That night.
Han Yu brought the newly joined Ye Lingling along to dinner, where he introduced her to Dugu Bo and Qin Ming.
Ye Lingling was solemn and silent at the table, giving off an air that warned strangers to keep their distance. She sat quietly beside Han Yu, lifted her veil, and ate in small bites.
As she listened to everyone laughing and chatting, she simply nodded in silence, her curious gaze pausing on Han Yu from time to time.
Before she left, her grandmother had reminded her that there was only one person in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect worth devoting herself to supporting: the sect's Holy Son beside her, a heaven's favored child of the future.
But she couldn't understand why Han Yu, despite being an auxiliary Soul Master like her, possessed the means to easily defeat opponents of the same rank.
"Hahaha, I've had a wonderful time drinking today. Let's congratulate the sect on gaining another genius." Dugu Bo's face was flushed as he raised his wine cup toward Ye Lingling and called out.
He had seen Ye Lingling many times before. She was friends with his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and was quiet and kind-hearted. Now he no longer had to worry about Dugu Yan feeling lonely in the sect.
Han Yu and the others smiled and raised their cups, all turning to look at her.
Ye Lingling stood up and lifted a hand to tuck back her hair, covering the tips of her ears, which had turned pink. Timidly, she picked up her teacup and bowed in return.
Han Yu drained his wine and asked, "Family Head Ye, I've heard of the Nine Heart Begonia for a long time, but I've never seen one with my own eyes. Would you let me have a look?"
Ye Lingling blinked, pressed her lips together, and gave a gentle nod. She slowly opened her hands in front of her.
A rare flower blossomed in her hands, with nine purple petals surrounding a transparent yellow stamen.
She plucked one petal and tossed it lightly into the air. It shimmered with white light, drifting down and merging into Han Yu.
Han Yu straightened slightly. The heaviness brought on by overthinking in recent days faded away. He took a light breath, a look of comfort rising across his face.
He applauded and said with a smile, "What a powerful effect."
At his words, Ye Lingling lifted her beautiful eyes from beneath the edge of her veil and glanced at Han Yu, then immediately opened her hands again and gave a gentle nod.
Chen Xin took a sip of wine and said, "The Nine Heart Begonia is an auxiliary tool-type Martial Soul, known alongside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda as one of the two top auxiliary Martial Souls.
"It takes a path entirely different from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. It does only one thing: provide the utmost in healing. No matter how many Soul Rings it has, it possesses only one Soul Skill—complete healing.
"Unfortunately, it has a fatal flaw. Otherwise, it would unquestionably be the foremost auxiliary Martial Soul."
Ye Lingling's gaze shifted slightly, and her fingers tightened together.
Chen Xin glanced at Ye Lingling and sighed. "Only two Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters can exist at the same time. One must die before their descendants can awaken the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul."
The Ye Family Head was generous, then, to send one of their Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ye Lingling lowered her head slightly, staring at the tabletop without a word.
Han Yu raised an eyebrow at Chen Xin, then laughed it off and said with a smile, "It's fine, it's fine. Maybe we'll find a way to solve it someday."
A hint of self-mockery surfaced behind Ye Lingling's veil. She took a light breath and returned to her earlier calm.
She assumed Han Yu was only trying to comfort her. After all, her family had been tormented by this curse for years. How could she be lucky enough to encounter such a miracle?
After eating and drinking their fill, they each returned to their rooms.
Ye Lingling's room was diagonally across from Han Yu's—not too close, not too far. It was the most comfortable distance for her.
As usual, Han Yu went straight to the bathroom when he returned to his room, washing away the smell of wine before leisurely lying in the bathtub to rest with his eyes closed.
Just then, something strange in the bathtub caught his attention, and he looked down curiously.
Ripples were spreading across the water's surface, growing more and more frequent.
Han Yu's pupils widened. He wrapped himself in a bath towel and was about to get up.
Boom—
An invisible pressure appeared out of nowhere. The ceiling crumbled into dust and fell away, leaving Han Yu exposed beneath the night sky. He was pinned in the bathtub, unable to move.
His face was filled with horror, his throat bobbing repeatedly.
No matter what means he tried, he could only remain pressed against the bathtub. He had never before endured such terrifying power.
"Han Yu!" Chen Xin appeared before him in an instant, his gaze sharp and his aura surging. "Ninth Soul Skill! God-Demon Dual Slash!"
The Seven Kill Sword shot straight into the sky, transforming into a phantom greatsword that descended.
Soul Power shook the air, and every building in the Crown Prince Tutor Mansion crumbled into ruins.
A tall, powerfully built figure appeared in the sky.
"Hahaha, not bad. You've got a bit of your grandfather in you." Golden Crocodile Douluo folded his arms across his chest, admiration in his eyes as he laughed.
His entire body was covered in fine golden scales. His hands had become sharp claws, and a huge tail covered in scales and spikes trailed behind him. Nine Soul Rings revolved slowly at his feet.
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?! Are you Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of Spirit Hall?" Chen Xin was aghast. The hand gripping the Seven Kill Sword trembled slightly, disbelief filling his voice.
As his grandfather lay dying, he had said that he regretted never settling the score with the rival who had been his equal. Chen Xin's family had looked into this rival: he was none other than Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had once shaken the continent with his fame. He had later withdrawn from Spirit Hall's affairs and secluded himself in the Worship Hall to cultivate.
Chen Xin's mood sank, worry filling his eyes as he stared intently at Golden Crocodile Douluo in the sky.
He had long regarded Han Yu as one of the younger generation and would never allow him to die here, even if it cost him his life.
Chen Xin's gaze sharpened. He raised the Seven Kill Sword and traced a path through the air, then spoke in a low voice.
"Gui trees shade a hundred leagues of land, while partridges call through the noonday rain.
"Above the Yanping Ford, peaks rise like blades; the sword departs, the river empties, and the waters flow on.
"Sword Dao! Chen Xin!"
Blue light flashed in his eyes. A massive blue Seven Kill Sword, solidified from countless sword intents, rose before him and cleaved straight down toward the sky.
Bang—
Chen Xin pushed his Soul Power to the limit, straining to twist his body around and hurl Han Yu behind him.
The pressure suddenly eased. Han Yu looked back in midair at Chen Xin, who was smiling at him. He clenched his teeth, and the Wind-Thunder Wings Soul Bone on his back spread open in an instant. He became a blur and vanished.
"Senior, I killed those two Titled Douluo. The others have nothing to do with it." Chen Xin flung the Seven Kill Sword in his hand and soared into the air, blocking Golden Crocodile Douluo's line of sight.
"Hmph. They were a pair of useless fools. They had no ability of their own, and I can't be bothered to avenge them." Golden Crocodile Douluo glanced in the direction Han Yu had vanished, then snorted, his tone utterly unconcerned.
He had come only to help Qian Renxue vent her anger. With Qian Daoliu's orders in place, he wouldn't attack anyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect again.
"You do resemble your grandfather in some ways. Let this old man test your skills in his place." A glint of interest showed in Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes as he spoke.
Chen Xin relaxed at his words. He cupped his hands in a salute and pointed his sword forward. "Please, instruct me."