"That won't do." Ling Yun's refusal was exceptionally firm.
"As we cultivate and improve together, I'll help whenever I can. But I absolutely won't agree to a specific amount of time. I can't make that kind of promise."
Su Yutang froze. The atmosphere in the main hall grew tense in an instant.
Dugu Bo stepped forward. "Once Heaven Dou Imperial Academy opens tomorrow, Xiao Yun and Lingling will be classmates. They'll have plenty of time to study and cultivate together. They can just get along normally. Let's not bring up what was just said again!"
"Lingling, what do you think?"
"Grandpa, Grandma, Senior Dugu is saying what I think, too. Please don't make any more demands."
Dugu Bo's words forced everyone to calm down, while Ye Lingling's left Su Yutang and Ye Shuangmu sighing.
Only then did Su Yutang realize how inappropriate her words had been. She was a sword cultivator, an 82nd-level Soul Douluo, and her temperament was as straightforward as a sword.
"Very well! Since Lingling has said so, we'll do as she wishes!"
Ling Yun replied, "I understand how you feel about looking out for your granddaughter, but I'm sorry—I can't agree to this."
Ye Shuangmu took a deep breath. "This old woman is just like that—blunt and straightforward. Little friend, don't take it to heart."
"Shall we continue discussing the matter of joining the Falling Cloud Sect?"
As the true bedrock of the Nine Heart Begonia Family, Ye Shuangmu's will was not something the rest of the family could sway.
Joining the Falling Cloud Sect was their best option. If they acted on a moment's anger today, Dugu Bo would surely hold it against them.
Among their family, only Ye Lingling had caught Dugu Bo's eye, and that was because of her relationship with Dugu Yan.
Ling Yun's talent was terrifying. If the Nine Heart Begonia Family fell out with him, they couldn't afford to bear the consequences.
Without Dugu Bo backing him, they could have taken a harder line. If they couldn't reach an agreement, they might as well have killed Ling Yun.
But there was no "if." After careful consideration, Ye Shuangmu chose the best option.
Seeing Ye Shuangmu take a step back, Ling Yun naturally wouldn't put on airs. If you wanted people to follow you, you had to give them the benefits they deserved. Otherwise, how could the Nine Heart Begonia Family possibly follow him with all their heart?
"Although I can't agree to the condition you just mentioned, I can take Sister Lingling's Martial Soul one step further."
"On top of its healing ability, it will develop an offensive ability."
"Really?"
"Is that true?" Ye Lingling's father, Ye Qing, and her mother, Liu Yun, spoke one after the other, their voices full of excitement.
Like his mother, Su Yutang, Ye Qing had inherited the Floating Cloud Sword Martial Soul and wore a white robe. His hair, however, was black. His features were sharply defined, but his eyes were unexpectedly gentle, giving him a striking contrast.
Liu Yun had an oval face and hair that fell down her back like a waterfall. She wore black, had a curvaceous figure, and radiated the charm of a mature woman.
Ever since Ye Lingling awakened her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, the couple had been worried. They couldn't protect her for the rest of her life, after all, and she would eventually need a partner with offensive abilities.
Ling Yun's words hit them like a thunderbolt.
"Of course! You can all witness the process." Ling Yun took out a Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill.
"Sister Lingling, this Pill is called the Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill. It's made from six rare heavenly treasures and many other precious herbs. Its effects live up to its name: it can defy heaven and change one's fate."
"Even an ordinary person with no Soul Power can become a genius with Innate Full Soul Power by taking this Pill. It will give them a solid foundation and have no side effects."
"The earlier you take it, the better. The earlier you take it, the more complete its effects will be. Before level 30, its effects are more pronounced in strengthening your constitution, improving your physical strength, and evolving your Martial Soul."
"For a Titled Douluo like Grandpa Dugu, its effects mainly show in the increase of Soul Power."
Dugu Bo chimed in, "I took one. I'm now a level 95 Titled Douluo. After level 95, comprehending one's Martial Soul becomes important. I'm still just a hair's breadth away in my comprehension; otherwise, I'd be level 96."
Everyone present heard him out, breathing rapidly as they stared fixedly at the Pill in Ling Yun's hand, their yearning plain to see. If Dugu Bo hadn't been there, they would have snatched it already.
"Sister Lingling, after you take this Pill, your Soul Power will rise straight to your current bottleneck. The rest of its effects will strengthen your body, fill out your Martial Soul, and improve your constitution."
"Any medicinal power you can't absorb will lie dormant inside you. As you cultivate in the future, it'll slowly be released and increase your cultivation speed."
After hearing this, Ye Lingling hesitated and didn't reach out. The Pill was far too precious.
Dugu Bo spoke up. "Lingling, everyone's waiting to see your Martial Soul evolve. Don't hesitate. Take it and refine its medicinal power."
Ye Lingling looked around at everyone. They all nodded to her, and at last, her gaze settled on Ling Yun.
"Sister Lingling, you're the link that holds this together. If the Pill works well, I'm sure your elders will feel at ease joining the Falling Cloud Sect."
Ling Yun laid the matter bare. Ye Lingling took the Pill and swallowed it.
The Pill instantly melted into a warm current that coursed through Ye Lingling's limbs. Its medicinal properties were gentle, nourishing her body.
The next moment, Ye Lingling's Martial Soul appeared of its own accord. Two Yellow Soul Rings revolved slowly around her as she sat cross-legged on the floor, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul bobbing up and down in front of her abdomen.
With every breath Ye Lingling took, the petals of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul trembled faintly. They opened and closed, stretching and fluttering.
Ling Yun's Martial Soul appeared once more. The light of his domain enveloped Ye Lingling, guiding the Nine Heart Begonia to draw in the medicinal power.
After a quarter of an hour, the petals of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul began to change color.
Originally, its petals were a mixture of pink and white. The outer parts were pink, with the deepest pink along the edges; the farther inward they went, the whiter they became. Its stamens were golden, like countless dazzling points of starlight.
Now, the petals became uniform in color: some were entirely pink, others entirely white. The two colors flowed like ink, ceaselessly swirling across the begonia flower as though it were a sheet of paper.
Another quarter of an hour later, the petals returned to their original appearance, and a pink-and-white gradient barrier appeared.
Ling Yun's domain held the barrier within a one-meter radius around her.
Ling Yun withdrew his Martial Soul. The barrier, like a spring compressed to its limit, instantly expanded to cover a three-meter radius.
"A domain!"
Everyone in the Nine Heart Begonia Family stood up, stunned and envious, their feelings complicated.
Within the domain, Ye Shuangmu felt the suppression of his Martial Soul. It was like standing before the king of flowers.
The suppression soon turned into a feeling of warmth and familiarity. His Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul emerged, and its Soul Rings rose around him: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—eight rings, marking him as a Soul Douluo.
The two Martial Souls resonated. Ye Shuangmu gained a new insight and sat down cross-legged to meditate. After the time it took to brew a pot of tea, he stood again, having broken through by one level.
Another quarter of an hour later, Ye Lingling stood up. Her Soul Power had reached the bottleneck at level 30.
"How do you feel?"
Before you continue