Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's gazes fell upon Infernal Delicate Apricot.
All the other soul beasts turned their eyes toward her as well.
"Jiaojiao, you…" one of the beasts called hesitantly, looking at Infernal Delicate Apricot as though wanting to persuade her—but not daring to speak further.
Jiang Shengyu then continued, "Actually, it's fine if you choose to stay here. At worst, your cultivation speed will just return to normal. You already have a hundred-thousand-year cultivation base—you're strong enough to protect yourself."
Infernal Delicate Apricot was an exceedingly proud beast.
She knew that if she stayed here alone, once the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's power completely faded, her cultivation speed would fall far behind those moving to the Lake of Life.
That was something she absolutely could not accept.
After a fierce internal struggle, she finally let out a long sigh and bowed her proud head.
"I… swear allegiance to you."
Seeing this, Jiang Shengyu smiled. He took out the Reverse Scale and began summoning Di Tian.
A flash of black light split the air, and a spatial rift appeared.
Out stepped Di Tian, looking somewhat dazed. He glanced at Jiang Shengyu and said,
"What is it this time? I'm busy lately. If it's nothing important, don't summon me…"
But then he abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his golden eyes shifting toward Infernal Delicate Apricot and the group of beasts behind Jiang Shengyu.
"A hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beast? And so many of them? This place is… the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Di Tian was well-traveled and quick-witted; it didn't take him long to recognize where they were.
As for Infernal Delicate Apricot and the others, when they saw that Jiang Shengyu had actually summoned Di Tian directly before them, they were utterly shocked.
It seemed the connection between Jiang Shengyu and Di Tian ran far deeper than any of them had imagined.
Even the Earth Dragon Gourd and the others couldn't help but feel relieved at their earlier decision to submit.
After Jiang Shengyu explained the situation, Di Tian pondered for a moment before replying,
"That's acceptable. The Lake of Life is vast enough to accommodate these plant-type beasts. And the Ten Thousand Demon King can instruct them in soul beast cultivation as well."
After all, the Silver Dragon King's command to Di Tian was to unify all soul beasts.
If these plant-type beasts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had sworn allegiance, then it was a step toward fulfilling that mission.
Upon hearing Di Tian's consent, the beasts quickly expressed their gratitude.
From the valley's entrance, a sweet, flowery voice suddenly cried out,
"What about me? Don't forget me! You can't just leave me here alone!"
The group turned to see a huge pink blossom, from which emerged the figure of a young woman in a flowing pink gown—the Fragrant Delicate Immortal. Her eyes glimmered with excitement as she looked at Jiang Shengyu and said,
"I was the one who let you in! If you're leaving, you have to take me with you!"
Before Jiang Shengyu could respond, Di Tian nodded immediately.
"No problem."
With this many hundred-thousand-year plant-type beasts joining them, the strength of the Star Dou Great Forest would rise yet another level.
For these displaced plants who could no longer rely on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the Star Dou Forest was their only sanctuary—and for Di Tian, this could only bring benefits.
Jiang Shengyu entrusted Infernal Delicate Apricot and the rest to Di Tian, leaving him to handle their "relocation paperwork," while he and Jiang Qingtong returned to the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to collect the surrounding immortal herbs.
These immortal herbs had been suppressed by Infernal Delicate Apricot and the others, unable to develop spiritual awareness, yet their medicinal potency was extraordinary—far beyond that of ordinary heavenly treasures.
Now that they were allies, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass enthusiastically introduced each herb's properties to them.
Soon, rare immortal plants like the Beautiful Silk Tulip, the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, the Fiery Chrysanthemum of the Sky, and the Alluring Golden Orchid were all carefully stored away in Jiang Shengyu's soul tool.
The herbs most beneficial for Jiang Qingtong and Jiang Shengyu's current cultivation were placed on top—set aside for absorption at a later time.
Just as they were about to depart, the Aromatic Silk Beauty suddenly exclaimed,
"Oh! I nearly forgot—I should leave a message here. So when that man's descendants come looking for the treasures, they'll know to find us in the Star Dou Forest!"
"'That man's descendants?'" Di Tian's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong.
Meeting his gaze, Jiang Shengyu replied,
"The one who changed heaven and earth ten thousand years ago and ascended to godhood in an instant—the Sea God, Tang San."
Hearing Tang San's name from Jiang Shengyu's lips, Di Tian's expression darkened.
He watched silently as the Aromatic Silk Beauty carved her message into the ground, then waved his hand.
"That's enough. Come with me."
After bidding Di Tian farewell, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong turned back to glance at the valley one last time.
After a brief moment of thought, they activated their Martial Soul Fusion Technique once more—burying the entire valley beneath a surge of earth and energy.
Even the lush fields of the Jade Phosphorus Seven-Petal Flowers outside were reduced to a vast, desolate wasteland of drifting dust.
By the time they returned to Heaven Dou City, it was already the next morning.
When the two entered the Heaven Dou Grand Hotel, Yan Shaozhe—who had been waiting all night—rushed forward immediately.
"Where have you two been?" he demanded, frowning deeply as he looked between Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong.
Jiang Qingtong stepped forward and said calmly,
"My brother and I went to the Sunset Forest."
"The Sunset Forest? What were you doing there?" Yan Shaozhe asked, eyeing her up and down.
"I went there to obtain a new soul ring," Jiang Qingtong replied smoothly. "Yesterday, I realized my soul power had just reached level fifty, so I went with my brother to hunt for my fifth soul ring."
As she spoke, she released her Mirror Flower Martial Soul and her five soul rings.
However, her Spirit Eye Martial Soul's simulation ability masked the truth—her blood-red hundred-thousand-year ring now appeared merely as a ten-thousand-year ring.
Seeing the "ten-thousand-year" fifth ring, Yan Shaozhe's furrowed brow finally eased.
After a sigh of relief, he said,
"Next time you plan to hunt for a soul ring, you should notify us first. Even though the Sunset Forest isn't as dangerous as the Star Dou Forest, there are still plenty of powerful soul beasts there. What if something happened to you?"
Jiang Shengyu replied calmly,
"We had ninth-grade soul tools protecting us. Even a fierce beast couldn't harm us, Dean Yan—you can rest easy."
At those words, Yan Shaozhe blinked, then fell silent.
Indeed—ordinary beasts couldn't touch them. In truth, there was probably no one left at Shrek Academy capable of harming these two—not even himself or Xuanzi.
Perhaps only the late Mu En might have had the strength to restrain a pair so heavily armed with ninth-grade soul tools.
When the others learned that Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong had returned, Jiang Feixin and the others hurried down from upstairs.
Jiang Feixin immediately threw herself into Jiang Qingtong's arms, tears welling in her eyes.
"Qingtong! You scared me to death! How could you not tell me you'd be gone for so long?"
"Easy, easy…"
Jiang Qingtong gently patted her back, soothing her trembling shoulders.
Wang Dong'er and Ling Luochen both turned toward Jiang Shengyu and asked,
"You're okay, right?"
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