Zang Xin naturally knew the agreement between the Tang Sect and these Vicious Beasts better than anyone.
He certainly knew that bringing six people today was a breach of the rules.
The reason Zang Xin agreed to Shrek Academy's request was not just because the youth before him named Huo Yuhao was the Bloodline descendant of the Spirit Ice Douluo from Ten Thousand Years ago.
A deeper reason was that he had sensed something unusual about the Vicious Beasts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Thus, his visit this time was also a "long-premeditated" test; he wanted to find out exactly what changes had occurred here.
Facing the unfriendly gazes cast simultaneously by the six Vicious Beasts, Zang Xin seemed completely oblivious, still maintaining that gentle and elegant smile.
He waved his hand and said in a nonchalant tone, "Everyone, don't be so excited."
"Although I brought six people, whether they can take away an Immortal Herb depends on whether they can gain the herb's recognition."
As his voice fell, the lakeside became quiet for a moment.
Several Vicious Beasts exchanged glances, and their expressions indeed softened a bit.
It sounded as if the Tang Sect was being considerate of them.
But it was precisely this "thoughtfulness" that made the six Vicious Beasts even more wary.
They didn't believe the Vice Hall Master of the Tang Sect would make a special trip just to truly leave the decision to them.
Sure enough, Zang Xin turned slightly and beckoned behind him, "Yuhao, come here for a moment."
Huo Yuhao was slightly startled. He stepped forward and walked to Zang Xin's side.
Zang Xin raised his hand and gently pressed it on Huo Yuhao's shoulder. Then he turned his face and looked at the six Vicious Beasts, saying, "Everyone, I've brought an old acquaintance of yours this time."
At these words, the gazes of the six Vicious Beasts instantly fell upon Huo Yuhao in unison.
According to the agreement between the Tang Sect and these Vicious Beasts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they basically only saw humans come here once every hundred years.
This youth before them looked to be only in his teens. No matter how they calculated, it was impossible for them to have seen this face at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Yet, the moment the six gazes moved from Zang Xin and focused together on Huo Yuhao's face, an indescribable sense of strangeness seized them all at once.
The expressions of several Vicious Beasts changed almost at the same instant; they seemed to have truly seen this youth before.
While everyone was still caught in their own suspicions, a sharp cry of alarm exploded without warning from behind the Purple-clothed Man.
"It's him... it's him! He's back again!"
Everyone's eyes swept toward the source of the voice. The one who had shouted was the woman in red standing to the left behind the Purple-clothed Man.
She was clad in a crimson gown like flames, with a gorgeous appearance and a scorching aura radiating from her body. Clearly, her true form was an immortal plant related to the fire attribute.
But at this moment, there was no longer any of the composure and majesty a Vicious Beast should have on that beautiful face.
Her eyes were wide open, but her pupils had shrunk to tiny dots. Her lips trembled slightly, and her outstretched index finger pointed straight at Huo Yuhao, her fingertip shaking like a withered leaf in the autumn wind.
"It's him," her voice was several pitches higher and sharper than before, carrying a hint of irrepressible fear. "It's Spirit Ice! It's Huo Yuhao!"
These words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding loudly in the air by the lakeside. The six Vicious Beasts pulled back a distance in unison almost in the blink of an eye, their expressions changing drastically.
Zang Xin stood where he was, his expression as calm as ever, thinking to himself, "As expected."
These Vicious Beasts had seen the Spirit Ice Douluo Ten Thousand Years ago. Although Huo Yuhao was only fourteen now, his appearance was already extremely similar to the adult Spirit Ice Douluo from Ten Thousand Years ago, so it was normal for these Vicious Beasts to recognize him.
However, standing beside Zang Xin, Huo Yuhao's brow furrowed slightly instead.
He clearly saw the flash of fear in the eyes of those Vicious Beasts and couldn't help but think to himself, 'Am I really that scary?'
He was only a Spirit Emperor right now!
Huo Yuhao had studied his "own" history and knew that in the historical trajectory, he had been here and should have had interactions with these Vicious Beasts.
But looking at the Vicious Beasts' reactions now, their past experiences might not have been "friendly."
When descendants wrote biographies for their ancestors, they would inevitably use some "subtle historiography" to maintain the ancestor's image.
Those less-than-respectable small matters that might tarnish a glorious image would be glossed over or simply omitted.
Thus, Huo Yuhao naturally couldn't know that the Spirit Ice Douluo from Ten Thousand Years ago had nearly plundered all the Immortal Herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
The Purple-clothed Man leading them was worthy of being the "boss" of the Vicious Beasts; he was the first to calm down.
"He cannot be Spirit Ice," the Purple-clothed Man said in a steady, powerful voice. "Spirit Ice... has long since become a god and ascended to the God Realm."
At these words, the panicked Vicious Beasts seemed to be gently patted awake from a nightmare, calming down one by one.
Zang Xin's lips curled up slightly as he timely took over the conversation, "Correct, he is indeed not the Spirit Ice Douluo who has already become a god. He is also named Huo Yuhao, a descendant of the Spirit Ice Douluo left in the mortal world today."
When these words were spoken, setting aside what the Vicious Beasts thought, Tang Wulin and the others behind him also widened their eyes instantly.
Having been with Huo Yuhao for all these years, they hadn't thought in this direction.
But hearing the Amorous Douluo say this now, they felt it was only natural.
Gu Yue glanced at everyone and sent a voice transmission: "Keep this secret for me!"
Seeing Gu Yue's stern gaze, everyone nodded like chickens pecking at grain, looking as if they would never leak the secret.
Zang Xin didn't give the Vicious Beasts much time to process this and continued, "I hope Yuhao can obtain an Immortal Herb of over a hundred-thousand-years..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted.
"Impossible." The Purple-clothed Man's voice was as cold and hard as a block of ice, leaving no room for negotiation. "According to the rules, before the hundred-year period is up, you cannot take away any Immortal Herb of Ten Thousand Years or older."
He paused, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. When he spoke again, his gaze moved from Zang Xin and fell back onto Huo Yuhao's face.
"Furthermore..." The Purple-clothed Man looked at Huo Yuhao, the complex emotions churning in his eyes almost overflowing. "He is also the descendant of Spirit Ice."
The Spirit Pagoda had no records of what happened at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well back then, but the Tang Sect's secret records did.
Zang Xin had seen those records, so he knew what "good deeds" the Spirit Ice Douluo had done by this lakeside Ten Thousand Years ago.
He knew that ancestor had nearly plucked all the surrounding Immortal Herbs clean, so he naturally understood the resentment these Vicious Beasts felt toward him.
But it was precisely because of this that he pushed Huo Yuhao to the front, intending to provoke these Vicious Beasts.
The gentle smile on Zang Xin's face vanished bit by bit. Standing by the lakeside, his aura was no longer restrained in the slightest, like a sharp blade finally unsheathed.
"This matter," Zang Xin's voice suddenly sank, "I am not negotiating with you!"
The Vicious Beasts' expressions changed again. The Purple-clothed Man's pupils constricted sharply, a purple light flaring in his eyes as his robes fluttered without any wind.
A deep and majestic aura erupted from him, silently clashing with Zang Xin's pressure in the open space between them.
"Amorous Douluo," the Purple-clothed Man's voice was suppressed with anger as he spoke each word deliberately, "Do not go too far!"
Zang Xin stared at him and suddenly laughed.
"Even if I go too far..." he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalant composure, "what can you do about it?"
Without pushing them to this point, how could these Vicious Beasts reveal their trump cards?
He had to find out what these Vicious Beasts had been secretly plotting all these years.
Sure enough, there was no fear on the Purple-clothed Man's face.
He gave a cold snort. "This is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Amorous Douluo, do you think that after all these years... we are unprepared?"
As his voice fell, a layer of rich purple radiance suddenly bloomed around him.
That light was not formed from Spirit Power, but was the Origin Qi condensed by plant life from the essence of heaven and earth.
The purple radiance flowed slowly through the air like smoke and mist, and immediately, a strange fragrance wafted toward them.
It was clear yet not faint, thick yet not overpowering, as if a wisp of the spirit of every exotic flower and herb in the entire valley had been refined and blended into this fragrance.
The moment the fragrance entered their noses, everyone around felt their bodies lighten, an indescribable comfort spreading through their limbs as if every pore had been washed by gentle spring water.
But just then... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well behind the Vicious Beasts suddenly underwent a change.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.