Growth Plan

Dugu Yan had a rare Martial Soul, the Green Lined Serpent, which came with Severe Poison.

The Green Lined Serpent gave her powerful poison abilities, but it also caused her to suffer from the backlash of its toxins.

Dugu Yan had been cultivating for several years and was showing signs of being poisoned by her own toxins, which was why her eyes had turned green.

She looked somewhat eerie, but she was straightforward by nature and greeted Ye Lingling first.

Ye Lingling smiled and said,

"Hello, Senior. My name is Ye Lingling. I just joined the academy today."

Dugu Yan nodded and looked at Long Chen.

"You're not a new student too, are you?"

Long Chen shook his head.

"I'm here to see Lingling off. It's her first time away from home, so I hope you'll look after her from now on."

"Don't worry. With me around, no one will dare bully her. My Green Lined Serpent Poison is no joke."

Dugu Yan spoke with a proud, almost haughty expression.

Still, she had good reason to be proud.

Poison countered most Soul Masters, and the Green Lined Serpent Poison was especially potent.

Dugu Yan was probably a Two Ring Battle Soul Master by now, which made her quite impressive among students her age.

Besides, she had the powerful backing of Dugu Bo. Almost no one at the academy dared provoke her.

Knowing she'd look after Ye Lingling put Long Chen at ease.

Dugu Yan suddenly asked,

"By the way, Ye Lingling, what's your Martial Soul?"

"A Tool Martial Soul, the Nine Heart Begonia."

"The Nine Heart Begonia? Is that the Martial Soul with the strongest healing abilities? I've heard my grandfather talk about it."

Dugu Yan seemed quite pleased with her new roommate.

She was competitive by nature and liked people with real ability.

Most of the students at the Royal Academy, however, had gotten in through connections. Not many were genuinely capable.

After making sure Ye Lingling had everything she needed, Ye Tianming and Long Chen prepared to leave.

Ye Lingling had always been a well-behaved girl, growing up in a loving home.

But her grandmother's death had hit her hard, and she wasn't as lively as she used to be.

Before leaving, Long Chen reminded her,

"Lingling, Dugu Yan seems like a decent person. Get along with her, and if you run into any problems at the academy, remember to go to Teacher Liu."

"Okay, I know. You two can go back. Don't worry about me. I'll take care of myself."

"Then focus on your studies here. Uncle Ye and I will come see you again in a while."

Ye Tianming gave Ye Lingling a few more parting words, then left with Long Chen.

On the way back, Ye Tianming said,

"This is Lingling's first time away from home. But it's a necessary step in growing up. I hope she adjusts quickly."

"With Teacher Liu there, she should be fine."

"Mm. Xiao Chen, now that Lingling has enrolled, it's time for you to start studying too. Aunt Bai and I will help you cultivate."

"Okay. I'll work hard."

Long Chen was looking forward to the cultivation ahead.

But his plans involved more than cultivation. He also wanted to study medicine, learning how to neutralize poison, prepare medicines, and make pills, so he'd be ready to enter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Uncle Ye, could you find me some books about medicine? I'd like to study in my spare time."

"Medicine?"

Ye Tianming furrowed his brow, unable to understand.

"Xiao Chen, why are you interested in medicine too?"

Long Chen answered earnestly,

"Uncle Ye, when I saw Dugu Yan in Lingling's dorm, it made me think of something. Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia has powerful healing abilities, but it can't neutralize poison. If we ever face a Soul Master with deadly poison like Dugu Yan, we'd be helpless. But if I learn how to neutralize poison, I won't have to fear poison-using Soul Masters."

Ye Tianming smiled and nodded.

"Xiao Chen, you're so young, yet you think so far ahead. You're right: Soul Masters with poison abilities can counter most other Soul Masters. But ordinary Medicinal Herbs are no help against the toxins of a powerful poison-using Soul Master."

"Uncle Ye, I know that too. But it's always useful to have another skill."

Ye Tianming patted Long Chen's head.

"Alright. If you want to learn, I'll find some books for you. But remember, cultivation is still more important."

"Mm, I know."

A few days after they returned to Ye Manor, Ye Tianming found Long Chen several books on medicine.

The books contained carefully drawn, detailed illustrations of all kinds of Medicinal Herbs.

Each herb was accompanied by a thorough written description.

They explained not only the herb's name, growing conditions, and harvesting season, but also its medicinal properties, effects, and precautions for use.

The strange and wondrous herbs opened Long Chen's eyes.

Along with the illustrations and descriptions, the books also included some prescriptions and methods for making pills.

Long Chen knew that mastering such complex medical knowledge wouldn't happen overnight. It would take years of steady study.

Learning from books alone wouldn't be enough; he would also need to put that knowledge into practice.

He secretly resolved to study hard, quickly master how to neutralize poison, prepare medicines, and make pills, and be fully prepared for the possibility of facing Dugu Bo in the future.

Under Ye Tianming's guidance, Long Chen began cultivating and gradually learned to control the power of his Martial Soul.

In his spare time, he also studied the books on herbs and learned a great deal about them.

More than half a year passed in a flash.

One day, Ye Tianming received some good news and excitedly sought out Long Chen.

"Xiao Chen, Lingling has finally broken through level ten. She can get her first Soul Ring now."

"That's wonderful! Uncle Ye, let's go help Lingling hunt a Soul Beast."

"Mm. We'll go to the academy to see her tomorrow."

Three months earlier, Long Chen and Ye Tianming had gone to visit Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling was gradually getting used to studying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Early the next morning, Ye Tianming set out with Long Chen.

When he saw Ye Lingling, Long Chen said happily,

"Lingling, congratulations! You'll soon have your very own first Soul Ring and Soul Skill."

Ye Lingling smiled happily.

"Brother Chen, what level is your Soul Power now?"

"I'm pushing for level fifteen."

"That's amazing. The gap between us is only going to get bigger."

"Lingling, you're already doing great. Once you get a Soul Ring, your Soul Power will rise quite a bit."

After leaving the academy, the three of them headed for Sunset Forest, two hundred li east of Heaven Dou City.

It had been more than half a year since Long Chen last entered Sunset Forest, and this time it felt completely different.

After studying herbs, he saw all the unusual plants and flowers in the forest as more valuable.

His attention was drawn not only to Soul Beasts, but to the plants and flowers as well.

Ye Lingling's Martial Soul was special. No matter how many Soul Rings she had, she would have only one Soul Skill: area-wide healing.

So the type of Soul Beast she needed for her Soul Ring wasn't all that important.

Of course, a Soul Beast with self-healing abilities would be a better choice.