Chapter 216: 216. Chapter 213: Wine God Flower

216. Chapter 213: Wine God Flower

Li Xuan thought for a moment, then shook his head at the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Having my friend absorb this soul ring is a bit wasteful," Li Xuan said, shaking his head at the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.

"It's fine, the Star Dou Great Forest doesn't have much of anything; the most abundant are soul beasts! If this doesn't work, we have other options," the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said with a bright laugh, then addressed Li Xuan.

Then the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm waved a hand, the scene shifted, and before Li Xuan appeared a strange, exotic grass; unlike the Drunken Python, this grass emitted a purer, sharper wine fragrance!

"What a good find! If I'm not mistaken, this must be the Wine God Flower; it's not common at all," Li Xuan said, his eyes lighting up with delight, and asked the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.

As a senior medicinal farmer, Li Xuan could recite the various Heavenly Material Earth Treasures like an encyclopedia.

So he recognized at a glance what flower it was, though he couldn't confirm it.

Li Xuan had just tried the Medicine Appraisal Technique, but this was an illusion; the technique couldn't work at all.

"Exactly, this soul beast's bloodline is pure, but its existence is so scarce that virtually no soul masters know it. I didn't expect you actually recognized it," the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said, looking at Li Xuan with amazement.

"Then where is this thing?" Li Xuan asked the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm with a smile.

"It's about five kilometers from where you set up camp, and the python is even closer—about five hundred meters away," the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said, scratching his head, then pointed, helping Li Xuan set a mental anchor with his soul power, allowing Li Xuan to locate the exact position of the Divine Wine Blossom.

"Great! I'll go with Bai Chuan right away; you can read to pass the time," Li Xuan said, his thoughts shifting as he left the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual World.

After exiting the Spiritual World, Li Xuan instantly opened his eyes, glanced around, and saw Bai Chuan standing by his side.

"Young master, you're awake?" Bai Chuan asked Li Xuan.

"Hmm," Li Xuan nodded, then furrowed his brows and began to think.

Now the location of the Wine God Flower is essentially confirmed, so he can go with Bai Chuan alone; there's no need to bring a few members of the Tao Family and Bang Chui into the Star Dou Great Forest.

The more people, the more dangerous.

After thinking it over, Li Xuan decided to have Bang Chui lead the few Tao Family members back to Ladi Canyon.

"Tao Lin, there's a slight issue; in a moment I'll have Bang Chui bring you back into Ladi Canyon, and I'll arrange the soul ring later," Li Xuan said, climbing up from the ground and standing before Tao Lin, speaking to him solemnly.

Tao Lin looked at Li Xuan's expression and knew he was serious.

"Yes, young master, we'll head back right away," Tao Lin nodded, then went to gather his clan members, preparing to depart the Star Dou Great Forest.

"What's wrong, brother?" Bang Chui asked Li Xuan with a puzzled look upon hearing Li Xuan's words.

We've been out less than an hour, and now we're going back? That's unreasonable! "Listen, we'll go back and I'll explain," Li Xuan said, patting Bang Chui's shoulder in a mock busy manner.

"Alright, brother! I'll take them back right now," Bang Chui nodded, his expression turning stern as he approached Tao Lin and the others.

"You all, stay close to me later and don't fall behind!" Though usually cute, Bang Chui had recently learned a commanding demeanor from Li Xuan, and said seriously to Tao Lin's group.

"Yes, young master!" Tao Lin and several clan members bowed respectfully to Bang Chui, then followed him toward Ladi Canyon.

"Bai Chuan, come with me to find a plant‑type soul beast!" Li Xuan said to Bai Chuan after Bang Chui left.

"Yes, young master!" Bai Chuan nodded.

Li Xuan glanced at Bai Chuan, then lifted his leg, channeling soul power, and sprinted out along the path the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm had left.

Seeing Li Xuan's speed, Bai Chuan's eyes widened instantly.

Li Xuan traversed the forest as if walking on flat ground; in the blink of an eye, Bai Chuan could only see his silhouette.

Is this the speed of a Soul Elder?

Even a Soul King couldn't move that fast in the forest! Though puzzled, Bai Chuan said nothing and quickly chased after Li Xuan.

After all, Bai Chuan is at the Soul Douluo realm; while Li Xuan's speed is great, he's only a Soul Elder, so Bai Chuan soon caught up.

The two ran side by side for five kilometers, and Li Xuan finally smelled the scent of wine.

"Young master, this place feels odd; should we retreat a bit?" Bai Chuan, also smelling the surrounding wine fragrance, whispered his suggestion to Li Xuan.

"Bai Chuan, remember, your young master is immune to all poisons; even Dugu Bo's toxins have no effect on me," Li Xuan said proudly, then surveyed the surroundings before reaching the source of the wine scent.

【Plant: Wine God Flower】

【Quality: Heavenly Material Earth Treasure】

【Cultivation: 842 years】

【Description: Legend says when the Wine God ascended, the last drop of wine from his wine gourd fell to the mortal world, giving birth to this Heavenly Material Earth Treasure. It is fiery and sweet, enters the liver meridian, and when taken can nourish the liver and brighten the eyes. It can slightly increase one's drinking capacity.】

"Sure enough, it's the Wine God Flower. The Tao Family is fortunate," Li Xuan smiled faintly, then approached the flower, gently pinching its blossom sac. As he did, wine slowly seeped from the sac, and a round transparent seed fell beneath a fingernail cap.

Li Xuan was familiar with ninety percent of Heavenly Material Earth Treasures, so he knew exactly how to harvest, preserve, and cultivate their seeds.

Looking at the seed in his palm, resembling a crystal ball, he nodded in satisfaction.

The Wine God Flower produces a mature seed every hundred years; after a millennium it bears a second seed, and so on, adding one seed every thousand years.

"Got it!" Li Xuan said with a smile, then produced a wine gourd filled with wine and carefully placed the seed inside.

The Wine God Flower's seed requires a special method: soaking it in wine. If it remains without wine for too long, it loses vitality and cannot be cultivated.

Bai Chuan watched Li Xuan's series of actions and wore a bewildered expression; he hadn't expected Li Xuan to know this! Is this a skill a ten‑year‑old can master? "Alright, we've got the item; we should head back," Li Xuan turned, waved the wine gourd at Bai Chuan, and said with a smile.

"Yes, young master," Bai Chuan nodded, then followed Li Xuan out of the area. The two sped like lightning toward the direction outside the Star Dou Great Forest. — Half an hour later, Li Xuan and Bai Chuan finally arrived beneath the city wall of Ladi Canyon.

Standing under the wall, Li Xuan closed his eyes and entered the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual World.

"Heavenly Dream brother, I'm leaving now; before I go I have a favor to ask," Li Xuan said, closing his eyes to communicate with the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.

"What is it?" the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said, still reading and not looking up at Li Xuan.

"Help me find a plant soul beast called Geng Golden Grass," Li Xuan said to the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Geng Golden Grass? That's rare. Fine, I'll keep an eye out; if I find it, I'll tell you the next time you come to the Star Dou Great Forest," the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said, looking at Li Xuan with curiosity and nodding.

"Alright, thanks, Heavenly Dream brother, see you next time," Li Xuan said, then left the Spiritual World and turned into Ladi Canyon.

Upon entering the canyon, Li Xuan immediately saw Bang Chui and Tao Lin's group waiting at the gate.

"Brother! You finally made it back," Bang Chui said with a smile to Li Xuan.

"Don't worry, your brother has nothing else to do. Tao Lin, you lead your people back to the City Lord's Mansion, and tonight obtain soul rings for the two children," Li Xuan first reassured Bang Chui, then addressed Tao Lin.

Tao Lin had no desire to defy Li Xuan, so he quickly nodded in agreement, then led his clan onto a carriage heading toward the City Lord's Mansion.

"Brother, did you get the goods?" Bang Chui, who knows Li Xuan very well, smiled and asked.

"Of course. When have I ever come back empty‑handed? Come on, let's go back." Li Xuan laughed, patted Bang Chui's shoulder, and then led Bang Chui onto the carriage.

Then Bai Chuan drove the carriage, bringing Li Xuan and Bang Chui back to the City Lord's Mansion, and had Zhou Chen arrange for the Tao Family to rest.

Li Xuan entered the secret chamber alone, and then stepped into the space of the Palm Sky Bottle.

"Wine‑God Flower is indeed a fine Heavenly Material Earth Treasure, but we only have a plot of land to plant it," Li Xuan said, nodding as he looked at the seed in his hand.

Then Li Xuan found a spot rich in moisture, planted the Wine‑God Flower seed, summoned a drop of Green Spirit Liquid, diluted it with water, and poured roughly one‑third of the diluted Green Spirit Liquid onto the seed.

After all, the ceiling for the first soul ring is only about four hundred years, and the Tao Family's constitution is average; three hundred years is already their limit.

As the seed absorbed the diluted spirit liquid, it instantly rooted and sprouted; in the blink of an eye, a brand‑new Wine‑God Flower appeared before Li Xuan.

Unlike wild Wine‑God Flowers, the one Li Xuan cultivated had fuller foliage, and the wine in its sac was richer and more fragrant.

Li Xuan employed the Medicine Appraisal Technique to check the Wine‑God Flower's age; his control was precise, and the flower's cultivation had reached 387 years.

"Not bad, not bad—380 years; the Tao Family should be able to endure that," Li Xuan said, rubbing his chin and nodding.

Then Li Xuan took a new seed from the Wine‑God Flower's sac and cultivated another 387‑year Wine‑God Flower.

One drop of Green Spirit Liquid can boost a plant's cultivation by a thousand years; after cultivating two three‑hundred‑plus year Heavenly Material Earth Treasures, some diluted Green Spirit Liquid remained.

So Li Xuan retrieved another seed, poured all the remaining Green Spirit Liquid onto it, and the third Wine‑God Flower's cultivation also reached 226 years.

Li Xuan took out two flower pots, transferred the two three‑hundred‑plus year Wine‑God Flowers into them for the Tao Family's two children to absorb later, and set aside a two‑hundred‑plus year Wine‑God Flower to continue cultivating tomorrow, for the Tao Family's two level‑20 Soul Masters to absorb.

After transferring the two flowers, Li Xuan emerged from the Palm Sky Bottle carrying the two flower pots.

Leaving the secret chamber, he found Tao Lin resting.

"Call your two children out; this is the Soul Ring arranged for them," Li Xuan said as he placed the flower pots on the ground.

"Yes, Young Master," Tao Lin nodded, then turned to look for his children. He thought Li Xuan had found a suitable Soul Beast and was preparing to set out again soon.

Watching Tao Lin leave, Li Xuan was unhurried; he found a comfortable spot in the courtyard, sat down, and waited for Tao Lin to bring the children back.

It was already night; seated in a lounge chair gazing at the sky, Li Xuan felt a genuine wave of relaxation and contentment.

Soon, Tao Lin arrived at Li Xuan's side with the two children.

"Young Master, the people have arrived; when shall we set out?" Tao Lin bowed respectfully to Li Xuan, then looked up and asked.

"Greetings, Young Master!" the two children behind Tao Lin also bowed respectfully to Li Xuan.

"Set out? What are you talking about setting out! Just absorb the Soul Ring here. You two, the older one, step forward," Li Xuan sat upright, waved at Tao Lin, then asked the two children.

"Young Master, I am Tao He, and I am the older one," the slightly taller child stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Li Xuan, and said loudly.

"Not bad, very good. This is a three‑hundred‑year Soul Beast called Wine‑God Flower, perfect to become your Soul Ring. Sit before it and cut it off, and you will obtain its Soul Ring," Li Xuan pointed at the Wine‑God Flower and explained to Tao He.

"Yes, Young Master!" Tao He, though puzzled, approached the Wine‑God Flower and sat down.

Tao He thought to himself, this is just a strangely shaped plant; how could it be a hundred‑year Soul Beast? This must be a joke.

But knowing Li Xuan's status, Tao He showed no expression, and solemnly sat before the Wine‑God Flower.

Li Xuan also noticed Tao Lin's composed demeanor; judging by Tao He's steady temperament, he seems fit to take over Tao Lin's tasks and can be cultivated properly.

Then Tao He drew a small knife from his chest, grasped the Wine‑God Flower with one hand, and sliced its root stalk with the knife.

As the Wine‑God Flower was cut, strands of yellow energy streamed from it, and under the shocked gazes of several Tao Family members, it actually coalesced into a Soul Ring.

"It's really a Soul Ring!" Tao Lin stared wide‑eyed in shock. In his memory, all Soul Beasts were terrifying, man‑eating creatures; none ever stood still for someone to strike them down.

(End of Chapter)