Ye Shuangmu felt the change most clearly. He could tell for certain that his granddaughter's Martial Soul had evolved, but he was intensely curious whether it had truly gained an offensive ability.
Su Yutang and the others watched Ye Lingling expectantly as well.
"My Soul Power has reached Level 30. My Martial Soul has gained the ability to use poison. This poison works by eroding life force. My original healing ability repairs life force."
"Now, my Martial Soul can manifest either ability at will. Whether I heal or erode life force is all a matter of thought."
"My first two Soul Skills are still area-wide healing abilities. For my later Soul Skills, I can continue choosing healing abilities."
"Good! Wonderful!" Ye Shuangmu was overcome with excitement.
Ye Qing and Liu Yun were happy for their daughter, too. More than anything, they no longer had to worry about her being bullied in the future.
After witnessing the process of a Martial Soul's evolution with their own eyes, the others had no more objections to joining the Falling Cloud Sect.
"From this day forward, the Nine Heart Begonia will join the Falling Cloud Sect. As long as you don't deliberately treat us as expendable, we'll do everything in our power whenever you call upon us."
"..."
Ye Shuangmu, Su Yutang, Ye Qing... One by one, the members of the Nine Heart Begonia Family present declared their support.
Ling Yun suddenly felt a weight of pressure and responsibility. "Welcome, everyone, to the Falling Cloud Sect."
"The sect has only just been founded. All of you are founding elders."
"Let me explain the origin of the sect's name."
"Sunset Forest is where the sect began. As for 'Cloud,' first, it's part of my name and represents who I am. Second, clouds are always high above the ground, looking down on all creation. I hope that one day, our sect will stand above the world and look down upon all the other factions as insignificant."
"Now that we've established a sect, I hope the Falling Cloud Sect will eventually become the greatest power under heaven."
"Looking down upon all the other factions as insignificant! Excellent! The Sect Master's heart embraces heaven and earth, with the force to swallow mountains and rivers. This old man is far from your equal. I'm willing to contribute what little I can to this goal."
"What the old man says, this old woman says as well. I may not be good at much, but the Floating Cloud Sword in my hand still has a bit of an edge."
"We feel the same!"
"So do I!"
"And us!"
"Excellent! With all of you lending your support today, the Falling Cloud Sect is finally beginning to take shape. With everyone's efforts, I believe it will become the greatest power under heaven sooner or later."
"At present, the sect has one Supreme Elder."
"Grandpa Ye and Grandma Su are both Soul Douluos, so they'll be Elders. I'll focus mainly on cultivation. For now, the sect's affairs will be handled by the two Elders in consultation with the Supreme Elder."
"A sect's growth depends on money, territory, and talent. Our current headquarters is at Dugu Manor. We can move later if we find a suitable place."
"As for money, I have products and techniques, but turning them into money will require professionals who understand business."
"We currently have a medicinal herb cultivation base, and for now, we mainly sell herbs. Later, I'll introduce Pills that can increase Soul Power without side effects, as well as Pills that cleanse the meridians and marrow and grant Innate Soul Power."
"How to sell them for the highest price will be up to you to figure out! Is anyone willing to take responsibility for the sect's finances?"
"Sect Master, I'm willing! I manage the family business, so I have experience. I'll make sure the job gets done."
Ye Shuangmu nodded in agreement. "Sect Master, this is my youngest daughter, Ye Zhiwei. She's meticulous and loves money. She even let her Soul Power cultivation fall behind because of it. Her Innate Soul Power was Level 8, so her talent isn't weak, but now she's thirty-seven and only at Level 46."
"Dad, you don't understand. Counting money is the most wonderful feeling in the world."
Ling Yun studied Ye Zhiwei. Her short hair reached her ears, and she wore a light purple outfit. She had a voluptuous figure and sharp eyes.
The words "career woman" came to Ling Yun's mind. He wondered which of her or Flender, that unscrupulous merchant, was better.
"Good! I'll leave everything related to the Pills to the Supreme Elder. You can discuss it with him when the time comes."
"As for talent, we'll all have to think of ways to recruit people. I'll also keep an eye out while I'm at the academy."
"I hereby announce a few of the sect's rules."
Everyone instinctively sat up straight. The word "rules" always made people feel alert.
"First, sect members are forbidden from fighting among themselves. If you have an irreconcilable dispute, settle it in the Soul Fighting Arena. Violators will have their cultivation crippled, their memories of the sect sealed, and be expelled."
"I'll set up the Soul Fighting Arena and the sealing array later."
"Second, sect members are forbidden from committing rape, robbery, or bullying the elderly, the weak, women, or children."
"Third, no fraternizing with bandits or colluding with outside enemies."
"Fourth, respect your teachers and honor your Elders."
"Fifth, watch out for people who lose their heads over love! If you see the signs, stamp them out immediately. If an outstanding genius in the sect would rather be expelled than give up on eloping with their lover, don't try to stop them. Make them find a way to return everything they received from the sect. Don't let them keep a single cultivation resource."
"Sixth, when facing an enemy, if you kill them, make sure to finish the job. Better yet, burn them to ashes and scatter those ashes to the winds, so they can't fail to die properly and then come back to life after a lucky encounter."
"Seventh, if you encounter people with the following traits and make them your enemies, don't hesitate to strike. Send someone at least three major ranks stronger than them, and make sure to kill them in one blow. These people usually have great Luck Chart on their side. They jump off cliffs and meet seniors who pass on their powers, stumble across Soul Bones, and always get rescued by benefactors when they're being hunted. Even finding a bargain at an auction is normal for them."
"Their traits include having both parents dead, a strange background, a sudden change in temperament, and shouting things no one else can understand..."
Ling Yun spoke for a full quarter of an hour. When everyone had finished listening, their eyes had been opened to a whole new world.
"That's it for the main rules. You can come up with the rest."
The discussion continued until late into the night. Only then did Dugu Bo and Ling Yun leave the Nine Heart Begonia Family.
After watching Dugu Bo leave, the group returned home and continued talking it over. In the end, they reached an agreement.
The family decided to officially let Ye Lingling handle its affairs. Sooner or later, the Nine Heart Begonia line would be in her hands.
"This old man is exhausted. There are so many things to worry about. If we really had to build a faction from scratch, it'd be unbearable. I'd rather just get into a good fight."
"We can't help it, so I'll have to trouble you to worry about things a little more, Grandpa Dugu."
"I'm starting to regret establishing a faction!"
"..."
The two talked as they walked, and before they knew it, they had returned to Dugu Manor. Ling Yun went into the east wing, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating.
The Universe Creation Art consisted of thirty-six diagrams. The background of the seventh diagram was gray, with a pair of eyes on it.
Ling Yun's consciousness fixed on those eyes. He saw a single glance that split the heavens, a single glance that annihilated the world, a single glance that sent all things into reincarnation, a single glance that reversed the flow of time and space... and more.
Every time the scene changed, a wisp of energy entered his eyes.
Before he knew it, three hours had passed.
Ling Yun's consciousness returned. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that the sky outside was already bright.
He went outside. Everything he saw was more vivid: the sky was bluer, the flowers brighter, and all kinds of plants seemed to possess something they hadn't before, something difficult to describe. It was almost like they had gained a touch of spirituality.
He released his Martial Soul and used it as a mirror. His eyes seemed to have gained a faint glimmer.
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