Heart of the Sea God

Facing Bo Saixi's question, Li Changqing shook his head and answered truthfully, "They haven't said where it is yet. But I think they'll probably only give it to us after we resolve the Ye Clan's troubles, or when we're close to resolving them. To put it bluntly, they're probably afraid that we'll run off after obtaining the Heart of the Sea God. After all, Aunt Ye's cultivation is no different from that of an ordinary person in your eyes."

Hearing this explanation, Bo Saixi did not know how to respond for a moment.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, it turned into a helpless sigh. She nodded in agreement.

For some reason, even with the spiritual power of a demigod, she had been unable to locate the Heart of the Sea God.

Had the Heart of the Sea God been concealed by some mysterious force, or was there another reason?

She did not know.

But since Li Changqing said so, she would believe him for now. After all, there truly was no better solution at present.

They could not possibly tear apart the Ye Clan's Ancestral Land with brute force just to find the Heart of the Sea God sooner.

Leaving aside whether that method would even work, she could not bring herself to do such a thing on moral grounds alone.

After all, this place was where generations of Ye Clan patriarchs had been buried.

After leaving the Ancestral Land, Bo Saixi briefly explained the situation to Ye Wanqing.

After hearing her out, Ye Wanqing showed no surprise. She merely nodded and said gently, "Then I'll have to trouble you to come by often during this time, child."

Li Changqing waved his hand dismissively. "It's only right. We're simply taking what we each need."

In the days that followed, Li Changqing's life became exceptionally regular and fulfilling.

He cultivated at Heaven Dou Royal Academy while accompanying Ye Lingling to the Ancestral Land every seven days to absorb the Life Force within.

After each absorption, he could clearly feel his Soul Power increase, while his body became tougher as well.

His life had become highly systematic.

As time passed, the Ye Clan came to feel more and more like another home to him.

Every time he visited, Ye Wanqing personally cooked a huge tableful of dishes, afraid he would not eat enough and hinder the growth of his cultivation.

Each time, Li Changqing ate until his belly was round, then lay in a chair to digest under Ye Lingling's helpless gaze.

And so, six years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day six years later, Li Changqing had grown from a six-year-old child into a twelve-year-old youth.

He wore a long azure robe, his figure tall and straight, his features handsome.

Standing before the Ye Clan's Ancestral Land, he looked at the now fully grown Ye Lingling and said calmly, "Let's go. If I'm not mistaken, it should be these next few times."

Over the course of six years, his Soul Power Level had soared from that of a Soul Grandmaster to the level of a Soul Emperor.

His soul ring configuration was even more terrifying than anything seen before.

Two purple, two black, two red.

Of his six soul rings, the weakest were all thousand-year rings, while the two strongest were legendary hundred-thousand-year soul rings.

Such a configuration was unheard of, let alone seen.

As for Ye Lingling, she was no longer the Soul Elder she had been back then.

Her cultivation had now reached the level of a Soul Ancestor. Within all of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, aside from Li Changqing and Na'er, she was the third Soul Ancestor.

With Ye Lingling's talent alone, she should not have reached Soul Ancestor so quickly. However, whenever Li Changqing borrowed the Life Force to improve his cultivation, he also guided a portion of it into Ye Lingling's body.

Cycle after cycle, her Soul Power had surged along with his.

At the young man's reminder, anticipation and delight appeared on Ye Lingling's beautiful face.

She nodded. "Let's go."

With that, she took Li Changqing's right hand of her own accord, and the two walked side by side into the Ancestral Land before them.

For six years, the Ancestral Land had always looked the same, still bearing that scene as beautiful as a paradise.

Rosy clouds gleamed brilliantly, auspicious vapors drifted in countless streams, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers, grass, and trees.

But having long grown used to the sight, neither of them hesitated. They headed straight for that familiar patch of grass and began another round of absorption.

Li Changqing sat cross-legged and released his Ancient Tree of Life martial soul.

The phantom of a massive ancient tree appeared behind him, its branches and leaves swaying as it radiated a dense aura of life.

The Life Force within the Ancestral Land was stirred once more. As though answering some summons, it surged toward him and flowed into his body.

Ye Lingling also sat beside him, closed her eyes, circulated her Soul Power, and absorbed the portion of Life Force guided over by Li Changqing.

Time passed second by second, and everything was as it had always been.

However, just as they were about to finish, a sudden change occurred.

A dazzling blue light suddenly shot into the sky from the depths of the Ancestral Land. Like a blue pillar of light, it pierced through the entire space.

The light contained a vast, profound aura, as boundless as the sea, instantly sweeping across the whole Ancestral Land.

Then, the blue light began to condense, eventually forming a diamond-shaped blue crystal that floated before Li Changqing and Ye Lingling.

The crystal was crystalline and translucent throughout. It seemed as though waves were churning within it, and it gave off a gentle blue glow.

Looking at the blue object that had suddenly appeared before them, Ye Lingling leaned closer for a look, then asked in confusion, "Xiaoqing, what is this thing? I've never seen it before."

Li Changqing looked at the blue crystal, understanding flashing through his eyes as he replied calmly, "The Heart of the Sea God. The thing Sister Xixi has always wanted."

Although he had never seen the Heart of the Sea God before, he had enough discernment to recognize it.

Ye Lingling was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood.

So it was the Heart of the Sea God. No wonder.

It seemed things truly were about to end.

Otherwise, the Heart of the Sea God would not have appeared so soon.

Li Changqing rose to his feet, dusted off his robe, and said, "Let's go. One last time, and your ancestors will be able to use my Ancient Tree of Life to help your Ye Clan resolve the flaw of the Nine Heart Begonia."

Ye Lingling nodded obediently, then stood up as well. Staying beside Li Changqing, she turned and headed toward the exit of the Ancestral Land.

However, at the very moment the two turned around, a streak of black light suddenly flashed across the originally breathtaking sky.

The light vanished in an instant, so quickly that it seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

Li Changqing's steps paused slightly.

He raised his head and glanced at the sky, which was still filled with brilliant rosy clouds. A thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.

But he did not stop and continued toward the exit.

The Bronze Gate of the Ancestral Land slowly opened, and sunlight streamed in, dispelling the darkness within.

The two walked out side by side, their figures disappearing into the light beyond the gate.

Behind them, within that paradise-like space, the black light flashed once again before silently fading away, as though it had never appeared at all.