Nine-Heart Begonia, Blessings and Misfortunes Depend on Each Other

"From this day onward, you are a member of the academy. You may cultivate alongside Lu Bu, Li Bai, and the other teachers."

Lu Xiao said with a smile.

"I shall obey the Dean's orders."

Ao Yin bowed again, neither servile nor overbearing.

He raised his head, and his eyes, where elemental energy swirled, were drawn to the still-shining Golden Sky Curtain above.

Just as Ao Yin entered the world and Lu Xiao gained another peerlessly talented subordinate.

The Sky Screen hanging high above erupted with another earth-shaking roar!

The boundless Golden Light converged, forming new information on the ranking list as a majestic voice resounded across the continent:

[Special Martial Soul Ranking, Second Place: Nine-Heart Begonia!]

[Nine-Heart Begonia, a Healing Tool Martial Soul. Its uniqueness lies in this: this Martial Soul was born from the Vitality Qi of heaven and earth and an Ancient Curse. It is the strongest Healing System Martial Soul on Douluo Continent, without equal!]

[Its unique traits are as follows: First, it is passed down through only one line. Only when the previous generation's Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Master dies will the next inheritor appear. Second, no matter how many Soul Rings are added, all its soul skills have only one effect—area-wide healing for all. This is the source of its power, as well as proof of its curse-bound restrictions. It is absolutely unique on Douluo Continent!]

[Owner: Ye Lingling (Heaven Dou Royal Academy)]

[Reward: The generational curse of the Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul shall be removed (it may be passed down through multiple lines, and each soul skill will no longer be limited to a single healing effect), Soul Power Increased by three levels, all Soul Ring Ages increased by Three Thousand Years.]

"Nine-Heart Begonia!!"

If the appearance of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had allowed auxiliary system soul masters across the continent to glimpse the pinnacle.

Then the emergence of the Nine-Heart Begonia left every Healing System Soul Master shaken and reverent!

The strongest Healing System Martial Soul, without equal!

Passed down through a single line, capable of area-wide group healing!

What an heaven-defying yet tragic Martial Soul!

And the Sky Screen's reward was even more astonishing!

The curse had been removed! It could be passed down through multiple lines!

Its soul skills would no longer be singular!

This meant that a powerful healing family capable of changing the entire Soul Master World's structure might be about to emerge!

"Gods! Nine-Heart Begonia! The legendary Martial Soul!"

"Area-wide group healing... in large-scale wars, that's practically a Divine Skill!"

"The curse has been lifted? It can even be passed down through multiple lines? Th-this Ye Lingling—who is she? We must find her!"

"Soul Power Increased by three levels, Soul Ring Age increased by Three Thousand Years—this reward is too terrifying!"

"..."

The entire continent, especially the great empires and major Soul Master sects, went mad at this moment.

An unrestricted Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Master possessed Strategic Value that even surpassed several Assault Type Titled Douluo.

Heaven Dou City, within a quiet and elegant courtyard.

A girl dressed in black, her temperament cold and aloof, was supporting a white-haired old man as they stood in the courtyard.

They looked up at the Sky Screen that had shocked the continent.

When the words [Nine-Heart Begonia] and its detailed description appeared, both grandfather and granddaughter trembled violently, disbelief written across their faces.

"Lingling... it's... it's you!"

The old man's voice trembled, filled with excitement and an indescribably complicated emotion.

He was Ye Lingling's Grandfather, the husband of the previous generation's Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Master. He knew well the glory and sorrow this Martial Soul had brought to their family.

Shock and confusion also filled Ye Lingling's cold, beautiful face.

She looked at the Sky Screen's descriptions of the Nine-Heart Begonia—"passed down through one line," "unique," and "curse."

For the first time, she seemed to understand with absolute clarity the fate she bore.

And when the rewards of "curse removal," "multiple-line inheritance," and "soul skills no longer being singular" appeared.

An enormous, unprecedented joy instantly shattered her emotional defenses!

"The curse... can be lifted?"

She murmured to herself, hardly daring to believe her eyes and ears.

This meant that their Nine-Heart Begonia Lineage could finally escape that nightmare-like fate of single-line inheritance.

They could branch out and flourish like other Martial Souls.

They could possess more abilities—stronger abilities.

Instead of merely serving as pure Healing Machines with only a single function!

"Boom!"

Just as her heart surged with emotion, the Golden Light Pillar symbolizing the Heavenly Dao's blessing precisely crossed space.

It completely enveloped her!

"Buzz!"

Warm, vast energy poured into her body.

Ye Lingling felt indescribably comfortable all over. Her Soul Power soared at an unprecedented rate, instantly breaking through her original level and rising three levels in a row!

The three Soul Rings around her—yellow, yellow, purple, originally the optimal configuration—deepened rapidly in color under the nourishment of the Golden Light, finally stabilizing as three purple rings.

They had surpassed the limits of the optimal Soul Ring configuration.

What stirred her heart even more was her Martial Soul!

"Boom!"

The Nine-Heart Begonia appeared in her palm of its own accord.

The begonia flower, once somewhat pale and carrying a trace of mournful beauty, began undergoing subtle changes beneath the baptism of the Golden Light.

The Martial Soul's color completely turned golden!

The entire begonia radiated an unprecedentedly noble, sacred, and vibrant aura!

"Grandfather! Did you see it?"

When the Golden Light faded.

Feeling the surging power within her and the completely transformed Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul, Ye Lingling excitedly grabbed her grandfather's arm.

"The Martial Soul Lock has truly disappeared!"

However, unlike Ye Lingling's pure joy.

After his initial excitement, the old man's face was quickly shrouded in deep concern.

It could even be called fear.

He gripped his granddaughter's hand tightly, his clouded eyes filled with solemnity and resolve. "Lingling, Calm Down! Blessings and Misfortunes Depend on Each Other!"

Ye Lingling froze, looking at her grandfather in confusion.

The old man looked up at the sky, his voice low and hoarse.

"Child, have you considered this? Before, because of those curse-like restrictions, our Nine-Heart Begonia Lineage was sparsely populated, yet greatly watched."

"But because its function was singular and it could only be passed down through one line, it posed limited threat to those top powers. They were more inclined to recruit us than seize us by force."

"That was why we could live quietly in a corner and retain a measure of freedom."

He looked sharply at Ye Lingling. "But now things are different. The curse has been lifted, it can be passed down through multiple lines, and its soul skills are no longer singular!"

"What does that mean?"

"It means our Nine-Heart Begonia Lineage now has the potential to become a super auxiliary clan. Our Strategic Value has increased by far more than tenfold!"

"Especially Spirit Hall!"

The old man's tone was incomparably heavy. "You and I both know how deeply they desire control over all kinds of rare Martial Souls on the continent. Before, they might have treated us courteously and worked on us slowly."

"But now... the restrictions on your Martial Soul have been removed. To them, you are a chess piece that must be held firmly in their hands, one capable of influencing the continent's entire structure!"

"They will never allow you to remain outside their control, much less allow you to join another power. Once they find you, you will... never know freedom again. You will only become a tool controlled by Spirit Hall!"

After hearing her grandfather's analysis.

The joy on Ye Lingling's face instantly faded, replaced by pallor and fear.

She was not foolish. She had merely been overwhelmed by the immense surprise. Now that her grandfather had awakened her to the truth, she immediately understood the severity of the situation.

Given her current value, Spirit Hall would absolutely spare no effort to "invite" her!

"Then... Grandfather, what should we do?"

Ye Lingling's voice carried a trace of panic and helplessness. "Where... where can we run?"