Using Herself as Bait

The Soul Master World was a vast forest, where the law of the dark forest applied all too well.

When someone was powerful, they could draw on vast resources from the Soul Master World, and the petty schemers lurking in the shadows wouldn't dare move against them. But once that protection was gone, their descendants, sitting on a mountain of resources, would inevitably be devoured without a trace.

The Ye Family's most precious resource was its Martial Soul inheritance.

At most, only two people with the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul could exist in the same generation. Once Ye Tianxin died, all they had to do was seize Ye Lingling, and they would monopolize the Nine Heart Begonia's inheritance.

Later, with Ye Lingling's healing abilities, they could earn favors from all kinds of powerful figures for the family.

Qin Yuan sighed softly and said, "For the next few days, I won't contact you first. Don't have any direct contact with me."

"I have a way to get you out, but I need some time to prepare."

A month later.

In a Training Room at the academy.

"Teacher Qin, you're incredible. Just a few words from you have enlightened me!" Yao Zi said, her face alight with excitement.

Yao Zi would later become the captain of the Plant Academy team, but for now, she had only just enrolled in the Advanced Soul Master Academy.

Her talent was quite good, so the academy was giving her special attention.

Qin Yuan's insights into Soul Master cultivation were unlike anyone else's.

Gold would shine wherever it was. Sure enough, after assessing him, the academy had arranged for him to teach at the Advanced Soul Master Academy.

Of course, many of Qin Yuan's insights came from books provided by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

On Douluo Continent, books and information had long been monopolized by the upper powers. Qin Yuan had learned only the basics, yet he had already earned the praise of these prodigies. It was plain to see how resources tended to accumulate among those at the top.

If he hadn't awakened a system, he might really have wanted to work at Plant Academy for the rest of his life.

The pay was steady, and he had a whole group of students who supported him. How many teachers dreamed of that?

"Cultivation results vary from person to person. The methods I've discussed are only my own perspective. You should all make appropriate adjustments based on your own cultivation. Remember, you mustn't blindly copy what I've said."

Qin Yuan stood up and clapped his hands. "All right, that's the end of the open lesson. I hope to see you again."

He walked out of the Training Room, but Yao Zi hurried after him. "Teacher Qin, please wait."

Yao Zi got straight to the point. "Teacher Qin, you're knowledgeable and quite strong. But because of your Martial Soul, it'll be difficult for you to achieve much at the Advanced Soul Master Academy."

Yao Zi came from a well-connected family. Her father was a powerful Spirit Saint and one of the academy's major sponsors.

So she wanted to seize this opportunity to recruit Qin Yuan and make him her mentor.

After all, Qin Yuan's second and fourth Spirit Rings had been absorbed beyond his level.

Qin Yuan had explained it as a special property of his Martial Soul, but Yao Zi was no ordinary person either. She thought there might be a way to replicate the feat for herself.

As long as Qin Yuan joined her family, he would eventually pass the method on to her.

Qin Yuan made no commitment. Smiling, he said, "You're clever, but some things are beyond your reach. I think you should give up on unnecessary fantasies and focus on doing your best right now."

Absorbing a Spirit Ring beyond one's level was a brush with death.

Qin Yuan knew the hardships involved firsthand.

If he hadn't held fast to his belief that he could turn his life around, he would have died while absorbing his Spirit Rings.

Yao Zi had been born into a wealthy family and lacked the grit of someone from the bottom rung of society. Even if Qin Yuan taught her the method, she had no hope of succeeding.

Qin Yuan didn't want to harm anyone, so he wouldn't reveal the method lightly.

"Teacher Qin, could you at least think it over?" Yao Zi persisted.

Qin Yuan shook his head and walked away.

The Liu Family's main hall.

Family Head Liu Hong asked, "I heard a young man recently arrived at Plant Academy?"

A family elder quickly explained, "Family Head, he's a gifted teacher who absorbed Spirit Rings beyond his level."

"In my opinion, if we let someone like him go, countless factions will compete to recruit him. He'd be better off working for the Liu Family. Once we learn the Method of Absorbing Spirit Rings Beyond One's Level, our Liu Family will surely grow into a towering power."

Liu Hong stroked his graying beard and nodded. "That's what we should do."

"I don't want to wait too long. Recruit that gifted teacher—and Ye Lingling as well—as soon as possible."

Meanwhile.

At the academy, after learning from Ye Lingling that one of the students belonged to the Liu Family, Qin Yuan began seeking him out frequently.

The Liu Family couldn't send someone straight into the academy. Instead, they used one of their family's younger generation to convey their offer to Qin Yuan.

The Liu Family's influence was immense, with informants all over Silvis City. Snatching food from a tiger's mouth would not be easy.

So Qin Yuan adopted a roundabout strategy.

On one hand, he maintained contact with the Liu Family to lower their guard. On the other, he took advantage of his teaching position at the Advanced Soul Master Academy to deliberately reveal his Spirit Rings, enticing students with powerful family backing to take an interest in him.

It looked as if he were holding out for the best offer, but in truth, he was setting one tiger against another to buy himself time.

In response to the conditions proposed by the Liu Family's student, Qin Yuan replied earnestly, "Please thank Family Head Liu for his kind invitation. I'm very satisfied with your offer, but joining a faction will affect my future."

"I'd like to speak with Family Head Liu in private. Could you pass along my request?"

The Liu Family's student promptly replied, "Teacher Qin, I'll pass on the message. I doubt the family head will refuse, but I can't say when he'll be available."

Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Yuan spotted Yao Zi not far away.

He gave a quiet laugh, then turned to the Liu Family's student with great warmth. "I've noticed a problem with your cultivation. Come on, let's go to the Training Room and take a look."

Yao Zi noticed what was happening.

As far as she knew, Qin Yuan had always kept his distance from the students and never gotten too close to them.

So what was he doing acting so friendly with the Liu Family's student?

At first, Yao Zi had thought Qin Yuan was devoted to teaching and didn't want to become her personal instructor.

Now that she thought about it, he had probably accepted the Liu Family's offer.

Of course, Qin Yuan hadn't rejected her outright, which meant he probably wanted to get even more out of the situation.

Yao Zi clenched her fists and glared at the Liu Family's student. "Damn it! The Liu Family's reach is too long. They even dare to poach people from the academy!"

The Yao Family was one of the academy's major sponsors. How could they let outsiders poach an excellent teacher like Qin Yuan?

Of course, the Liu Family's influence exceeded the Yao Family's. Yao Zi didn't confront them on the spot. Instead, she told her father what had happened.

Night fell.

After several days apart, Qin Yuan went to see Ye Lingling again.

"Things are moving along the way we planned. Pack your belongings and be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

Qin Yuan didn't know whether the Yao and Liu Families had any old grudges between them, or whether their efforts to recruit him would spark a conflict. But time was running out.

If the two sides reached an agreement soon, there was no telling whether he'd end up dragged into it himself.

Ye Lingling thought for a moment, then took out a spare set of clothes and handed it to Qin Yuan. "I have two sets of these. You could find someone with a similar build to wear them and throw the Liu Family off."

"Even if the Liu Family figures it out afterward, we'll have gained more time to get away."

Whenever Ye Lingling went out, she wore a veil. The informants tailing her had long since grown accustomed to it. That gave them a natural advantage when it came to finding a stand-in.