A Ragtag Troupe

"Grandpa Dugu!" Ye Lingling and Ling Yun called out together.

Dugu Bo nodded, pulled up a chair, and sat down. "Little Lingling, it's been six years since I first met you, hasn't it?"

"Yes!"

"Six years. In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much. Watching you and Yanyan go to school and grow up together, I've come to think of you as my own granddaughter."

"There are some things I won't hide from you anymore."

"Grandpa Dugu, please, go ahead!"

Dugu Bo nodded and began from the time he first met Ling Yun. He had watched Ye Lingling grow up and knew her well, so he spoke in a leisurely, conversational tone, recounting his bizarre experiences.

A quarter of an hour later.

Ye Lingling, usually excellent at maintaining her composure, had lost her initial calm. She stared at Ling Yun as if trying to find a flower blooming on his face.

She never imagined that Ling Yun's small head held so much: immortal herbs, medicinal pills, and a Martial Soul that could glimpse a corner of the future.

He even claimed that within twenty years, a war would erupt across the entire Douluo Continent. She had already held Ling Yun in high regard, but this was unexpected! Ling Yun was far more mysterious than she had ever imagined.

She also noticed the change in Dugu Bo. His signature green hair had turned a silvery white, and the foul, fishy stench that once clung to him was gone.

He looked just like an ordinary old grandfather, kind and approachable.

It was a feeling of returning to simplicity.

With Dugu Bo as a living example, Ling Yun's claim that he could help her achieve Martial Soul Evolution became far more credible.

As the inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, she was determined to carry it forward if the opportunity arose.

"Grandpa Dugu, regarding what you've said, I am personally willing."

"Based on my understanding of my grandfather, if he knew, there would be an eighty percent chance he would join the Falling Cloud Sect that you and Ling Yun are establishing."

"But the specifics will depend on what my grandfather and the others think."

After Ye Lingling awakened her Nine Heart Begonia, her grandfather had taken her to many family meetings.

Among them, how the family should develop and what they should do in the future were frequent topics of discussion.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had once tried to recruit the Nine Heart Begonia family, and Martial Soul Hall had tried as well. But her grandfather had politely declined both, carefully maintaining a balance between them. To avoid the two major powers taking forceful measures, her grandfather had eventually sought the protection of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

Compared to Martial Soul Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was much more courteous.

All of this was due to a lack of strength.

With Dugu Bo leading the Falling Cloud Sect, if the Nine Heart Begonia family joined, it would be equivalent to joining a faction backed by a Title Douluo with whom they had a good relationship. This was clearly a much brighter path.

Most importantly, since this faction was newly founded, they would be founding members, which would best guarantee their own interests.

Dugu Bo pondered for a moment and continued, "Let's just go to your home and talk. There's no time like the present; let's go now."

Ye Lingling had no objections and nodded.

The three of them headed toward the residence of the Nine Heart Begonia family, which was about three kilometers away from Dugu Manor.

Three quarters of an hour later.

In the main hall of the Nine Heart Begonia family, Ye Lingling's grandfather, Ye Shuangmu, fell into deep thought after hearing the intentions of Dugu Bo and Ling Yun.

"Lingling, go call your grandmother, uncle, aunt, aunt-in-law, uncle-in-law, and your parents."

"Understood!"

Before long, the heads of the Nine Heart Begonia family arrived in the main hall. After greeting Dugu Bo, they took their seats in order.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Ye Shuangmu spoke, "I've called you here for a matter concerning the family that requires a collective decision."

"This young friend beside His Excellency Dugu is named Ling Yun. The matter concerns him. Young friend Ling Yun, please explain it to them in detail."

Ling Yun did not decline. At a time like this, as the Sect Master, he naturally could not hide behind Dugu Bo; Dugu Bo was merely there to assist.

"Uncles, aunts, Grandpa Ye, and this grandmother, I greet you all and wish you great progress on your path as Spirit Masters."

"I have come today with Grandpa Dugu to invite you all to join us in building a sect."

"What? Building a sect..."

"Your Excellency Dugu, is this your idea?" asked Su Yutang, Ye Lingling's grandmother.

The old woman's eyes were sharp. Her silver hair was pinned up, her skin had the rosy glow of an infant, and she wore a pristine white robe. She sat in her chair with her back as straight as an unsheathed sword.

Dugu Bo spoke, "I am merely the Supreme Elder of the sect; this boy is the Sect Master."

Su Yutang understood Dugu Bo's words: the idea was Ling Yun's, but Dugu Bo had agreed to it and would support it with all his might.

"Young Ling Yun, please continue."

"I am quite curious as to what is so special about the sect His Excellency Dugu has joined."

Ling Yun continued, "My Martial Soul is special; I have seen a corner of the future. Within twenty years, an unprecedented war will break out on the continent, and many Title Douluos will fall."

"We are forming this faction for no other reason than to be able to calmly face all difficulties when the war arrives."

"Oh? What kind of Martial Soul is so special?"

The Martial Souls of the Douluo Continent were strange and varied. Although Ling Yun's claims were incredible, no one present voiced any doubt.

Ling Yun released his martial soul, the Yin-Yang Mirror, and two soul rings—one yellow and one purple—rose from beneath his feet, circling his waist and rotating slowly.

"A thousand-year second ring! Level 28!"

The group stood up in shock, and Su Yutang asked excitedly, "How old are you this year?"

"Six years and three months."

"Hiss!"

Except for Ye Lingling and Dugu Bo, the others gasped, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Ling Yun exerted his full power to drive the aura of the Yin-Yang Mirror martial soul. As the yin and yang rotated, a red and white light barrier expanded from his center, instantly enveloping a five-meter diameter area.

This was an innate domain inherent to his martial soul, and it was the first time he had ever displayed it.

"An innate martial soul domain!"

Even Dugu Bo was surprised for a moment. Domains were divided into innate domains and acquired domains, and both were incredibly powerful.

There was a saying that a domain was an independent world, and the master who released it was the absolute ruler.

At the same rank, someone without a domain who entered another person's domain essentially lost any possibility of resistance.

A martial soul capable of birthing an innate domain must be of the highest tier; even the Clear Sky Hammer, known as the continent's number one tool martial soul, could not produce an innate domain.

Acquired domains basically only appeared on Titled Douluo.

Because innate domains were so rare, martial soul domains were essentially synonymous with Titled Douluo.

Ling Yun controlled his martial soul to manifest an aura of creation. Everyone felt a sense of clarity throughout their bodies; their martial souls released themselves involuntarily, and their insights into cultivation improved significantly.

They had a feeling that if they stayed within the range of this aura for a long time, their martial souls might even have the potential to evolve.

This feeling was profound and mysterious.

Ling Yun retracted his martial soul.

Su Yutang and Ye Shuangmu made the decision immediately, "Establishing a sect, is it? With His Excellency Dugu as the Supreme Elder, we will join as well."

"This old woman has only one request: let Lingling stay by your side, and let Lingling cultivate in your domain for one day every month."

"..."