Nine Heart Begonia

Led by Yu Tianheng, Ling Yun and his group arrived at a luxuriously decorated, brilliantly illuminated hotel.

"Seven Treasure Hotel!"

"Whoa! Boss, you're really generous!" Shi Mo was incredibly surprised. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest sect on the Douluo Continent; saying they were as rich as a nation wouldn't even begin to describe their fortune.

In practically every major city, one could find their presence, with business interests covering every industry.

They profited from both commoners and nobles alike.

With so much wealth, one would be courting disaster without the corresponding strength to back it up. However, as one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had two Title Douluo guarding them, along with countless spirit masters, so no one dared to cause them trouble.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was also a supporter of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, making their status even more secure.

The Seven Treasure Hotel that Yu Tianheng had brought them to was definitely a high-end establishment, which was the reason for Shi Mo's surprise.

"Don't flatter yourself; this is mainly for Xiao Yun, to celebrate for our new friend."

"Right, right! Look at my shallow understanding; I didn't grasp the significance."

Ling Yun blinked, wondering how he had suddenly become the center of attention. "Thank you all for your enthusiasm, but wouldn't this be too extravagant?"

"It's not extravagant; it's not like we eat here every day!" Yu Tianheng waved his hand grandly and led them into the Seven Treasure Hotel.

A young, beautiful waitress saw them and reacted quickly, her every movement filled with politeness. "Welcome, distinguished guests. Are you here for a meal or to stay?"

"A meal, for six!"

"Very well, please this way!"

The waitress led them into a private room. The six of them sat around a round table, and the waitress stood to the side, waiting.

There were two menus on the table. Yu Tianheng said, "Xiao Yun, order whatever you like to eat; don't try to save money for me!"

"I'm not familiar with this place, so you guys should order. You must know what tastes good."

Yu Tianheng didn't insist. He picked up the menu on the table and checked off over a dozen dishes in a flurry.

"If you want anything else, check it off yourselves."

Yu Tianheng handed the menu to Dugu Yan, who was sitting closest to him. After looking it over, she found nothing else to add; everything she liked had already been checked by Yu Tianheng.

The menu then passed into the hands of Ye Lingling, who had no intention of adding anything and passed it to Shi Mo.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Although Shi Mo said this, he didn't check off any exorbitantly priced dishes. After he was done, he passed it to his younger brother, Shi Mo.

"I won't be polite either!"

Shi Mo's eyes lit up, and he quickly checked off six more dishes before leaning back in his chair, satisfied.

The waitress took the menu and left the private room.

The dishes were served quickly. Once they were all on the table, the waitress closed the door, leaving them in a quiet space.

"Eat to your heart's content! Especially you, Xiao Yun, don't be reserved."

Ling Yun nodded, appearing very composed. Reserved? What was that? He only knew that when there was food, he should eat it quickly and fill his stomach first.

"Come on, let's have a toast!"

Yu Tianheng took the lead and raised his glass. After two drinks, Ling Yun buried his head in his food, while Ye Lingling didn't touch a drop of alcohol.

The others drank glass after glass.

Before long, their speech had become slightly slurred.

"Xiao Yun, did you eat some kind of heaven-sent treasure? Are there any left? I'll buy them with money, or I can even petition my family to trade spirit bones for them—I definitely won't let you suffer a loss!"

Shi Mo and Shi Mo also expressed their stance, stating they were willing to pay and use the power of their family to help Ling Yun; whatever Ling Yun needed, they would be duty-bound to provide.

Dugu Yan knew the inside story, and at this moment, most of her drunkenness had faded. She interjected, "Heaven-sent treasures are rare and hard to find; there aren't any left. You might want to consider the ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber."

"What Xiao Yun ate came from my grandfather's medicinal garden. The Douluo Continent is so vast, perhaps there are more in other places."

"What a pity!"

Ling Yun observed everything. The pursuit of strength and the desire for spirit power progression were only human nature.

The fact that they were willing to trade with money rather than resorting to underhanded tactics or robbery meant they were, at the very least, decent people.

The meal lasted until sunset.

Ye Lingling booked rooms for Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Yu Tianheng, then supported Dugu Yan and brought Ling Yun out of the Seven Treasure Hotel.

The three returned to Dugu Manor. Dugu Bo took the dead-drunk Dugu Yan and frowned. "Lingling, my girl, sorry for the trouble!"

"How did this girl drink so much?"

"Oh, right, you came at the right time. I have something to discuss with your grandfather in two days, and it concerns you as well. You go sit in the main hall with Xiao Yun first; I'll come after I get Yanyan settled."

"Understood!"

Dugu Bo gave Ling Yun a wink and transmitted his voice, "Xiao Yun, aren't you planning to build a force? The Nine Heart Begonia family has extraordinary strategic value. I already have a plan regarding her family."

"You, brat, can take this opportunity to get closer to the future head of the Nine Heart Begonia family. You don't need me to teach you how to handle that, do you?"

Ling Yun nodded to show he understood. Ye Lingling was observant and meticulous; a series of thoughts rose in her mind. It seemed that whatever Dugu Bo wanted to discuss had a great deal to do with Ling Yun.

Her gaze fell on Ling Yun, her eyes filled with curiosity. The two of them walked into the main hall together. "If I'm not mistaken, the matter Senior Dugu wants to discuss has something to do with you, right?"

Ling Yun nodded and said, "It is indeed related, and the connection is quite significant!"

"Before we delve into the reasons, let us first discuss Sister Lingling's Martial Soul. Your Martial Soul can only exist in two people at the same time during any given period, correct?"

Ye Lingling nodded, her expression remaining unchanged.

If it were not for this limitation, how could the Seven Treasure Exquisite Pagoda ever claim the title of the continent's number one support Martial Soul?

Her great-grandfather possessed the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, as did her grandfather, but by the time it reached her father, he had inherited her grandmother's Floating Cloud Sword Martial Soul.

Her aunt and uncle were also unable to inherit the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, having likewise inherited the Floating Cloud Sword Martial Soul from her grandmother.

After her great-grandfather passed away from old age, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul reappeared when she awakened her own.

Generally speaking, Martial Soul awakening involves inheriting the stronger Martial Soul from one's parents.

However, the Nine Heart Begonia is different; as long as one wielder disappears, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul will inevitably awaken again in someone within the bloodline when they undergo their own awakening.

It is truly incredible.

In the current Nine Heart Begonia family, the only people who possess this Martial Soul are her grandfather and herself.

"Sister Lingling, I have a way to trigger a Martial Soul Evolution for your Nine Heart Begonia. Would you be willing? After the evolution, the Nine Heart Begonia will possess combat capabilities in addition to its healing powers."

Ye Lingling's eyes were filled with disbelief. To make someone else's Martial Soul evolve—is that even possible?

She looked into Ling Yun's eyes and felt a surge of anticipation; the depths of his gaze were brimming with confidence, as if Martial Soul Evolution were merely a trivial matter.

Ling Yun would not dare to guarantee such a thing for others, but for the Nine Heart Begonia, the evolution was a certainty.

During the era of the Legend of the Dragon King, Shi Mengshan of the War God Temple possessed the Nine Heart Begonia, but her version had mutated into a highly toxic Martial Soul.

Healing and toxicity are a unity of opposites; with the guidance and assistance of his own Martial Soul, combined with the power of medicinal pills, the evolution of the Nine Heart Begonia would be effortless.

As the two were chatting, Dugu Bo, having finished settling the intoxicated Dugu Yan, walked into the main hall.