Growth Plan

Dugu Yan possessed the rare martial soul Green Lined Serpent, which came with severe poison.

The Green Lined Serpent granted her powerful poison abilities, but it also caused her to suffer from the poison's backlash.

Dugu Yan had been cultivating for several years, and signs of the poison's backlash had appeared, causing her eyes to turn green.

She appeared eerie, but her personality was straightforward, and she took the initiative to greet Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling smiled and said:

"Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Ye Lingling. I just arrived at the academy today."

Dugu Yan nodded and looked at Long Chen, asking:

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

Long Chen shook his head.

"I'm here to see Lingling off. It's Lingling's first time away from home. Please take care of her in the future."

"Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare bully her. My Green Lined Serpent poison is no joke."

Dugu Yan said with a proud expression.

However, she indeed had the capital to be proud.

Poison had a restraining effect on most Soul Masters, let alone the severe poison of the Green Lined Serpent.

Dugu Yan should currently be a Two Ring Battle Soul Master, which was quite good among students of the same age.

Moreover, with a powerful background like Dugu Bo, almost no one in the academy dared to provoke her.

With her protecting Ye Lingling, Long Chen felt much more at ease.

Dugu Yan suddenly asked:

"By the way, Ye Lingling, what is your martial soul?"

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

"Nine Heart Begonia? Is that the martial soul with the strongest healing ability? I heard Grandpa mention it."

Dugu Yan seemed very satisfied with her new roommate.

Her personality was also strong-willed, and she liked capable people.

Most of the students at the Royal Academy were connections, and there weren't many truly capable individuals.

After arranging everything for Ye Lingling, Ye Tianming and Long Chen prepared to leave.

Since she was young, Ye Lingling had always been a good girl, growing up in a happy family atmosphere.

However, her grandmother's death had hit her hard, and she was no longer as lively as before.

As they were leaving, Long Chen instructed:

"Lingling, Dugu Yan is a decent person. Get along well with her, and if you encounter any problems at the academy, remember to find Teacher Liu."

"Okay, I understand. You guys should go back, don't worry about me, I'll take care of myself."

"Then you should study hard here. After some time, Uncle Ye and I will come to see you again."

Ye Tianming gave Ye Lingling a few more simple instructions, 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 Path for your growth. I hope she adapts quickly."

"With Teacher Liu there, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Mm. Xiao Chen, after Lingling enrolls, you'll start studying too. Your Aunt Bai and I will guide your cultivation."

"Okay, I will study hard."

Long Chen also looked forward to the upcoming cultivation.

However, in his plan, he not only wanted to cultivate but also to learn knowledge related to medicine, to learn how to detoxify, compound medicine, and alchemy, in preparation for entering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Uncle Ye, can you help me find some books related to medicine? I want to study in my spare time from cultivation."

"Medicine?"

Ye Tianming frowned, somewhat unable to understand.

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

Long Chen replied earnestly:

"Uncle Ye, when I saw Dugu Yan in Lingling's dormitory, I suddenly thought of a problem. Although Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia has powerful healing abilities, it cannot detoxify. If we encounter soul masters like Dugu Yan who have potent poison abilities, we would be helpless. But if I had the ability to detoxify, I wouldn't fear poison soul masters."

Ye Tianming smiled and nodded.

"Xiao Chen, at your young age, you think quite far ahead. You're right, soul masters with potent poison abilities have a restraining effect on most soul masters. However, for powerful poison soul masters, ordinary medicinal herbs are useless against their toxins."

"Uncle Ye, I know that too. But having an extra skill is always useful."

Ye Tianming patted Long Chen's head.

"Alright. Since you want to learn, I'll find them for you. However, you must remember that cultivation is the more important matter."

"Mm, I know."

Within a few days of returning to Ye Manor, Ye Tianming found several medical books for Long Chen.

The books contained meticulously drawn detailed images of various medicinal herbs.

Beside each herb was an exhaustive written description.

It not only introduced the herb's name, growing environment, and harvesting season, but also elaborated on its medicinal properties, efficacy, and precautions for use.

The various strange herbs opened Long Chen's eyes.

In addition to the images and descriptions of herbs, the collection also interspersed some medical formulas and alchemy techniques.

Long Chen knew that mastering such complex medical knowledge would not happen overnight; it required accumulation over time.

Learning solely from books was not enough; it also needed to be practiced in daily life.

He secretly resolved to study this knowledge diligently, to quickly master skills like detoxification, compounding medicine, and alchemy, and to be fully prepared for any future encounters with Dugu Bo.

Under Ye Tianming's guidance, Long Chen began to cultivate, gradually gaining control over his spirit's power.

In addition to cultivation, he also studied the books on medicinal herbs, learning a considerable amount about them.

More than half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

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

"Xiao Chen, Lingling has finally broken through to level ten and can obtain her first spirit ring."

"That's great. Uncle Ye, let's go help Lingling hunt for a spirit beast together."

"Mm, we'll go to the academy to find her tomorrow."

Three months prior, Long Chen and Ye Tianming had visited Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling had gradually adapted to studying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The next morning, Ye Tianming set off with Long Chen.

Upon seeing Ye Lingling, Long Chen happily said:

"Lingling, congratulations. You'll soon have your very own first spirit ring and spirit skill."

Ye Lingling smiled happily.

"Brother Chen, what level is your spirit power now?"

"I'm surging towards level fifteen."

"So amazing. The gap between us will only grow larger from now on."

"Lingling, you're already incredible. Once you get your spirit ring, your spirit power will increase significantly."

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

Returning to Sunset Forest after more than half a year, Long Chen felt completely different.

After learning about medicinal herbs, the various strange flowers and exotic plants in the forest held even more value in his eyes.

Besides spirit beasts, those flowers and plants were also within his scope of attention.

Ye Lingling's spirit was rather special; no matter how many spirit rings she possessed, she would only have one spirit skill—area-of-effect healing.

Therefore, the type of spirit beast she needed to acquire a spirit ring from was not highly demanding.

Of course, spirit beasts with Self-Healing Ability would be even more suitable.