Chapter 68: The Lotus Seeds Sprout

However, the safety of a technique cannot be determined with a single test; it requires repeated trials and use to confirm its safety.

Therefore, after Li Xuan confirmed that the technique could be cultivated, he again sat cross‑legged on the bed and began to control soul power to run along the pathway he had designed.

After merely three cycles, Li Xuan felt his meridians filled with soul power, a sensation identical to a breakthrough.

So Li Xuan was not at all flustered and continued to guide soul power to circulate within his meridians.

Bo—...

Breaking through the bottleneck was effortless, like water finding its channel; everything was smooth and seamless.

Li Xuan's soul power level easily advanced to Level 20.

Although his soul power level had broken through, Li Xuan did not stop running the technique; he wanted to stabilize his cultivation and kept the technique running.

After another seven or eight cycles, Li Xuan slowly gathered the soul power back and exited the cultivation state.

"The technique is relatively stable, with no obvious irregularities; as a first version it is already highly satisfactory. Going forward, more cultivation notes are needed, and we will keep continuously optimizing the technique," Li Xuan said happily, feeling the soul power in his body, smiling, and noting that he had a clear picture of the road ahead.

At the same time, Li Xuan discovered another issue: after reaching the bottleneck, the absorbed soul power automatically leaked out of his body, leaving only a tiny fraction while the vast majority was wasted.

It seems this is the Continental Will of the Douluo Continent suppressing soul masters; even though Li Xuan created the technique, it is still bound by the Continental Will.

"Since there are no issues, the first version of the technique is finalized, organized, and will be cultivated slowly," Li Xuan nodded, saying satisfiedly.

Next, Li Xuan took out a new notebook, and this time the cover bore the four characters "Douluo Number One."

He then systematically recorded the manuscript's contents into this book; the first technique Li Xuan created was thus finalized.

After completing the writing of the entire book, Li Xuan began tidying his room.

All around were the notes Li Xuan had organized during this period.

These were Li Xuan's carefully compiled items, of great value; after a moment's thought, he took out a large wooden chest, arranged the books, and sealed them inside a Void Pearl.

Now Li Xuan already has a cultivation technique and no longer needs to rely on Alchemy Shoes to boost his cultivation.

However, Li Xuan will not abandon the craft of Alchemy.

Although Li Xuan now wishes to draft a future cultivation plan, he still has another important matter to attend to.

The matter is preparing the Second Soul Ring; his soul power level has already broken through to Level 20, and he needs to absorb a soul ring to continue cultivating.

And Li Xuan has also prepared for his soul ring.

However, after the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus possessed him, Li Xuan learned that the nine Seeds he obtained may have already lost their vitality.

Although Li Xuan believes the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus's memory will not deceive him, he still spat the Seeds out of the Void Pearl.

Li Xuan must personally confirm that the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus has no remaining vitality.

According to the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus's description, having been sealed for tens of thousands of years, the physiological energy within the Seeds has been completely exhausted, and the remaining energy is insufficient for them to break the soil and grow.

Li Xuan carefully examined the Seeds in his hand and indeed found, as the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus said, that they had been sealed for too long; their life force is too weak, making it basically impossible for them to break through the soil.

The day he obtained the Seeds, Li Xuan hurriedly stored them in the Void Pearl without careful inspection, leading to this oversight. Yet finding a new Fire-attribute Immortal Grade spirit plant in such a short time is virtually impossible.

So he can only treat a dead horse as a living one.

Li Xuan took a water basin from the Void Pearl and placed the nine Seeds into it one by one.

Lotus flowers, unlike other plants, need to be cultivated in water.

Looking at the Seeds in the basin before him, Li Xuan silently nodded.

Li Xuan wanted to gamble on whether the Immortal Grade spirit plant could miraculously revive and regain vitality.

After placing the Seeds in the basin, Li Xuan summoned a small green vial and dripped the Green Spirit Liquid produced today into the center of the basin.

As the Green Spirit Liquid fell, Li Xuan's mood surged.

Li Xuan does not expect all nine Seeds to sprout; as long as one sprouts successfully, his Second Soul Ring will be secured.

Li Xuan lay on the table, his gaze fixed on the basin before him.

The water in the basin, tinged by the Green Spirit Liquid, glowed with a layer of green, appearing vibrant.

But Li Xuan watched for a while; the green in the basin did not diminish at all, proving that the Seeds had not absorbed the Green Spirit Liquid's energy.

"Could it really have been wasted?" Li Xuan frowned, looking at the Seeds in the basin, and said gravely.

Just as Li Xuan was about to give up and remove all the Seeds, while preparing to cook eight‑treasure porridge,

one Seed suddenly emitted a wisp of black Filthy Flame.

Li Xuan halted his actions, his eyes fixed on the wisp of Filthy Flame.

The Filthy Flame extended continuously in the water until it touched a second Filthy Flame Yin Lotus; the flame, like a vampire, pierced directly into the other Seed, constantly siphoning its essence.

After absorbing one Seed's essence, the Seed that released the Filthy Flame sprouted two Filthy Flame Tentacles, which then absorbed the essences of two more Seeds.

In less than ten minutes, only one of the nine Filthy Flame Seeds remained in the basin; the others had become empty shells.

The sole surviving Filthy Flame Seed began absorbing the Green Spirit Liquid in the basin and, in the blink of an eye, rooted itself, extending lotus leaves that rose to the surface.

【Plant: Filthy Flame Yin Lotus】

【Quality: Immortal Grade】

【Cultivation: 50 years】

【Description: A lotus that grows embodying all the filth and gloom between Heaven and Earth, bearing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire and Filthy Flame, possessing extremely strong contaminating ability, it absorbs the power of other flames to strengthen itself. Born of the world, all parts except the Seed are inedible; the Lotus Petal is highly toxic. Every ten thousand years the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus can produce one Pure Lotus Seed. Consuming the Seed can cleanse the meridians and purge the marrow, lengthening the bones, and also has a high chance of granting Filthy Flame. Each person may consume at most one Seed; excessive consumption yields no effect.】

"It's fine as long as it's alive; we only wasted half the Green Spirit Liquid," Li Xuan said, sighing in relief as he looked at the sprouted Filthy Flame Yin Lotus.

From now on, as long as he cultivates the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus to nine hundred—or even a thousand—years, Li Xuan will be able to obtain a second Immortal Grade spirit plant martial soul.

(End of Chapter)