Lin Ze'an's consciousness gradually grew hazy inside the bud, as pale green light draped over his body and mind like a veil.
The rich life force seemed to transform into a gentle river, lifting him softly before slowly enveloping him.
At the same time, a gentle voice rang out in Lin Ze'an's mind. "Every living thing has a soul of its own. Plants are no exception."
"But people often overlook this because plants cannot speak."
"You've lived a lifetime, yet you can still treat this unfamiliar world with a kind and tender heart. That's a good thing."
Lin Ze'an's consciousness drifted inside the bud. All around him, countless green specks of light glittered, circling him like stars.
Within those specks, he seemed to glimpse countless fragments of life.
Tender shoots breaking through the soil, flowers in bloom, lush forests, even microorganisms too tiny for the naked eye to see.
Every living thing existed in its own way, flourishing.
"What's happened to you lately has left you feeling lost, hasn't it?"
At those words, Lin Ze'an's consciousness trembled faintly.
Yes. His father's death, his mother's early passing, the Evil Soul Masters' cruelty... all of it weighed on his young heart like a series of towering mountains.
He had once thought he knew exactly what he ought to do, but now everything had grown indistinct.
Should he kill those sinners? Those evil Soul Masters who had destroyed countless people's homes, those bullies who preyed on the weak?
But if he did, would he too become someone who trampled on life?
And if he didn't bring those people to justice, how could he release the hatred and pain in his heart?
As he struggled with his uncertainty, the gentle voice spoke again. "Life and death, good and evil—how you define them depends only on your heart."
"I believe that if you follow your heart, you won't lose your way."
"Continue onward, my successor."
As the words faded, the bud's pale green light suddenly grew brighter, then gradually softened.
Just then, the bud enveloping him burst into bloom. Its rich life force spread out, instantly filling half of Spirit City.
A moment later, the energy flower slowly faded away, and Lin Ze'an returned to the ground.
He stretched his body lightly, feeling the rich life force flow through his meridians. "I'm at level 30. Looks like I've reached a bottleneck."
What's more, after absorbing Lovesick Heartbreak Red, every inch of his flesh and blood had been reshaped, becoming tougher and brimming with vitality.
"Was that voice Mo Ruier? Follow my heart..."
Just then, a flurry of urgent knocks interrupted his thoughts.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Junior, are you all right?" Yan's concerned voice came from outside.
Lin Ze'an paused, then understood.
That made sense. With such a commotion, Yan was closest and would naturally be the first to notice.
He walked slowly to the entrance and reached out to open the courtyard gate.
Outside, Yan's fiery red figure immediately came into view. He was just about to speak, but the moment his eyes fell on Lin Ze'an, his words died in his throat.
"This...?" Yan's eyes widened. His mouth fell slightly open as he stared at Lin Ze'an in shock.
The aura around his junior was like a tender shoot born in early spring, fresh and full of life, yet tinged with an imposing pressure.
His entire bearing seemed utterly different from before.
"You broke through? What level are you?" Yan asked, coming back to himself, unable to believe it.
Lin Ze'an nodded with a faint smile. "Yeah. I took an Immortal Herb, and now I'm at level 30."
He turned to look toward the elders' quarters. Despite all the commotion, his master and Uncle Ghost hadn't come over.
It seemed they had listened to him and were focusing on absorbing the Immortal Herb.
Yan's gaze swept over Lin Ze'an again and again, astonishment written all over his face. "Level 30! Junior, you're incredible!"
"I remember you'd only just reached level 22. Are these Immortal Herbs really that powerful?"
If that was the case, wouldn't the one his junior had given him have an equally heaven-defying effect?
Lin Ze'an nodded. "Of course. It's an Immortal Herb, a treasure rarely seen in the world."
"You're just one step away from breaking through to level 40, senior. That's why I suggested you eat it after obtaining your Soul Ring."
Even if the excess Soul Power wouldn't dissipate, he was only one step away from a breakthrough. He might as well wait until he'd obtained his Soul Ring before taking it.
Lin Ze'an smiled and stepped aside, gesturing invitingly. "Come in and sit, senior. I'd like to chat with you."
Yan raised his brows in confusion, but still walked into the courtyard.
As soon as he stepped through the gate, he couldn't help taking a deep breath.
"You've got the only place like this in all of Spirit City." Yan looked around, his gaze settling on the lush plants.
They glimmered faintly in the moonlight, and the air was filled with a fresh, pleasant fragrance. "You actually turned your home into a Mimicry Training Ground."
Lin Ze'an said helplessly, "With my Martial Soul and talent, I'd only run into trouble at the academy's Mimicry Training Ground."
"I don't want to deal with those people. Besides, I sleep more comfortably in an environment like this."
He led Yan to the stone table in the courtyard, then turned and went into the house. A little while later, he came back carrying an exquisite tea set.
"Wait, junior, I don't drink..." Yan hadn't even finished saying "tea" when he froze.
After setting down the tea set, Lin Ze'an picked up the teapot. But instead of brewing tea, he went straight to a vine in the corner of the courtyard.
He reached out and plucked several dewy fruits, then, to Yan's astonishment, squeezed them into juice.
Lin Ze'an carried the teapot back to the stone table and sat down, pouring two cups of juice that still gave off wisps of cool air.
He handed one to Yan and scratched his head sheepishly. "I don't have any other cups, so we'll have to use teacups."
Yan accepted the cup and examined the juice curiously. He leaned in to smell it, and an aroma mingling fruity notes with the freshness of plants wafted over him.
"This... really does suit your style," Yan couldn't help saying.
A plant-based Martial Soul, a home full of plants, and now even his drink was made from plants...
Lin Ze'an hummed in agreement and lifted his own cup, taking a small sip.
Then he gazed at the stars glittering in the night sky and asked thoughtfully, "Senior, can I ask you something?"
"If someone suddenly told you that you had another relative in this world, how would you feel?"
Yan was tasting the juice when his movement paused slightly. He looked at Lin Ze'an in confusion.
He hesitated, then asked, "Junior, did something happen? Why are you suddenly asking me this?"
Was his father's death weighing too heavily on him? Was he feeling down?
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