Nine-Hearted Begonia, the Elegant Beauty

Father and Mother Qi watched the figure ahead with stunned expressions. That back was not especially broad, yet it stood as steady as a mountain.

Was this...

Their son?

Before they could think further, Qi Dao suddenly fell straight backward where he stood, and Peerless in his hand vanished at once.

That strike had not only drawn upon the energy of heaven and earth; it had also drained all the Soul Power from Qi Dao's body.

"Ah Dao!"

Father and Mother Qi were horrified.

Mother Qi immediately set Father Qi down and ran over.

Father Qi tried to rise, but the movement tugged at the vicious wound on his body. The pain made him suck in a sharp breath. He barely managed to stand, only to stagger, unable even to keep himself steady.

When Mother Qi reached Qi Dao's side, she found that he had completely passed out. Fine, dense lines covered his body like cracks in porcelain.

Seeing her son like this, Mother Qi's heart ached terribly.

She had no idea how her son had unleashed such a terrifying strike just now, but she did not need to think hard to know that the price had been immense.

Fortunately, he was still breathing, and his heart was still beating, though both were already exceedingly weak.

Mother Qi carefully picked Qi Dao up and anxiously said to Father Qi, "Ah Dao's condition is not good. We must find the nearest city as quickly as possible and ask a healing-type Soul Master to treat him."

Father Qi forced himself to endure his injuries. Though his face was equally full of worry as he looked at the unconscious Qi Dao in Mother Qi's arms, he was an old hand and knew that this was not the time to panic.

He took a map from his clothes and glanced at it, his expression darkening slightly.

The nearest city was still over two hundred li away!

Yet Qi Dao's condition was clearly dire.

Father Qi had no better option. He could only say in a deep voice, "Get in the carriage first!"

Fortunately, the carriage had not been caught up in the battle just now. Otherwise, they truly would have been left with no one to turn to.

Mother Qi did not waste a single word. The moment Father Qi spoke, she was already carrying Qi Dao toward the carriage.

Then she said to Father Qi, "Give me the map. You get inside and watch over Ah Dao. I'll drive the carriage!"

"Good!"

The husband and wife swiftly divided the tasks between them.

"Hyah!"

The carriage sped away in a cloud of dust, leaving behind three mangled corpses with no one to attend them.

Mother Qi had pushed the carriage to its fastest speed, but reaching the nearest city in such a short time was nothing more than a fool's dream.

Gradually, more anxiety appeared on her face.

Half an hour later, a vast convoy appeared at the edge of her vision.

As the carriage drew nearer to the convoy, Mother Qi gradually made out its full appearance.

It appeared to be a merchant caravan transporting goods.

Several flags stood among the caravan.

The flags bore intricate patterns, with the character Ye written in their centers.

Seeing the convoy before her, Mother Qi instinctively slowed down.

A thought suddenly sprang into her mind.

Such a large merchant caravan was bound to have Soul Masters traveling with it. Perhaps there might even be a healing-type Soul Master among them.

Her face lit up with delight at the thought, and she immediately told Father Qi.

Father Qi was overjoyed. "Ah Rou, go ask them. Ah Dao's condition is getting worse. We can't delay any longer. Otherwise, even if he can be healed later, he may still be left with lasting damage."

Father Qi was injured as well, and even walking was difficult for him.

"All right!" Mother Qi nodded, then stopped the carriage and drove around in front of the caravan to block its path.

Leading the caravan was a middle-aged woman with a somewhat heroic air about her. She sat atop a white horse. Upon seeing Mother Qi block the road, she immediately ordered the convoy to halt.

The middle-aged woman looked down at Mother Qi and asked coolly, "Who are you, and why are you blocking the road?"

Mother Qi hurriedly explained, "Madam, I have no intention of deliberately blocking your way. My husband, child, and I were attacked by Fallen Soul Masters not long ago. Though we were fortunate enough to survive, my husband and child were seriously injured and urgently need treatment."

"That is why I wanted to ask whether your caravan has a healing-type Soul Master. We can pay a reward to request their help."

"You actually encountered Fallen Soul Masters." The middle-aged woman's brows furrowed slightly after hearing this.

However, she did not answer Mother Qi immediately. Instead, she said, "Our caravan does indeed have a healing-type Soul Master. And I dare say that throughout the entire Heaven Dou Empire, few are more authoritative than her when it comes to healing."

Though Mother Qi felt that the woman might be exaggerating, her face was still filled with delight.

As long as there was a healing-type Soul Master, that was enough. At the very least, they could help stabilize Father Qi and Qi Dao's injuries first.

But then the middle-aged woman's tone shifted.

"However, the person I mentioned is the true owner of this caravan. Whether she is willing to help will depend on me asking her first."

Mother Qi quickly said, "Then I must trouble you."

The middle-aged woman nodded faintly, dismounted, and walked toward the most luxurious carriage at the center of the caravan.

Before long, she arrived at the carriage and respectfully called out.

"Madam, there is a situation!"

A somewhat cool voice immediately came from within the carriage.

"What happened?"

The middle-aged woman promptly explained Mother Qi's request for help.

After a moment, the cool voice came from the carriage once more.

"Since we have met on the road, it is a stroke of fate. Tell her to bring her husband and son over."

A faint smile appeared on the middle-aged woman's face as she respectfully replied, "Madam is kind-hearted!"

Not long after, the middle-aged woman conveyed the madam's words to Mother Qi.

Mother Qi thanked her repeatedly, then immediately returned to the carriage. She slowly drove it beside the caravan before carrying the unconscious Qi Dao and Father Qi to the luxurious carriage at the caravan's center.

At the same time, several people stood near the luxurious carriage, their gazes sharp. It seemed that if Mother Qi's family of three showed even the slightest ill intent, they would strike at once.

"Madam, they are here!"

"Good!"

As soon as the words fell, an elegant, beautiful woman in a fitted silver-white dress stepped out of the luxurious carriage.

Her gaze swept over Qi Dao's family of three before finally settling on the unconscious Qi Dao. A trace of surprise flashed across her face.

"How did this child's injuries come about?"

"The injuries on his body do not seem to have been caused by Fallen Soul Masters."

Mother Qi sighed. "It is all because we parents are useless. When we encountered the Fallen Soul Masters, Ah Dao stepped forward and forcibly used some Soul Skill that placed an enormous burden on himself. That is why he ended up like this."

The elegant beauty then understood. "So that is what happened."

"To step forward in a time of danger—your son is a fine child!"

Mother Qi looked at the unconscious Qi Dao, a smile appearing on her face.

"Ah Dao has always been our pride!"

Seeing this, the elegant beauty did not waste any more time. She said to Mother Qi, "Now, lay the child flat on the ground."

Mother Qi immediately did as she said.

Then the elegant beauty extended both hands.

In an instant, a purple begonia flower appeared in her hands, while countless purple begonia petals swirled around her.

(The character and Martial Soul designs are based on the anime, since many readers do not remember the original character designs clearly.)

Six Soul Rings rose beneath her feet.

Two yellow, two purple, and two black!

Father and Mother Qi's pupils contracted at the sight!

A Soul Emperor!