Helping Ye Lingling Obtain a Soul Ring

Another 500 Wish Value!

Xiao Yin was thrilled once again.

As for the last two rewards, he pretended not to see them. They were useless to him anyway!

Looking at the generously endowed Ye Qingyi before him, then at the doe-like, pitiable Ye Lingling, the scales in Xiao Yin's heart instantly tipped.

Do it! The task was all that mattered!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood and qi within him. Forcing as kind a smile as possible onto his face, he said to Ye Qingyi:

"So you are a senior from the Nine-Heart Begonia lineage. My apologies for my disrespect. I am Xiao Yin. My injuries... are indeed rather troublesome."

His gaze shifted to Ye Lingling, and his voice softened further. "Your daughter needs her second soul ring? I wonder... what kind of soul beast does she require?"

When Ye Qingyi heard Xiao Yin introduce himself and saw his attitude visibly soften, even taking the initiative to ask about Lingling's soul ring, her favorable impression of him deepened considerably.

A gentle smile appeared on her face. "Little Friend Xiao, there is no need for such formality.

"For Lingling's second soul ring, she needs a plant-type soul beast possessing pure life energy or healing properties.

"It would preferably be between eight hundred and a thousand years old.

"Such soul beasts are scarce to begin with, and most dwell deep within the forest. We have searched for days without finding anything suitable."

Xiao Yin's heart stirred at this!

With [Vegetation Affinity] and Taotie's keen perception of energy, he had previously faintly detected an extremely subtle yet incomparably pure fluctuation of life energy in a certain location!

He simply had not paid it any attention at the time!

Thinking of this, Xiao Yin said, "Senior, a few days ago, I sensed a pure life aura not far from here.

"Perhaps... it is the target you seek. This is not a place to linger; the scent of blood will draw trouble.

"If you trust me, I am fairly familiar with this region and can lead the way.

"As for my injuries..."

He glanced at Ye Qingyi. "I'll have to trouble you, Senior."

Ye Qingyi looked at Xiao Yin. Though he appeared bedraggled, his eyes were clear and candid. Coupled with the natural trust brought by [Vegetation Affinity], she hardly hesitated.

"Then I will trouble you, Little Friend Xiao. Leave your injuries to me."

She approached with graceful steps, and a delicate, refreshing floral fragrance spread through the air.

She extended her slender jade hand, palm upward, as a soft white light lit up.

A crystalline begonia phantom appeared above her palm. Its nine petals layered over one another, while its central pistil emitted a warm, vast aura of life—

It was the top-tier healing-type tool martial soul, the Nine-Heart Begonia!

Then six soul rings rose around her!

Two yellow, two purple, two black!

"Nine-Heart Begonia, Healing Light."

Ye Qingyi's voice carried a strange rhythm, like a sacred hymn soothing the soul.

White light fell upon Xiao Yin like moonlight, enveloping his entire body.

In an instant, Xiao Yin felt as though he had been immersed in a warm spring of life!

An itchy numbness came from the bone-deep wound on his left arm as flesh and blood wriggled and regrew at a visible rate!

The burns and bruises on his back rapidly faded, and the pain greatly diminished!

Even the hidden injuries caused by forcefully refining soul rings and fighting were rapidly being soothed!

The healing effect of the Nine-Heart Begonia was nothing short of miraculous!

Worthy indeed of a top-tier healing martial soul!

"Thank you, Senior!" Feeling that he had mostly recovered, Xiao Yin offered his sincere thanks.

"It was nothing."

Ye Qingyi withdrew her martial soul, her smile gentle. The look in her eyes as she regarded Xiao Yin became even softer.

Despite being so severely wounded, this boy had still thought of helping them find a soul beast. His character was truly commendable.

Even the female guard looked at Xiao Yin with less wariness and more warmth.

Along the way, Ye Qingyi finally took a close look at Xiao Yin's slightly youthful face and asked with some confusion:

"Little Friend Xiao, you should not be over sixteen, right? How did you end up alone in the Star Dou Forest?"

At this moment, Xiao Yin was practically a different person from when he had first left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

The bloodline awakening of his Taotie Martial Soul, the physical enhancements from devouring soul beasts and receiving their returned energy...

If one ignored his face, Xiao Yin's outward appearance was no different from that of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth!

"Ahem... well, Senior Ye, I just... turned ten this year... I was cultivating in the Star Dou Forest."

Xiao Yin rarely found himself blushing.

"What?!

"You are only ten?!

"You are actually four years younger than Lingling?"

This answer made Ye Qingyi cry out in shock. Even Ye Lingling widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief!

He is so much taller than me, yet he is younger than I am?!

Ye Qingyi hurriedly asked again, "Then which family are you a disciple of? A young genius like you cannot possibly be unknown!"

Xiao Yin fell silent for a moment. The image of a mountain gate flashed through his mind, and then he smiled.

"I have no sect or school. I am merely an independent cultivator."

"What?!"

Ye Qingyi was stunned once more, even raising her voice several notches!

If he truly was a genius with no background, then if they could recruit him into the Ye Clan...

After quite some time, Ye Qingyi seemed to have digested the shock of Xiao Yin's reply. Only then did she speak again in a gentler voice.

"Since you are helping Lingling find a soul beast, stop calling me Senior. Just call me Aunt Ye."

Xiao Yin raised a brow. He had not expected this Soul Emperor healer to be so friendly toward him, so he simply attributed it all to the effects of [Vegetation Affinity].

Meanwhile, Ye Lingling's gaze toward Xiao Yin held nothing but curiosity.

An hour later, under Xiao Yin's guidance, the four arrived at the entrance to a valley.

The farther they went, the clearer the pure, gentle life energy in the air became.

Even Ye Qingyi could not help but be slightly moved. She could sense that this aura was highly compatible with the Nine-Heart Begonia!

After passing through a dense stretch of moss, their view suddenly opened up.

This was a hidden little valley within the valley, containing only a single pool.

At the center of the pool, a strange yet beautiful plant spread its form.

It resembled an epiphyllum, but its entire body was moon-white. Its leaves were like silver foil, their edges flowing with a blue-violet glow.

"It is a Moonlight Epiphyllum!" Delight burst from Ye Qingyi's eyes.

"And a Moonlight Epiphyllum close to a thousand years old!

"Lingling, this is practically a second soul ring soul beast tailor-made for you!"

Ye Lingling's eyes widened as well, her little face filled with joy and longing.

She could even clearly feel the intense resonance coming from the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul within her!

"Around eight hundred years old, with pure life force, containing the power of Yue Hua and potent self-healing properties. A perfect match."

Xiao Yin nodded as well. The quality of this Moonlight Epiphyllum had definitely surpassed the system's requirement of "excellent." Completing the task was within sight!

The guard also let out a breath of relief, a faint smile appearing on her face.

The target they had searched for over so many days had finally appeared, and its quality was this good.

"Lingling, prepare to absorb the soul ring."

Ye Qingyi reined in her excitement, her expression turning solemn.

She looked toward the guard. "Sister Wang, please keep watch over the surroundings."

"Rest assured, Madam." Guard Wang answered in a low voice, her sharp gaze sweeping over the valley entrance and the tops of the rock walls.

Ye Qingyi looked at Xiao Yin again, gratitude mixed into her gentle gaze. "Xiao Yin, please wait nearby as well, in case anything happens.

"Once Lingling succeeds in absorbing it, I will certainly reward you handsomely!"

"Alright."

Xiao Yin retreated to sit on a rock at the edge of the pool, sensing every movement in the surrounding wind and grass.

The task was not complete yet. He could not let his guard down.