Continent's Number One Support Martial Soul Battle, Mother Ye Requests Li Zhixian

(Utmost Sharpness · Li Zhixian)

"Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers?"

Li Zhixian's gaze narrowed slightly.

Mother Ye's cool voice flowed like a stream over rocky ravines.

"The so-called Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers is a contest held once every three years between the Nine Heart Begonia and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, competing for the title of 'Continent's Number One Support Martial Soul.'"

"The current heirs of the two families each choose a Battle Soul Master to support."

"The victor determines who holds the title of 'Number One Support.'"

Li Zhixian furrowed his sword-like brows.

From Mother Ye's words, the Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers seemed to be a grand event watched by many powerful figures.

But why had it never been mentioned in the original story?

He immediately asked, "The Nine Heart Begonia and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda are both the continent's most renowned support Martial Souls."

"Why has no one ever spoken of this Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers?"

A trace of gloom flickered in the depths of Mother Ye's pale violet eyes.

"Because..."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has Chen Xin, the man known as the 'Number One Attack Douluo,' guarding it."

"With Chen Xin present, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda stands undefeated in the Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers."

"This contest... has been dormant for more than a dozen editions."

"So long that... the world has already forgotten it."

Hearing this, Li Zhixian nodded in understanding.

If that was the case, then it made sense for the original work not to mention it.

First there was Sword Douluo Chen Xin sweeping all before him, then there were the other six Shrek monsters assisting.

The so-called Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers had long existed in name only.

Even if the Ye Family forcibly revived it,

they would only be humiliating themselves.

"Wouldn't that be unfair?"

After some thought, Li Zhixian asked in confusion, "If they truly wished to compete for the title of Number One Support, then the Battle Soul Masters aided by both sides should be of comparable strength."

Mother Ye replied, "When has true fairness ever existed in this world?"

"Besides, being able to befriend a top-tier Battle Soul Master is itself an ability of support-system Soul Masters."

At this point, how could Li Zhixian not understand why Mother Ye had invited him?

"So..."

"The Ye Family Head invited me here..."

"Because you want me to represent the Ye Family in the next Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers?"

Mother Ye looked at Li Zhixian.

At last, a trace of warm hope appeared on that beautiful face that had always remained cool and composed.

"Correct."

"But not the next one, because there is only a little over a year until the next contest."

"The Ye Family does not expect to defeat the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect within a few short years."

"The Ye Family can afford to wait. We can wait for Young Master Banished Immortal to grow."

"In you, I see hope of defeating Chen Xin."

"Your sword is sharper than Chen Xin's."

The Ye Family Head, always cool and dignified, now wore an expression of near-fanatical obsession on her lovely face.

"My Ye Family's Nine Heart Begonia permits only two plants to exist in the world at once."

"When a new bud blooms, the old flower must wither."

A barely restrained tremor seeped into her indifferent voice.

The begonia flowers in the garden seemed to sense her surging emotions and silently bowed their heads.

Scattered petals drifted down in soft flurries, covering her shoulders and hair like a heavy, wordless mourning.

"I have personally sent off two generations of Nine Heart Begonia inheritors..."

"I watched my blood relatives wither away in the prime of their lives."

"Even so... even though the Nine Heart Begonia is so powerful that heaven itself envies it, the title of 'Number One Support' in the hearts of the world still belongs to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

"As the current head of the Ye Family, I bear the long-cherished wishes of countless departed members of the Ye Family."

"I seek nothing else. I only wish to clear the name of my Ye Family's Nine Heart Begonia."

She raised her hand.

She removed an exquisite jade hairpin from her coiffed hair.

Three streams of light floated out from the hairpin. Amid a hazy, multicolored glow, three Soul Bones of different forms hovered quietly, radiating vast and pure energy fluctuations.

"These are three Soul Bones treasured by the Ye Family."

Mother Ye regained some of her calm and said seriously, "If Young Master Banished Immortal agrees to represent the Ye Family in the Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers in the future, they will all be yours."

Looking at the three Soul Bones that could drive any Soul Master mad,

Li Zhixian could not help but sigh. "Soul Bones, the dreams of countless Soul Masters, offered without hesitation."

"The Ye Family is truly generous."

Mother Ye's lips curled slightly, like rain and snow melting to reveal bright spring sunlight.

She was convinced that no one could refuse such priceless treasures.

However—

"But I won't do it."

Li Zhixian's voice was calm and unruffled.

The trace of a smile on Mother Ye's face vanished.

"Is it not enough?"

"As long as you help my Ye Family defeat the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and seize the title of Number One Support Martial Soul..."

"The Ye Family's accumulation of a hundred years can all be yours."

"Lingling is the next generation's family head. Contributing to the family is only natural."

Mother Ye turned her gaze toward her daughter beside her, her tone so cold that it carried not the slightest ripple.

"When the time comes, she can support you... Lingling can also marry you."

Those words were so obsessive they bordered on sickness. Even her own daughter had been treated as a bargaining chip.

Li Zhixian could not help looking toward Ye Lingling, who had remained silent the entire time.

The girl had her head lowered.

Her eyelashes cast shadows across her pale, delicate face, hiding those azure eyes.

She was as quiet as a soulless puppet on strings.

Li Zhixian fell silent.

Her dead father, her obsessive mother, the shackles of a fate she could not escape—this was the root of why Ye Lingling had become this way.

But—

"Ye Family Head, you do not understand me."

Li Zhixian spoke leisurely. "To me, wealth is nothing but an external possession. As long as it can buy a few jugs of cheap wine, that is enough."

"All I seek is freedom."

"One man, one sword, one jug of wine—that is enough to roam the world."

"I have no interest whatsoever in the feud between the Ye Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

The day he left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had already severed that bond.

Now, in his eyes, everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was merely a passerby.

Neither gratitude nor enmity remained.

If he agreed to become entangled in the struggle between the Ye Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect simply because of past grievances,

that would not be freedom—it would be narrow-mindedness, proof that he had not truly let go.

It ran contrary to his free and unfettered, clear and lucid sword heart.

If one day in the future...

he agreed to fight for the Ye Family in the Battle of the Sacred Healing Towers,

it could only be because the Ye Family itself had moved him, not because he harbored thoughts of revenge.

Otherwise, both his sword and his heart would be tarnished.

"If the Ye Family Head has no further business, Banished Immortal will take his leave."

Li Zhixian cupped his hands and casually stepped onto the small path leading outside.

Shadows of flowers swayed, half-concealing his plain white robes.

Just as his figure was about to disappear from the sight of the Ye mother and daughter, the young man's clear voice drifted back on the wind from afar.

"Ye Family Head, Banished Immortal will say one more thing..."

"Before making a decision that concerns her entire life next time, perhaps you should first ask your daughter whether she is willing."

As his words fell, Li Zhixian hummed a tuneless little song, his figure vanishing completely into the depths of the flowers and trees.

Ye Lingling's lowered eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, and faint ripples seemed to rise in the depths of her dim blue eyes.

"Heh..."

Mother Ye merely paused in slight surprise before murmuring, "The gifted have pride in their bones. I knew he would not agree so easily."

"Back then, Chen Xin was being hunted down. Ning Fengzhi saved him, and to repay that favor, he joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Lingling..."

She turned her head, her gaze as sharp as a blade as it pinned her daughter in place.

"Opportunities are fleeting."

"This Li Zhixian is a hidden dragon in the abyss."

"Before he soars through the nine heavens, you must carve the mark of my Ye Family into his heart!"

"You must remember that the Ye Family's Nine Heart Begonia, and the honor and decline of the Ye Family across hundreds of years, all rest upon you!"

Mother Ye turned a deaf ear to Li Zhixian's words.

That crushing weight of the family's century-long reputation was imposed, without question... entirely upon the girl's slender, fragile shoulders.

Ye Lingling still kept her head lowered.

After a long while, she softly uttered three words.

"I understand."

After returning to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye,

Li Zhixian cast aside those trivial matters.

He calmed his mind and began brewing the Ice Flame Immortal Dew.

"All those messy disturbances are far less real than becoming stronger myself."

"Until I forge the Molten Frost Spirit Vein Body and comprehend the Azure Lotus Sword Song Second Style, I, Li Zhixian, will never leave seclusion."

The little author is exhausted. I'll nap for two hours, then go work like a beast of burden.

The next chapter is more than halfway done. I'll keep writing at my desk and will definitely finish it before noon.

Thank you for the support from so many dear readers. The little author bows!!!

Hehe, asking all you dear readers for some votes too...