Chapter 251: The Trial of Blazing Apricot Grace

"Fine, I don't want to think about this anymore."

After pondering for a while, Tang Wulin still couldn't grasp the purpose of Tang San's actions, so he gave up and stopped thinking about it.

Anyway, Tang San is a person from ten thousand years ago, and has nothing to do with him.

Tang Wulin picked up the Strange Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum that had just been placed on the ground and asked:

"Youyou, I just need to take it as the book says, right?"

"Ah? Hmm." Youyou, who had been contemplating Tang Wulin's words, paused briefly, then quickly replied, "That's right, that's right. This Strange Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum is a good thing; after eating it you can forge an indestructible golden body, which will definitely help your future."

"Got it."

Tang Wulin looked at Huo Yutong beside him.

"Yutong, you also remembered how to use the Longing Dew, right?"

"Mm."

Huo Yutong nodded lightly; she had been reading the book Youyou gave them beside her, and because of the difference in spiritual power, she actually remembered it more firmly than Tang Wulin himself.

"That's good."

Tang Wulin was now completely at ease and began to take the Strange Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum according to the method written in the Medicine Classic.

After taking it, he only felt a warm sensation surge from within, warming his limbs and bones, making him feel immensely comfortable, and he quickly sat down to absorb the medicine's power.

Seeing him warm and relaxed, Huo Yutong also sat down on the spot and began to take the Longing Dew as described in the Medicine Classic.

A few hours passed like that, and Tang Wulin was the first to open his eyes.

He moved his body a bit and was delighted to find his strength rising again.

He had no doubt that even without any herbal aid, he could easily absorb the Ninth Seal, likely without any pain.

I'm really becoming less human…

Tang Wulin gave a self‑deprecating smile.

At that moment, Huo Yutong beside him twitched slightly and also opened her eyes.

In an instant, Tang Wulin couldn't help but instinctively step back.

Even the surrounding air seemed to warp slightly under the intense spiritual power, and Huo Yutong's eyes shone like brilliant stars in the sky.

"Yutong, you…"

Tang Wulin was about to say something when Huo Yutong rubbed her eyes, and the strange feeling vanished.

Hearing Tang Wulin's voice, she looked at him a bit bewildered.

"Hm? What's wrong, Wulin?"

"... Nothing."

Youyou's voice came over.

"Don't make a fuss; this is a normal reaction after taking the Longing Dew. After all, it's a celestial‑grade herb, not comparable to ordinary mortal ones."

"Mm."

Tang Wulin nodded.

He himself had also experienced this.

He could feel that the effect of the Strange Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum was probably stronger than that of the Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Dragon Blood Fungus.

That was certainly because that Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Dragon Blood Fungus had been damaged, but the role of the Ice and Fire Dual‑Polarity Eye cannot be denied; the herbs here are generally superior to those outside.

He asked curiously:

"By the way, Youyou, is this the only test? No second or third one?"

If so, Tang San would indeed be generous: just eat a beneficial celestial herb with courage and join the Tang Sect, and you could obtain both the Medicine Classic and the Poison Classic while earning the right to take away seven celestial herbs. But obviously things aren't that simple.

Youyou said irritably:

"Of course it's not just this one; the test originally had two stages, but you're special, so you were exempted from the second."

"Why?"

"Obviously! The second test assesses your combat ability, pitting you against our hundred‑thousand‑year plant soul beasts. Look at those guys—do they seem like they'd take the assessment seriously? They'll definitely go easy on you to earn your favor! I'm not stupid!"

"So that's it…"

Tang Wulin instantly understood.

If that's the case, this assessment holds little meaning for him.

Even if those plant soul beasts didn't go easy, his Natural Son could easily help him defeat them.

After a brief thought, Tang Wulin said:

"How about this, Youyou—can you find me an opponent?"

"Ah? Why?"

Youyou was stunned.

Tang Wulin shrugged lightly.

"Don't worry, I have no other intention; I just want to test what level my current strength has reached."

He wanted to see what changes his body underwent after eating the Strange Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum.

"Um…" Youyou stammered for a while, then shouted toward the fire spring, "A Jiao, how about you satisfy him?"

The previously booming voice rang out again, sounding somewhat frantic.

"Youyou, don't drag me into this!"

Youyou ignored the plant soul beast she called "A Jiao" and said to Tang Wulin, "Natural Son, A Jiao's full name is Blazing Apricot Grace. She is a top‑tier fire‑type plant soul beast and one of the three core plants of the Ice and Fire Dual‑Polarity Eye. In terms of direct combat power, she ranks among the best here and can definitely meet your needs."

Obviously, she was retaliating for Blazing Apricot Grace's recent sabotage of the assessment.

Now Tang Wulin was a hot‑potato; his combat power wasn't weak, but they couldn't go hard on him, since he is the Natural Son—there's only one of him in many years, and if he were destroyed… there'd be nowhere to mourn.

Tang Wulin chuckled helplessly and nodded.

「Okay, and my name is Tang Wulin; from now on just call me by my name, don't call me Natural Son anymore. 」

As he spoke, he walked toward the direction from which the sound had just come in the fire spring.

Although the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well consists of two pools of spring water, their area is not large, and Tang Wulin soon arrived before the source of the voice.

It is a plant that looks like a cabbage but is entirely fiery red; seeing Tang Wulin approach, she swayed her body in a somewhat ingratiating manner.

「Um, Natural Son…… Tang Wulin, you will take me out, right? You just promised me. 」

Tang Wulin smiled and nodded.

「Don't worry, I said I just want to test my current strength; I won't make things difficult for you—we two can just spar a little. 」

「Okay, okay, I understand. 」

Upon receiving Tang Wulin's assurance, the Blazing Fire Apricot Beauty was overjoyed; she swayed her body, and the fiery spring water instantly boiled.

Tang Wulin watched her movements warily, seeing a water column rise from the spring, fall onto the ground before him, and quickly condense into the shape of a maiden.

「My true form's strength is too great, so you will be her opponent; don't worry, I have suppressed her cultivation to match yours—with your current strength, subduing her will not be difficult. 」

(End of chapter)