"Sister Xiao Wu, you've really endured a lot."
Bai Mu adjusted his clothing and glanced at Xiao Wu, who lay quietly on the grass, staring blankly at the sky. She looked exhausted, as if all vitality had been drained from her.
"Your physical condition isn't great," he said calmly.
He took a rare medicinal herb from his soul tool and held it up.
"This is an Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid. It will stabilize your foundation and nourish your vital energy. It should help you recover some of your innate potential."
Xiao Wu did not respond. Her eyes were unfocused, her lips pressed tightly together.
Seeing this, Bai Mu sighed softly and helped her take the herb, guiding her through the process with patience.
"Focus on refining it," he said. "Once your condition stabilizes, I'll consider giving you the Qiluo Tulip. If all goes well, it may even allow your martial soul to evolve further."
Xiao Wu remained silent, her expression dull. The medicinal energy slowly seeped into her body, though she showed no outward reaction.
Bai Mu observed her for a moment, then shook his head.
"Recovery takes time," he said. "You'll adjust."
Several days later.
Xiao Wu stood stiffly, holding a cup of tea with both hands, and carefully offered it to Bai Mu. Her movements were mechanical, her expression restrained.
"Good," Bai Mu said, taking the tea. "You're improving."
She said nothing, only lowered her gaze.
Just then, a voice sounded from outside the valley.
"My lord, I've brought the Dragon Serpent couple as instructed."
At Bai Mu's signal, Dugu Bo led Meng Shu, Chao Tianxiang, and their granddaughter Meng Yiran into the valley.
The moment they entered, the two massive serpents coiled near the medicinal field immediately caught their attention—one black, one white, both exuding a terrifying aura.
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang stiffened, old memories clearly resurfacing.
Meng Yiran, however, was focused on Xiao Wu. A trace of complexity flashed through her eyes, but she quickly hid it and stepped forward with a bright smile.
"Greetings, Master."
Bai Mu nodded and waved her closer.
"You're just in time."
Meng Yiran approached confidently and stood beside him. After what she had experienced, she had already come to terms with reality. Resistance was meaningless—strength was everything.
"Master," she said cheerfully, "I heard you have something interesting for me?"
Bai Mu glanced at her, then produced a golden, dragon-patterned fruit from his soul tool.
"This is an Earth Dragon Golden Melon," he explained. "It can enhance dragon-type bloodlines. I want to see what kind of change it brings to your martial soul."
Meng Yiran's eyes lit up.
"May I?"
"Go ahead. Eat it, then refine it properly."
Without hesitation, Meng Yiran consumed the fruit and immediately sat down to cultivate. Golden light surged around her as the medicinal power spread through her body.
An hour later, she opened her eyes.
"Master!" she said excitedly. "My soul power has increased by five levels—I'm now at Rank Thirty-Six!"
She summoned her martial soul.
The Serpent Staff had changed.
Its form was more refined, with the image of a dragon and a serpent intertwined around the staff, radiating a far stronger presence than before.
"My martial soul… evolved?" Meng Yiran whispered in disbelief.
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang were equally stunned.
"It's no longer just a Serpent Staff," Bai Mu said with satisfaction. "From now on, it can be called the Dragon-Serpent Scepter. With time, you may even be able to unleash the Dragon-Serpent Strike on your own."
The three of them were overjoyed.
After the excitement settled, Bai Mu turned to Dugu Bo.
"How is the organization coming along?"
Dugu Bo replied respectfully, "The framework is complete. Loyalty has been tested, though their individual strength is still lacking."
"That's fine," Bai Mu said indifferently. "They only need to handle preliminary tasks. True power lies elsewhere."
He looked toward the distance, his tone calm yet absolute.
"Numbers and fortresses mean nothing. Absolute strength alone decides everything."