A Ramshackle Start

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

Dugu Bo nodded, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Lingling, the first time I met you was six years ago, wasn't it?"

"Yes!"

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

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

"Grandpa Dugu, go ahead!"

Dugu Bo nodded. Starting from the first time he'd met Ling Yun, he told the story. He'd watched Ye Lingling grow up and knew her very well, so he recounted those extraordinary events as casually as if they were catching up over a chat.

A quarter of an hour later.

Ye Lingling, who was usually so good at keeping her composure, was no longer the same as when they'd started. She stared at Ling Yun as though she could find a flower growing on his face.

She'd never imagined that so much could be packed into Ling Yun's little head: Immortal Herbs, Pills, and a Martial Soul that could even glimpse a fragment of the future.

He'd also said that within twenty years, a war would break out across the entire continent. She'd already thought highly of Ling Yun, but she hadn't expected him to be far more mysterious than she'd imagined.

She'd also noticed how Dugu Bo had changed. His signature green hair had turned gray and white, and the stench was gone from his body.

He looked just like an ordinary, kindly old grandfather.

It was as if he'd returned to his natural state.

With Dugu Bo as proof, Ling Yun's claim that he could help her achieve Martial Soul Evolution seemed much more credible.

As the inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, if she had the opportunity, she would certainly do everything she could to let it flourish.

"Grandpa Dugu, I'm personally willing to do as you've suggested."

"Knowing my grandfather, there's an eighty percent chance he'll join the Falling Cloud Sect you and Ling Yun are establishing, once he hears about it."

"But what happens next depends on what he and the others think."

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

How the family should develop and what they should do in the future had come up often.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had once tried to recruit the Nine Heart Begonia Family, and Spirit Hall had made the same offer. But her grandfather had politely declined both, carefully maintaining relations with each side. To avoid provoking either great power into taking a hard line, he'd eventually pledged the family's allegiance to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

Compared with Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was much more courteous.

It all came down to their lack of strength.

With Dugu Bo spearheading the Falling Cloud Sect, the Nine Heart Begonia Family would be joining a force on good terms with a Titled Douluo. It was clearly a much brighter path.

Most importantly, the sect was only just being founded. If they joined now, they would be founding members and could protect their interests as much as possible.

Dugu Bo thought for a moment, then continued, "Let's go straight to your home and talk. There's no time to lose. We'll go now."

Ye Lingling had no objections and nodded.

The three of them headed for the Nine Heart Begonia Family's residence, about three kilometers 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 why Dugu Bo and Ling Yun had come.

"Lingling, go call your grandmother, your uncle and aunt, your aunt and uncle, and your father and mother."

"All right!"

Before long, everyone who had a say in the Nine Heart Begonia Family had gathered in the hall. After greeting Dugu Bo, they took their seats.

Once everyone was present, Ye Shuangmu began, "I've called you here because there's a matter concerning the family that we need to decide together."

"This young friend beside His Excellency Dugu is named Ling Yun. This concerns him. Young friend Ling Yun, please explain everything to them."

Ling Yun didn't refuse. At a time like this, as the sect master, he naturally couldn't stand behind Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo was only there to support him.

"Uncles and aunts, Grandpa Ye, and Grandmother, let me greet you all first. I hope your paths as Soul Masters continue to soar."

"I came here with Grandpa Dugu today to invite you all to establish a sect together."

"What? Establish a sect..."

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

The old lady had a sharp gaze and long silver hair pinned up. Her skin glowed with a rosy, youthful luster. Dressed in a spotless white robe, she sat with her back ramrod straight, like a drawn sword.

Dugu Bo spoke up. "I'm only the sect's Grand Elder. This kid is the sect master."

Su Yutang understood what Dugu Bo meant. The idea had come from Ling Yun, but Dugu Bo had agreed to it and would support him with everything he had.

"Go on, Ling Yun."

"This old woman is very curious. What makes the sect His Excellency Dugu is joining so special?"

Ling Yun continued, "My Martial Soul is special. I saw a glimpse of the future. Within twenty years, an unprecedented war will break out on the continent, and many Titled Douluos will fall."

"I'm establishing a force for no other reason than to face every hardship calmly when war comes."

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

The Martial Souls of Douluo Continent were strange and varied. Though Ling Yun's claim was hard to believe, no one spoke up to question him.

Ling Yun released his Yin-Yang Mirror Martial Soul. A yellow and a purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet and circled his waist, turning slowly.

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

The whole group jumped to their feet in shock. Su Yutang asked excitedly, "How old are you this year?"

"Six years and three months."

"Hiss!"

Everyone except Ye Lingling and Dugu Bo drew in a sharp breath, their eyes full of astonishment.

Ling Yun urged the aura of his Yin-Yang Mirror Martial Soul to its fullest. Yin and yang revolved, and a red-and-white light barrier spread out from him, covering a five-meter radius in an instant.

This was the innate domain that came with his Martial Soul. It was the first time he'd shown it to anyone.

"An innate Martial Soul domain!"

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

It was said that a domain was an independent world of its own, with the one who released it as its absolute ruler.

At the same rank, someone without a domain who entered another person's domain would have almost no chance to fight back.

A Martial Soul capable of producing an innate domain had to be top-tier. Even the Clear Sky Hammer, hailed as the continent's number one weapon Martial Soul, couldn't produce one.

Acquired domains were generally found only among Titled Douluos.

Because innate domains were so rare, the term "Martial Soul domain" was practically synonymous with a Titled Douluo's exclusive power.

Ling Yun made his Martial Soul emanate the aura of creation. Everyone felt refreshed from head to toe. Their Martial Souls emerged of their own accord, and their insights into cultivation deepened.

They had a feeling that if they stayed within the aura's reach for long enough, their Martial Souls might even evolve.

The sensation was mysterious beyond words.

Ling Yun withdrew his Martial Soul.

Su Yutang and Ye Shuangmu made the decision on the spot. "You're establishing a sect? With His Excellency Dugu as Grand Elder, we'll join."

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

"..."