Ye Yingling

[Note: Venom amplifies all attributes. This is a proportional amplification applied on top of any existing soul skill buffs!]

I forgot to mention this earlier.

"Heaven Dou City, this lady is back."

At the gates of Heaven Dou City, three figures emerged from the morning mist.

Liu Erlong stood with her hands on her hips, looking up at the familiar city walls with a wide grin.

After leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, she, Ye Yingling, and Jiang Ce had spent over half a month in the Sunset Forest, specifically hunting for high-level ten-thousand-year soul beasts.

It took a long time, but they finally stumbled upon that fifty-thousand-year Earth-Splitting Blazing Dragon.

Not only did they gain a fifty-thousand-year soul ring from the kill, but it also unexpectedly dropped a left leg bone.

After absorbing the soul ring and soul bone, the residual medicinal power of the immortal herbs within her body was completely detonated, and Liu Erlong broke through to level fifty-nine in one go.

Fifth Soul Skill, ...

Dragon Emperor Gaia Cannon:

A long-range earth-fire dual-attribute charging skill. Instantly deals double attack power in earth-fire dual-attribute damage!

At full charge, damage increases to six times, range triples, and it adds a burning effect along the path with a large-scale explosion at the impact point.

Left Leg Soul Bone Skill, Heart of the Earth:

When feet are planted on the ground, all attributes increase by thirty percent, and two percent of soul power and stamina are recovered every second.

All attacks deal an additional thirty percent earth-fire dual-attribute damage.

When Jiang Ce first heard Liu Erlong announce the name "Dragon Emperor Gaia Cannon," he almost thought he had switched channels.

He even teased that if she added a Dramon Destroyer, Liu Erlong could go straight to being a WarGreymon.

Speaking of Dramon Destroyers, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear possessed the bloodline of a Behemoth and specialized in hunting dragons; if they went back and slaughtered one, they might actually get a conceptual skill out of it.

Liu Erlong was filled with emotion.

In less than two months, she had gone from a two-ring Great Soul Master to a level fifty-nine Soul King; it felt like a dream.

"So sentimental?" Jiang Ce patted her shapely buttocks with a wicked smirk.

"What do you think? I almost died out there. Who would have thought that meeting you would lead to such a massive turnaround?"

Liu Erlong wrapped her arms around his muscular arm, unreservedly pressing the massive assets on her chest—which had undergone a second growth spurt under his wanton pampering—against him.

Ye Yingling stood to the side, equally moved.

Her journey from a level twenty novice to a level forty-five soul master was just as incredible.

Her soul beasts were much easier to find than Liu Erlong's, as the age requirements were lower.

Jiang Ce had used Venom to manifest wings and search from the air, targeting plant-type soul beasts with offensive or buffing capabilities, focusing on the habitats they preferred.

Now that she was a four-ring Soul Ancestor, the curse on her martial soul was completely lifted. In such a short time, she had been reborn, and she owed it all to her teacher.

Though, she did thank him with her body every single day.

"Looking for a moment is enough. How could these trivial things in front of us block your path?"

Jiang Ce patted both women on their backsides and led them toward the city gate.

The two women's mature, voluptuous temperaments and proud figures drew eyes all the way.

However, the extremely fierce, bloodthirsty aura they exuded and their "don't mess with me" demeanor ensured that no one dared to provoke them.

The trio had been on a killing spree in the Sunset Forest for some time, and that murderous aura was enough to make ordinary people afraid to even meet their gaze.

The three first went to the Mercenary Guild to submit the commissions they had previously accepted.

Liu Erlong took the opportunity to have the manager post a task for collecting special herbs, as requested by Jiang Ce.

Since the spirit herb garden at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well allowed plants to grow a hundred years for every one year in the outside world, it was only natural to collect as many herb seeds and seedlings as possible to plant there and expand their variety.

The manager had long since learned not to ask questions; he quickly registered the task details and respectfully watched the three leave.

They walked out with hundreds of thousands of Gold Soul Coins, drawing gasps of amazement from the many mercenaries present.

However, some of the mercenaries watched their retreating figures with flickering eyes, deep in thought.

Jiang Ce and his two companions headed straight for the best restaurant in Heaven Dou City to indulge in a feast.

Although the meat of spirit beasts in the wild tasted decent, the cooking methods were repetitive, so it was a rare treat to return to the city and properly reward their stomachs.

After eating their fill, Ye Yingling looked toward Jiang Ce with a hint of hesitation.

"What's wrong, Lingling?" Liu Erlong noticed her strange expression.

"Teacher... I want to go back and see my parents."

After all, it had been quite a while since she left home, and she hadn't returned once.

"Fine, if you want to go back, then go."

Ye Yingling was instantly overjoyed.

Ye Yingling led Jiang Ce and Liu Erlong through the gates of the Ye Clan.

Ye Mother was in the courtyard drying medicinal herbs, her brow furrowed with worry.

Her daughter had gone out to hunt for a spirit ring some time ago and still hadn't returned, leaving her in a constant state of anxiety.

She sighed and looked up, but upon seeing the figures at the gate, the herb basket in her hands clattered to the ground.

"Lingling?"

However, looking at her daughter's attire, she could hardly believe her eyes.

The frail daughter who used to be afraid to speak loudly when she left was now standing before her in a tight black bodysuit, her figure a full size fuller than when she had departed.

The black bodysuit clung tightly to her curvaceous frame, outlining her feminine fullness and softness in full view.

The heroic spirit in her eyes, something only possessed by spirit masters who had experienced life-and-death battles, made her look like a completely different person.

Ye Mother's eyes turned red on the spot, and she pulled her daughter into her arms.

Hearing the commotion, Ye Father emerged from the main hall. Seeing his daughter's appearance, he stood frozen in place, his lips moving for a long time before he finally squeezed out, "As long as you're back... as long as you're back."

Once the three of them were seated in the main hall, Ye Mother held her daughter's hand, unwilling to let go.

"What is this outfit all about? What happened to the Black Wolf Mercenary Group? Why are you dressed like this?"

Her daughter had always been a refined young lady who wore dresses; she had never worn anything like this before.

Ye Yingling spoke softly, briefly recounting their encounter with the Golden-Armored Blazing Dragon and the total annihilation of the Black Wolf Mercenary Group.

When she mentioned how she had nearly died under the dragon beast's claws, Ye Mother's hand, which was gripping hers, trembled.

She did not reveal any secrets regarding Jiang Ce or the Symbiote.

She only said that her senior sister, Liu Erlong, had saved her, and that she had later taken Jiang Ce as her teacher.

Not only had he resolved the generational curse of the Nine-Heart Begonia spirit, but he had also helped her break through her spirit power bottlenecks along the way.

"The curse of the spirit... has been lifted?" Ye Father asked with a trembling voice.

Ye Yingling stood up, palms facing upward, and the phantom of the Nine-Heart Begonia: Sacred Chant bloomed above her hands.

The white petals unfolded layer by layer, a halo condensing in the center of the flower, with chant-like runes circulating within it.

Immediately after, four spirit rings lit up beneath her feet: one yellow and three black.

Ye Father stared at the three extremely conspicuous black spirit rings at his daughter's feet, completely dumbfounded.

"The second spirit ring is a ten-thousand-year ring? How is this possible!"

In the spirit master world, ten-thousand-year spirit beasts already possessed intelligence, and their spirit rings carried soul shocks. Generally, only a five-ring Spirit King could accommodate a ten-thousand-year ring. For his daughter's second ring to be ten-thousand-year—what kind of joke was this?

Ye Mother covered her mouth, tears streaming down through her fingers.

Her daughter had truly encountered a great benefactor!

Ye Yingling retracted her spirit and sat back down.

"Teacher helped me temper my physique and provided me with rare treasures, so my body strength is sufficient to bear ten-thousand-year spirit rings. The curse of the Nine-Heart Begonia has also been completely resolved; from now on, I will gain a new spirit skill every time I level up, instead of only having healing."

Ye Father's lips quivered for a long time before he managed to say four words: "Heaven has eyes."

Ye Yingling held her parents' hands and solemnly warned, "Mom, Dad, although I received Teacher's help to break the spirit curse and obtain this spirit ring configuration, this matter must never be leaked."

Once news spread that the generational curse of the Ye Clan's Nine-Heart Begonia had been broken, various factions would inevitably set their sights on them.

Ye Father nodded repeatedly, and Ye Mother wiped away her tears and agreed.

They understood this logic well; the Ye Clan were merely auxiliary healing spirit masters and lacked the combat power of battle spirit masters. Even though they had earned many favors from other spirit masters due to their healing abilities, this matter was simply too inconceivable and would absolutely invite covetous eyes.

Only by keeping the secret would they be safe once their daughter grew stronger.

That evening, Ye Father hosted a banquet, showering Jiang Ce and Liu Erlong with endless gratitude throughout the meal.

He thanked them for saving his daughter's life, for their guidance, and for lifting the curse on her martial soul.

Jiang Ce maintained the air of a teacher throughout the social pleasantries, remarking that his apprentice, Ye Yingling, was very obedient and clever.

She understood how to respect her teacher and follow the Way.

She respected her parents!

Liu Erlong sat to the side, holding back laughter so hard she pinched her own thigh until it turned purple.

What "understood how to respect her teacher and follow the Way."

Respect her parents!

Jiang Ce sensed her thoughts and immediately struck her with a Phantom Dragon attack, nearly causing her to make a scene on the spot; she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Ye Father respectfully toasted Jiang Ce, calling him "Teacher" with the utmost reverence at every turn.

He even personally arranged for the two of them to stay in the best guest rooms, located right next door to Ye Yingling's room.

Deep in the night, silence reigned.

Ye Yingling sat alone on the edge of her bed, moonlight spilling onto the floor through the lattice window.

She looked down at the Black Latex Suit still rippling slightly against her skin, feeling the presence of the Phantom Dragon!

She looked up again at the thousands of lights flickering across Heaven Dou City outside her window and sighed softly.

In just over a month, she had transformed from a frail support-type spirit master who could only stand in the back row into a four-ring Spirit Ancestor capable of hunting ten-thousand-year spirit beasts alone.

The curse on her martial soul had been completely lifted, and the shackles that had bound the Ye Clan for generations were finally broken in her lifetime.

She held out her hands, turning them over in the moonlight to feel the brand-new power surging within her.

Then, the Black Latex Suit on her body transformed into tentacles, binding her tightly.

Ye Yingling gritted her teeth hard, forcing back the gasp that had risen to her throat.

Jiang Ce climbed in through the window with Liu Erlong, and before they even touched the floor, black tentacles hoisted Ye Yingling up toward the doorway!

"Your parents are right next door, so take it easy tonight and don't wake them up."

Jiang Ce's voice rang out right against her ear, his tone filled with wicked amusement.

"Teacher—" Ye Yingling whispered, her face flushing as if it might bleed.

Liu Erlong stood in the moonlight with her arms crossed, watching Jiang Ce's wicked display, and curled her lip, muttering, "Bastard."

She then reached back to close the window, slid the door bolt firmly into place, and turned around with a slight smirk on her lips.

"Move over a bit. One person can't handle this bastard alone; if we share the burden, we'll suffer a little less."