Lin Qing quickly recovered from his shock.
He immediately took out a Level-3 Soul Power Testing Soul Tool that he had made himself from his Storage Soul Tool.
"Er Ni, quick, put your hand on it and test your Soul Power."
"Oh... okay!"
Er Ni was still completely dazed.
At his words, she instinctively pressed her other free hand against the crystal ball.
Buzz!!!
The crystal ball first gave a slight tremble.
Then it erupted with an unprecedented, dazzling crimson radiance!
The light was so intense that it instantly illuminated the entire room, even shining through the window into the courtyard.
That red light was pure and rich, without the slightest trace of any other color.
"Innate Full Soul Power!"
Lin Qing's voice cracked slightly from excessive shock.
"And it's Innate Full Soul Power after her martial soul's quality has risen to the immortal grade."
This meant that from this day onward, Er Ni's starting point in cultivation had been elevated to an unimaginable height.
A Soul Master with a top-tier immortal-grade martial soul and Innate Full Soul Power would have no trouble becoming a powerhouse, so long as she did not die young.
"Ah?"
Er Ni herself was stunned.
At a loss, she stared at the beautiful yet unfamiliar Lovesick Heartbreak Red in her palm.
Her mouth opened and closed.
Only after quite a while did she find her voice again. With a tearful, anxious tone, she said:
"Ah Qing, wh-what exactly is this? It's too, too precious! It's such a waste to use it on me! You should have used it yourself!"
In her simple mind, something this wonderful should naturally have been given to the more capable Ah Qing.
Giving it to an ordinary person like her, who could only keep accounts and cook, was nothing short of a terrible waste.
"Don't be silly."
Hearing Er Ni's words, Lin Qing was both touched and amused.
He walked over to Er Ni and reached out to rub her now fiery-red, soft hair, his movements exceptionally gentle.
"Er Ni, remember this: when I give you something, just accept it without worry. There's no such thing as wasteful or not."
"You deserve it."
A girl who treated him so wholeheartedly, who had tied her entire heart to him, deserved the best things in the world.
Besides, the qualities of an immortal-grade treasure like Lovesick Heartbreak Red might truly have been more compatible with Er Ni's pure heart.
Using it on himself might not necessarily have produced a better result than using it on her.
"Besides," Lin Qing said, withdrawing his hand and smiling as he looked her over, "you now possess the Lovesick Heartbreak Red martial soul and Innate Full Soul Power. You'll be an extraordinary genius Soul Master in the future."
"Maybe someday, I'll even have to rely on Er Ni to protect me."
He made a small joke.
"Ah? Me protecting Ah Qing?"
Er Ni blinked, her face flushing slightly as she hurriedly waved her hands.
"No, no, I'm too stupid..."
"Who said you were stupid?"
Lin Qing interrupted her, his expression serious. "You manage the restaurant's accounts in perfect order, and you learn things quickly. You're not stupid at all. You simply never had the chance before."
"Now that you have a good martial soul and talent, as long as you're willing to work hard, your future achievements will be limitless."
Looking into Er Ni's eyes, he said earnestly, "Er Ni, remember this: you have never been my dependent, nor are you someone useless."
"You are my most important family, the assistant manager of Qinglin Restaurant, and now, a Soul Master with boundless potential."
"Ah Qing..."
Hearing those words, Er Ni's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling within them.
She sniffed hard and forced the tears back.
Then she nodded firmly.
Her voice was choked with emotion, yet exceptionally resolute. "Mm! I-I'll definitely cultivate hard. Even if it kills me, I'll become stronger!"
"I-I want to become someone useful to you. I want to be able to help you, instead of always holding you back!"
Her thoughts remained simple and steadfast.
Everything she had now had been given to her by Ah Qing.
Becoming stronger was so she could stand by Ah Qing's side better and help shoulder his burdens, rather than always being protected.
"Good."
Lin Qing smiled in satisfaction.
"But before that, calm yourself and properly sense your new martial soul."
"See whether, aside from its changed appearance and increased Innate Soul Power, it has anything else special, or whether it has conveyed any information to you."
He did not believe an immortal-grade martial soul would be limited to just this. It might possess some special abilities.
"Oh, right!"
Only then did Er Ni react.
She hurriedly closed her eyes, held her breath, and established a deeper connection between her consciousness and the Lovesick Heartbreak Red in her palm, which emanated warmth and sorrow.
She wanted to understand what kind of power this flower, which had changed her fate because of Ah Qing, possessed.
The room was quiet for quite a while.
Er Ni's long eyelashes trembled lightly.
Her brows furrowed slightly, as though she were doing her best to sense and comprehend the new information that had emerged in her mind from the martial soul's origin.
Lin Qing did not rush her.
He simply stood quietly at the side and waited patiently.
Deep down, he was also rather curious and expectant.
Lovesick Heartbreak Red—the finest among immortal-grade treasures, a flower of absolute love and devotion. What unique abilities would its martial soul possess?
Finally.
Er Ni's eyelashes quivered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her clear eyes first looked deeply at the lush crimson Lovesick Heartbreak Red in her palm before turning toward Lin Qing.
Yet that gaze... was somewhat complicated.
It was mixed with shyness, helplessness, and a trace of bashful hesitation that she found difficult to voice.
Her cheeks were as red as ripe apples.
"What's wrong? Does your martial soul have something special about it?"
Seeing her like this, Lin Qing could not help smiling as he asked.
"Mm... it-it is a little special."
Er Ni unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes between her fingers, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Tell me. It's all right."
Lin Qing encouraged her.
"My martial soul seems to be able to have only one innate soul skill from beginning to end."
"Its name is... 'Lovesick Heartbreak.'"
When she spoke those four words, her cheeks turned even redder.
"Oh?"
Lin Qing was somewhat surprised.
It could only possess one innate soul skill?
Why did that sound somewhat similar to the Nine Heart Begonia?
"What's its effect?"
"Its effect is... to provide an all-attribute boost to myself, as well as to my, my beloved."
She paused, secretly glanced at Lin Qing, then quickly lowered her eyes again. Even the tips of her ears had turned red.
That shy, evasive look, paired with her cherry-colored long hair, created a striking contrast that was unexpectedly adorable.
"Its, its target seems like it can only ever be you, Ah Qing."
After saying that, Er Ni felt the heat on her face was enough to fry an egg.
How was this any different from confessing directly?!
"?"
After hearing her out, Lin Qing's expression instantly became exceedingly colorful.
First came surprise.
Then realization.
After that came helpless amusement, which transformed into a deep warmth and a trace of barely noticeable awkwardness.
Good heavens, this martial soul truly was one of "absolute love and devotion"!
Was it bound that tightly?
It had made him receive another "confession" in such a novel and impossible-to-refuse manner.
Even with his mature mental age and fairly thick skin, being confessed to by a girl who loved him wholeheartedly through a martial soul ability that was practically "certified by Heaven" still felt a little too much for him to handle.
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