However, the soul beasts in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well are all medicinal herbs, so it might be more appropriate to describe it as a medicinal garden.
The vehicle stopped, and Huo Yuhao and the others got out one by one.
"Amorous Douluo."
Only then did Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng realize that the driver of one of the vehicles was the Amorous Douluo, and they hurriedly saluted.
Huo Yuhao also told Xu Xiaoyan and the others about the identity of the Amorous Douluo, which made them secretly gasp in amazement.
They had really seen a lot of big shots today.
"At ease."
The Amorous Douluo reminded, "Follow me closely later, and don't make any mistakes. This place is full of highly toxic plants, and if you get poisoned, it will be troublesome. Muzi, Yinmeng, you two stay behind the city wall to rest."
After saying that, he took the lead and walked towards the wall.
The others followed closely behind.
With the Amorous Douluo leading the way, they naturally passed through without any hindrance, and the three-word Douluo masters in charge of guarding directly let them in.
After passing through the wall, they could see a valley right in front of them, and the path from the wall to the valley was filled with colorful mist.
Xie Xie was still curious about the function of this mist when he saw the soul power barrier deployed by the Amorous Douluo being corroded, and he immediately gasped in shock.
This was a Limit Douluo, and even his soul power barrier was being corroded. Could ordinary people really survive if they entered this place?
"This is the Seven-Colored Poisonous Miasma, one of the most dangerous toxins in the world. No matter what substance it is, it will be corroded. Only those at the level of a Super Douluo or above can resist it."
After explaining, the Amorous Douluo saw that several powerhouses had already deployed barriers to protect the younger generation, so he didn't say more and led the way.
The poisonous mist gradually thinned, and after walking dozens of steps, the view suddenly opened up, a hidden valley surrounded by mountains, like a paradise, unfolded before everyone's eyes.
When their vision fully adjusted, many were so shocked by the sight before them that they held their breath.
The most striking feature was the magical lake in the center of the valley. The lake water presented a clear dual-color spectacle: one half was as blue and clear as polar ice, while the other half was as red and hot as molten lava.
The two colors form a straight dividing line at the junction, blending yet not encroaching on each other, as if maintained in perfect balance by some mysterious force.
"This is... the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye..."
Ye Xinglan murmured softly.
Around the lake shore grew millions of strange plants that they had never heard of before. Some were as clear as crystal, some had flames dancing on their petals, and some vines twined with starlight-like spots.
The air was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance, and every breath made people feel refreshed. But amidst this intoxicating fragrance, there was also a faint hint of danger, reminding the visitors that this was both a treasure land and a perilous place.
And just as they appear in this place, several powerful spiritual forces immediately probed from below.
But upon discovering the lineup here, those spiritual forces quickly retracted, as if afraid of provoking their anger.
The Amorous Douluo could probably guess the shock and anger of the beings in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye and smiled wryly, leading the group down into the valley.
The dense vegetation parted like a tide, revealing a circular clearing devoid of any grass, just enough for them to land.
When they truly stood at the bottom of the valley, the sight before they made everyone hold their breath, this was a plant kingdom magnified several times.
The flowers, plants, and trees that were usually common here had all expanded into behemoths, their colors so vibrant as if the Creator's palette had been overturned.
And among the many strange flowers and plants, seven gradually took on human forms.
One of them was clad in a purple robe, his clothes fluttering, exuding an ancient aura. His face was extraordinarily handsome, his figure tall and straight, as if he had stepped out of an ancient painting.
Beside him, a woman in white walks gracefully, her appearance pure and beautiful. Five others walked towards them with them, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
Seeing the seven strongest immortal grass soul beasts of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, the Amorous Douluo's eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward.
"How have you all been recently?"
The man in purple, the Aromatic Silk Beauty looked at him but did not respond to his greeting. Instead, he frowned and said, "What is the meaning of this? The next opening of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye is still decades away, why have you brought people here now?"
A 98th-level Super Douluo, three Limit powerhouses... were they planning to take the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye with them?
He was furious, but he didn't dare show a trace of resentment, with such a lineup before him, even releasing the two Dragon Lords would be meaningless.
They were not ignorant beasts, as occasionally some immortal grasses that had become soul spirits would return and chat with them, so they knew something about the outside world.
The continent was now filled with powerful beings, and their trump card, the two Dragon Lords, could no longer protect them.
The two Dragon Lords were only demigods, and even combined, they might not be a match for the Sky Lifting Douluo alone. So they had long suppressed some of their thoughts, but was it too much for the Tang Sect to directly bring powerhouses to demand?
The Amorous Douluo coughed slightly, "This is an agreement between Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda. You all need not mind us, just let the immortal grasses here act according to their own will. If they agree to form contracts with these children, we will take them away, but we will not force them."
Upon hearing this, the immortal grasses immediately understood his meaning.
So that's how it was. Shrek Academy had caused trouble outside and pushed it onto the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye... Forget it, as long as they weren't forcibly taking them.
After glancing at Snow Empress and them, and then at Huo Yuhao and the others, the girl in white, the Star Anise pouted.
"Xiangxiang, agree to it, they're just a group of kids."
The Aromatic Silk Beauty remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded, "Let them in, but please, you all step back. With you here, my companions will feel very uncomfortable."
Although under their suppression, not many immortal grasses in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye have developed high intelligence, those ten-thousand-year immortal grasses still possess the intelligence of ten-thousand-year soul beasts. With four powerhouses staring at them, how can they say it's up to the immortal grasses' will?
With such a lineup, it looks like they're here to forcibly take them. The Aromatic Silk Beauty really doesn't want these people to stay here.
The Amorous Douluo's eyes lit up, silently praising the Aromatic Silk Beauty for his assistance.
"Three Tower Lords, our presence here does indeed have a significant impact. How about we move away?"
He was truly worried that if these three saw their juniors not being chosen by the immortal grasses, they might get angry and start a fight. Even if the Sky Lifting Douluo arrived in time, a fierce battle would be unavoidable.
Hearing this, Xiong Jun immediately frowned and looked at the Amorous Douluo, "If we leave, won't these guys give our juniors a hard time?"
"Of course not." The Aromatic Silk Beauty took a deep breath, "Our cultivation is far inferior to yours, how would we dare to cause trouble?"
"But if that's the case, wouldn't we have come here for nothing?"
Xiong Jun looked unwilling to leave, "Later, we still need to send the kids out. It's better to stay here! And I just don't trust you guys."
The Amorous Douluo and the Aromatic Silk Beauty were momentarily speechless.
At this moment, Snow Empress and Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance and spoke up at the right moment, "I can use spatial power to envelop this place and place the exit outside the illusion. Those who want to leave can go out through the spatial passage. If anything happens, we can return immediately. Amorous Douluo, what do you think?"
Hearing this, the Amorous Douluo's eyes flashed with doubt, but before he could answer, the Aromatic Silk Beauty nodded and said:
"That would be great! With the Tower Lord's spatial power, you can descend at any time, and we naturally wouldn't dare to act rashly."
Xiong Jun snorted in dissatisfaction, "Alright then."
Snow Empress didn't say more. With a light tap of her finger, an ice-blue halo spread from her palm, instantly enveloping the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye. The space slightly distorted, and a phantom portal appears beside them, leading to the outside.
"Huo Yuhao has a method I leave on him to contact me. If anything happens, we can arrive in an instant."
Snow Empress changed at the Aromatic Silk Beauty indifferently. Her tone was calm, but there was a hidden warning.
The Aromatic Silk Beauty smiled bitterly and nodded, not daring to say more.
Seeing this, the Amorous Douluo didn't think further and cupped his hands, "In that case, we'll trouble you, seniors."
Snow Empress, Xiong Jun, and the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo exchanged glances, their figures gradually fading and disappearing from the spot.
After that, the Amorous Douluo also turned and stepped into the spatial passage, leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.
Although the spatial power set by Snow Empress made him somewhat doubtful, those immortal grasses were not pushovers. If something happened, there would definitely be signs, so he didn't need to worry too much.
After the four powerhouses left, the oppressive atmosphere in the valley slightly eased. The Aromatic Silk Beauty let out a long breath and looked at Huo Yuhao and the others with a complicated gaze.
"Alright, now you can start choosing. Remember, the immortal grasses choose their masters; it cannot be forced."
"Uh—"
Le Zhengyu scratched his head, "Senior, even if you say that, we don't know which immortal grass suits us..."
Halfway through his sentence, he stopped and looked at one of the seven immortal grasses, a woman in red with a stunning appearance and a fiery aura.
It was the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
Le Zhengyu's eyes lit up, "I wonder if this senior would be willing to form a contract with me? My martial soul is the Sacred Angel, and light and fire are naturally compatible forces. If you become my soul spirit, my Sacred Flame will definitely break through its shackles and reach an unprecedented level."
The Infernal Delicate Apricot was stunned for a moment, then snorted coldly, "I have already passed the second heavenly tribulation and am a two-hundred-thousand-year soul beast. I can still live for ten thousand years. Why should I become your soul spirit?"
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao looked at the Infernal Delicate Apricot thoughtfully.
In this era, the Infernal Delicate Apricot was originally only a hundred thousand years old, right? Now it's a two-hundred-thousand-year soul beast... Is this the butterfly effect?
After all, he didn't harm her.
The special environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye allows immortal grasses to grow ten times faster. The Flaming Apricot was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast ten thousand years ago.
As long as she grew step by step and passed the second heavenly tribulation, it was only natural for her to become a soul beast.
But according to the original plot, ten thousand years ago, she would have had much of her essence taken away by the original body, severely damaging her cultivation and making it impossible for her to pass the second heavenly tribulation.
Now, this was clearly not the case. Shrek Academy's method of using immortal grasses was to turn them into soul spirits, and these immortal grasses were certainly unwilling to give away their essence, allowing the Flaming Apricot to become a true soul beast.
And it's worth noting that ten thousand years ago, many immortal grasses had their essence away, including the y and the Octagonal Ice Grass, which needed to regrow after being used. Since these things didn't happen, the age of the immortal grasses here...
Huo Yuhao looked at the bodies of these immortal grasses in the distance—
Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, two hundred thousand years. (Originally one hundred ten thousand years.)
Aromatic Silk Beauty, two hundred thousand years.
Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, one hundred ninety thousand years.
Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, one hundred ninety thousand years. (Originally one hundred ten thousand years.)
Earth Dragon Golden Melon, one hundred ninety thousand years.
Black Jade Divine Bamboo, one hundred sixty thousand years.
Huo Yuhao: "…"
After roughly judging their ages based on their aura and appearance, Huo Yuhao fell into deep thought for a moment.
A small change results in three true soul beasts. The Octagonal Ice Grass and the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, originally at the bottom in terms of cultivation, are now at the top. It's... well, it's nothing to be surprised about. I've gotten used to it. This world has changed too much. The facts are right in front of me, so I just need to accept them.
'The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot are relatively strong in combat among the immortal grasses due to their attributes, plus the Aromatic Silk Beauty, which can absorb the essence of the sun and moon... It's not too far-fetched for them to pass the second heavenly tribulation. But the other immortal grasses clearly can't.'
Huo Yuhao glanced at the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.
Although the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye has a growth buff of one year equals ten, the immortal grasses here ultimately lack the accumulation of time.
Plus, plant soul beasts are more fragile than animal soul beasts, so few can pass the first heavenly tribulation, and even fewer are confident in passing the second.
The Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew must have deliberately suppressed its cultivation, afraid to face the second heavenly tribulation, otherwise it wouldn't be stuck at one hundred ninety thousand years...
After roughly analyzing the situation of the six top immortal grasses, Huo Yuhao turned his gaze to the one he was most concerned about,the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
Wasn't she a Douluo 2-exclusive NPC? In this era, her function and name seem to have been taken over by the Aromatic Silk Beauty, right? Why is she still here?
Did the updated version not clean up this remnant of the old era?
Suddenly, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum felt a chill down her spine and subconsciously looked around at the ten people, but found nothing unusual, so she frowned slightly.
What's going on? Is her second heavenly tribulation coming? It shouldn't be this soon, right?
"Besides us, there are more than a dozen ten-thousand-year immortal grasses here. Although we've suppressed their intelligence, preventing them from developing high-level intelligence, they still possess the intelligence of ten-thousand-year soul beasts. You can try to see if you can gain their recognition."
On the other side, seeing that Le Zhengyu still wanted to ask the Infernal Delicate Apricot, the Aromatic Silk Beauty pointed out a clear path in their eyes, but a dead end in his.
With their current cultivation, the chances of these kids gaining the recognition of a ten-thousand-year soul beast are too low, except...
The Aromatic Silk Beauty narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.
These two are unusual; he actually couldn't see through them.