Just a few days after awakening her Martial Soul, she'd gone from level 10 Soul Power to nearly matching a Soul Grandmaster. What kind of monster was she?
"You gave birth to a fine son..."
Qian Ying sighed, then looked again at the little girl with her deathly pale face, her own expression full of pity.
Noticing this, Qian Shu's joy faded too. She lowered her voice and said, "Big Sister, don't worry. Xiao Chen is blessed by heaven. She'll be fine."
[Xiao Chen?]
[Is she the one Mother mentioned, the one with Innate Full Soul Power who awakened a Bright Moon Martial Soul?]
[Looks like both my parents' families are pretty powerful. And my talent isn't bad, either.]
[Wait! Qian?!]
At that, Lin Fan suddenly thought of a name—Qian Renxue!
More precisely, he thought of the family behind Qian Renxue!
If Qian Shu and the others hadn't awakened Six-Winged Angel Martial Souls, Lin Fan would have wondered whether they were related to Qian Renxue's family.
"Big Sister's here."
Just then, Lin Qingfeng came in. He was about to speak when he noticed how deathly pale Gu Chen looked and blurted out in surprise, "Why does Xiao Chen look so weak?"
"Her Martial Soul Mutation left her with a defect."
Qian Ying sighed helplessly. "We may have to trouble you for the time being."
"Big Sister, there's no need to say that."
Lin Qingfeng hesitated, but his gaze drifted toward Lin Fan.
Lin Fan had just told Dugu Bo that his Martial Soul could help other people's Martial Souls evolve and make up for their flaws. Now Gu Chen had arrived—it all seemed like far too much of a coincidence.
Lin Fan blinked, and an idea came to him. If he helped this relative—whether she was his cousin on his mother's side or his father's—evolve her Martial Soul, would his standing in the family rise?
Still, Lin Fan didn't plan to say anything just yet.
He'd let them hit a few walls first. Once they were utterly desperate, he'd step forward—and become their ray of hope!
It wasn't that Lin Fan wanted to scheme against his own family. It was just that he'd been here for six years and had never seen any of those so-called relatives or clansmen.
They'd only come running because they needed something. That alone showed they weren't particularly close.
Maybe Lin Fan's parents didn't hold high positions in the family, either. So what he was doing was for the sake of his own little family.
"Martial Soul Mutation? Could you tell me what happened?"
Lin Qingfeng looked away from Lin Fan and asked in a gentle voice.
"The Bright Moon Martial Soul Chen'er awakened is powerful, but it constantly drains the life force from her body, leaving her incredibly weak."
Qian Ying sighed. "We've consulted renowned doctors and many powerful Soul Masters, but no one knows why. They could only determine that the Bright Moon Martial Soul was the cause."
She paused, and a glimmer appeared in her eyes. "Then, a few days ago, we met a Titled Douluo. He told us Chen'er's Martial Soul had a defect and would keep draining her life force. She could either stop cultivating altogether and take tonics day and night, which might let her live out her life in peace..."
"Or find a healing-type Soul Master to stay by Chen'er's side every moment. And that Soul Master would have to possess an exceptionally powerful Martial Soul."
"Only the Nine Heart Begonia could reach that level. By coincidence, that senior knew where the person who currently possessed the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul could be found. They were in the Heaven Dou Empire, so we came here."
"We'll also have to trouble you to help us search for whoever awakened the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul."
"No matter the cost, we have to get them to help. Even if they can't stay by Chen'er's side for the rest of her life, they must at least nurse her back to normal health."
"..."
Hearing this, Lin Fan couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.
The Nine Heart Begonia?
If he remembered correctly, that was Ye Lingling's Martial Soul.
Beside them, Gu Chen looked hopeful too. She was just a little girl, at the age when she should have been lively and eager to play. But her Martial Soul's defect was withering her life force, so naturally she yearned all the more to live.
"I see."
Lin Qingfeng said solemnly, "Big Sister, don't worry. I'll mobilize every resource I have to find the person who awakened the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul."
"We're family. There's no need for thanks."
Qian Ying nodded, then looked toward Lin Fan again. "I hadn't expected Xiao Fan to be so gifted, so the gift I prepared won't be of much use after all."
"However, I have something that might suit you better."
As she spoke, the ring on Qian Ying's right hand flashed. A black, gelatinous lump appeared in her palm.
It looked ugly, but everyone knew it was no ordinary item.
After all, Qian Ying had come to ask for their help, and this was a gift for her nephew. It certainly couldn't be anything cheap.
"This is Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue. Eating it can greatly strengthen a Soul Master's physique and raise the upper limit of the age of the Soul Rings they can absorb."
"Xiao Fan is remarkably gifted. If he can absorb this, he'll get better Soul Rings and raise his limits even further in the future."
Qian Ying's words startled Lin Qingfeng and Qian Shu. They hurriedly waved their hands. "This is far too precious. Chen'er's health is poor. Since this can strengthen the body, you should save it for her."
Lin Fan couldn't help rolling his eyes.
Good grief. Someone had brought them a fine gift, and they were trying to give it away?
His eyes darted about. Lin Fan stepped forward and took the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, grinning. "Thank you, Auntie. We're family, so I won't stand on ceremony."
Lin Qingfeng and Qian Shu were both stunned by the sight, but deep down, they were delighted.
They could tell the difference between a relative and their own son. What they'd said just now was only courtesy.
"Ah, Chen'er's life force is constantly draining away. Strengthening her body won't change that."
Qian Ying sighed. "It's no use to Chen'er anyway, so Xiao Fan might as well have it."
"By the way, with Xiao Fan's talent, an ordinary academy won't be able to teach him."
Qian Ying suddenly said, "I know people at the Star Dou Imperial Academy. Should we send him there to study? If Chen'er recovers, perhaps they can attend school together someday!"
At that, Lin Qingfeng and Qian Shu both stiffened.
Lin Qingfeng knew Lin Fan didn't want to attend an academy, while Qian Shu didn't want Lin Fan to go too far away.
Qian Ying had no idea what was on their minds. When they didn't answer, she said no more and simply gazed at Gu Chen with concern.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan had already made himself at home beside Gu Chen. He asked curiously, "Your name is Gu Chen? What's your father's name?"
Lin Fan had a feeling that Martial Souls tied to the sun, moon, and heavens couldn't be weak. If he remembered correctly, there had been similar Martial Souls in the later novels.
So he wanted to ask and see whether Gu Chen's family might be connected to anyone from the original story.
But the others had no idea what Lin Fan was thinking. Seeing him ask someone directly for her father's name, they interrupted him. "Fan'er, mind your manners! He's your uncle-in-law!"
"N-no good!"
"Master Lin, something's wrong!"
Just then, hurried footsteps and a guard's panicked shout came from outside, making Lin Fan and the others' expressions change.
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