To Make a Horse Run, You Must Feed It Grass

"That is not possible." Ling Yun's refusal was exceptionally firm.

"As we cultivate and improve together, I will provide assistance whenever it is within my power. But to commit to a specific amount of time? That is something I will never agree to."

Su Yutang's expression froze in place. The atmosphere in the main hall turned tense in an instant.

Dugu Bo stepped forward and said, "After the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy opens tomorrow, Xiao Yun and Lingling will be classmates. They will have plenty of time to cultivate and study together, so just interacting normally will suffice. Let us not speak of this again!"

"Lingling, girl, what do you think?"

"Grandfather, Grandmother, what Dugu Bo said is also my intention. Please, do not make any further demands."

Dugu Bo's words forced everyone to calm down, while Ye Lingling's words caused Su Yutang and Ye Shuangmu to sigh.

Only then did Su Yutang realize how inappropriate her words had been. She was a sword cultivator, a level 82 Soul Douluo, and her temperament was as straight and direct as a blade.

"Very well! Since Lingling has said so, then we shall follow her wishes!"

Ling Yun added, "I fully understand your concern for your granddaughter, but regarding this matter, I am sorry."

Ye Shuangmu took a deep breath and said, "The old woman's temperament is just like that—straightforward. Please do not take it to heart, young friend."

"Shall we continue our discussion regarding joining the Falling Cloud Sect?"

As the true pillar of the Nine Heart Begonia family, Ye Shuangmu's will could not be swayed by the others in the family.

Joining the Falling Cloud Sect was their optimal path. If they acted on impulse today, there would surely be a thorn in Dugu Bo's heart.

Among their family members, only Ye Lingling had caught Dugu Bo's eye, and that was entirely due to her relationship with Dugu Yan.

Ling Yun's talent was too terrifying; if the Nine Heart Begonia family were to develop a rift with him, the consequences would be more than they could bear.

If Dugu Bo were not backing him, they might have been able to be more forceful, or if negotiations failed, they could have simply eliminated Ling Yun.

But there were no "ifs." After careful deliberation, Ye Shuangmu chose the optimal path.

Seeing Ye Shuangmu take a step back, Ling Yun naturally would not intentionally put on airs. If he wanted others to follow him, he had to provide the necessary benefits; otherwise, how could the Nine Heart Begonia family be wholeheartedly devoted to him?

"Although I cannot agree to the previous condition, I can help Sister Lingling's Martial Soul take a step further."

"Based on her healing abilities, I can help her derive offensive capabilities."

"Really?"

"Is this true?" Ye Lingling's father, Ye Qing, and mother, Liu Yun, spoke one after another, filled with excitement.

Ye Qing, who inherited Su Yutang's Floating Cloud Sword Martial Soul, was also dressed in white. However, his hair was black, his facial features were sharp and well-defined, and his eyes appeared gentle, possessing a charming sense of contrast.

Liu Yun had an oval face, hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and she wore black clothing that accentuated her sexy, mature feminine charm.

After Ye Lingling awakened the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, the couple had been worried. After all, they could not protect her forever, and she would eventually need to find a partner with offensive capabilities.

The impact of Ling Yun's words on them was immense.

"Naturally! Everyone can witness the process together." Ling Yun took out a Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill.

"Sister Lingling! This pill is called the Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill. It is refined from six precious treasures and many rare herbs. Its effect is just as its name suggests: it possesses the power to defy the heavens and change one's fate."

"Even an ordinary person with zero Soul Power can become a genius with Innate Full Soul Power upon consuming this pill. It solidifies one's foundation without any side effects."

"The earlier the pill is consumed, the better. The earlier it is taken, the more comprehensive its effects. Before level 30, its medicinal properties are more pronounced in strengthening bones, enhancing physical constitution, and evolving the Martial Soul."

"For someone like Elder Dugu, a Title Douluo, the medicinal effect is primarily reflected in the increase of Soul Power."

Dugu Bo chimed in, "I consumed one, and I am now a level 95 Title Douluo. After level 95, insights into one's Martial Soul become crucial. My own insights are still a hair's breadth away; otherwise, I would be at level 96."

Those present listened with bated breath, their eyes fixed intently on the pill in Ling Yun's hand. Their longing was written all over their faces; if not for Dugu Bo's presence, they might have tried to snatch it.

"Sister Lingling, after you consume this pill, your Soul Power will reach your current bottleneck directly. The remaining medicinal power will strengthen your physical constitution, complete your Martial Soul, and improve your aptitude."

"The medicinal power you cannot digest will remain hidden within your body, slowly releasing as you cultivate later, thereby increasing your cultivation speed."

After hearing this, Ye Lingling hesitated and did not reach out; the pill was simply too precious.

Dugu Bo spoke up, "Lingling, girl, everyone is waiting to see your Martial Soul evolve. Do not hesitate; consume it and refine the medicinal power."

Ye Lingling looked around at everyone, all of whom nodded in encouragement. Finally, her gaze rested on Ling Yun.

"Sister Lingling, you are the bridge! After consuming the pill, if the results are good, I believe your elders can join the Falling Cloud Sect with peace of mind."

Ling Yun made his point clear. Ye Lingling took the pill and swallowed it.

The pill instantly transformed into a warm current, circulating through Ye Lingling's limbs and bones. The medicinal properties were gentle, nourishing her body.

The next moment, Ye Lingling's Martial Soul appeared involuntarily. Two yellow soul rings rotated slowly around her. She sat cross-legged on the ground, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul rising and falling in front of her abdomen.

With every breath Ye Lingling took, the petals of the Nine Heart Begonia trembled slightly, opening and closing, stretching and pulsing.

Ling Yun's Martial Soul appeared once more, and the light of his domain enveloped Ye Lingling, guiding the Nine Heart Begonia to channel the medicinal power.

A quarter of an hour later, the color of the Nine Heart Begonia's petals began to change.

The original petals had been a mix of pink and white; the outer edges were pink, and the deeper they went, the whiter they became. The stamen was golden, like brilliant, twinkling starlight.

Now, the color of the petals became uniform—either entirely pink or entirely white. The two colors flowed like liquid ink, circulating endlessly across the surface of the begonia flower.

Another quarter of an hour later, the petals returned to their original appearance, and a light barrier with a gradient of pink and white emerged.

The light barrier was suppressed by Ling Yun's domain to a range of one meter around her.

Ling Yun retracted his martial soul, and the light barrier, like a spring compressed to its limit, instantly expanded to shroud a three-meter diameter.

"A domain!"

Everyone from the Nine Heart Begonia clan stood up, their expressions a complex mix of shock, envy, and agitation.

Within the domain, Ye Shuangmu felt the suppression of his martial soul; it was the sensation of encountering the sovereign among flowers.

This suppression quickly transformed into a sense of kinship, and he released his Nine Heart Begonia martial soul, eight spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—rising to signify his status as a Spirit Douluo.

The two martial souls resonated, granting Ye Shuangmu a new epiphany, and he sat cross-legged on the spot to meditate; after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he stood up once more, his spirit power having broken through by one level.

A quarter of an hour later, Ye Lingling stood up, her spirit power having reached the bottleneck of level 30.

"How is it?"