Grandfather becoming a Title Douluo was undoubtedly an enormous surprise for Zhou Sicheng.
After speaking with the old man, Zhou Sicheng took out a brocade box from his soul tool and handed it to Zhou Zhenxuan.
Zhou Zhenxuan received the box with a warm smile on his face. "Sicheng, is this one of the immortal herbs you obtained from that treasured land?"
To Zhou Zhenxuan, the fact that his grandson was always thinking of him was already more than enough.
Zhou Sicheng smiled and replied, "This immortal herb is called the Primordial Immortal Grass. Its main function is to enhance a Soul Master's cultivation and unblock meridian bottlenecks. For you, it should provide significant support—enough that you might even have a chance to break through to the rank of a Hyper Douluo."
Zhou Zhenxuan's smile froze for a moment, then quickly turned into excitement.
He was fully aware of his own talent. Reaching Title Douluo had already been an immense feat, and he had expected his limit to be around Rank 94 at most.
Now, with this immortal herb, he actually had the potential to reach the realm of Hyper Douluo?
That meant the Zhou Clan would truly have a powerhouse among their ranks.
Even among Title Douluo, there were vast differences. The gap between a regular Title Douluo and a Hyper Douluo was enormous—like a chasm impossible to cross.
Appreciating his grandson's filial heart, Zhou Zhenxuan had no reason to refuse. At his age, he viewed many things more clearly than others.
Zhou Sicheng had immense talent, yes, but he had yet to reach his full potential. If he, as the elder, could grow even stronger, he could do far more for his descendants in the future.
Zhou Zhenxuan put away the brocade box, his expression growing serious. "Sicheng, I know you're clever and always had your own mind since you were little. Now with Elder Mu guiding you, I won't say much more on that front."
Then, his tone became even more solemn. "You have expectations for your grandfather, and I will not drag you down. I won't refuse this gift. From now on, if you ever need anything, do not hesitate to come to your family."
Zhou Sicheng smiled faintly. "Grandpa, rest assured. I'd never treat you like an outsider."
Having become Elder Mu's disciple, Zhou Sicheng could no longer be viewed through the lens of ordinary people.
Zhou Zhenxuan also knew the continent was in turmoil. Given his grandson's talent and position, his future would be far from peaceful. All he hoped was that, should the day come when Sicheng truly needed help, this old body of his could still be of use.
The grandfather and grandson chatted for a long time before Zhou Sicheng took Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue to a secluded chamber.
Zhou Zhenxuan, meanwhile, took the immortal herb Zhou Sicheng had given him and began to absorb it following the method his grandson had explained.
Inside the secret chamber, Zhou Sicheng brought out two brocade boxes and handed one each to Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue.
The two eagerly took the boxes, eyes burning with curiosity as they looked at their leader. "Boss, how do we consume these immortal herbs?"
Zhou Sicheng explained, "Jinxuan, yours is called the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. It's neutral in nature, mellow and easy to absorb. It can stabilize your foundation, nourish your body, and purge impurities."
"Your martial soul has a rare time attribute, making cultivation extremely difficult. With this herb, you'll encounter no bottlenecks up to Rank 70, and your foundation will become far stronger."
Cao Jinxuan's eyes widened. This was practically tailor-made for him!
He almost couldn't stop himself from jumping up and giving Zhou Sicheng a passionate hug.
Normally not great with words, Cao Jinxuan looked at his leader with emotion in his eyes. "Boss, don't worry. I won't disappoint you. On the road ahead, we brothers will always be your strongest support!"
Zhou Sicheng smiled genuinely. "I believe you will."
"Hurry and take it. There's no special method—just chew and swallow. It tastes sweet and fragrant. Afterward, circulate your soul power to guide the medicinal effect throughout your body and slowly absorb it over time."
Cao Jinxuan nodded firmly. "Got it!"
Zhou Sicheng then turned to Long Xiangyue. The boy was also visibly excited, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Long Xiangyue asked enthusiastically, "Boss, what kind of immortal herb is mine?"
Zhou Sicheng answered calmly, "Xiangyue, among the three of us, your martial soul is slightly inferior in quality. Though you've worked hard over the years and grown more resilient, the nature of your martial soul has always been your biggest obstacle."
Long Xiangyue nodded. It was his greatest pain—his fear of falling behind, of not being able to help his brothers in the future. That was why he had trained harder than most people his age.
Zhou Sicheng gently patted his head. "The soul bone from the Clearshadow Demon Leopard's left leg helped improve your physical attributes. The herb I picked for you is called the Obsidian Divine Bamboo. Its main purpose is to enhance the quality of your martial soul."
"You don't need to consume it orally. Simply release your martial soul and draw the herb toward you. Use your soul power to refine it, fusing its energy into your martial soul to enhance its quality. Any excess energy can be absorbed to boost your cultivation."
"If all goes well, your Dragonbone Throwing Dagger martial soul might even evolve to the level of a top-tier martial soul. The Obsidian Divine Bamboo is perfect for you, especially given your perseverance."
Long Xiangyue nodded heavily. "Boss, I'll always keep up with you two!"
Zhou Sicheng chuckled. "Alright, enough sentimentality. Hurry and start absorbing—I'll stand guard for you."
With excitement and anticipation, the two took their herbs from the boxes, sat cross-legged, and began absorbing them as instructed.
Standing nearby, Zhou Sicheng silently watched his two sworn brothers begin their cultivation.
Within his spiritual sea, Tianmeng floated lazily among the golden spheres of light. "Sicheng, these two brothers of yours are something else. They'll definitely be your strongest support in the future. Especially that Cao Jinxuan—he's got a time-attribute martial soul!"
"But really, you treat them well. At Shrek, you sometimes put on a performance, but with these two, your emotions are completely genuine."
Zhou Sicheng smiled lightly. "They've followed me since we were little. As the big brother, it's only natural I look out for them."
Electrolux sighed softly. "Such deep bonds... I must admit, I envy them."
After a pause, he looked through Zhou Sicheng's eyes at Cao Jinxuan. "Once he gains his Martial Soul True Body and grasps even a sliver of time's power, I can teach him some techniques."
Zhou Sicheng's eyes lit up. "Then I'll thank you in advance on his behalf, Elder Yi."
Electrolux chuckled. "No need. I've already decided. Once your body stabilizes, I'll become your third martial soul and pass on all my ultimate techniques."
Zhou Sicheng blinked. "Eh? Are you serious, Elder Yi?"
Electrolux replied, "Of course. First, this way I can remain stably attached to you without the risk of this divine consciousness dissipating and me vanishing. Second, you truly are a worthy inheritor. With my legacy, your path forward will be much smoother."
"And third... well, this one's a bit selfish. Once you grow quickly, you'll be able to resurrect me sooner. After spending time with you, I find myself yearning for a normal life again."
Hearing this, Zhou Sicheng and Tianmeng Iceworm both smiled.
Tianmeng teased, "Elder Yi, someone at your level still reflects on the human condition?"
Electrolux gave the fat bug a side-eye. "You're still young. The higher your cultivation, the more distant you may seem from mortal affairs, but in truth, your perceptions merely change. It's been so long since I lived normally... Watching Sicheng live so freely and energetically—can't I enjoy that too?"
Tianmeng pouted but didn't argue. After all, he wanted the same.
Zhou Sicheng smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Elder Yi. That day isn't far off."
He then turned to Tianmeng Iceworm. "Tianmeng, once I finish settling things with my family, we'll head to the Extreme North to find the Ice Empress. With Elder Yi's help, I think our odds are quite good."
Tianmeng's expression instantly turned lovestruck. "Hehehe… Icey, I'm finally going to see you!"
Zhou Sichen couldn't help but manifest his spiritual form, directly kicking Tianmeng away. "Can you show a bit of ambition? Forget about Bing Di—even Xue Di! With our current abilities, it's not entirely impossible to trick her."
Tianmeng shuddered at his words. "Sichen, don't get any crazy ideas! Xue Di is a being born in the extreme north, far stronger than Bing Bing. If we approach her now, I'm afraid she could kill us with a single Great Chill Without Snow."
Zhou Sichen simply smiled without responding. There was no way he'd tell Tianmeng that Xue Di had been ambushed during her transformation into human form, and by now had likely been turned into a soul beast embryo.
Thinking of this, Zhou Sichen felt even more eager to attend the upcoming tournament in the Star Luo Empire. That soul beast embryo of Xue Di... he was determined to obtain it.
If the auction route didn't work out, he would find another way in the Sun Moon Empire. According to the original story, the Body Sect was destined to forcibly break into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy at some point.
There would be plenty of opportunities—perhaps even a chance for him to be part of the team that stormed the academy.
If he could form a contract with Xue Di, then Zhou Sichen would truly possess the power to protect himself on the continent.
Thanks to the special nature of his Book of Contracts martial soul, he could fully preserve Xue Di's strength. Once that was achieved, many of his plans and ambitions could slowly begin to unfold.
While chatting casually with Tianmeng and Elder Yi, Zhou Sichen waited. Before long, Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue completed their absorption process one after the other.
Both of their soul power levels simultaneously broke through from Rank 36 to Rank 40—just one soul ring short of advancing to the Soul Ancestor level.
The only difference was how the effects of their immortal herbs manifested.
Cao Jinxuan's increase in soul power wasn't limited to just four ranks; once he absorbed his fourth soul ring, the benefits would become even more apparent.
Long Xiangyue's case was a little different. His martial soul had indeed been improved in quality, but his soul power level only increased by four ranks.
Overall, it was still a tremendous boost for the two of them. With the help of immortal herbs, their future cultivation speed would also increase dramatically.
The two exchanged glances, both unable to hide the excitement in their eyes.
Zhou Sichen smiled slightly. "With this breakthrough, your positions as reserve team members should be secured. When the time comes, you'll join me in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament and witness the true talents of this generation."
Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue grinned. Long Xiangyue bragged, "Heh, this time, I'll make sure they all recognize Lord Long's power! With Second Brother and me working together, they won't even know what hit them!"
Zhou Sichen chuckled helplessly. "Enough showing off. Once Grandpa finishes his seclusion, I'll have him take you both to the Star Dou Forest to hunt your fourth soul rings."
The two brothers were stunned for a moment. Cao Jinxuan couldn't help asking, "Boss, you're not coming with us?"
Long Xiangyue added, "Yeah, Boss! With you around, why would we need Grandpa Zhou, a Title Douluo, to come along?"
Zhou Sichen waved his hand. "I have some matters to deal with, so I won't be able to accompany you this time."
The two looked at each other and nodded. Cao Jinxuan said, "In that case, you go handle your stuff. We'll ask our grandpas instead. They're both Soul Douluos, no need to trouble Grandpa Zhou personally."
Zhou Sichen smiled. "That won't be necessary. Grandpa just finished absorbing an immortal herb too and needs some time to adjust. It's the perfect opportunity for him to take you two to the Star Dou Forest. As for your grandpas, let them stay and guard the house."
Zhou Sichen held deep respect for the two elder grandfathers of the Cao and Long families. After all, they had looked after him often when he was younger.
He had thought about giving them each a stalk of immortal herb as well, but after careful consideration, he decided against it.
At this stage, he didn't yet have the power to protect himself fully. It wouldn't be wise for his family to attract too much attention, in case it invited the interest of those with ill intentions.
Although the three families bore different surnames, their decades of friendship made them as close as blood in the eyes of outsiders.
He could always provide the immortal herbs later—there was no rush.
It was more strategic to use the herbs to nurture more young talents for now. As for the elders, they could receive the benefit through their secondary bodies eventually—one every year. Over time, there would be more than enough to go around.
Zhou Zhenxuan took only an hour to finish absorbing the Primordial Immortal Herb. After doing so, his soul power reached Rank 92.
The energy of the Primordial Immortal Herb cleared away some of his inner bottlenecks, smoothing his cultivation path and giving him real hope of breaking through to the rank of Super Douluo.
After discussing things with Zhou Zhenxuan, Zhou Sichen left Tianyuan City and began traveling north.
The old man, meanwhile, went to find his two lifelong friends to brag about his grandson, as well as the two boys who had already reached Rank 40.
This time, he was determined to make the other two call him daddy!
With Zhou Sichen's current strength, it took him only three days to reach the outskirts of the Extreme North. Along the way, he made several supply stops, traveling at a steady and unhurried pace.
The Extreme North lay at the continent's northernmost region—a land of frigid cold, also known as the Forbidden Zone for humans.
It wasn't just the powerful soul beasts that made it dangerous; the sheer cold made it uninhabitable for most humans.
Zhou Sichen, however, wasn't concerned about the cold. With Ah Da, the Ice Jade Scorpion King, possessing his body, the power of Ultimate Ice filled his entire being. Coming to the Extreme North actually felt like returning home.
Moreover, within the domain of the Extreme North, his strength saw significant boosts thanks to the synergy with the environment. The ambient enhancement alone increased his overall power by thirty percent.
With Ah Da possessing him and wearing his upgraded Rank 7 Soul Tool—his Transformable Core—Zhou Sichen moved stealthily, like a ghost through the icy landscape.
Guided by Tianmeng's powerful spiritual sense, he gradually ventured deeper into the heart of the Extreme North.
Interestingly, although the original novel stated that the number of 100,000-year-old soul beasts in the Extreme North even exceeded that of the Star Dou Forest, Zhou Sichen hadn't encountered a single one so far.
Whether this was a blessing or a curse remained unclear—after all, his second martial soul currently only had the million-year ring bestowed by Tianmeng, and he would eventually need many more rings to fully develop it.
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