The foul aura that Infernal Delicate Apricot referred to was none other than the ultimate ice of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.
For Infernal Delicate Apricot, who had grown beside the blazing hot spring, the aura of ultimate ice was the most detestable thing imaginable—far worse than any chaotic flame.
And after sensing that aura, her curiosity toward Jiang Qingtong only grew stronger.
Though she had never left this valley, and had no knowledge of the outside world over the last ten thousand years, she had once encountered humans long ago. She knew of the existence of twin martial souls!
But logically, a human could never possess two martial souls that directly opposed each other.
To hold the power of ultimate ice and a fire attribute at the same time… wasn't that just courting self-destruction?
What in the world was happening with this human?
Jiang Qingtong closed her eyes, absorbing the origin essence of the Infernal Delicate Apricot . Meanwhile, Jiang Shengyu walked toward the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well. He wasn't worried about Apricot Jiao Shu making a sudden move against Jiang Qingtong—ten ninth-rank defensive soul tools were not for show.
When he approached the well's edge, Infernal Delicate Apricot called out:
"Hey! Be careful. If you fall in, not even your bones will remain!"
Jiang Shengyu ignored her warning. Instead, he communed with Destiny, asking how he could draw out the power of the two Dragon Kings lying beneath the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
Destiny answered: "Simple. Dig out their bones."
Simple…
Jiang Shengyu's mouth twitched. Taking a deep breath, he turned to look at Infernal Delicate Apricot with a smile.
She frowned slightly. "What are you smiling at?"
"Do you know how to dig?" he asked.
"Huh?" Infernal Delicate Apricot blinked, startled.
Pointing at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, Jiang Shengyu said: "Help me dig out the bones of the two Dragon Kings beneath. Once it's done, all of the fire energy in this blazing spring will be yours. I only need their remains."
Infernal Delicate Apricot cried out in shock: "Are you insane!?"
"I'm not joking." Jiang Shengyu shook his head, his expression utterly serious.
Seeing he was not bluffing, Infernal Delicate Apricot scowled and refused flatly: "Impossible! If the Dragon Kings' bones are dug up, the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well will gradually lose its effect! We'll no longer be able to cultivate ten times faster!"
At her shout, the other plant-type soul beasts that had previously hidden themselves emerged once more, all of them staring at Jiang Shengyu with grave expressions.
At first, his conflict with Infernal Delicate Apricot had nothing to do with them. But if the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well were to disappear, it would directly affect them as well. Without it, their cultivation speed would suffer a severe blow!
Looking over the gathered soul beasts, Jiang Shengyu paced slowly back and forth. Suddenly, he stopped in front of one.
"You, senior—will you help me with this task?"
The one before him was Earth Dragon Gourd, a plant-type soul beast of earth attribute. For digging, none could be more suitable.
The squat, rotund Earth Dragon Gourd looked first at Infernal Delicate Apricot, then asked cautiously: "If I help you, what benefit will I gain?"
At that question, Infernal Delicate Apricot face twisted with fury.
"Di Gua (Earth Dragon Golden Gourd)! You dare betray us!?"
Jiang Shengyu cast her a glance. Under that look, Infernal Delicate Apricot immediately shut her mouth and turned her head aside.
To the Earth Dragon Gourd, Jiang Shengyu said: "If you help me dig out the Dragon Kings' remains, I can relocate you to the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Forest. There, you'll never have to worry about the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well losing its effect again."
All the soul beasts froze at his words.
The Earth Dragon Gourd quickly asked: "Are you serious? You can really let me take root at the Lake of Life?"
"Of course."
Jiang Shengyu nodded. But Infernal Delicate Apricot cut in urgently:
"Di Gua, don't believe him! Do you know what the Lake of Life is? It's the domain of countless soul beasts far stronger than us! It's said the strongest of them all, Di Tian, rules there. How could someone like him possibly allow you in?"
"I am not joking."
Jiang Shengyu shook his head. He then produced a jet-black scale—the Reverse Scale of Di Tian.
The moment the scale appeared, a crushing pressure fell upon the gathered soul beasts. Their pupils contracted as they stared at it.
"This is…"
"Di Tian's Reverse Scale!" Jiang Shengyu declared, holding it up for all to see. "I have a cooperative relationship with the soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest."
Sensing the aura of the Reverse Scale, the Earth Dragon Gourd nodded without hesitation: "Good! I'll do it!"
Without wasting another word, he began digging straight down. Infernal Delicate Apricot had no chance to stop him.
Moreover, Jiang Shengyu stood in her way. And though Jiang Qingtong was still busy absorbing her essence and could not act, Infernal Delicate Apricot did not dare to risk provoking whatever hidden trump cards Jiang Shengyu might still have.
Before long, under the Earth Dragon Gourd's digging, the remains of the two Dragon Kings were revealed. At first glance, golden light still flowed clearly along the dragon bones—divine substance belonging to gods themselves, undiminished even after tens of thousands of years.
As their bones emerged, the radiance of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well seemed to dim.
Jiang Shengyu stood before the remains, unmoving.
Infernal Delicate Apricot grew puzzled. "You had Di Gua dig up the Dragon Kings' bones, but now you're just standing there, staring. What are you planning?"
The moment her words fell, a phoenix's cry pierced the heavens. Sacred flames surged skyward, burning away every trace of poisonous mist. Under that overwhelming blaze, even the sun seemed to lose its brilliance!
Amidst the blazing fire, the trace of black miasma from the Evil Fire Phoenix vanished completely. It transformed into a true ultimate fire martial soul—the Fire Phoenix!
The fiery phoenix unfurled its wings, soaring through the valley in majesty. After circling once, it descended onto the Mirror's Flower before Jiang Qingtong. The crystal petals of the lotus reflected new patterns—no longer chaotic, but natural, grand, and awe-inspiring.
Under the blazing light, two purple and two black soul rings rose. And at the end of the sequence, a fifth black ring slowly emerged!
Opening her eyes, Jiang Qingtong rose and walked to Jiang Shengyu's side. To Infernal Delicate Apricot, she said softly:
"He was waiting for me."
"You… you finished absorbing it already?" Infernal Delicate Apricot asked in astonishment. Her expression was full of disbelief.
"That was the essence I had condensed over fifty thousand years!" she cried out.
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