Ye Lingling's Role

Lin Jin smiled faintly and nodded. "There is a quiet room in the residence. You can take it there and refine it; no one will disturb you."

He paused, then added, "The medicinal properties of the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid are mild. Given your foundation, absorbing it on your own should pose no problem. If you feel any discomfort, call for me at any time."

"Thank you, Big Brother Lin." Ye Lingling thanked him once more, then followed a maid toward another prepared quiet room.

Lin Jin watched Ye Lingling's retreating figure. To him, Ye Lingling's role was the same as Dugu Bo's.

Both were strategic forces capable of influencing the course of large-scale battlefields.

Dugu Bo was "poison"—a wide-ranging deterrent and force of destruction capable of routing thousands of troops.

The Nine Heart Begonia represented by Ye Lingling, meanwhile, was "life"—wide-ranging preservation and restoration.

His thoughts drifted back to the battlefield of the Northern Border, where the sight of wind and snow raging over Corpses Everywhere remained vivid even now.

He had personally seen Ye Lingling's grandfather, that Soul Douluo-level Old Man who wielded the Nine Heart Begonia, bloom that resplendent begonia behind their formation when the two armies were locked in bitter combat and their own battle line was on the verge of collapse.

Gentle blue-green light spread outward like ripples, enveloping more than ten thousand exhausted, scarred Taxi Soldiers.

In that instant, it was as though a miracle had descended.

Wounds deep enough to expose bone healed visibly, depleted strength surged back like spring water, and the Battle Intent that had nearly gone out was rekindled into a blazing inferno.

The Defense Line, once on the verge of collapse, had been forcibly dragged back from the brink of death and erupted with even more tenacious fighting power.

That had not merely been a treatment. It had been the ultimate boost to morale, a revolutionary reversal of the battlefield situation.

Area-of-effect group healing... Lin Jin murmured inwardly.

In individual duels, the Nine Heart Begonia might not display an absolute advantage. But on battlefields where tens or even hundreds of thousands fought, its existence was equivalent to giving an army several chances at "rebirth."

Its value was immeasurable!

Investing in Ye Lingling was not simply about giving his younger sister Lin Xue another reliable companion. It was also about preparing a trump card capable of turning the tide for the storm that might one day sweep across the continent.

A trump card of "life," complementing Dugu Bo's trump card of "death."

Now that Ye Lingling had the support of the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, she might become the first Support System Titled Douluo.

At the level of a Titled Douluo, her area-of-effect healing soul skills would only be more terrifying than her grandfather's.

Perhaps by then, she would be able to heal an army of a hundred thousand at once.

After watching Ye Lingling leave, Dugu Yan moved close to Lin Jin and blinked curiously. "Big Brother Lin, you're really good to Lingling. You even considered the shortcomings in her cultivation."

Lin Jin glanced at her and replied calmly, "You are Xiao Xue's most important friends, so naturally you are people I need to look after.

"By the way, after eating the Golden Light Earth Dragon last night, your Soul Power should have reached Level 40, right?"

He had previously seen that Dugu Yan already possessed Level 35 Soul Power. Logically, consuming the Golden Light Earth Dragon should have raised her Soul Power by at least five levels.

When Dugu Yan heard Lin Jin ask about it, her eyes immediately lit up with excitement and pride. "Big Brother Lin, you noticed!"

"That's right! After absorbing that Golden Light Earth Dragon, my Soul Power directly broke through to Level 40! Now I only need to obtain my Fourth Soul Ring, and I'll become the first Soul Ancestor in our team!"

"However, I still want to wait a few days and stabilize my cultivation. I'm afraid that gaining five levels of Soul Power at once might be a little too much for me."

Dugu Bo also agreed from the side. "Being cautious is good. I did not even gain a full level of Soul Power, but I am only one step away from Level 92."

Hearing this, Lin Jin gently shook his head, his tone carrying unquestionable certainty. "You two are worrying too much."

"The reason Immortal Herbs are called Immortal Herbs is precisely because they contain the essence of heaven and earth. They do not merely increase Soul Power; they also strengthen one's foundation, nourish one's origin, and temper the body with remarkable effect."

"The increase in Soul Power brought by Immortal Herbs is often even more solid and pure than Soul Power gained through years of personal cultivation. There is absolutely no danger of an unstable foundation."

He looked at Dugu Yan, his gaze sharp. "The reason you feel your Soul Power brimming within you yet difficult to control is not because your foundation is unstable. It is because, after such a sudden increase, your body and Martial Soul have not yet fully adapted to this new power."

"Obtaining a Soul Ring is precisely the best adaptation process—mastering power under pressure and becoming familiar with your transformed self through battle."

Then, he turned to Dugu Bo and gave a slight nod. "Dugu Senior, the fact that you feel only one step away from Level 92 is the same. The medicinal power of the Immortal Herb has already fused into your Limbs and Bones and Soul Power Core. All you need is an opportunity, and the breakthrough will come naturally."

Dugu Bo stroked his beard in contemplation. Having lived for most of his life, he naturally possessed a deep understanding of Soul Power cultivation. But heavenly curiosities such as Immortal Herbs truly lay beyond the scope of ordinary experience.

Dugu Yan now had absolute faith in Lin Jin's words. Upon hearing them, she immediately brightened. "So that's how it is!"

Dugu Bo also came to a sudden realization, stroking his beard as he laughed. "So that's it! This Old Man allowed ordinary cultivation experience to limit his thinking. The power of Immortal Herbs truly is extraordinary."

He looked at his granddaughter, his eyes filled with anticipation. "In that case, once Xiao Xue and Little Ye finish absorbing them, this Old Man will take you to hunt for Soul Rings."

Dugu Yan looked at Lin Jin. "Big Brother Lin, are you coming with us?"

Lin Jin pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I have only just taken over the City Defense Force, and there are still many matters that require my attention. Besides..."

His profound gaze turned toward the Imperial Palace. "The situation at court has only just stabilized. At a time like this, it would not be suitable for me to leave Heaven Dou City for too long."

The higher the suitable Soul Beast's age, the harder it was to find. With good luck, it might take only a day; with bad luck, it could take ten days or even half a month.

Lin Jin had only just assumed all duties of the City Defense Force, so he could not leave.

Dugu Bo immediately understood Lin Jin's concerns.

Although Xue Xing was dead, his remaining forces had not yet been completely eliminated, and every faction at court was watching and waiting.

As the newly appointed Marquis of Heavenly Wolf and Commander-in-Chief of the City Defense Force, Lin Jin truly needed to remain in Heaven Dou City and stabilize the situation.

"Don't worry." Dugu Bo patted his chest in assurance. "With this Old Man around, I guarantee I'll find the most suitable Soul Rings for these girls!"

Lin Jin smiled faintly. "With Senior taking action, I am naturally at ease."

Just like that, they talked for nearly three hours before fluctuations of Soul Power came from one of the rooms in the residence.

The three of them walked to the door and discovered that they were coming from Ye Lingling's quiet room.

The gentle Eight Petal Immortal Orchid was the easiest to absorb, and Ye Lingling was the first to awaken.

"I don't know how much time has passed, but my Soul Power actually jumped from Level 28 to Level 30 in an instant!" Ye Lingling, who had just awakened from meditation, was stunned by herself.

Only now did she truly realize how precious this Immortal Herb was.

She stretched out her palm, and a tiny begonia appeared. Faint veins of the Immortal Orchid could be seen upon its snow-white petals.

She pushed open the door to the quiet room, saw Lin Jin and the other two waiting outside, and immediately bowed. "Big Brother Lin, Poison Douluo Senior, Yanyan."

Dugu Yan happily took her hand. "Congratulations, Lingling!"

"So, how many levels did your Soul Power increase?"