Chapter 121: Ink Jade Divine Bamboo

After leaving Ning Fengzhi and the others, Yang Xiong went straight to Lin Gong's residence, and as far as Yang Xiong knows, Lin Gong has stayed at his home ever since he returned, never even stepping out the door.

Lin Gong saw Yang Xiong, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Xiao Xiong, looks like you couldn't hold back either, coming to me first thing."

Yang Xiong sat down, a faint smile on his face: "Teacher Lin, I still trust your character; otherwise you wouldn't have protected me all the way, nor given me special attention."

Lin Gong's face showed a wry smile: "You don't need to provoke me; I've been on edge the whole way, fearing any mishap."

"Teacher Lin, with your strength, what problems could possibly arise in this world?"

"Don't flatter me; I'm just a mere Soul Douluo, yet I didn't even dare go to Spirit City, otherwise I wouldn't be in this situation now."

After a brief exchange, Lin Gong directly took a lead box about one and a half meters long from his Soul Guidance Device; it looked extremely heavy.

Yang Xiong saw the item and began to tremble; for a Soul Grandmaster, this is a rare treasure in the Soul Master World, truly a masterpiece.

Lin Gong's face showed a wry smile: "Put this thing away quickly; it's too valuable. If it weren't for you, Xiao Xiong, I'd be afraid I'd end up absorbing it myself."

Yang Xiong opened a tiny fissure in the Sky River; no matter how small, a surge of vibrant life force instantly filled the whole room, making him feel as if he were immersed in an ocean of life.

In an instant, Yang Xiong identified the contents of the lead box and, without a word, stored the lead box back into the Soul Guidance Device: "Thank you, Teacher Lin, I really troubled you this time; I did say I'd repay you heavily."

Lin Gong snorted coldly: "You're always so mysterious, but what heavy gratitude could surpass what you hold? You know I'm a Plant-type Soul Master; the thing in the lead box has a deadly attraction to me. If I weren't so old and experienced, I'd probably couldn't resist."

Yang Xiong's heart sank at that, for asking Lin Gong was indeed risky, but at that moment he had no other options; Tang Hao's appearance was the only chance, and Lin Gong was the only reliable person by his side.

Yang Xiong mulled over many thoughts, then smiled: "It's just a top-level soul bone; rare, but not unique. Besides, doesn't Teacher Lin also have a top-level head soul bone?"

Lin Gong replied: "It was for that head soul bone that I sacrificed my life, so I dare not touch your lead box."

"But how did you, Xiao Xiong, know that such a treasure was hidden there? Normally, who would stash a treasure in such a place?"

Yang Xiong said: "There are always some overconfident people, but this matter is of great consequence; Teacher Lin should not reveal it lightly, lest it brings huge trouble, perhaps even the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect couldn't withstand it."

Lin Gong was speechless for a moment: "Do you think I have no sense of restraint? No one besides you and me will know about this."

Yang Xiong seemed to recall something: "By the way, Teacher Lin, did you discover anything else when you went to that place?"

Lin Gong shook his head: "That place was indeed a bit odd, but as you instructed, I disguised myself as a member of the Spirit Hall, even covering my appearance, and never used my martial soul the whole time, so no one should be able to trace me."

Yang Xiong finally relaxed; there are so many martial souls and methods in this world, only an old veteran like Lin Gong can guarantee absolute safety.

After a pause, Yang Xiong spoke: "Teacher Lin, I have just taken Sword Bone Soul Douluo as masters; the two have agreed to take me as a disciple together."

Lin Gong's expression shifted slightly, then self‑mocked: "Why tell me this? Sword Bone Soul Douluo hold high status in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; being able to take them as masters is your own opportunity, you should seize it well."

Yang Xiong said: "Regardless, Teacher Lin, you are my mentor and the senior I respect most."

In fact, Yang Xiong had always understood Lin Gong's thoughts; he had been treating him as a disciple, but neither side revealed it, so perhaps from now on they will have no master‑disciple bond.

Yang Xiong didn't hesitate either, pulling a large jade box from his close‑range Soul Guidance Device; the jade box was over a meter long, and at a glance its contents seemed extraordinary.

Lin Gong was a bit puzzled: "What are you up to, Xiao Xiong, trying to give me some treasure or what?"

Yang Xiong, with a half‑smile, handed the jade box to Lin Gong, indicating that he should open it himself.

Lin Gong opened the jade box with a puzzled expression; inside was a massive bamboo shoot, its whole body a dark green, roots still attached together, with some soil clinging to the roots.

The moment Lin Gong opened the jade box, he felt an intense attraction to the contents, even his martial soul was strongly drawn, as if the Purple Emperor Bamboo itself were becoming uncontrollable.

The item inside the jade box is the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, also one of the supreme Immortal Herbs; for someone like Lin Gong whose bamboo‑type martial soul is Purple Emperor Bamboo, it is truly a divine treasure.

Lin Gong, eyeing the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, swallowed saliva: "Xiao Xiong, where did you get this, it feels like it complements my martial soul."

Yang Xiong smiled: "It's called Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, an extremely rare Spirit Herb in the world; it has a tremendous effect on all bamboo‑type martial souls, and after consumption it may even cause the martial soul to evolve. It is a top‑grade Spirit Herb of the Wood Attribute."

In this world there is no concept of Immortal Herb, and Yang Xiong didn't wish to elaborate further.

Lin Gong, though his eyes burned with excitement, still felt a bit doubtful: "Xiao Xiong, don't tell me this came from Dugu Bo's old lair."

Yang Xiong, half‑smiling, replied: "That's exactly it, Teacher Lin. Are you afraid Dugu Bo will later trouble you?"

Lin Gong snapped: "Just Dugu Bo, relying only on reaching Title Douluo? For a low‑rank Title Douluo like that, I couldn't care less."

However, after staring at the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo for a long while, Lin Gong finally asked: "Xiao Xiong, now that you've given me this Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, how exactly should I consume it?"

The Ink Jade Divine Bamboo is a massive bamboo shoot over a meter long, entirely black and extremely hard, with plenty of mud clinging to its roots; originally, Yang Xiong, to improve his Immortal Herb harvesting efficiency, often dug up both soil and the oddities together.

Yang Xiong's face darkened at that, and helplessly said: "Teacher Lin, I've only found a few mentions of Ink Jade Divine Bamboo in ancient texts, so I don't know how to consume it."

"But I suggest, Teacher Lin, that you ingest the entire Ink Jade Divine Bamboo; I don't know which part yields the exact effect, and it would be a waste to let it go unused."

Lin Gong glanced at Yang Xiong, looking completely clueless, as if saying: 'Do you think I'm a fool? Can something like this be eaten whole?'

Yang Xiong continued: "Teacher Li, you'd better swallow the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo soon; tomorrow or the day after I'll head to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring, and I'll need Teacher Lin to accompany me."

Lin Gong, impatient, said: "It's just a Soul Ring; how long can your Fourth Soul Ring last? Compared to your Fourth Soul Ring, figuring out how to consume this so‑called divine bamboo is the real hassle."

Yang Xiong, hearing that, prepared to leave, but Lin Gong, a bit puzzled, asked: "Xiao Xiong, although I didn't open the lead box, I can sense the soul bone you obtained this time is excellent, of very high quality, and a Plant‑type soul bone; are you sure you want to absorb it?"

Yang Xiong was silent for a moment before speaking: "Teacher Lin, you know I've been Body Tempering, but Body Tempering has limits and can damage the body; humans can only endure so much, and this Plant‑type soul bone might fundamentally improve my physique."

Lin Gong, thoughtful, finally said helplessly: "Very well, you've had your own cultivation path since youth, I won't interfere, but are you truly set on staying in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect for life?"

Yang Xiong retorted: "Teacher Lin, do you also plan to stay in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect forever?"

Lin Gong sighed: "I'm old now, no grand ambitions left, but you're cunning and ambitious; you probably won't be content being a Guardian Douluo."

Yang Xiong thought carefully before speaking: "I was born in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; I consider it my home, but every child eventually must leave home and struggle on their own; you can't rely on the family forever."

Lin Gong self‑mocked: "Fine, this old bone still has some strength; I'll go out with you, perhaps I can witness a strong one's rise."

After saying that, Lin Gong kept his gaze on the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo; Yang Xiong, seeing Lin Gong's helplessness over it, chuckled inwardly and left, thinking the trouble should be solved by Lin Gong himself—perhaps he could gradually research it with his Purple Emperor Bamboo martial soul.

On his way home, Yang Xiong passed Zhao Wuji's residence and saw Zhao Wuji sternly instructing three people's cultivation: Qin Shuang, Oscar, and Yang Wei; it seemed elder brother Yang Wei had been severely reprimanded by Zhao Wuji.

But now Yang Xiong had no mind for that; all his thoughts were on the treasure he carried.

Back home, Yang Xiong impatiently opened the lead box; inside was a deep‑blue Right Leg soul bone, the Shi Wan Nian Lan Yin Huang Right Leg soul bone.

The moment he opened the lead box, the entire room instantly filled with the breath of life, as if immersed in an ocean of life, making him feel immensely comfortable.

Seeing the soul bone, Yang Xiong's face flushed with heat, even a hint of ferocity.

This soul bone was prepared by Tang Hao for Tang San, also originating from Tang San's mother, but since Tang Hao placed such a precious soul bone in an obscure cave, he can't blame himself for taking it.

Yang Xiong himself had once been conflicted, but this Shi Wan Nian Lan Yin Huang Right Leg soul bone matched him perfectly; the bone not only possesses extreme life attributes but also grants Flight.

As for whether he'll later become enemies with Tang San, he can't think that far now; he won't abandon a treasure of this caliber over a bit of school‑yard friendship, and Yang Xiong has already made arrangements— even if Tang Hao and Tang San suspect something, they'll probably target the Spirit Hall.

Moreover, after one has fully absorbed the soul bone, as long as one does not use it lightly, no one can discover it, not even Tang Hao.

The only one who might discover it would be the Blue Silver Emperor A Yin himself, but lacking the Bing Huo Liang Yi Yan, A Yin is likely unable to restore it for a whole lifetime.

(End of chapter)