearly.
"Halt. That you have been able to arrive here is your good fortune. Do not commit any misdeeds here, or else don't blame me for being impolite."
The speaker was a large pink flower, its petals layered upon each other, swaying gently in the breeze and emitting a faint glow.
Di Tian let out a cold snort and immediately released his aura. That majestic pressure bore down like something tangible, the very air seeming to freeze for an instant.
"Who, exactly, do you plan to be impolite to?"
The large pink flower shuddered violently, her voice changing pitch. "Wh-what?! H-how... how are you so powerful?"
This was the first time she had ever encountered such a terrifying aura. The first time in ten thousand years.
She knew she had provoked someone formidable. The people who could come here were far more powerful than she had imagined. No wonder she had only sensed that the little girl nearby was relatively weak earlier—this was the truly terrifying existence.
Di Tian looked at her coldly, his tone brooking no dissent. "Spare me the useless chatter. In consideration of your hard-won cultivation, I'll do this: I ask, you answer. Otherwise, I'll pull up your roots right now."
As he spoke, he continued to release his pressure. Sensing this aura, the other hundred-thousand-year plant soul beasts in the vicinity all shrank into themselves, trembling with fear, not daring to even breathe heavily.
There was no helping it. They had lived here all along, and no human had ever broken in, nor had any soul beast ever managed to do so.
Yet, the first visitors in ten thousand years turned out to be experts of such overwhelming strength. The power disparity was far too great. Even if they wanted to resist, together they wouldn't be a match.
"Y-yes, yes, yes!" The large pink flower nodded repeatedly, her petals quivering slightly.
Di Tian asked, "What is your name?"
"That person said I am an immortal herb and called me the Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin. You may call me Youyou." Youyou answered carefully, a hint of ingratiation in her voice.
Di Tian turned his head to Furina. "Have you heard of her?"
Furina nodded. "This one I know. She possesses the ability to neutralize toxins and is known as the bane of a hundred poisons. But she can only suppress toxins, not cure poisoning. The 'person' she speaks of is presumably Tang San."
She surveyed the surroundings. "This place is also known as the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire. All plants growing here for a single day is equivalent to growing for ten days outside. Don't be fooled just because they're all hundred-thousand-year soul beasts—in reality, they might only be ten thousand years old."
She paused and added, "Mm, but that's also quite normal. Even among hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, not all of them have truly cultivated for a full hundred thousand years."
Di Tian nodded slightly in agreement. Indeed, quite a few soul beasts cultivated through devouring. Take the Evil Emperor, for instance—his race, the Evil Eye Tyrants, increased their own cultivation by consuming other lives.
Furina turned her gaze to Youyou, her tone as casual as instructing a minor errand. "Alright, let's put that aside. Youyou, hurry and hand over that book. From now on, this territory is under our management. There's no need to wait for that person anymore."
Di Tian thought to himself: This girl truly knows a great deal. She even knows there's a book here? But... considering she's even crystal clear on the Sovereign's circumstances, this isn't all that strange. She's certainly full of secrets. Cooperating with her was, as the Sovereign said, the right choice.
Youyou hesitated, her flower head dipping slightly, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle. But facing Di Tian's undisguised pressure, she had no choice but to comply. From somewhere unknown, she produced a book and tremblingly offered it forward.
Di Tian took the book and casually flipped it open. Upon reading the first page, he knew—it was indeed left behind by that Tang San from back then.
"I am glad that someone has been able to see my message. Passing the test of the Youxiang Qiluo Xianpin proves you have the qualifications to read this book. This book was written by Tang San, the founder of the Tang Sect. It records the differences between various immortal herbs and poisonous plants, as well as some lost poison-using methods of the Tang Sect. After learning its contents, please leave the book behind and use its knowledge with caution."
After reading this page, Di Tian turned to the second. What followed were some words from Tang San, stating how upon discovery, he didn't dare to keep it for himself alone, and then replanted things, and so on.
Di Tian inwardly sneered: What do you mean 'didn't dare to keep it for himself'? If you truly didn't keep it for yourself, then why did you seal this place up? Why not make it public? And it even says above that only his own companions ate them, no outsiders. Truly, humans are most skilled at smooth talking.
He didn't read any further, instead handing the book to Furina. "Look at it yourself. I'll pass."
Furina took the book and carefully flipped through it. The general content matched her impressions.
'If encountered by one of poor character, I fear the lands would be plunged into misery and suffering.' She read one of the lines aloud, the corner of her mouth curving upwards, her tone laced with sarcasm. "This sentence... suits you quite well, doesn't it, Tang San? And the Medicine Section and Poison Section of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record are also left here... If I take this back for Tang Ya to read, I wonder what she would think?"
Youyou was terrified now, her petals even closing up a bit. She only prayed these two ancestors would leave quickly. Not only was their strength outrageously powerful, but they were also speaking critically of the person she had mentioned, clearly full of dissatisfaction. Who knew if they might vent their anger on her and the other immortal herbs next?
Furina pulled back her thoughts and instructed, "Alright, now I need the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."
Youyou gathered her courage to speak at this point, her voice thin and reedy. "The Lovesick Heartbreak Red... it requires one to think of a deeply beloved lover, with utmost sincerity and devotion, and spit a mouthful of blood onto the petals before it can be picked. If you don't have a beloved one, it's impossible to harvest it. Didn't you read the book?"
Furina rolled her eyes. "Of course, I know that. But in reality, rather than calling it 'picking,' it's more like making it bloom. I just need to pluck it and give it to someone who has someone they like—that person will do."
She turned her head to Di Tian. "Di Tian, take a look and see what you want to gather. Things that can heal your Sovereign's injuries, or ones for you and your sworn siblings to consume. All fine."
As she spoke, she handed the book over again.
Di Tian took the book and began flipping through it once more, his eyes roaming over the text that recorded the properties of the immortal herbs.
Furina, meanwhile, headed in the direction of the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire. "I'll just go plant a seed in that lake water over there."
Youyou nervously spoke up again. "What kind of seed are you planting? If it's not an immortal herb, you'd best not. Only immortal herbs can grow here; ordinary plants cannot survive. And the only ones who can grow right in the center of the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire are Ah Jiao and Bajiao, those two immortal herbs."
Furina answered without looking back. "I don't need you to remind me. What I'm planting is certainly extraordinary, and stronger than all of you."
She paused. "Also, I will be placing a flame here. When the time comes, you will all pour your own auras into that flame to help nourish it."
Hearing this, Youyou grew even more worried, her petals trembling. "Wh-what flame? You're not going to burn this place down, are you?"
"Burn my ass!" Furina glared back at her irritably. "Are the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire afraid of being burned?"
Her tone softened slightly. "I already said, this will be my territory from now on. Why would I be willing to burn you all down?"
Only then did Youyou let out a sigh of relief, her flower head unfurling slightly. "That's good then... that's good..."