Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

The Eight-Cornered Ice Grass said, "But as time goes by, the rate of loss is getting faster and faster. We have tried various methods, and even thought about leaving this land, but our roots have long been integrated with the Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire, and we cannot move an inch."

The delicate petals of the Fiery Apricot drooped slightly: "What terrifies us even more is that as our energy is lost, our intelligence is also gradually becoming blurred. Sometimes we suddenly forget what we said yesterday, sometimes we confuse the past with the present... We have calculated that if this continues, in less than ten years, our intelligence will be completely obliterated, turning us into two immortal herbs that are merely energy without consciousness."

"Finally, even this last bit of energy will be completely absorbed by the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, leaving less than one-tenth of it as a remnant, maintaining its basic form." The voice of the Eight-Cornered Mystic Ice Grass grew softer and softer.

"So even if the senior doesn't come, we won't last more than a few years."

After listening to the descriptions of the two immortal herbs, a look of realization flashed in Su Baichen's eyes.

【I see!】

Su Baichen thought to himself:

[I was wondering why, in the original story, when Dugu Bo discovered the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, the two oldest immortal herbs there lacked sentience. Now I understand why.]

[After all, the second plant developed sentience, while the first one didn't. This makes no sense; logically, the first plant should have lived longer.]

If those two immortal herbs had retained their intelligence and full power at that time, Dugu Bo, with his cultivation level then, probably wouldn't have been a match for them.

A thought suddenly popped into his mind: [What would happen if I helped them take human form?]

He re-examined the two immortal herbs, his gaze filled with scrutiny and contemplation.

"Hey, you two have lived here for so long, you must know every single one of these immortal herbs like the back of your hand, right?" Su Baichen suddenly asked.

The Eight-Cornered Ice Grass quickly replied, "Yes, senior. We have witnessed the growth of the first herb born from the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire. We know exactly which herb is suitable for harvesting at what time, which combination can exert the greatest medicinal effect, and which combination will produce a deadly poison."

Liehuo Xingjiaoshu hurriedly added, "Not only that, we also know the annual energy tide pattern of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye, and we know when the energy is at its peak and when it is most suitable for cultivation."

Su Baichen nodded and said something that the two immortal herbs could hardly believe: "If I help you two transform into human form, would you be willing to stay here and help me take care of this precious land?"

"Wh-what?"

"Help us take human form? How is that possible... We've tried countless times, and failed every time. That power is too strong; we simply can't resist it..."

The eight-cornered ice grass was so shocked that even the ice crystals on its leaves began to fall off in a flurry.

"Anyway, I have a way. All you need to do is answer, are you willing or not?" Su Baichen's tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable confidence.

The Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire fell into a brief silence, with only the sound of the spring water flowing.

Finally, the Eight-Cornered Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot Blossom swayed almost simultaneously, their souls pulsating with excitement and anticipation: "Willing! Of course we're willing! If we can take human form and truly live on, who would want to just vanish silently like this?"

"As long as you can help us escape this fate, we are willing to protect this land forever and take care of every immortal herb, without any second thoughts!"

Chapter 195 Immortal Herb Takes Human Form; Acquiring a Treasure Land!

Seeing that the two immortal herbs agreed, Su Baichen said no more.

With his palms facing upwards, two pills, each the size of a longan and shrouded in a hazy glow, appeared out of thin air.

Transformation Pill!

"This pill can help you transform into human form on the spot."

Su Baichen spoke calmly, flicking his fingertips, and the two pills transformed into two streams of light, flying precisely towards the true forms of the Eight-Cornered Mystic Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot.

The elixir flew close and hovered motionless. The two immortal herbs shimmered with light, and from their crystalline leaves and dazzling stamens rose a blurry shimmering light.

The light and shadow twisted and gradually stretched out the outline of a human figure. Although the facial features were unclear and the limbs were hazy, it already had hands and feet.

Two illusory figures "reached out" and steadily caught the Transformation Pill floating in front of them. Without the slightest hesitation, they incorporated the pill into the core of the light and shadow.

The moment the medicine took effect, a strange change occurred!

Two humanoid phantoms suddenly burst forth with dazzling brilliance, and beams of ice-blue and crimson light shot into the sky, illuminating the entire cave in a dreamlike manner.

Within the beam of light, the outline of the phantom became solid and clear at a speed visible to the naked eye.

However, at this crucial moment of transformation, Su Baichen keenly sensed that two streams of pure primordial energy were quietly extracted from the solidifying blue and red light and shadow respectively. As if drawn by an invisible force, they rapidly seeped into the ground along the nearly transparent energy roots that connected them to their original forms, flowing towards the unfathomable depths of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye.

"Oh?" Su Baichen raised an eyebrow, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

"As expected, those two... were not completely annihilated." He muttered to himself, but did not make a move to stop them.

Although the lost energy was pure, it was only a drop in the ocean for the two immortal herbs' transformation process at this moment, and had no fundamental impact.

The radiance lasted for about ten breaths before gradually receding and dissipating.

When the light faded, the immortal herbs were no longer visible on the spot, only two figures remained solidified, standing tall and imposing.

On the left is a young girl, slender and tall, with long hair that is like ice frozen for thousands of years, presenting a crystal clear ice blue color. The ends of her hair move without wind, and a faint icy mist surrounds her.

She wore a blue dress embroidered with silver trim, and on the lapel, a miniature eight-pointed ice plant was delicately embroidered in a deeper blue silk thread, lifelike in its detail. Her face was aloof, her eyes as blue as an icy lake, her gaze serene.

On the right is a young man, tall and strong, with a full head of red hair like a burning flame, passionate and unrestrained, with a faint light shimmering in his hair.

He was surrounded by a faint aura of warmth, dressed in a sleek crimson outfit. On his chest, a small, delicate, fiery apricot blossom was embroidered in gold and red thread, its petals unfurling as if dancing with flames. His eyes were bright, brimming with the youthful vigor and curiosity, and a natural upward curve played at the corners of his mouth.

The moment their toes touched the ground, they turned to Su Baichen simultaneously, their eyes filled with heartfelt gratitude and respect. They bowed in unison, performing a standard ancient greeting: "Greetings, Master!"

One voice was clear and cold, the other bright and clear, yet both were equally sincere.

The Transformation Pill bestowed upon them by Su Baichen was nothing short of a rebirth, saving their lives.

"Ok!"

Su Baichen accepted the bow without hesitation and said calmly, "From now on, the two of you will stay by my side and serve as my attendants."

His gaze swept over the two of them, and he pondered for a moment.

"The eight-cornered ice grass is called 'Condensed Ice'. The fiery apricot blossom is named 'Mysterious Fire'."

"Thank you for bestowing names upon us, sir!" The girl with ice-blue hair and the boy with red hair bowed again in unison, expressing their gratitude. Ningbing's expression became even more respectful, while Xuanhuo showed obvious joy.

"Hmm." Su Baichen nodded slightly, then asked, "After transforming into human form, what are your current cultivation levels?"

Ningbing sensed herself slightly and replied in a clear, cold voice, "Reporting to Master, we are both newly born into human form, and our soul power is empty. At present, we can only exert the strength of a Soul Venerable."

“However, our foundation is ultimately that of a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast. As long as we cultivate step by step for a period of time, it should not be difficult to replenish our depleted soul power and return to the Title Douluo realm.” Xuan Huo nodded in agreement from the side.

Su Baichen understood.

Their current weakness is likely due not only to the enormous energy consumed during the transformation process, but also to the energy that flowed to the bottom of the Yin-Yang Well earlier.

"It's alright, come with me." Su Baichen didn't ask any more questions. With a flick of his sleeve, a gentle force lifted up Ningbing and Xuanhuo. The three of them flew up together and hovered directly above the strange spring eye of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye, which was interwoven with red and blue and shrouded in mist.

"Master, what are you going to do?" Xuan Huo, being a lively person, couldn't help but ask curiously, looking at the familiar homeland below with some doubt in his eyes.

"Little Huo! The master has his own reasons for doing things, how dare you ask so many questions?" Upon hearing this, Ningbing immediately turned her head and glared at her younger brother, her tone reproachful.

"Oh..." Xuanhuo shrank his neck, seemingly a little afraid of his sister, and shut his mouth awkwardly.

"It's alright."

Su Baichen smiled, not minding Xuanhuo's straightforwardness. He turned his gaze to the strange scene below and announced in a calm tone, "This time, we will take away this Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire."

"What?!" Ningbing and Xuanhuo exclaimed simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief and shock.

Take away the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire? This... how is this possible?

Before they could recover from their shock, what happened next was etched into their memories forever.

Su Baichen simply raised his hand and gestured, and a bead the size of a longan, indistinct and seemingly containing endless void and starlight, appeared out of thin air in front of him. The moment the bead appeared, the surrounding light seemed to distort slightly.

Immediately afterwards, the bead trembled slightly, emitting a soft light that was not dazzling but contained indescribable spatial fluctuations, instantly enveloping the entire Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye area below.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no earth-shaking tremors.

Under that light, the vast spring, which contained the ultimate ice and fire energy, along with the surrounding land, rocks, and even the unique geographical energy veins that nurtured countless precious herbs, disappeared without a trace in an instant, as if gently "picked up" by an invisible giant hand or as if a scroll had been quietly unfurled!

Where it was, only a huge, empty pit with smooth, neat edges and a depth of a thousand meters remained.

The original misty spiritual energy, biting cold, and scorching heat all dissipated, leaving only the exposed, newly turned earth and rocks to tell the incredible story that had just happened.

"This! This! This..." Xuan Huo stared in disbelief, pointing at the giant pit below, his fingers trembling slightly, his heart pounding.

The scene before him, which defied common sense and subverted his understanding, shattered his newly formed worldview.

[Master...you truly possess extraordinary abilities, having acquired such a rare and precious treasure!]

Compared to her brother's shock and speechlessness, Ningbing, though also experiencing a huge uproar in her heart, calmed down more quickly, and a hint of understanding flashed in her icy blue eyes.

She instantly deduced that the mysterious bead must be an unparalleled treasure containing a vast inner space.

The Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire is probably already safely placed within that treasure space. Thinking of this, her reverence for Su Baichen deepened even further.

"We have achieved our goal and should leave now," Su Baichen said calmly, as if he had just done something insignificant.

He glanced at Ningbing and Xuanhuo, who were still in shock and had not fully recovered, and said, "You two should go in for now."

Without waiting for their response, he moved his mind, and the Heavenly Profound Pearl in front of him flashed with a faint light. Ningbing and Xuanhuo felt an irresistible suction force coming towards them, and the scene before their eyes changed in an instant. They were drawn into the space inside the Heavenly Profound Pearl.

After taking the two into the inner world of the pearl, Su Baichen glanced once more at the deep pit below, his expression indifferent. With a flicker of his body, he vanished like a gentle breeze, leaving no trace.

Chapter 196 Awakening the Martial Soul!

Time slipped away unnoticed, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for Bai Yue'er to awaken her martial spirit.

Before the morning light had completely dispelled the morning mist, she was already standing in front of the ancient and heavy gate of the Martial Soul Awakening Hall.

Looking up at this building that symbolized a turning point in her life, the girl's heart began to race.

A slight sweat broke out on his palms, and countless thoughts flashed uncontrollably through his mind—what if... what if he failed to awaken the sword spirit he had been dreaming of?

What if one's innate soul power is zero, and one becomes a mediocre talent in the eyes of others?

These thoughts entwined her heart like vines, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. Her master, Su Baichen, had poured so much effort into her during this time.

During the day, he was there, meticulously teaching her sword techniques under the scorching sun; at night, she was enveloped in a foundation-building elixir that emitted a faint glow, nourishing her bones and expanding her meridians; even her daily meals were delicacies she had only ever dreamed of before.

All of this was for this moment. She absolutely could not let down this heavy expectation!

Just as fear was about to devour her courage, a warm, large hand gently landed on her head, bringing a reassuring strength.

"Don't be afraid," Su Baichen's voice was gentle and warm.

"Believe in yourself, Moon, you can do it."

The warmth of the master's palm felt like a gentle current, instantly dispelling the gloom that had been lingering in my heart.

Bai Yue'er took a deep breath, clenched her fists tightly, and buried her unease deep inside. She raised her head, a resolute flame rekindling in her eyes, and nodded solemnly: "Yes!"

Then, she took a step forward and resolutely stepped through the door that opened her destiny.