With his wandering thoughts, Salas soon came near one edge of the pool.
Although the heat was a little uncomfortable, it was completely bearable for him.
Enveloping his hand outwardly with soul power, Salas bent down to pick the Infernal Delicate Apricot, which looked like a small red flame flower. The process was simple and effective. Although the plant was scorching hot and corroding his soul power, it didn't burn or poison his hand.
"Using jade tools and steel to pick it up? With strength, it's not that troublesome," Salas thought.
Soon, he moved like a flash of lightning and placed the immortal grass in a specific place. Then he moved again, going to the cold side of the pool and picking up the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass using the same method.
With a flash, he returned to the spot where he had placed the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
Removing all his clothes and storing them in his storage tool, Salas picked up the two grasses and brought them close to each other.
The moment the two immortal grasses came into contact, the hot and cold temperatures they emitted immediately disappeared.
Knowing this state wouldn't last long, Salas put both immortal grasses into his mouth at the same time.
The moment they entered his mouth, they melted completely and slid down his throat.
A few seconds later, an unbreakable heat struck the entire body of the old Salas, turning his skin scorching red. Then his body shifted to an icy cold, turning blue.
Salas gritted his teeth and endured it. The pain of his internal organs freezing and burning was something Salas had never experienced, not even in his worst dreams...
Even with his Titled Douluo-level physique, the two extremes of heat and cold attacking him from within were unbearable. Internal organs were relatively fragile, even for a Titled Douluo.
Knowing that the two immortal grasses had begun to take effect, Salas jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without wasting any more time.
With that, the refining process began...
Time passed little by little. Salas endured a painful torture, all the while remaining conscious.
It would have been easier if he had lost consciousness—the pain would've ended the moment he opened his eyes. But unfortunately, his high-level spiritual sea didn't allow it. It forced him to experience the process minute by minute, continuing to torment both his body and mind.
"All for a younger body... All for a younger body..." Salas gritted his teeth and motivated himself.
Although he wished more than a thousand times to stop the process—and even regretted taking those two immortal grasses—now that he had, he knew there was no turning back.
So, Salas could only grit his teeth and endure it. Thousands of curses ran through his mind. He had already cursed everyone he held a grudge against, but still, he couldn't distract himself from the pain.
A full day passed…
Salas, who had been in a half-asleep state inside the pool, suddenly opened his small eyes. His golden pupils shone with a newfound joyful light.
"Finally... This hellish process has ended." His current joy was something Salas couldn't put into words. The relief and sense of being alive—how he wished he had never been reborn in this continent.
"In hell, there's a punishment where people are fried in oil... Even that wouldn't be as painful as what I went through..." With a wry smile at the corner of his mouth, Salas emerged from the pool.
Unlike before—when his smile always looked unpleasant—now Salas's smile looked decent.
Yes, he had turned younger.
Looking down at his completely naked body, the first thing Salas noticed was his snake... which was now the size of an adult's forearm.
"Its size has increased by at least a few inches... I don't know if anyone can handle this once it gets naughty..." Salas wondered aloud.
He then released his spiritual power and observed his body from a third-person point of view.
His body had become younger, with no wrinkles or scars left behind.
Although he still had his white hair, his face now looked like it did when Salas was in his forties. The difference was that he currently had no wrinkles, unlike the original Salas, who had a few at that time.
His height had also increased to over 190 cm, with a well-defined eight-pack physique that looked robust yet lean. His back stood straight, and his presence resembled that of an unshakable mountain.
"Hey… but still… my face is only a little above average in this world. If not for these golden pupils, it would be completely average," Salas sighed. But he wasn't disheartened.
He couldn't change Salas's original looks. He could only make them younger—he knew this well.
"But it's enough… at least I feel full of energy and youthful again," Salas mused.
Then he carefully examined his body.
"My physique has broken through five levels... reaching 95. Once I completely digest the remaining power of the two immortal grasses, my physique could reach the level of a 96-ranked Super Douluo."
"Once that happens, I hope I can at least look like a man in his thirties..." Salas muttered slowly, full of hope. Returning to his original age was Salas's ultimate wish.
"If I want to achieve that… my physique must reach at least level 98 or 99. Only that level of vitality can make me that much younger..."
"Right now, my lifespan has increased by only about 40 to 50 years..." Salas mused, feeling his vitality carefully.
Normally, an average Titled Douluo can live around 120–150 years. Someone like Golden Crocodile Douluo, who is level 98, can live for more than 200 years.
Each level improvement in soul power after reaching the Titled Douluo realm increases lifespan by a few more years.
Although Salas's soul power didn't improve, his physique had reached that level. Physique determines and acts as the container of vitality.
If one could improve their physique to the level of a demigod using heaven and earth treasures, they could live up to 300 years. Maybe a little less due to the absence of soul power, but overall, their vitality would increase tremendously.
"Once I add all 8 soul rings—even if my soul power doesn't improve—my physique will definitely reach the demigod level... It could even go higher."
"And if I were to absorb all 6 soul bones with high ages... could my body reach at least the level of a third-class god? Hehe... It seems possible." Thinking about this possibility, Salas couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"But reaching god-level physique isn't the same as having their infinite lifespan... Without Immortal Qi, it's impossible..." Salas recalled from his knowledge.
He was well aware of the reason the so-called gods of this world could live forever—it was all because of Immortal Qi. Without it, unlimited lifespan was impossible. Only by gaining godhood and ascending to the Divine Realm could one obtain Immortal Qi.
And improving one's physique to the level of a third-class god was easier said than done.
Although Tang San also reached god-level when he absorbed the million-year-old soul bone and ninth soul ring, that feat was hard to achieve. But that physique might be only at the God Officer level, not that of a third-class god.
"Whether it's the God Officer level or third-class god level… anything is fine. As long as I become powerful, it'll increase my chances of becoming a true god," Salas thought.
"Hmm... next, I'll wait here and cultivate using the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well until Dugu Bo arrives. The pool will help me digest the remaining energy of the immortal grasses faster..."
"Once he comes, I'll ask him to lend me his Wishful Hundred Treasure Pouch. Hehe..."