Lu Xiao and Ye Lingling's Engagement!!!

As Ye Hesong's words fell, the backyard instantly went silent.

Dugu Bo's eyes widened, his face filled with shock. "Old Ye, you're actually thinking of this?"

Seeing Ye Hesong's expression, Lu Xiao had long since guessed his identity.

Ye Hesong slowly said, "Your Excellency, this junior's martial soul is called the Nine Heart Begonia!"

At the words "Nine Heart Begonia," a flicker of surprise passed through Du Busi's eyes.

"To be honest, the Nine Heart Begonia has been passed down through a single lineage for generations. At most, only two inheritors can exist in the world at any one time."

Bitterness appeared on Ye Hesong's face. "In my generation, only my granddaughter and I remain in the Ye family."

"My talent is limited, and I am already advanced in years. Soul Sage is the end of my cultivation; I have no hope of advancing further."

"After I die, my granddaughter will inevitably be forced by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family to choose a side. I ask for nothing else, only that she may grow up safely under the protection of Your Excellency's prestige. As for this marriage, the two children may decide entirely according to their own wishes."

Dugu Bo was caught in the imperial family's power struggle himself, so he naturally understood just how cruel it was!

The Nine Heart Begonia—the continent's foremost healing-type support martial soul—was far rarer than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!

It was a naturally coveted prize, but also a naturally born source of disaster.

Among the continent's major powers and the two great empires, who did not want to hold the Nine Heart Begonia in their hands?

In the past, with Dugu Bo secretly protecting them and Ye Hesong possessing the strength of a Soul Sage, the Ye family had been able to establish themselves peacefully in Heaven Dou City.

But once Ye Hesong passed away, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would undoubtedly forcefully absorb the Ye family at once, completely binding the Nine Heart Begonia to the imperial family's war chariot!

Ye Hesong did this only to find his granddaughter a powerful backer and help her avoid the vortex of conflict between all sides.

Rather than becoming angry, Du Busi burst into hearty laughter, a shrewd glint flashing through his eyes.

"I'll agree to this marriage on behalf of my disciple!"

The third stage of the Body Sect's Innate Secret Technique was called "Reforging." It required one to reshape one's own internal organs; calling it a narrow escape from death would not be an exaggeration.

With the help of the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul, the risks of this stage could be greatly reduced.

The corner of Lu Xiao's mouth twitched as he said helplessly, "Master, this is a major matter of marriage. Shouldn't you at least ask my opinion?"

Du Busi waved a hand indifferently. "Ask for what? No matter how you look at it, you're the one benefiting. What opinion is there to ask?"

Dugu Bo, who had finally recovered from his shock, stepped forward with a flattering smile and probed in a low voice, "Senior, I also have a granddaughter. Do you think perhaps...?"

"It depends on fate." Du Busi brushed him off blandly.

Overjoyed, Ye Hesong turned and hurried into the inner hall of the medical clinic.

Moments later, he returned carrying paper, brushes, and ink.

The clutter on the stone table in the backyard was swept aside, and the paper and ink were laid out.

Ye Hesong's brush moved with flowing ease. Before long, he had drafted two identical marriage contracts.

He had specifically added a clause: "This agreement shall take effect only with the consent of both parties; should either be unwilling, it shall be unconditionally void."

Ye Hesong was the first to pick up a specially made brush, infuse it with a trace of Soul Power, and sign his name.

"Your Excellency, please." Ye Hesong pushed the brush toward Du Busi.

Du Busi casually took the brush and left behind a forceful, flamboyant signature.

With the marriage agreement settled, Ye Hesong wasted no more time and took out two treasured cold jade medicine boxes.

The instant the jade boxes were opened, two entirely different radiant glows filled the entire backyard.

On the left was a heavenly treasure with a warm, translucent base. Threads of pale golden wisps curled within it like drifting clouds flowing through its interior. It was the Thousand-Year Dragon Marrow Gel.

On the right was a palm-sized ginseng, crimson as fresh blood from top to bottom.

Its roots were lush, and faint golden dragon patterns flowed across its surface. A dragon blood aura rushed forth—it was the Thousand-Year Dragon Blood Ginseng, grown with a dragon corpse as its fertile bed.

Du Busi accepted the two heavenly treasures without hesitation, then casually tossed the sixty-thousand-year soul bone to Ye Hesong as though it were nothing remarkable.

"Keep this soul bone as proof of the marriage agreement."

Without waiting for Ye Hesong to reply, he directly took Lu Xiao and tore through the air, departing.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a tranquil little courtyard.

"Damn Lu Xiao! Scoundrel! Pervert!"

Dugu Yan clenched her jade-like fists and viciously punched the large tree in the courtyard.

With a muffled bang, leaves and branches rustled down.

Since childhood, she had been proud and aloof. Spoiled by her elders and feared by her peers, she had never had even the slightest intimate contact with the opposite sex, much less been touched in such a private place.

Yet whenever she recalled that moment, the muscles throughout her body would unconsciously weaken, and more than half of the anger in her heart would inexplicably dissipate.

Dugu Yan stomped her feet in anger and embarrassment, muttering softly, "Dugu Yan! Dugu Yan! How could you think like that!"

Shame, humiliation, and a trace of indescribable panic tangled around her heart.

Unwilling to accept it, she raised her delicate fist, about to strike the trunk again.

"Yan'er, you've been cursing at that tree for half an hour already. Give it a rest!"

A gentle, ethereal young girl's voice drifted from inside the house, easing some of the stifling irritation in the little courtyard.

Ye Lingling slowly walked out of the room, her gaze falling upon the old tree that trembled endlessly, its body covered in scars. A trace of heartache flickered in her eyes.

She wore a simple black dress, her waterfall-like ice-blue hair flowing softly down her slender back. Her figure was slim and graceful, so delicate that anyone who saw her would feel pity.

Ye Lingling had a pair of exceptionally clear and beautiful ice-blue eyes, her gaze pure enough to see through. Her long lashes curled slightly upward, and every gentle blink seemed as though it could speak.

"Lingling~~"

Dugu Yan pounced toward Ye Lingling, her tone carrying a hint of pitiful grievance. "Let your big sister hug you quickly. Lu Xiao 'bullied' me!"

Ye Lingling gently raised her arms and tenderly embraced the Dugu Yan who had thrown herself at her.

Because the Nine Heart Begonia could alleviate the toxic backlash of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, the Ye family and the Dugu family had been friends for generations since her grandfather's time.

By their generation, the two had naturally become close friends as well.

Only in front of Ye Lingling and Dugu Bo would Dugu Yan reveal such a fragile, spoiled side of herself.

"Don't sulk. Tell me slowly—what exactly happened?"

Ye Lingling gently smoothed Dugu Yan's dark green hair, her blue eyes soft. "Was the new captain really that strong?"

Ye Lingling did not know what Lu Xiao had done to Dugu Yan. She merely thought Dugu Yan was throwing a tantrum after losing a spar.

Dugu Yan buried her face in Ye Lingling's shoulder, too embarrassed to lift her head. Whenever she thought of that accidental touch, a faint numbness spread through her body.

How could she possibly talk about something like that?!

Thinking of it, Dugu Yan puffed up her cheeks and clenched her little fists again. "Lingling, if you see that Lu Xiao in the future, make sure you stay far away from him. That guy is a bastard!"

Ye Lingling smiled. "Alright, I'll stay away from him. Sit down first. I'll help ease the pain caused by the toxic backlash."

Dugu Yan obediently sat down and slowly said, "I don't know what happened, but I feel like the pain from the toxic backlash has lessened a lot!"

Ye Lingling's expression turned serious as she released the Nine Heart Begonia.

A pink begonia flower rested upon Ye Lingling's hands. Its color was vivid, and its blossoms were beautiful.

A soft, pale green glow of life spread throughout the entire courtyard.

The third soul ring on Ye Lingling's body lit up.

With a light wave of her delicate hand, a faint fragrance wafted through the air.

White and pink petals slowly drifted down, landing directly upon Dugu Yan before lightly melting into her body.

The Nine Heart Begonia's petals unfolded layer by layer, and pure healing light slowly flowed into Dugu Yan's body.

Ye Lingling froze slightly.

The thick, black toxic filth that usually lingered in Dugu Yan's meridians had thinned by more than half today.

After cleansing the remaining toxins, she looked at Dugu Yan in confusion. "Yan Yan, did you find a way to suppress the toxic backlash?"

"I didn't do anything today..."

Dugu Yan looked utterly bewildered, then her body suddenly stiffened. She abruptly recalled how the faint pain inside her had inexplicably weakened when she approached Lu Xiao that morning, along with the elegant, subtle fragrance around him.

Her cheeks flushed crimson again as she murmured softly, "Could it... be because of Lu Xiao?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling stepped forward and gently grabbed her wrist, speaking solemnly. "This is no small matter. Let's go ask him and get to the bottom of it."

Ye Lingling tightened her grip on Dugu Yan's wrist and pulled her toward the courtyard gate!

"Ah? Go find him?"

Dugu Yan's body stiffened, and she instinctively shrank back. "No! Lingling, let's not go, okay!"

"Be good."

Ye Lingling's tone was gentle, but her attitude was firm.

She knew that Dugu Yan's backlash symptoms were worsening continuously, with the intervals between episodes becoming shorter and shorter.

Dugu Yan could not resist Ye Lingling, so she could only be forcibly dragged to Lu Xiao's courtyard.