Chapter 20: The Worship Elders' Martial Souls Evolve, Ice-Fire Body Tempering

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After Qian Xunji distributed the respective pills to the Three Great Worship Elders, Ling Yuan, and Dugu Bo...

Each of them quickly found a spot around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, sat cross-legged, and swallowed the pills in their hands.

In an instant, powerful waves of soul power surged outward.

Brilliant golden, red, and green lights burst forth from the bodies of the Three Worship Elders, Ling Yuan, and Dugu Bo.

Under the dazzling radiance...

Their Martial Souls—Golden Crocodile King, Azure Luan, Blazing Flame Lion, Flame Kite, and Jade Phosphor Serpent King—emerged behind them one after another.

In the air, they turned into massive illusory projections, letting out roars, bird cries, and serpent hisses.

And under the medicinal baptism of the pills they had taken...

Their cultivation was steadily rising, while their Martial Souls began to transform.

Behind Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul gradually grew larger. The large, hard scales on its body began to change into dark-golden dragon scales, with sharp bony spikes forming along the ridges.

Its previously short and thick limbs grew longer, the tail extended, and its once-flat body arched upward. Even the neck lengthened.

The once-fierce crocodile head slowly transformed into the dignified and commanding head of a dragon.

A pair of curved horns sprouted atop its head, and a pair of wide dragon wings unfurled from its back.

As for Azure Luan Douluo, the Azure Luan Martial Soul seemed to have been reborn in flames.

The originally cyan feathers transformed into red ones tinged with gold. Its tail grew more extravagant, and its slender neck now bore the majestic head of a phoenix.

It had evolved from an Azure Luan into a Fire Phoenix.

Behind Ling Yuan, her Flaming Luan Martial Soul also underwent a similar transformation, taking on characteristics increasingly close to that of a phoenix.

As for Lion Douluo and Dugu Bo, their Martial Souls—Blazing Flame Lion and Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor—also evolved.

The Blazing Flame Lion became more massive. Its fiery mane, especially around the neck, became an even deeper red with golden hints, like a raging inferno.

And perhaps due to the pill refined from the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, a pair of crimson wings sprouted from the back of the Blazing Flame Lion!

Behind Dugu Bo, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's body became even longer and thicker. Dragon claws grew from its abdomen, and two proud, rugged dragon horns sprouted from its head, transforming it into a dragon's visage.

It had evolved from a snake into a flood dragon!

"Your Holiness the Pope!"

After fully absorbing the pill's power and completing the Martial Soul evolutions...

The Three Worship Elders, Ling Yuan, and Dugu Bo all opened their eyes and stood up excitedly.

"How did it go?"

Seated to the side on a throne taken from his Holy Spirit Ring, casually playing with the Holy Sun Flame in his hand, Qian Xunji smiled lightly as he asked upon seeing them awaken.

In response, the Three Worship Elders, Ling Yuan, and Dugu Bo were visibly emotional.

Starting with the highest-ranked and most senior—Golden Crocodile Douluo.

"Reporting to Your Holiness!"

"Just as you said, with the help of the Earth Gold Pill, not only has my Martial Soul evolved, but my cultivation has finally broken through from Level 98 to Level 99!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo clasped his fists toward Qian Xunji, unable to hide his excitement.

As one of the Titled Douluos of Spirit Hall even older than Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile Douluo had reached Level 98 over a decade ago and had been stuck at the peak of Level 98 ever since.

He had long believed he might never reach Level 99 in his lifetime.

Yet now, thanks to Qian Xunji's help, he had broken through so quickly!

In the past, though he had always addressed Qian Xunji respectfully as the Pope, in his heart, he still saw him as a junior.

But now, having experienced such a transformation in both Martial Soul and cultivation thanks to Qian Xunji, Golden Crocodile Douluo no longer dared to view him as a junior.

Now, from the bottom of his heart, he truly recognized Qian Xunji as the legitimate Pope!

After Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo and Lion Douluo also reported excitedly.

With the aid of the Nirvana Phoenix Pill, both their Martial Souls evolved.

The former's Martial Soul transformed from a Phoenix-type Azure Luan into a Fire Phoenix, and his cultivation broke through from Level 96 to Level 97.

The latter's Blazing Flame Lion Martial Soul became even larger, with more potent fire attributes and newly grown wings.

As for Ling Yuan and Dugu Bo...

Their Martial Souls evolved into higher forms as well.

Ling Yuan's Flame Kite became the Crimson Flame Phoenix Eagle, bearing stronger fire attributes and nobler phoenix bloodline traits.

Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent King transformed into a Jade Phosphor Poison Flood Dragon.

Their soul power rose as well—Ling Yuan from Level 85 to Level 87, and Dugu Bo from Level 87 to Level 88.

As for naming their evolved Martial Souls:

Golden Crocodile Douluo named his new soul the Earth Dragon King!

Azure Luan Douluo named his evolved Martial Soul the Blazing Flame Phoenix!

Lion Douluo named his new Martial Soul the Blazing Tyrant Lion!

Ling Yuan's evolved Martial Soul became the Crimson Flame Phoenix Eagle, and Dugu Bo named his the Jade Phosphor Poison Flood Dragon!

After handing out the pills and allowing the Three Worship Elders, Ling Yuan, and Dugu Bo to evolve and grow stronger...

Qian Xunji dismissed the three Worship Elders and Dugu Bo, leaving only Ling Yuan behind.

He would be staying to guard the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well personally.

"Your Holiness, why are you staying here?" Ling Yuan asked, confused and uncertain.

"Now that you can refine pills using immortal herbs," she added, "shouldn't you return to Spirit City quickly and create more pills? That way, the other Titled Douluo elders, or the bishops with potential to break through into Titled Douluos, can evolve their Martial Souls as well."

"No rush."

Qian Xunji smiled faintly and shook his head. He slowly walked over to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the majestic landscape before him, and said playfully:

"You all got to evolve your Martial Souls with pills—can't I take one too?"

"That's not what I meant," Ling Yuan said quickly, shaking her head. "If Your Holiness wants to take a pill, of course you can. Just do it before returning."

"It's not just taking the pill," Qian Xunji replied calmly. "I plan to go into seclusion here, within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

"I'll be taking the pills and entering the well to cultivate. I may do it three times in total."

"Each session may last one to three days."

"Stay here and wait for me. Prepare clean clothes and food for when I return."

Standing at the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Qian Xunji took out two small jade bottles and opened them.

As he spoke to Ling Yuan, he began preparing to take the Crimson Flame Pill and the Profound Ice Pill, both refined using the core herbs—Eight-Petal Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot.

Afterward, he would submerge himself in the well for Ice-Fire Body Tempering.

However, what Qian Xunji was about to do went beyond just tempering his body.