Ye Lingling Was About to Cry

Ye Qingyi walked to the edge of the pond and took a deep breath.

She did not attack directly. Instead, she extended her jade-like hand, and the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul appeared in her palm once more.

Soft white light, like moonlight, spilled toward the Moonlight Epiphyllum at the center of the pond.

This was not an attack, but the purest guidance and soothing of life force.

"Moonlight Epiphyllum, your life is pure and beautiful.

"My daughter Lingling bears the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul and wishes to inherit your strength, continuing the glory of life and healing.

"Please become the foundation upon which she walks forward."

Ye Qingyi's voice flowed like a clear spring, carrying a strange power of comfort and communication.

Guided by the pure life force of the Nine-Heart Begonia, the Moonlight Epiphyllum seemed to understand Ye Qingyi's words.

Its moon-white leaves swayed slightly, the flower bud at its peak trembled gently, and the starlike motes around it became even more active.

A gentle, compliant will was conveyed. There was not the slightest resistance; instead, it carried the delight of having found a place to belong.

The sight struck Xiao Yin as novel.

This Nine-Heart Begonia, passed down through a single lineage, really had something special!

Ye Lingling walked to the pond's edge and released her martial soul at her mother's prompting.

A smaller phantom of the Nine-Heart Begonia appeared in her palm. Its petals were delicate, carrying the fresh charm of a young girl.

"Go, Lingling," Ye Qingyi said softly.

Ye Lingling nodded, her little face filled with determination.

She controlled the phantom of the Nine-Heart Begonia, sending out a gentle beam of white light that linked her to the Moonlight Epiphyllum.

At that moment, the flower bud at the top of the Moonlight Epiphyllum, which had yet to bloom, seemed to exhaust its final strength. Drawn by the Nine-Heart Begonia's light, it bloomed soundlessly!

In an instant, an incomparably dense surge of pure life energy erupted!

The entire small valley was dyed in a dreamlike silver-blue radiance!

The flower bloomed and withered within the span of a breath.

After blossoming, the jade-like stalk of the Moonlight Epiphyllum rapidly lost its luster and turned gray and withered.

A deep yellow soul ring slowly rose!

Eight hundred and fifty years!

A perfect match for the Nine-Heart Begonia!

"Now, Lingling!" Ye Qingyi called softly.

Ye Lingling immediately sat down cross-legged, gathering all her focus as she drew the silver-blue soul ring down toward herself, slowly placing it around her body.

Buzz—!

As the soul ring entered her body, Ye Lingling's petite frame trembled slightly. Her little face instantly turned pale, and her brows knitted tightly as she endured the impact of the soul ring's energy.

Yet she bit down hard on her lower lip. The Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul emitted a gentle white glow that protected her body as she struggled to guide the pure life energy.

Ye Qingyi stood guard beside her anxiously, the Nine-Heart Begonia's radiance constantly enveloping her daughter as she remained ready to help at any moment.

Guard Wang vigilantly scanned their surroundings. The aura of a Soul Emperor faintly spread outward, intimidating any soul beasts that might have been drawn over by the soul ring's fluctuations.

Xiao Yin simply watched in silence.

He could sense that although the energy within Ye Lingling was vast and pure, its nature was gentle.

With Ye Qingyi, a top-tier healing Soul Emperor, protecting her as well, the absorption process might have had some difficulties, but there was no great danger.

Time passed bit by bit.

The color gradually returned to Ye Lingling's pale face, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and the aura around her steadily rose.

The soul ring pulsed slowly around her before finally stabilizing completely, perfectly merging with her petite body.

When Ye Lingling opened her eyes again, her aura had clearly grown much stronger. She had reached the level of a rank twenty-one Soul Grandmaster!

The phantom of her Nine-Heart Begonia had become more solid, and the edges of its petals were now tinged with a faint silver border of moonlight, making it appear even holier and more beautiful.

"Mom! I did it!"

Ye Lingling excitedly threw herself into Ye Qingyi's embrace, her little face overflowing with the joy of success.

"Good girl!"

Ye Qingyi tightly hugged her daughter, her eyes full of relief.

She gently stroked Ye Lingling's hair, but her gaze turned toward Xiao Yin, who sat quietly nearby.

"Xiao Yin,"

Ye Qingyi led Ye Lingling over to Xiao Yin and solemnly bowed.

Her astonishingly full curves rose and fell slightly with the movement, making Xiao Yin's eyelids twitch!

"We found such a suitable soul ring entirely thanks to your help!

"If you had not guided us in time, my daughter and I might have wandered the forest for who knew how much longer.

"I, Ye Qingyi, will remember this kindness forever!"

Ye Lingling copied her mother and seriously bowed to Xiao Yin as well, saying in a soft voice:

"Thank you, Big Brother Xiao Yin."

Her light blue eyes were filled with sincere gratitude and closeness.

Big Brother?

Did this girl forget that she was four years older than me?

Xiao Yin hurriedly rose and returned the bow. "Aunt Ye, you flatter me. Lingling is exceptionally gifted and has blessings of her own.

"I merely happened to be in the right place and offered a little help."

His tone was modest, but inwardly, a weight had finally lifted from his heart.

[Ding! Quest 'Gardener's Obsession' completed!]

[Rewards issued: Wish Value +500 (Current: 514!); [Seed of Life] ×1; Deep favorability with Ye Qingyi and Ye Lingling (bonded)]

Seeing his Wish Value become plentiful again, Xiao Yin was in an excellent mood.

Watching Xiao Yin's humble and courteous manner, Ye Qingyi's favorable impression of him suddenly increased sharply.

She smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "At such a young age, you already possess such strength and knowledge. You are truly exceptional. What is rarer still is your pure character and willingness to help others."

She paused, sincere recruitment in her eyes. "I wonder... would you be willing to return to Heaven Dou City with us?

"My Ye Clan may not be a top-tier sect, but we have some foundation in Heaven Dou City.

"With your talent, if you joined the Ye Clan, I would certainly devote myself to nurturing you.

"Besides... Lingling... she likes you very much as an elder brother." She gently patted her daughter's hand.

Hearing her mother's words, Ye Lingling's little face flushed slightly. Still, her pale violet eyes looked at Xiao Yin with anticipation as she softly echoed:

"Mm... Big Brother Xiao Yin... come with us?"

Guard Wang also looked at Xiao Yin, his eyes carrying a trace of scrutiny, but he did not object.

This youth truly had astonishing potential.

Faced with Ye Qingyi's sincere invitation and Ye Lingling's hopeful gaze, Xiao Yin did indeed feel a flicker of temptation.

Heaven Dou City, resources, a stable environment... for someone alone like him, the allure was considerable.

But that temptation was instantly crushed beneath a harsher reality.

The Taotie beast slumbered within him. He possessed a secret martial soul that devoured all things, one that the world would never tolerate.

He still needed to continuously grow stronger. He needed to "wipe away his shame"!

The path of Taotie was destined to be a lonely road of plunder and devouring.

A greenhouse could never raise a true primordial beast!

Xiao Yin took a deep breath, suppressing the ripples in his heart. An apologetic yet utterly resolute smile appeared on his face.

He cupped his hands toward Ye Qingyi and Ye Lingling once more.

"Aunt Ye, I am deeply grateful for your kindness, and for Lingling's feelings.

"However, I bear important matters upon my shoulders, as well as secrets I cannot speak of.

"My journey through Star Dou is not yet complete. The road ahead is filled with thorns, and its dangers are impossible to predict.

"I truly dare not let my own troubles implicate you or Little Sister Lingling."

His gaze was open and honest, carrying an unquestionable resolve.

"I accept the Ye Clan's goodwill with gratitude. But please forgive Xiao Yin... I cannot travel with you."

At last, he looked at Ye Lingling, his eyes gentle.

"Little Sister Lingling, cultivate diligently.

"Your Nine-Heart Begonia will surely bloom with the most dazzling radiance in the future.

"If fate allows... we will meet again."

The anticipation in Ye Lingling's eyes instantly dimmed. Her little mouth puckered, and a mist of tears clouded her eyes.

She lowered her head, her small hand clutching tightly at her mother's clothes. She said nothing more, leaving only her silent disappointment.

Xiao Yin had planted another seed.