"Hualong Grass!"
"What is this?"
"Little one, do you know the names and effects of the medicinal herbs in that spring water?"
Dugu Bo's heart surged. For an existence like him, ordinary things could hardly make him lose composure, but the pursuit of medicinal herbs was something he had pursued his entire life.
Now, Wang Zhong could actually name herbs he didn't even know. How could this not excite him?
"Senior, just look at Sister Yan's transformation. Hualong Grass, if it can't make one transform into a dragon, then it doesn't deserve the name Hualong!"
Wang Zhong ignored Dugu Bo's question, his gaze fixed on the emerald-scaled snake, which had twisted its body and grown several times thicker, with a smile on his face.
The massive snake body rolled incessantly, but its head remained held high, its snake eyes filled with the joy of an impending "dragon" transformation.
"Roar!"
The original hissing turned into a beastly roar.
Under Dugu Bo's disbelieving gaze, a bulge, larger than an adult's head, suddenly swelled from the center of the emerald-scaled snake's thick body.
Heartbeats, like drumbeats, emanated from within. Accompanied by a tearing sound, the giant bulge burst open, and a terrifying snake head shot out.
Its ferocious appearance, chilling venomous fangs, and bloodthirsty eyes were identical to the other snake head.
"Two-headed Emerald-Scaled Snake!"
Dugu Bo's voice trembled. Among spirit beasts, it was very rare for snakes to mutate and grow two heads, but it wasn't unheard of.
Those snakes that mutated and grew two heads were all supreme among snakes, surpassing their original bloodlines and breaking their own limits. Their combat power was utterly immeasurable by age.
A hundred years fighting a thousand, a thousand years fighting ten thousand – things that were extremely difficult for ordinary spirit beasts were simply effortless for these mutated ones!
But the transformation was far from over. Beside the bulge that had birthed the snake head, another massive one began to grow and enlarge, and a third snake head emerged.
"Three-headed Emerald-Scaled Snake!"
Dugu Bo's green eyes were now filled with trembling and excitement.
In nature, although there was no saying that the more heads a snake had, the stronger it was, for a spirit master, as long as the mutation of their spirit martial did not develop in a weakening direction, all mutations would make the spirit master's talent and potential stronger!
The emergence of the three-headed emerald-scaled snake was enough to allow Dugu Yan to display a power far beyond what she had possessed before.
Dugu Bo's excitement had not yet ended. The fourth and fifth bulges appeared successively on the sides of the three heads. After a few breaths, two more heads emerged.
However, even the appearance of the five-headed emerald-scaled snake did not stop the mutation. The sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth heads emerged one after another.
The nine heads stood behind Dugu Yan like an opened screen. Their scarlet, chilling snake eyes, ferocious and terrifying snake heads, constantly flicking pink forked tongues, and the ancient, fierce aura emanating from the spirit martial all proclaimed their power.
"Nine-headed Emerald-Scaled Snake!"
His voice trembled, filled with unconcealable shock and elation. Dugu Bo looked at the powerful nine-headed emerald-scaled snake. Even someone as powerful as him felt a pressure emanating from the depths of his soul.
"Nine-headed Emerald-Scaled Snake? Senior, you must be mistaken!"
"Don't you see the crown-like protrusions on those snake heads!"
"This is the Nine-headed Emerald-Scaled Snake Emperor! In ancient times, a fearsome beast that could contend with dragons and phoenixes."
Wang Zhong disdained Dugu Bo's eyesight. You yourself could cultivate to the level of the Emerald-Scaled Snake Emperor. How could Dugu Yan, who had consumed the Jade Dragon Tongue Orchid, still maintain the weak form of an emerald-scaled snake?
It was this title that made Dugu Bo notice the crown-like protrusions on the emerald-scaled snake, symbols of status identical to his own Emerald-Scaled Snake Emperor spirit martial.
The nine heads roared towards the sky, the sound from each head shaking the heavens and the earth. Even with the poison array isolating them, the countless spirit beasts outside the Sunset Forest felt a terror and trembling from the depths of their bloodlines.
This was a peerless ferocious beast that had reappeared in the world. Its arrival announced to all spirit beasts the birth of a king.
In the deepest, darkest corner underground, six giant compound eyes lit up. Its legs were long and sharp, its form terrifying – a ten-thousand-year-old Cave Earth Demonic Spider. Yet, at this moment, its six compound eyes were filled with terror and panic.
In the forest, swarms of spirit beasts, resembling scorpions but with flower-like heads, their entire clan boiled like water.
In terror and panic, they madly attacked their companions. It was only when two angry roars were heard, and two large scorpions, one entirely pink and the other fiery red, appeared, that the chaos within the clan finally ceased.
In the forest, a Ghost Tiger, which was devouring its prey, lowered its body, growled incessantly towards the direction of the poison array, as if trying its best to maintain its dignity as king, but its eyes still held deep fear.
It wasn't just them; countless other powerful existences living in the Sunset Forest, whatever they were doing, all turned their gaze in one direction at this moment.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Under the watchful eyes of Wang Zhong and Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan's aura gradually calmed. Finally, she slowly opened her eyes. Her green eyes became even brighter, like a gem washed by water.
Brilliant and dazzling.
She extended her hands and stared blankly for two seconds. Feeling the strength of the spirit power within her, Dugu Yan suddenly jumped up. Her small face was filled with excitement. She leaped into Wang Zhong's arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and shouted excitedly.
"Zhong, do you feel it? My strength has increased by a full six levels! I'm now a Level 20 Great Spirit Master."
Such a rapid increase in strength made Dugu Yan too excited to contain herself.
Wang Zhong gently embraced Dugu Yan with both hands and replied with a smile, "Yes, I feel it."
"But I think your strength has increased by more than just six levels. It's just that you don't have a spirit ring, so the excess spirit power has settled down. If you obtain your second spirit ring, your spirit power will definitely increase again."
"Really!" Dugu Yan's eyes sparkled. She never expected a mere orchid could boost her strength to such a level. It was so much easier than her head-down training.
"Zhong, do you still have that medicinal herb? If I get my second spirit ring and eat another one, I'll catch up to you soon."
Her excited tone was filled with longing.
"Yan Yan, too much of a good thing can be bad. All medicinal herbs in this world have a limit. The strength you've gained to this point by eating that Jade Dragon Tongue Orchid is already the limit."
"Even if you eat more, it won't have much effect."
Dugu Bo was more rational about his granddaughter's fanciful notions.
He had watched Dugu Yan's transformation the entire time. Although her strength increased rapidly, her foundation was not damaged; instead, it became more solid, which was the effect of the immortal herb.
But even immortal herbs were a form of medicine. As long as it was medicine, it had a limit. Exceeding this limit would turn the medicine into poison and harm the body.
With Dugu Yan's Emerald-Scaled Snake spirit martial evolving to the Nine-headed Emerald-Scaled Snake Emperor, her potential was no weaker than his own Dugu Bo. Her future achievements would undoubtedly surpass his. She must not harm her foundation for temporary greed, otherwise, her bright future would be completely ruined.
Wang Zhong nodded in agreement with Dugu Bo's words, meeting Dugu Yan's expectant gaze.
"Sister Yan, your grandfather is right. Although the Jade Dragon Tongue Orchid is an immortal-grade medicinal herb, it can only be eaten once! Even if you eat it again in the future, it will have no effect."
"Oh." Her small face pouted slightly in disappointment, and Dugu Yan's overwhelming joy subsided. She had thought she would be able to catch up to Wang Zhong soon. This way, she might be able to cultivate with him and not have to go to school.
Now it seemed that wouldn't be the case.