Changing Qing Lin

Perhaps because she had been carefully looked after during this time, Qing Lin's once somewhat thin, frail-looking body had filled out considerably.

Though she was only sixteen, her figure had already begun to take on a young girl's graceful curves—curved where it should be, rounded where it should be, just right.

Her little face still carried a trace of youthful innocence, yet it was exquisitely delicate. Her brows were like distant painted hills, her eyes like stars, and beneath her small nose were soft pink lips.

It was not hard to imagine that once she grew into adulthood, she would surely become a peerless beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

Shi Kang stroked her head and asked, "How is it? Have you gotten used to living here?"

It was rather shameful to say it, but he had brought Qing Lin back some time ago. Yet he had been busy with all sorts of matters lately, either going out to handle affairs or entering seclusion to cultivate, and had barely taken the time to care for her properly.

Qing Lin greatly enjoyed Shi Kang's affectionate gesture. She lifted her head slightly, her eyes full of dependence, and softly said, "Mm, Young Master, Qing Lin is living very well."

Because of Shi Kang, Qing Lin received guest-of-honor treatment among the Snake People Clan.

Compared to her life in Stone Desert City, it was simply like heaven and earth.

In Stone Desert City, she had to do heavy housework every day while enduring the discrimination and bullying of others. Her days had been unbearably miserable.

But here, she never had to worry about food or clothing, and there were even people specifically assigned to take care of her daily needs.

Shi Kang nodded slightly.

"It's just..." Qing Lin suddenly hesitated, seemingly wanting to speak but stopping herself.

"What is it? Did those snake people bully you?" Shi Kang's expression turned serious.

Qing Lin hurriedly shook her head and anxiously explained, "No... They take too good care of me. I'm a little unused to it..."

Qing Lin told Shi Kang about the changes in her life over this period, about how well those snake people had treated her...

Yet between her words, her inferiority complex still showed through.

Even now, Qing Lin still felt that she did not deserve such treatment.

Back in Stone Desert City, everyone discriminated against her for being a human-snake person hybrid. She had always been the one bullied and excluded.

Over time, Qing Lin had long since come to see herself as someone at the very bottom.

She felt that aside from doing a bit of housework, she could do nothing else.

To put it plainly, her sense of unworthiness was at work. She always felt that such good days could not last, and that sooner or later, she would return to that painful life from before.

Having lived two lives, Shi Kang had his share of experience. He could more or less understand why Qing Lin was so timid and insecure.

It was nothing more than feeling that she had no value.

That was simple. She only needed to find her own value.

Did Qing Lin have value? She had far too much! If she had no value, Shi Kang would not have spent even a little time on her.

The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were the number one extraordinary pupils on the Dou Qi Continent. Her future as a Dou Sheng was within reach.

Was that value not great enough?

To help Qing Lin cast off this timid personality, all he needed to do was teach her cultivation. It was that simple.

Besides, setting her on the path of cultivation, making her strong, and then having her serve him had always been one of Shi Kang's plans.

Thinking this, Shi Kang looked at Qing Lin and seriously said, "Qing Lin, didn't I say before that I would help you become strong? I can teach you cultivation now."

"Cultivation... Can I, can I really do it?" Qing Lin asked cautiously, her eyes full of uncertainty.

Before, all her time had been occupied by work. She had been busy from morning until night every day, with no free time at all.

Becoming strong through cultivation was something she had not even dared to imagine.

Of course, no one in Stone Desert City would have been willing to teach her either. In her eyes, she was merely a despised hybrid, completely unworthy of such an opportunity.

"Of course you can. And your talent for cultivation is actually very good. It's just that their judgment is poor," Shi Kang said with an encouraging smile.

"My talent is good?" Qing Lin could hardly believe her ears.

Shi Kang deliberately put on a stern face and said, "Could it be that you're questioning my judgment?"

"No, no, Qing Lin wouldn't dare. Qing Lin believes Young Master..." Qing Lin hurriedly shook her head in explanation, panic filling her eyes.

"Good. Then wait here for a moment. I'll teach you cultivation shortly." Shi Kang made the decision for her just like that.

What a joke. With Qing Lin's incredible talent, how could she not cultivate and merely be used as a maid? That would be a terrible waste.

Qing Lin obediently nodded.

Shi Kang first instructed Shi Fei to capture two snake-type Monster Beasts alive, one third-tier and one fourth-tier.

The purpose of catching snake-type Monster Beasts was naturally to let Qing Lin test out her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

In the original work, Qing Lin had been able to control a fourth-tier, Dou Ling-level Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake on her very first attempt.

Shi Kang did not want either himself or Qing Lin to face too much pressure, so he planned to start by practicing with a third-tier, Da Dou Shi-level snake-type Monster Beast.

To put it plainly, Shi Kang himself did not know how to use the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. He was afraid that Qing Lin might fail to control it, leaving him, the teacher, embarrassed as well.

"Oh, right. Don't capture any snake people," Shi Kang specifically added.

"This subordinate understands!" After acknowledging the order, Shi Fei hurried off to carry it out.

Shi Kang had originally planned to send Shi Long to Heavenly Snake Manor to "borrow" the materials, Cultivation Techniques and Combat Skills related to the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

Shi Kang himself certainly could not teach Qing Lin, so he needed to find a professional to guide her.

The people of Heavenly Snake Manor were a fine choice.

On this continent, when it came to research on snakes, aside from the Nine Nether Nether Python Clan, Heavenly Snake Manor was probably the foremost authority.

The Nine Nether Nether Python Clan was unlikely to research ways to strengthen their own nemesis, so Heavenly Snake Manor was the only option.

In the original work, Heavenly Snake Manor had also trained Qing Lin. Following their example could not go wrong.

But after thinking it over, Shi Kang ultimately did not send Shi Long.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would be returning to the clan in a few days as well.

Shi Kang's main business here was basically finished. Even if he had missed something, he could simply send people back later.

The sooner he returned to the clan, the better. The Dou Qi in the Stone Realm was much denser than outside, and cultivation there would be faster.

Besides, he could also begin preparing to help Zi Yan unify Dragon Island...

With the Soul Clan posing such a threat, Shi Kang truly did not dare rest for even a moment.

Since he was returning anyway, he could simply stop by Heavenly Snake Manor on the way back.

In any case, Qing Lin had not yet reached the Dou Zhe level and had no need for a Cultivation Method yet. There was no need to specifically send Shi Long on a trip.

With that in mind, Shi Kang brought Qing Lin to a quiet room.

Shi Kang began teaching Qing Lin how to draw in the Dou Qi from the air.

"Qing Lin, close your eyes, focus your mind, and carefully sense the Dou Qi in the air..."

As he spoke, he patiently demonstrated the movements.

Shi Kang taught very seriously, overlooking not a single detail.

Qing Lin learned even more seriously. She squeezed her eyes shut and followed Shi Kang's instructions, doing her best to sense the Dou Qi in the air.

Qing Lin felt that Young Master treated her far too well. Not only did he allow her to enjoy such excellent conditions, but he was even teaching her cultivation.

In the past, she would never have dared imagine such a wonderful thing happening to her.

Naturally, she had to treasure this opportunity.

At this moment, Qing Lin's conviction became even firmer. She had to cultivate diligently and repay Young Master in the future!