Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

Facing the deal proposed by the Moon Laurel Immortal Tea, Zhu Ziyang agreed on Jiang Nannan's behalf without hesitation. After all, from every perspective, this was a deal where Jiang Nannan stood to gain without any loss.

"Wonderful!" the Moon Laurel Immortal Tea cheered with delight. "Then it's happily decided! When you're ready to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, you must come find Chacha!"

"Mm, I understand!" Jiang Nannan had gradually come to terms with the situation and responded with a gentle smile.

"Very well, you can now choose a single immortal herb. Chacha will pick it for you, and then you should leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," she said cheerfully. "I fear if you stay too long, others might sense your presence."

"Can we talk it over first?" Jiang Nannan glanced at Zhu Ziyang, who winked at her. Catching on, she immediately said,

"No problem—but you only have three minutes!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea responded.

"Brother, is there anything you need?" Jiang Nannan turned to Zhu Ziyang, stepping closer and asking softly.

"I do have some ideas. But I'd like to hear your thoughts first, Nannan." Zhu Ziyang looked thoughtful before turning to her. The girl blushed, excitement clearly written on her face.

"My thoughts?" Jiang Nannan paused for a moment, bowing her head in contemplation. A few seconds later, she looked up and suggested, "How about this? Let's both say which herb we want at the same time and then compare."

"Sounds good." Zhu Ziyang smiled and nodded.

They gazed into each other's eyes, and then—at the same time—they spoke:

"Phoenix Sunflower!" ×2

Realizing they had chosen the same herb, both Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan smiled knowingly. Unable to resist, Zhu Ziyang wrapped an arm around her waist and said softly, "Nannan, we really are in sync."

"Hehe~" the girl giggled, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. But behind her bright eyes lay a deeper thought.

Jiang Nannan knew Zhu Ziyang chose the Phoenix Sunflower for Ma Xiaotao. That was, after all, one of the main reasons they came to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. And she, too, had chosen it for Ma Xiaotao.

The girl had her own reasons. She had long noticed the ambiguous relationship between Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao. Though unwilling in her heart, she could not object—Ma Xiaotao's martial soul defect was a well-known issue. If she tried to stop Zhu Ziyang from helping suppress the evil fire within Ma Xiaotao, she would be in the wrong.

So, she chose the Phoenix Sunflower. She knew full well that it could cure Ma Xiaotao's martial soul defect. Once that was resolved, Ma Xiaotao would no longer have a reason to stay close to Zhu Ziyang under the pretense of suppressing her fire. At the same time, Jiang Nannan would leave a perfect impression in Zhu Ziyang's heart. A win-win.

Though protected by Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan was no naïve girl. She worked hard to grow—whether in cultivation or cunning.

But no matter how well one plans, fate always finds a way to interfere.

"Have you decided which herb to choose?" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea asked as the two turned around.

"Yes, Chacha. We would like the Phoenix Sunflower," Jiang Nannan replied with a smile.

"Oh my, you really know how to pick!" she cried in surprise. "You actually chose Kui Kui, who's the furthest from me! This will be tricky!"

"What's wrong? Can't we pick the Phoenix Sunflower?" Jiang Nannan's heart sank slightly.

"It's not that you can't—it's just a bit troublesome." The Moon Laurel Immortal Tea shook her branches. "Here, hold out your hand."

"Huh? Why?" Jiang Nannan asked, puzzled.

"Oh come on, just do it! Chacha won't hurt you!" she said, her tone a mix of helplessness and annoyance.

Left with no choice, Jiang Nannan extended her hand. Moon Laurel Immortal Tea then extended a branch toward her and placed it on her palm. Jiang Nannan looked on, still confused.

"This flower of mine is meant for you. Pick it, and you'll be able to harvest Kui Kui without alerting the others," she said with a hint of reluctance. "Be gentle—it really hurts."

Jiang Nannan smiled gently. "Thank you, Chacha. I'll be careful."

She held the branch with one hand and, with the other, quickly snapped off the flower in a flash.

"Ah! That hurt!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea wailed in protest. "You said you'd be gentle!"

"Hehe, short pain is better than long pain. I figured if I did it fast, you'd only hurt for a second," Jiang Nannan explained, laughing. "If I'd gone slower, I might not have been able to break it off in one go. Wouldn't that have hurt even more?"

"That does make sense..." Moon Laurel Immortal Tea agreed, not noticing the amused glint in Zhu Ziyang's eyes. "Now that you have my flower, the other herbs won't attack you. But be careful—only pick the small blossoms around Kui Kui. The main one is her true body. Touch it, and you'll wake her. If that happens, you're doomed."

"Small blossoms?" Jiang Nannan asked with concern. "Are they as potent as the main body?"

"Of course not!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea replied. "Kui Kui's main body is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. The small blossoms are just pure immortal herbs."

"Will they still work to cure Ma Xiaotao's martial soul defect?" Jiang Nannan murmured to herself.

"Don't worry," Chacha reassured her. "We soulbeast herbs only produce offshoots after evolving. Those offshoots are true immortal herbs. Kui Kui's main body is a soulbeast now, but her blossoms are still medicinal. They'll do the trick."

"Is that so..." Some of Jiang Nannan's doubts eased, though a trace of hesitation remained.

"I bet you chose Kui Kui for someone with a martial soul defect, didn't you?" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea guessed. "Ten thousand years ago, her predecessor was used to solve that very issue for someone. Back then, her medicinal power wasn't even as strong as it is now. You can rest assured."

"Alright, I believe you." Jiang Nannan finally relaxed and walked toward the Phoenix Sunflower near the Yang Spring.

Zhu Ziyang watched her anxiously. Every time she passed another herb, his heart clenched, worried they might attack her.

"Relax," Moon Laurel Immortal Tea said, sensing his worry. "With my flower, she's protected."

"She'd better be," Zhu Ziyang said darkly. "If anything happens to her, you'll all pay the price."

He unleashed a burst of death energy as a warning. Moon Laurel Immortal Tea shuddered, then stubbornly replied, "Hmph! We can summon the Ice-Fire Dragon Souls!"

"Ice-Fire Dragon Souls?" Zhu Ziyang's eyes lit up, recalling another reason he came here. "What are those?"

"Hmph! The souls of two Dragon Kings—far stronger than all of us herbs combined!" she said proudly, unaware that her words made Zhu Ziyang's eyes gleam with interest.

"That's impossible. How could there be Dragon Kings' souls here?" he asked.

"Because their bones are buried under the Ice and Fire springs," Moon Laurel Immortal Tea said. "That's why this land is so rich and unique!"

"I see…" Zhu Ziyang's eyes gleamed. "Thank you, Chacha."

"Hehe, just don't get any bad ideas!" she pouted cutely, completely unaware of the danger. Humans hide daggers behind their smiles.

"But of course!" Zhu Ziyang nodded. Not now, he added silently, but next time… who knows?