SWNOVELXO Chapter 144: Chapter 144 – The Laurel Immortal Tea!
The sudden voice startled Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, both of whom immediately scanned their surroundings with heightened vigilance.
Unlike the rest of the valley, the soil near the lake wasn't filled with countless spirit herbs. This soil, the most fertile and energy-rich at the core of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, only held a few dozen plants. Each plant occupied a sizable space, and they were spaced quite far apart—no less than five or six meters from one another—like sovereigns refusing to share the same domain.
"T-These are all immortal herbs!" Jiang Nannan exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement, completely forgetting the mysterious voice from earlier.
But Zhu Ziyang had not. His sharp gaze locked onto the nearest plant, and he asked sternly, "Was that you?"
The plant grew near the icy Yin Spring. It was a half-meter-tall shrub-like tree. From its base grew nine branches—one central trunk, the thickest and straightest, and eight secondary branches radiating outward before curving back in toward the center. Together they formed a perfect arc, converging at the top where each branch bore a flower—neither quite flower nor leaf.
Each of the nine blossoms was formed by nine crescent-moon-shaped green petals arranged in a circle, with a delicate pistil at the center. The flower on the main trunk was twice as large as the others and emitted a soft silvery glow, like flowing moonlight.
The moment Zhu Ziyang spoke, the main blossom began to sway and a female voice echoed from within, "That's right, it's me—Chacha! Human, put away your martial soul. They won't harm you as long as you're near me."
Zhu Ziyang did not comply. Instead, his eyes narrowed, filled with danger. He recognized the origin of this plant. Alongside his astonishment, a sense of fear and awe surged within him.
It could speak—undeniable proof of a 100,000-year soul beast!
This immortal herb was no ordinary plant. It had achieved sentience. If it harbored ill will, it could've attacked them without warning. The fact that it spoke instead of striking was a small blessing.
Still, Zhu Ziyang remained vigilant as he studied the plant.
"Brother, this is… the Laurel Immortal Tea!" Jiang Nannan exclaimed, her crimson eyes gleaming with surprise.
"That's right. The Laurel Immortal Tea," Zhu Ziyang confirmed with a nod.
The Laurel Immortal Tea was a legendary celestial herb. According to myth, it sprouted from a branch that fell to Earth from the divine Laurel Tree on the Moon. It was imbued with pure, concentrated lunar power—able to refine the soul, enhance comprehension, and strengthen spiritual energy. For beings with lunar bloodlines, it could cleanse and temper the body, enhance their lineage, and boost their cultivation immensely.
"Ooh, you actually recognized me! Impressive!" the Laurel Immortal Tea chirped cheerfully. "But it makes sense. That silver-haired girl over there—your martial soul is the Lunar Jade Rabbit, isn't it?"
"How did you know?" Jiang Nannan asked in surprise.
"Hehehe, I knew I wasn't mistaken!" Chacha said, her branches swaying with delight. "The moment you stepped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I sensed you. You're lucky it's me guarding this place. If it had been someone else, you'd be fertilizer by now!"
"So we're supposed to thank you, then?" Zhu Ziyang replied flatly, his eyes glinting with danger.
"Of course!" Chacha replied, oblivious to his tone. "Ever since that person ascended, you two are the only ones who've entered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Normally, intruders like you get turned into compost by Youyou and the others. But you met me! I don't have their hostility, nor do I follow that person's orders."
"That person? Youyou?" Jiang Nannan asked, confused.
Zhu Ziyang had a vague idea who that person might be. His reckless curiosity settled down. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was shrouded in mystery—acting rashly wasn't wise. For now, it was best to gather intel from this talking herb. With that decision, he allowed Jiang Nannan to keep asking questions.
"Oh! So you're not one of that person's messengers!" Chacha squealed, seemingly both shocked and secretly delighted. "Well, no matter. I don't mind. Unlike Youyou, I never trusted that person anyway. Most of us didn't."
"You still haven't said—who is Youyou? And who are the others?" Jiang Nannan asked, frowning.
"Youyou is the Delicate Fragrance Immortal—that giant pink flower near the boundary between the Yin and Yang springs," Chacha explained with a hint of annoyance. "Don't wake her up! She's nothing like me. If she finds you, she'll have the others attack you. After all, you're not sent by that person."
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan looked toward the spring's boundary and saw a massive pink flower. It had no leaves. Its stem was nearly a meter long, and its flower nearly just as wide. Each petal shimmered like crystal, and the stamen glowed faint purple—like embedded amethysts.
"The Delicate Fragrance Immortal!" they exclaimed in unison, stunned. They never imagined the legendary "king of immortal herbs" would be here too!
This flower was known to neutralize all poisons and toxins, releasing a fragrance called the Delicate Fragrance capable of purifying any substance. It was the nemesis of all poisons—truly the ruler of all immortal herbs.
"As for the others," Chacha continued, "they're the other herbs living here—like the Eight-Petal Ice Grass, the Blazing Apricot, the Odorous Tulip, the Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum, the Phoenix Comb Flower, the Eight-Leafed Immortal Orchid, the Obsidian Bamboo, the Earth Dragon Melon, and more!"
She sounded like a carefree girl listing her friends. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan exchanged glances, both sucking in a sharp breath.
All of those were extremely rare and precious immortal herbs—yet they were all here! No wonder the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was called a treasure trove of celestial plants.
"You can talk… Are you a 100,000-year soul beast?" Zhu Ziyang asked at last—the most important question of all.
"Of course!" Chacha said proudly. "Don't be fooled by my youthful appearance. I'm only 10,000 years old, but in this place, we grow ten times faster than outside. So yes, I'm definitely a 100,000-year soul beast!"
"...!" Zhu Ziyang's eyes twitched. A dreadful realization struck him. He asked gravely, "Then the other herbs you mentioned… are they also 100,000-year soul beasts?"
"Not all of them," Chacha replied. "But many are. Some top-tier spirit herbs that aren't even immortal-grade have also reached 100,000 years. So don't get any funny ideas. Your death energy may be scary, but we aren't helpless!"
"Heh, of course not," Zhu Ziyang replied awkwardly, letting go of any thoughts of looting the place.
"Giggle~ I figured as much," Chacha said cheerfully. Then she turned to Jiang Nannan. "Since your martial soul is the Lunar Jade Rabbit, I'd like to ask you a favor. If you agree, I'll let you choose one immortal herb to take with you!"
"What kind of favor?" Jiang Nannan asked curiously.
Zhu Ziyang was also intrigued. Chacha had clearly been observing them since they arrived. Her interest had to mean she needed something. But what could a sentient herb want from them?
"Well, the mother tree of the Laurel Immortal Tea is the Divine Laurel Tree, which grows on the Moon," Chacha explained. "Every Laurel Immortal Tea dreams of returning to the Moon. But we're plants—we can't exactly travel. So for millions of years, every Laurel Immortal Tea has partnered with a Lunar Jade Rabbit. We help them cultivate, and they carry our seeds back to the Moon. That's the tradition."
"You want to partner with me?" Jiang Nannan asked, a bit stunned. Her martial soul, the Lunar Jade Rabbit, echoed that it was true.
"Yes. I want to become your soul ring," Chacha said, shocking both of them. "As a 100,000-year soul beast, becoming your soul ring will grant you immense power. Even if you can't travel to the Moon yourself, just sending my seed into the sky will fulfill the promise. That shouldn't be hard for someone like you."
"I… I…" Jiang Nannan was speechless. The request was too unexpected—too grand.
"We accept!" Zhu Ziyang declared for her without hesitation. This was a win-win deal—of course they would agree!