Chapter 30: Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, ink jade divine bamboo
"Immortal Herb!" Yue Guan's expression was agitated, his voice so shrill it nearly cracked, "To think there are so many Immortal Herbs!"
He scanned the entire sea of flowers with a famished look.
Suddenly, his gaze was firmly drawn to one specific Immortal Herb.
It was a purple chrysanthemum with furry petals; the stamen in the center rose over half a foot tall, shimmering with a faint golden luster.
Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!!
Yue Guan's pupils constricted abruptly, and his breathing stalled for an instant.
He was like a parched man who had suddenly encountered a sweet spring, subconsciously wanting to lunge forward.
However, Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly raised his hand, his five fingers gripping Yue Guan's shoulder like iron tongs, pinning him firmly in place.
Yue Guan realized he had lost his composure and steadied himself, yet his gaze remained unable to look away.
"Bishop Yue Guan, what is an Immortal Herb? Why are you so excited?" Demon-Subduing Douluo asked, puzzled.
He frowned slightly, muttering to himself, "Aren't these just some pretty flowers and plants? Why get so worked up over them?"
Yue Guan took a deep breath, struggling to calm his agitated mood.
"Elder, you may not know this, but a single Immortal Herb is enough to propel a person of mediocre talent into becoming a genius. If it falls into the hands of a suitable Soul Master, it can even help their Martial Soul evolve."
Demon-Subduing Douluo's pupils constricted; only then did he realize what those flowers and plants truly signified.
He turned his head sharply, looking back at the sea of flowers, his gaze now filled with a hint of gravity and shock.
No wonder Golden Crocodile Douluo was so anxious to send word back to Spirit Hall and requested that powerful experts be stationed here.
If such a treasure land were known to outsiders, the entire continent would likely go crazy over it.
Just then, two figures walked over from the distance.
They were none other than Su Mo and Bibi Dong.
They had been concentrating on their cultivation but were interrupted by Yue Guan's shrill exclamation.
"Elder Gold Crocodile, Elder Jiang Mo." Su Mo was the first to cup his hands in greeting, his attitude composed.
Bibi Dong also bowed slightly, performing a simple salute.
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly, and Demon-Subduing Douluo returned the gesture with a nod.
Su Mo then looked at Yue Guan, a smile playing on his lips: "Bishop Yue Guan, do you still remember this young one?"
Yue Guan gazed at the youth before him, his heart stirring slightly.
Two years had passed; Su Mo had grown much taller than before, his features having changed from childish to sharp and defined, with a sense of composure added between his brows.
Yet, he recognized him at a glance; this was the boy who had held the Pope's Edict and borrowed his herb encyclopedia back then.
"Of course I remember, your subordinate does."
Yue Guan pondered to himself, "Two years unseen, and this child's temperament has changed drastically. Standing before Elder Gold Crocodile and Elder Jiang Mo, he shows not a shred of apprehension, but rather, he is calm and collected."
Besides, why is he here?
Information regarding Su Mo and Bibi Dong was currently known only to those at the Elder level and a select few Soul Masters who had accompanied them during training.
Su Mo smiled and said: "Bishop Yue Guan, since you recognize the Immortal Herb, you naturally understand the importance of this place. The reason I had my teacher send you here is for you to be responsible for managing this location."
Teacher? Yue Guan's heart skipped a beat, his pupils shrinking.
He is actually a disciple of His Holiness the Pope!
No wonder he was able to hold the Pope's Edict back then.
Yue Guan's mind suddenly cleared, and at the same time, a sense of awe grew within him.
To be accepted as a disciple by His Holiness the Pope, this person's future prospects were limitless.
"Yes, Yue Guan will definitely live up to the trust!" Yue Guan said excitedly.
He hadn't expected that this mission assigned by His Holiness the Pope would turn out to be such a great opportunity!
For someone like him who loved flowers, this place was a peerless treasure trove.
Even if he didn't have the chance to be gifted an Immortal Herb, just being able to see them with his own eyes, especially that Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, would make his life without regrets.
Su Mo turned to look at Golden Crocodile Douluo: "Grandpa Gold Crocodile, can I make the decisions regarding the remaining Immortal Herbs?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly: "Of course you can. Without you, this place would never have been discovered."
Su Mo was someone the High Priest valued; not to mention that these Immortal Herbs were discovered because of Su Mo in the first place, even if they weren't, given his status and potential, he was fully qualified to decide their distribution.
Su Mo nodded and looked back at Yue Guan.
"Bishop Yue Guan, the reason I am able to recognize these Immortal Herbs is largely thanks to that herb encyclopedia you lent me back then."
"If not for that book, even if I had stumbled upon this place, I would have only treated these things as ordinary flowers and plants, missing out on them in vain."
He paused, his gaze falling upon the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, his lips curling slightly upward:
"There is a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum here. Looking across the entire Spirit Hall, no one is more suitable for it than you. Therefore, that Immortal Herb is yours."
Yue Guan shuddered, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"This... this..."
His lips trembled violently, his throat felt as if it were blocked by something, and for a long while, he couldn't speak a word.
The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was the supreme treasure he had dreamed of!
He had originally thought that being able to see it with his own eyes in this place was already immense good fortune, never having expected...
"Your Highness..." Yue Guan's voice trembled, "Your subordinate... how could your subordinate deserve this..."
"Bishop Yue Guan, there is no need to decline." Su Mo interrupted him.
Yue Guan took a deep breath, suddenly knelt on one knee, and said respectfully:
"Thank you for your gift, Your Highness. From this day forward, Yue Guan shall dedicate himself to your service until death, never failing to live up to your kindness today!"
Su Mo reached out to help him up: "Bishop Yue Guan, there is no need to be so polite. This place contains not only Immortal Herbs but also many other rare medicinal materials. In the future, I will need you to manage this place with care; this is what you deserve."
Yue Guan nodded vigorously: "Yes, this subordinate will definitely manage this place with all his heart!"
Su Mo smiled slightly and turned his head to look at Demon-Subduing Douluo standing to the side.
Demon-Subduing Douluo was standing quietly to the side, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the sea of Immortal Herbs, his eyes faintly carrying a hint of expectation.
He had known Su Mo for a long time, though they hadn't interacted much. Seeing Su Mo look over now, his expectation grew a few degrees stronger.
Could it be... he has one for me too?
"Elder Jiang Mo." Su Mo raised his hand and pointed into the distance, where there were two dark green Immortal Herbs shaped like bamboo shoots, their entire bodies as warm and moist as ink jade divine bamboo:
"Those are ink jade divine bamboos. There are exactly two of them; one for you and one for Elder Qian Jun. They should be able to lend you a helping hand in breaking through that final bottleneck."
Demon-Subduing Douluo looked in the direction of his finger, his pupils shrinking slightly.
He and his brother both get one?
His heart jumped violently; he and his brother had been trapped at the peak of level 95 for many years.
If this ink jade divine bamboo could truly help them break through the bottleneck, wouldn't that mean they were about to step into the ranks of the Worship Elders?
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the agitation in his heart: "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Elder Jiang Mo, no need for formalities, I will go pick it for you."
Su Mo walked to the ink jade divine bamboos, bent down to pick one, handed it to Demon-Subduing Douluo, and carefully explained the method of consumption and precautions.
Demon-Subduing Douluo took it with both hands, found a quiet spot, sat cross-legged, and began to refine it.
Su Mo watched him leave, then turned his head to look at Yue Guan.
"Bishop Yue Guan, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is entrusted to you; go ahead."
Yue Guan shuddered: "Yes, Your Highness!"
He turned and rushed toward the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, his footsteps eager but slowing down abruptly as he approached, as if afraid of disturbing some sacred object.
He slowly crouched down before the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, his hands hovering in mid-air, trembling slightly.
He took a deep breath, cautiously reached out, and picked it with extreme gentleness.
Immediately, he cradled the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his palms, lowered his head to gaze at it, and gently brushed across those furry petals, his movements so tender it was as if he were caressing the most precious treasure in the world.
"Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum..." he murmured, "I have finally... finally obtained you..."