Gentle Breeze Brushing the Face

Ye Lian's calm voice rang out, and Lin Li could tell that she wanted to test her. "Teacher, which one?"

Ye Lian nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "The fourth one from the left, or any one from that patch, would be suitable."

Lin Li nodded. The Blood Fiend Demonic Phoenix martial soul spread its pitch-black wings in an instant.

With a fierce beat of her wings, she swept toward the water's surface. But suddenly, the Clear Ripples Lotus swaying atop the pond released waves of faint, tranquil fragrance.

Lin Li's mind went hazy. In that daze, she saw Lin Yan and Bailan.

She said hoarsely, "Dad, Mom! I finally get to see you!"

Lin Yan asked sternly, "Xiao Li, why are you cultivating the Phoenix Spirit? Do you want to become a Fallen One?"

Bailan looked at her with an equally stern expression.

By the pond, Zhou Yurou saw the tears streaming down Lin Li's face and hurriedly tugged on Ye Lian's sleeve.

Ye Lian said nothing. She merely watched the girl hovering above the pond. Lin Li wept helplessly, and no one knew what she had encountered within the illusion.

Ye Lian knew the Clear Ripples Lotus's ability would not cause much harm, but this girl needed to let it out.

Ye Lian had noticed Lin Li's difference the moment she arrived at the academy: cold and withdrawn. It had only grown worse since school began a month ago.

The other students all had groups of companions around them, more or less, but Zhou Yurou was the only one beside Lin Li. She was far too alone.

Her eyes concealed bone-deep sorrow and pain, along with profound hatred.

Within the illusion, Lin Li anxiously tried to explain herself. Yet Lin Yan only looked at her and said, word by word, "You have disappointed me too much."

But as soon as he finished speaking, an incomparably scorching flame shattered him. Lin Li wiped away her tears and softly said, "No matter how realistic the illusion is, you still aren't him. At the very least, he would never say that I disappointed him."

After having a good cry in front of "them," the knot in Lin Li's heart dissolved, and the thorn buried deep within her heart loosened somewhat.

She looked at Ye Lian, gave her a slight nod, then pulled the fourth lotus from the left—one that looked as though it had been carved from green jade—out by its roots.

She quickly flew back. The moment she landed, Zhou Yurou threw herself into her arms.

Her tears soaked Lin Li's shoulder as she said, "Xiao Li, you still have me from now on! You aren't alone anymore!"

Everyone had been able to hear Lin Li's voice over the pond, so they roughly understood what had happened to her.

However, the system hurriedly muted everything concerning Qian Xunji and Tang Hao. Otherwise, the repercussions would have been enormous.

Lin Li laughed helplessly and rubbed Zhou Yurou's head. Taking out a dagger, she said, "Cut off its roots, and you'll be able to absorb its spirit ring."

Zhou Yurou sniffled, her voice still slightly nasal. "Okay!"

After saying that, she viciously stabbed at the Clear Ripples Lotus's roots as though venting her anger, until a bright yellow spirit ring suddenly rose into the air.

She immediately summoned her martial soul and sat down cross-legged.

While Zhou Yurou absorbed the spirit ring, Lin Li walked over to Ye Lian and said, "Thank you, Teacher."

Ye Lian gave a quiet hum. "Too much pain buried in your heart will eventually become a mountain. As time passes, that mountain will only grow larger and heavier, until you can no longer bear it."

She stroked Lin Li's head. "Child, I don't know what exactly happened to you, but someone must have caused your pain. Cultivate diligently, until the person who caused you that pain is dead!"

Her words were light and casual, yet they were filled with killing intent.

Wang Ming had been standing guard beside Wang Ning. He had not clearly seen what had happened earlier.

As for Rou'er and Wang Bing, neither was particularly talkative. Seeing Ye Lian comfort her, they said nothing.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Yurou and Wang Ning opened their eyes at the same time. Zhou Yurou leaped into Lin Li's arms and said, "Xiao Li, I've become a Spirit Master!"

Lin Li stroked her head and said gently, "I know. What spirit ability did you awaken?"

It would be best if it was the spirit ability that had just trapped her in an illusion. That ability would be extremely useful for a Mental Control Spirit Master!

As long as Zhou Yurou's Spiritual Power continued to grow in the future, unless someone specialized in Spiritual Power, almost no one at the same level would want to become her opponent!

Then, as expected, she heard the answer she wanted. Zhou Yurou said excitedly, "My First Spirit Ability is similar to the Class Monitor's First Spirit Ability, but mine is called Gentle Breeze Brushing the Face."

Lin Li knew Ling Xuan's First Spirit Ability. It was damn disgusting. She had once tried his First Spirit Ability with her martial soul, and it felt as if she had entered a small world, where she had to fight someone with the exact same strength as herself.

However, his Spiritual Power was still weak, so he could only maintain it for a minute at most. Otherwise, Lin Li would never have wanted to enter his spirit ability.

Disgusting as hell!

Although she could quickly break the control with the Star Domain, doing so would undoubtedly expose the secret of her Twin Martial Souls. Still, hearing that Zhou Yurou's spirit ability was similar to Ling Xuan's put her at ease. No matter how weak it was, it could not be that bad.

Sure enough, Zhou Yurou continued, "Gentle Breeze Brushing the Face uses a wisp of fragrance from my martial soul to spread rapidly through a breeze, instantly pulling anyone whose Spiritual Power is lower than mine into an illusion.

"Within the illusion, the opponent will suffer through the most cruel events in their heart. They can also be tested by the Seven emotions and six desires. Unless they break the illusion, they can only escape after suffering a mental breakdown!"

Lin Li: Damn, that's even more vicious than Ling Xuan's First Spirit Ability.

But when she looked at the pond full of Clear Ripples Lotus, she could not help sighing. Hadn't she just suffered through that very spirit ability?

Upon hearing Zhou Yurou's spirit ability, everyone fell silent. Then an excited voice rang out.

"My First Spirit Ability is Teleportation!" Wang Ning's voice sounded, plunging everyone into silence once again.

Damn, what kind of luck was this? Zhou Yurou was one thing, but this little fatty Wang Ning had even obtained the Lightning Rabbit's most precious skill, Teleportation.

One had to know that this skill was something many Spirit Masters dreamed of obtaining.

Ye Lian was delighted for them both upon hearing that they had gained spirit abilities. She continued, "Let's go. We'll look for suitable Soul Beasts for the rest of you."

At that moment, Lin Li suddenly sensed the Blood Fiend Demonic Phoenix resisting and raging.

Sure enough, ahead of them stood a gray wolf wreathed in scorching flames and bearing a sacred aura, quietly staring them down.

Judging by its age, it was only around three hundred years old, yet the threat it posed to her was far more terrifying than the Man Faced Demon Spider from before.

Ye Lian was also amazed by the good fortune she had encountered on these outings. She had run into so many exceptionally rare Soul Beasts.

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, she said happily, "Wang Ming, your opportunity has arrived—a century-old Sacred Fire Azure Wolf!"

A wolf-type Soul Beast possessing both Sacred Attribute and fire attributes. If her first spirit ring could come from such a Soul Beast, perhaps her Crimson Flame King Fox could gain a measure of Sacred Attribute.

However, Ye Lian shook her head. Her gaze abruptly sharpened, and her hair rose without wind. Such a good Soul Beast, such an outstanding Soul Beast—she could not let it escape from her hands!

Be good, little one. Auntie will be gentle. It won't hurt too much!

Fourth Soul Skill, Fox Demon's Wrathful Heart-Burning Roll!