Chapter 64: Preparations Before Departure

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In the valley, 

Li Luochen continued to fend off the combined attacks of Qian Jun and Jiang Mo Douluo. By now, he was severely injured, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished. 

The essence of the Coiling Dragon Staff technique lay in its ability to "battle heaven and earth." Li Luochen gradually began to grasp its essence—the pure intent behind it, the overwhelming aura of challenging the heavens and battling the earth. 

"It's enough for now. Though you haven't fully mastered it, I believe you can refine your intent within the City of Slaughter. Prepare yourself—my brother Jiang Mo and I will accompany you there a year from now," Qian Jun Douluo said. 

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Master," Li Luochen nodded in agreement. 

"What about me? You only thank my brother and not me? Do you want to get beaten up again?" Jiang Mo Douluo exclaimed, his eyes bulging. He had also put his heart into teaching, yet Li Luochen hadn't thanked him, which made him quite unhappy. 

Li Luochen & Qian Jun: ... 

"Uh… Thank you, Master Jiang Mo, for your teachings. Your staff techniques are like an endless torrent of water, ceaselessly flowing… (omitted countless flattering words)." 

Jiang Mo Douluo beamed with pride after this round of flattery, his head tilting upward at a forty-five-degree angle, his face glowing with satisfaction. 

Qian Jun: My younger brother is such a simpleton—it's exhausting to have a brother like him. At least my disciple is clever. 

Afterward, Li Luochen discussed some aspects of staff techniques and other minor matters with his two masters before Qian Jun and Jiang Mo Douluo departed. 

They didn't bother greeting the people from Shrek Academy who had come to observe. Aside from being slightly surprised by Dugu Bo's soul power reaching level ninety-five, they weren't particularly impressed. 

Even if Dugu Bo was at level ninety-five, so what? Together, the brothers could rival someone at level ninety-eight. A mere level ninety-five was nothing to them. 

Dugu Bo similarly paid no mind to Qian Jun and Jiang Mo Douluo. Tonight, he had gained valuable insights into the realm of Super Douluos, which would help him save time when breaking through to level ninety-six. 

Flender's insights weren't as profound—he merely gained a new understanding of how to use soul power more effectively. His soul power had begun transitioning into a solid state, significantly slowing down his cultivation speed. 

On average, it would take him a year and a half to advance one level. Reaching the rank of Title Douluo would still take a long time.

After watching his two masters leave, Li Luochen collapsed onto the ground. He was utterly exhausted and had sustained significant injuries. At this moment, he didn't want to move at all.

Not long after, Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Flender descended from above the valley. Dugu Yan fed Li Luochen a recovery jelly bean created by Shao Xin. 

After consuming the jelly bean, Li Luochen felt his body's recovery speed increase. Truly, food-based Soul Sages were impressive—their soul skills were incredibly effective. After digesting the effects of the jelly bean, Li Luochen had recovered about seventy to eighty percent of his strength. 

Sitting up, Li Luochen began contemplating what he needed. The City of Slaughter was no place for games. To obtain the God of Slaughter Domain, he first had to achieve a hundred victories in the Slaughter Arena and then pass through the Hell Road. 

The Hell Road had three stages: bats, the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Snake, and the final sprint. The difficulty was extraordinary. 

Though Li Luochen's body had recovered, he still lacked strength and was carried back by Dugu Yan. Yes, it was Dugu Yan who carried him. Now a powerful offensive battle-type Soul Sage on the verge of becoming a Soul King, she possessed immense strength. 

Leaning against Dugu Yan's back, Li Luochen pondered future plans. When he came to his senses, he realized he was being carried by her. 

"…Wait, what? How am I being carried by Yanzhi? Isn't this backwards? But she smells so good…" 

Not long after, Dugu Yan carried Li Luochen back home. She was about to leave when Li Luochen called out to her. 

"Yanzi, I have another divine-grade medicinal herb. Would you like to consume it?" Li Luochen asked directly. 

"? Another one? We've already consumed plenty. Too much of a good thing can be harmful," Dugu Yan replied. She had already consumed several divine-grade herbs, which had greatly enhanced her abilities. However, she feared overdoing it might damage her foundation. 

At fifteen years old, Dugu Yan's soul power had reached the peak of level forty-eight. She could break through to become a Soul King within a year and reach Soul Emperor status within three more years. She would likely become a Title Douluo in her early thirties. 

"For others, perhaps, but this divine herb is the king of flowers, ranked among the supreme grade. It's called the 'Yearning Heartbroken Red.' 

Long ago, there was a young man of tranquil nature who loved planting flowers and tending to plants. His garden was filled with lotuses, lotus roots, and vibrant blossoms of every color. 

He often recited poetry to the flowers, raised his cup to invite the moon, and whenever petals fell, he grieved deeply. He would gather the fallen petals, bury them in the ground, and weep repeatedly. 

It's said that sincere emotions can move heaven and earth. His love for flowers touched the Flower Fairy in the heavens, who descended to the mortal world and became his wife. Their marital bliss needs no elaboration. 

But happiness was short-lived. When the gods learned of this, they were enraged. Forbidden by heavenly law, the Flower Fairy was summoned back to the divine realm. After losing his beloved, the young man spent his days sighing and wallowing in sorrow, neglecting his garden. Walls crumbled, fences collapsed, and the once-lush garden fell into ruin, a scene of desolation. 

One day, an elderly man with white hair appeared and told him that the white peony flower he cherished in his garden was the incarnation of his beloved wife. If he destroyed the flower, the Flower Fairy would lose her divine form and descend to the mortal world to reunite with him as his wife—but under no circumstances should he abandon tending to the flowers. 

With those words, the old man vanished in a gentle breeze. The young man suddenly realized his mistakes, deeply regretting how he had neglected the flowers. He began caring for them again with great care. Though he loved his wife dearly, he couldn't bring himself to destroy the peony. Instead, he cherished it even more, spending his days weeping before it until his tears dried up, his heart shattered, and he died of longing. As he passed away, his blood dripped onto the petals. 

At that moment, the peony transformed into a crimson-streaked grass. Its pristine white petals were stained with streaks of red formed from the young man's blood, hence the name 'Yearning Heartbroken Red.' 

Consuming this herb grants immortality-like benefits, increasing soul power by at least ten levels and comprehensively enhancing the body. It has the power to revive the dead and mend broken bones. 

Once picked, the flower will never wither as long as it remains near its master. Beneath the flower lies a black stone named Wu Jue. If forcibly destroyed, the herb will lose all its potency. It can only ever have one master, and once bonded, the connection will never change. To others, it will be an indestructible existence—even the soul power of a Title Douluo cannot harm it. 

When picking it, one must think of their beloved with utmost sincerity and devotion, shedding a drop of blood onto the petals. If there's even a hint of hesitation, even if one spits blood and dies, the flower cannot be plucked." 

After hearing Li Luochen's explanation, Dugu Yan felt that this was a flower of love, requiring absolute sincerity and unwavering devotion. 

Li Luochen took out the Yearning Heartbroken Red. For now, it appeared as an ordinary white flower, about the size of a palm, resembling a peony without leaves. Its stem was connected to a large, jet-black stone of astonishing weight. The white petals bore striking streaks of crimson, vivid as blood, giving off an awe-inspiring presence. 

As Dugu Yan gazed at the flower, she reflected on her memories with Li Luochen— 

"You brat, how dare you bump into me?... Do you know who my grandfather is?... How dare you hit me? Even my grandfather hasn't hit me!... Grandpa, beat him up, beat this brat to death. 

Sorry, let me introduce myself—I'm Dugu Yan… Chen, this is how my grandfather's poison works… Wow, Chen, this place is so fun… 

Chen, it feels like I'll always be with you… Hmph, I order you to stay with me forever and never leave me… Hehe, having Chen around is so nice." 

As Dugu Yan reminisced about her moments with Li Luochen, a sweet smile spread across her face.

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