The Twisted-Ankle Plot

Deal!

In the end, Ye Lingling gritted her teeth and decisively agreed to trade for the Rasengan.

However, as part of the deal, she would not directly hand over all of the Nine Star Begonia Family's Split Mind Control to Zhu Zhuqing.

She would teach Zhu Zhuqing one mind at a time, while Zhu Zhuqing would also have to help her master the Rasengan's cultivation.

During the time it took her to master the Rasengan, she would devote herself fully to helping Zhu Zhuqing cultivate Heart Separation Control.

But she would not give Zhu Zhuqing the complete version of Heart Separation Control.

Zhu Zhuqing would only receive the complete Heart Separation Control after teaching her how to use the Rasengan.

Zhu Zhuqing found Ye Lingling's condition perfectly reasonable.

To her, Heart Separation Control was a completely new field of knowledge. If she had to learn it on her own, it would indeed consume a great deal of time.

Since Ye Lingling would teach her to cultivate Heart Separation Control, it was only fair for her to teach Ye Lingling to cultivate the Rasengan.

And once both sides completed the trade, she would still obtain the complete Heart Separation Control method.

Neither side would lose out in this deal.

But there was one thing she needed to watch out for: would Ye Lingling go back on her word?

What if she regretted it?

However, looking into Ye Lingling's eyes, Zhu Zhuqing chose to trust her once.

Ye Lingling was probably the only woman in Douluo Continent with proper values. Though she did not appear often, even the small details showed that she had a good heart.

Besides, Zhu Zhuqing believed Ye Lingling would not be foolish enough to offend an Agility Attack System Soul Master with exceptionally strong stealth abilities.

One month later!

Beneath a massive waterfall on the back mountain of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Zhu Zhuqing held twin blades as she continuously exchanged strikes with her two clones atop the water. The churning surface beneath their feet seemed like solid ground, not affecting their battle in the slightest.

At this point, her two clones were no longer as wooden and robotic as before.

Now, the two clones seemed like living people. They coordinated closely with each other, as though they were one person.

Although their overall abilities were twenty percent weaker than Zhu Zhuqing's, working together, they could still fight her evenly.

Over the past month, with Ye Lingling's help, Zhu Zhuqing had learned how to use three minds at once.

Since she had no other Heart Separation Control techniques to compare it with, she did not know just how impressive the Nine Star Begonia Family's Heart Separation Control truly was.

But after using it, she could only say one thing: it was damn amazing.

Just as she had guessed, after mastering Heart Separation Control, she found controlling her three clones at high speed increasingly effortless. However, she could currently only control two clones flexibly.

On the shore, Ye Lingling wore a solemn expression as she formed a massive Rasengan between her hands.

At the same time, she secretly watched Zhu Zhuqing's fierce sparring match atop the water.

At that moment, she finally understood the gap between herself and a genius.

It had taken her years to reach a level that someone else had achieved in a single month, and that person could even apply it in battle.

And...

Watching the Blade Light sweep across the water's surface, Ye Lingling shuddered instinctively.

This was an existence terrifying beyond measure. Her Combat Intent and Combat Power surpassed ordinary people by countless times.

Her learning ability was just as terrifying.

Fortunately, she had not offended her.

And...

She had not gained nothing, either!

Looking at the Rasengan in her hand, Ye Lingling began compressing it.

After compressing the basketball-sized Rasengan down to the size of an apple, Ye Lingling directly threw it at Zhu Zhuqing.

This was Ye Lingling's only use during Zhu Zhuqing's training—creating little accidents from time to time to train Zhu Zhuqing's reflexes.

Without any surprise, the Rasengan flying toward Zhu Zhuqing was cleaved in half with a single slash, the two halves flying toward the two clones separately.

Boom!

Having lost its stability, the Rasengan exploded directly in front of the two clones. The blast wave did not injure them, but it did halt their advance.

No longer intending to continue the fight, Zhu Zhuqing landed lightly on the water, while the two clones instantly turned into light and returned to the shadow beneath her feet.

Zhu Zhuqing had been able to move about within Heaven Dou Royal Academy because Ye Lingling had helped arrange it.

The excuse was that she was Ye Lingling's attendant, responsible for taking care of Ye Lingling's daily needs.

It was a perfectly valid reason. After all, it was normal for nobles to have people serving them.

Many people at Heaven Dou Royal Academy did the same, so the paperwork had been handled quickly.

With light steps, Zhu Zhuqing walked over to Ye Lingling one step at a time.

"The deal is complete. You've fully mastered the Rasengan's casting method!"

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she looked at Ye Lingling.

The Rasengan's formation method was not difficult, but it demanded extremely precise control over Soul Power.

Ye Lingling had mastered both forming and compressing the Rasengan within a month. That truly made Zhu Zhuqing see her in a new light.

"Then... are you leaving?"

Rather than showing joy at having mastered the technique, Ye Lingling looked at Zhu Zhuqing with a somewhat dejected expression.

"This was a trade from the beginning."

Zhu Zhuqing held out her hand.

"Then... can you not leave?"

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing's outstretched hand, Ye Lingling inexplicably placed her own hand in it.

Over the past month, she had already come to see this fierce woman as a friend.

They were both people of few words with somewhat cold personalities, and Ye Lingling found their time together comfortable.

Moreover, Zhu Zhuqing was very strong. Being by her side made Ye Lingling feel safe.

"What are you doing?!"

Seeing Ye Lingling's action, Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted slightly. Then, as if she had been electrocuted, she quickly pulled her hand back.

She was not interested in men, but that did not mean she was interested in women!

Could it be that Ye Lingling had somehow awakened some unusual preference?

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing frown, Ye Lingling's mood quickly sank.

She truly liked Zhu Zhuqing. This woman was powerful and disciplined, practically the person Ye Lingling had dreamed of becoming ever since she was little.

In Zhu Zhuqing, she saw all the fantasies she had held as a child.

Subconsciously, she had regarded Zhu Zhuqing as her idol, an important part of herself.

But now she suddenly realized that it had all been nothing more than her own fantasy. This person would eventually leave, and that made her very unhappy.

But...

Taking out the Split Mind Control Compendium she had prepared long ago from her Soul Tool, Ye Lingling reluctantly stroked it.

"Here!"

Her calm voice, carrying a hint of grievance, reached Zhu Zhuqing's ears. Looking at the Split Mind Control Compendium in Ye Lingling's hand, Zhu Zhuqing's hand stiffened slightly, but she still grabbed it without hesitation.

"Um... we're friends, right?"

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing take hold of the Split Mind Control Compendium, Ye Lingling looked at her cautiously and asked.

Zhu Zhuqing's mouth twitched. Why had this plot developed so strangely?!

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing had no intention of answering, Ye Lingling's expression became even more downcast.

"Then... can you at least tell me your name?"

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing would not acknowledge their friendship, Ye Lingling settled for the next best thing and asked for her name.

She sure asks a lot!

Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes, snatched the book away, then turned and left.

Watching Zhu Zhuqing leave without another word, Ye Lingling's lips trembled, and her eyes slowly reddened.

In the end, it still...

"Zhu Zhuqing!"

Just as Ye Lingling's tears were about to fall, a voice reached her ears.