In the study.
Ling Xiao sat behind the desk by the window, looking through materials on the continent's Soul Beasts.
"Boss, I've brought Bai Wei."
Ling Xi said softly.
Ling Xiao set down the book in his hand and looked up at Bai Wei, standing beside Ling Xi.
He nodded slightly, signaling for her to come closer.
Bai Wei's heart instantly raced. She nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.
She took small steps to the desk and curtsied to Ling Xiao.
"Bai Wei pays her respects, sir."
"No need for formalities."
Ling Xiao looked at her, his tone calm.
"Bai Wei, do you want to become a Soul Master?"
Bai Wei abruptly raised her head. Without a moment's hesitation, she nodded vigorously.
"I do! I've dreamed of it!"
"I don't want to be useless. I don't want people looking down on me or buying and selling me like a piece of merchandise!"
"I'm willing to do anything, as long as I can become a Soul Master!"
"Good."
Ling Xiao nodded slightly and said to her,
"Then summon your Martial Soul now. Let me see it."
Bai Wei took a deep breath, closed her eyes, focused, and stirred the faint Soul Power within her body.
The next moment, a slender white feather slowly appeared in her palm.
It was light as a feather, dull and dim, barely visible.
Like an ordinary bird's feather, it would blow away with the slightest breeze.
That was her Martial Soul.
A useless, trash feather.
Bai Wei looked at the feather in her palm, and the light in her eyes dimmed.
Her head drooped too, weighed down by shame and sadness.
Just then, Ling Xiao slowly raised his right hand.
A blue-green glow lit up in his palm.
A blue-green fruit, its surface covered in dragon-scale-like skin, slowly materialized in his palm.
It radiated a vast surge of Soul Power.
She lifted her head and stared at the fruit, her eyes full of anticipation.
"This fruit is called the Phantom Beast Species: Azure Dragon Fruit."
Ling Xiao's voice fell calmly.
"Eat it, and your Feather Martial Soul will be replaced by the Azure Dragon Martial Soul, becoming a top-tier Beast Martial Soul on par with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul."
"Your innate seventh-level Soul Power will be activated, enhancing your talent."
"In the future, becoming a Soul Master won't be the limit. Anything will be possible."
"But it also comes with a contract."
Ling Xiao's tone grew more serious as his gaze settled on Bai Wei's face.
"If you eat it, my mark will be branded on your soul."
"From this day forward, you must be loyal to me, obey every order I give, and never betray me!"
"In return, I'll give you everything you want: power, status, and glory. No one will ever dare bully you again."
"Now, are you willing to accept this contract and eat it?"
The study fell silent.
Bai Wei stood frozen, her body trembling slightly.
She looked at the glowing fruit in Ling Xiao's palm, then turned to Ling Xi beside her.
Ling Xi smiled warmly at her and nodded encouragingly, her eyes full of confidence in her.
She remembered the despair she'd felt when her parents had tried to sell her for five silver coins back at the Bai Family.
Now, the young man before her had offered her a chance to defy fate and change her life.
What did she have left to hesitate over?
What did she have left to lose?
Bai Wei suddenly dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead to the floor.
Her voice rang out with conviction.
"Bai Wei is willing! For this life and the next, I'll serve you as my master, and remain absolutely loyal, without a hint of disloyalty!"
"If I break this oath, may my soul be annihilated and may I suffer eternal damnation!"
Ling Xiao looked at the girl kneeling on the floor, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
"Get up."
Ling Xiao spoke mildly and raised a hand.
A gentle surge of Soul Power supported Bai Wei's arm and helped her to her feet.
The Azure Dragon Fruit floated above his palm.
Blue-green light swirled around it, while fine dragon-scale patterns shimmered brilliantly across its skin.
"This fruit is yours now."
Ling Xiao flicked a finger, and the Azure Dragon Fruit drifted toward Bai Wei.
"Eat it, and your new life begins this very moment."
Bai Wei looked at the fruit before her and reached out with both hands, solemnly cupping the Azure Dragon Fruit.
It was warm to the touch, as though it carried the heat of the young man's palm.
She looked up and gazed deeply at Ling Xiao.
She carved the handsome young man's face into her soul.
Without hesitation, she bit into the fruit.
The fruit was just as hard to swallow as ever, but soon it transformed into a searing, immense force that surged through every part of her body.
"Ugh..."
Bai Wei groaned, her whole body trembling violently.
The force was far too domineering.
It tore through her frail meridians, then remade them.
Her Soul Power surged through her body like a flood breaking free of its shackles.
The Feather Martial Soul in her palm was swallowed and dissolved, like snow beneath the blazing sun.
In its place came a dragon's roar that shook her very soul!
A blue-green phantom slowly unfolded behind her.
It was an Azure Dragon, its body covered in scales, with deer-like antlers and whiskers, its powerful form surrounded by wind, lightning, and mist.
Its world-dominating dragon might spread in every direction. Though it was only a phantom, the entire study seemed to grow oppressive beneath its presence.
The Phantom Beast Species: Azure Dragon Form became bound to her soul, perfectly merging with it!
At the same time, her Soul Power Level began to soar wildly!
Her innate Soul Power, which had been stuck at level seven, shot upward like a rocket.
Peak level seven!
Level eight!
Level nine!
At last, it surged all the way to peak level nine, just one step away from level ten!
In mere seconds,
her Soul Power had leaped forward!
Her body underwent astonishing changes as well.
The energy of the Azure Dragon Fruit tempered her once-small, frail frame.
Her figure became shapely, her skin turned fair, and her already delicate features blossomed fully.
She gained a touch of the dignity of a dragon.
Her pupils became pale-gold slits, and her gaze carried an air of pressure.
In just a brief moment,
the impoverished girl transformed into a breathtaking young woman, her extraordinary bearing wreathed in a faint dragon might.
She looked like an entirely different person.
The Azure Dragon phantom behind her slowly drew back into her body, and its dragon might gradually receded.
Bai Wei slowly opened her eyes.
The pale-gold slits in her pupils faded, returning to normal.
She lowered her head and looked at her hands.
She felt the Soul Power coursing through her body.
Tears burst from her eyes.
They were tears of excitement and joy.
She'd done it.
She'd truly escaped the fate of having a trash Martial Soul.
She had a top-tier Martial Soul and the qualifications to become a Soul Master!
Everything she had now was a gift from the young man before her.
Bai Wei abruptly dropped to one knee, bowing deeply from the waist.
She placed her right hand over her heart on the left side of her chest, performing the most solemn rite of allegiance to her master.
Her voice was firm and reverent.
"This subordinate thanks my master for granting her a new life!"
Ling Xiao looked at the young woman kneeling before him, deeply satisfied.
Her innate seventh-level Soul Power had shot straight to peak level nine.
The Azure Dragon's essence had tempered her physique and talent, placing them far beyond those of Soul Masters at the same level.
Her soul mark was already bound to the Demon Fruit Tree.
Everything about her was in his hands.
"Get up."
Ling Xiao said warmly,
"You've been reborn. So, say goodbye to the person you used to be."
"From this day forward, Bai Wei no longer exists."
Bai Wei abruptly raised her head and looked at Ling Xiao.
Her eyes showed confusion, but she listened quietly.
"I'll give you a new name."
Ling Xiao looked at her and spoke slowly.
"From now on, your name is Linglong."
"Forget all the pain and humiliation of your past. You only need to remember that you belong to me—you are my Linglong, Ling Xiao's."
Linglong's eyes lit up.
She bowed deeply once more, pressing her forehead to the floor.
Her voice rang out, clear and bright:
"Linglong thanks her master for bestowing her name! For the rest of my life, I'll obey no one but you!"
Bai Wei had died in that rundown slum alley in Maple Leaf City.
The one who survived was her master's Linglong.
A girl of extraordinary talent and peerless beauty.
"Very good."
Ling Xiao nodded in satisfaction.
He turned to Ling Xi, who was standing at the side, and instructed her:
"Ling Xi, from today onward, Linglong will stay with you."
"Show her the rules of Qinghui Hall, teach her the basics of being a Soul Master, help her stabilize her current Soul Power Level, and teach her to control the power of her Azure Dragon Martial Soul."
"Keep Linglong's identity and Martial Soul secret for now, so we don't invite unnecessary trouble."
"Yes, Boss."
Ling Xi answered immediately.
Looking at this girl who had also clawed her way out of despair, she felt an immediate fondness for her.
"Little Sister Linglong, come with me."
Linglong bowed to Ling Xiao once more, then slowly turned to leave.
When she reached the doorway, she couldn't help glancing back.
She took a long look at the young man seated behind the desk.
Linglong silently swore to herself.
She would never betray her master's kindness in this life.
Only after the two of them had disappeared through the study doorway did Ling Xiao slowly lean back in his chair.
On the Demon Fruit Tree, the Azure Dragon Fruit that had been there before was now translucent.
Linglong's figure was clearly reflected on its surface.
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