Mutated Martial Soul

Yang Wudi casually opened the envelope.

However.

When he saw the first sentence of the letter, he sat up straight, his expression turning solemn.

The more he read, the heavier his expression became. By the time he finished reading, he had risen to his feet.

"Patriarch, what does the letter say?" the clansmen below asked curiously.

Yang Wudi did not answer. He merely clenched the letter tightly, as if gripping a red-hot branding iron.

A moment later, he suddenly raised his head, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I'm going to Heaven Dou City. For now, all clan affairs will be decided jointly by the Clan Elders."

With that, he ignored the crowd's astonished gazes. His figure blurred, and he shot out of the hall like a black gale, leaving the clansmen staring at one another in confusion.

The seven-day period of mourning had passed. On the evening of the eighth day, Lin Jin brought Lin Xue back to their residence in Heaven Dou City.

The fading light cast a warm glow over the courtyard, but Lin Jin's mood was completely at odds with the cozy scene.

After dinner, he looked at his sister's still somewhat pale face and said gently, "Xiao Xue, you've been out for nine days. Tomorrow, Older Brother will take you back to the academy for classes. Older Brother has also rested for more than ten days, so it's time for me to report to the City Defense Force."

"No, Older Brother," Lin Xue pouted, tugging on Lin Jin's sleeve. "I want to stay with you forever."

Lin Jin's heart softened. He gently stroked her hair. "Silly Girl, I'm not going somewhere far away. I'll still be here in Heaven Dou City. If you miss me, you can come back anytime after class."

"Besides, you're at the best age for learning. Your good friends Ye Lingling and the others are still at the academy. Don't you miss them?"

At the mention of Ye Lingling's name, hesitation flickered in Lin Xue's eyes. In the end, she obediently nodded. "Then... Older Brother, you have to come visit me at the academy often."

"Of course." Lin Jin smiled warmly. "Go to sleep. If you can't get up tomorrow and arrive late for class, that won't be good."

"Mm!" Lin Xue nodded vigorously and turned back to her room.

The door gently closed. The warm smile on Lin Jin's face quickly faded like the receding tide, leaving behind his usual calm and cold expression.

He turned and entered the Backyard, the moonlight stretching his shadow long across the ground.

"Shadow." He spoke calmly to the empty courtyard.

Almost the instant his voice fell, a blurred figure seemed to peel away from the shadows on the ground and silently kneel before him on one knee.

"General."

"How did your investigation go?" Lin Jin's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

"This subordinate thoroughly investigated all of Miss's activities at the academy after her Martial Soul awakening." Shadow's voice was devoid of emotion, as if reciting a cold report. "Everything appears normal on the surface. The Crown Prince's Mansion has indeed looked after Miss considerably, and no one has dared bully her openly. But after investigating more deeply, I discovered something rather strange."

"Speak."

"About two years ago, after Miss obtained her Second Soul Ring, she once treated a classmate who had been injured in a spar. After using her Soul Skill, she fell unconscious for an entire day. However, according to the academy's account, the First Soul Skill Miss used at the time was not her Second Soul Skill."

"But strangely, when Miss had only her First Soul Ring, even if she used her Soul Skill, she would not faint. At most, her face would turn pale and her body would become somewhat weak after using it."

"It seems that the stronger Miss's Soul Power becomes, the weaker her body becomes. It's the opposite of what happens with ordinary Soul Masters."

Shadow finished explaining everything he had uncovered during his seven-day investigation.

"This has nothing to do with the Crown Prince, does it?" Lin Jin asked coldly.

If Qian Renxue had deliberately harmed Lin Xue like this, then the plan in the shadows would have to be changed.

"According to my investigation, no. On the contrary, the Crown Prince cares greatly about Miss, as if he truly regards her as his own Younger Sister."

"This subordinate estimates that the Crown Prince also doesn't know about Miss's condition," Shadow replied.

"I understand." Lin Jin spoke calmly.

"This subordinate takes his leave." After speaking, Shadow once again merged into the shadows of the night.

"Mutated Martial Soul!" After Shadow left, Lin Jin drew a deep breath.

Indeed, this was the only explanation that made the most sense.

Lin Jin guessed that the Sacred Sun Flower Martial Soul Xiao Xue had awakened was not as simple as it appeared. Rather, it was a rare Mutated Martial Soul that might even possess a massive flaw.

Not only could this Martial Soul not strengthen its host through cultivation, but as Soul Power increased, it would continuously draw on the host's life force or foundation as nourishment.

Moreover, Lin Jin speculated that every time Lin Xue released a Soul Skill, she first converted her life force into Soul Power before releasing it.

That was also why it possessed a purifying effect. Wasn't purification using one's own life force bound to be effective?

Only a Mutated Martial Soul could produce such an uncanny phenomenon that went against the common principles of the Soul Master system.

Lin Jin knew that on the Douluo Continent, if there was anything capable of making up for or even evolving an innate flaw in a Martial Soul,

then the Immortal Grade Medicinal Herbs nurtured in the wondrous land of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were undoubtedly the greatest hope.

And that place was currently under the control of Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

"Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well." Lin Jin's gaze immediately sharpened. "Good. It happens to be within the plan."

Early the next morning, Lin Jin took Lin Xue to the Royal Academy.

Yu Tianheng and the others looked somewhat unnatural when they saw Lin Jin.

Only Ye Lingling ran up warmly and supported Lin Xue by the arm. "Xiao Xue, you're back. How was it? Did you have fun these past few days?"

"Thank you, Lingling." Lin Xue smiled sweetly. "Of course I did."

"Xiao Xue, go to class for now. Older Brother will head back first." After speaking, Lin Jin left the Royal Fighting Team's training ground.

"Goodbye, Older Brother." Lin Xue waved at him.

Ye Lingling watched Lin Jin's back as he turned and left, then said softly to Lin Xue, "Your Older Brother... is terrifying."

Lin Xue only smiled sweetly. "My Older Brother is the gentlest person in the world."

Those words made all the team members look at one another. Recalling the thunderous methods they had witnessed the first time they met him, they could not help shivering.

Gentle?!

In their eyes, Lin Jin had nothing to do with gentleness.

When he reached the academy gates, Lin Jin said directly, "A Tu, come with me to the garrison."

"Yes, General!"

The Fifth Detachment of the City Defense Force was stationed on the western side of Heaven Dou City, right next to the bustling West Market.

Judging by the quality of the City Defense Force, they were far inferior to the Taxi Soldiers who lived by the blade at the border, let alone the Blood Blade soldiers led by Lin Jin.

At the garrison's main gate, two on-duty Taxi Soldiers wore their helmets askew and leaned against the Door Frame, yawning.

"Stand straight!" A Tu stepped forward and shouted sternly. "Can't you see that the Commander is here?"

The two Soldiers jolted awake and hurriedly straightened up. But when they saw Lin Jin's young face clearly, a trace of disdain flashed through their eyes.

Lin Jin ignored them and walked straight into the garrison.

His gaze swept over the undisciplined Taxi Soldiers, then over the somewhat dilapidated Barracks, and finally settled on the pile of debris accumulated at the edge of the Training Ground.

"This is the City Defense Force of Heaven Dou City?" Lin Jin's disdainful voice was not loud, but the nearby Taxi Soldiers heard it clearly.

"Pathetic!"

A Middle-aged Man wearing a Deputy Commander's uniform hurried over, his face covered in a fawning smile. "This subordinate is Zhao De. Greetings, Commander Lin! I didn't know you would be visiting today. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you properly!"

"Zhao De, is it? These are the soldiers you command?"