Changes

Half a year later.

Baishuang opened her eyes, her gaze full of joy. After half a year of cultivation, she had finally reached level 10. Once she obtained her first Spirit Ring, she would become an official Spirit Master.

She looked around and, seeing no one nearby, could only shout toward the sky, "A'Quan! Yanyan!"

A bolt of lightning appeared in the air, and Youquan emerged before Baishuang with Zhuang Yanyan in her arms.

"Sister Shuang, you've broken through to level 10!" Youquan said excitedly.

"Congratulations, Sister Shuang!" Zhuang Yanyan cheered.

"I'm still a little behind Yanyan. After all, she reached level 10 ten days ago." Baishuang pinched Zhuang Yanyan's now rosy cheek.

Zhuang Yanyan giggled, her little braids swinging lively behind her.

Zhuang Yanyan was no longer the sallow, skinny, ash-covered little girl she had once been. With Youquan's encouragement, she confidently and boldly showed off the patterns on her face. To keep those patterns from looking out of place, Youquan had made a special trip to Heaven Dou City to buy many beautiful hair ornaments and accessories, dressing Zhuang Yanyan up like a doll from a New Year painting.

The little girl now looked like a sprite who had stepped out of a painting. Her lively, wide eyes seemed to hold a sea of stars, while her fan-like lashes fluttered gently, lending her spirited gaze an air of mystery. Blue patterns adorned her cheeks, complementing the blue puffy princess dress she wore and making her look all the more adorable, with a touch of mystery as well. The blue bells around her ankles swayed softly with her steps, producing crisp, pleasant chimes.

Her hands were slender and fair, and the silver bracelets on her wrists gleamed under the sunlight. Her smooth little bare feet stepped across the soft grass, leaving behind strings of shallow footprints. Accompanied by her bright laughter, she skipped through the melody of spring.

Seeing how greatly Zhuang Yanyan had changed, Baishuang and Youquan both unconsciously revealed relieved smiles.

"Looking at Yanyan's changes, and the real growth in your strength, shouldn't you let go of the past as well? Carrying that knot in your heart all the time won't help your future cultivation," Youquan said worriedly as she looked at the lingering sorrow in Baishuang's eyes.

Over the past half year, Baishuang had changed greatly as well. She had grown much taller and was no longer as thin and small as before. Her complexion was rosy, her legs slender, and her white dress made her seem especially ethereal. Yet her eyes always carried a lingering sorrow that did not suit her age, making others unable to resist caring for her and wondering about her.

"You're right. I've been fixating on it too much, always thinking about what would have happened to Yanyan and me if you hadn't arrived in time that day, what we might have suffered." A trace of fear and hatred flashed through Baishuang's eyes.

"But I did come." Youquan stepped forward and hugged Baishuang.

"That's right, you came. We're all moving toward the best possible future now!" Baishuang broke into a broad smile.

"That's more like it. Since both of you have reached level 10, let's go hunt Soul Beasts and obtain Spirit Rings for you," Youquan said with a smile.

"Sister A'Quan, I still want to play!" Seeing Baishuang smile, Zhuang Yanyan finally relaxed. She tugged on Youquan's sleeve and coquettishly pleaded.

"Play what?" Baishuang asked curiously.

"Sister Shuang, you don't know this, but Sister A'Quan is super fast! In a flash, she brought me here from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Zhuang Yanyan explained excitedly.

"Was that a Soul Bone skill or one of your spirit skills?" Baishuang was curious as well, but she was much taller than Youquan, and she found it hard to ask to experience it herself.

"It's a movement-type spirit skill, Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Once your Soul Power Levels are a little higher, I'll teach it to you too." Sensing Baishuang's thoughts, Youquan stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her slim waist, and gave her a taste of speed and thrill as well.

"What incredible speed. With that spirit skill, I'm afraid ordinary people would find it very difficult to catch up to you." Even after Baishuang was back on the ground, she was still shaken, sighing in amazement.

"That's right. You could say it's one of my life-saving skills." Youquan began considering what kind of Movement Battle Skills would suit Baishuang and Zhuang Yanyan.

Holding back the eager Zhuang Yanyan, Baishuang turned to the important matter. "A'Quan, when are we going to obtain our Spirit Rings?"

"Although I'd like to take you there directly, I promised someone that I wouldn't go off on adventures alone, or she'd get angry. We can only wait until the people protecting us arrive tomorrow before setting out." Youquan spread her hands helplessly.

Although Baishuang was very curious, she did not pry into Youquan's private affairs.

"For now, let's let our little Yanyan have her fill of fun." Youquan pinched Zhuang Yanyan's cheek, picked her up, and used Three Thousand Lightning Movement again, vanishing from Baishuang's sight with Zhuang Yanyan. Zhuang Yanyan's delighted laughter echoed through the valley.

Baishuang shook her head helplessly, then opened the other scroll Youquan had given her—the cultivation method for the Ancient Emperor's Mirror.

Baishuang had been focused solely on cultivating Soul Power these past days and had not yet had time to cultivate the Ancient Emperor's Mirror. Before going to hunt Soul Beasts, she wanted to strengthen her means of protecting herself and those she cared about.

After carefully reading through the cultivation method for the Ancient Emperor's Mirror, Baishuang discovered that it complemented the Ancient Saint's Treasure Scroll. She then circulated the Ancient Saint's Treasure Scroll and began cultivating the Ancient Emperor's Mirror.

The next morning.

Baishuang awoke from cultivation and exhaled. After a night of cultivation, she had finally gotten started. The Ancient Emperor's Mirror combined offense and defense, and its mysteries were profound. If mastered, it would absolutely be no weaker than a ten-thousand-year spirit skill.

"Sister Shuang, are you ready? It's time for us to set out," Youquan called to Baishuang.

"Coming." Baishuang straightened her dress and ran toward Youquan.

The three arrived at the valley entrance. Youquan looked over in surprise. She had thought she would see Stingray Douluo or someone else from Spirit Hall sent by Xue Qinghe, but the ones who had come were Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, grandfather and granddaughter.

"Grandpa Dugu, Sister Yanzi, why are you here?" Youquan hurried forward in surprise.

"The Crown Prince had originally planned to send someone over. This old man happened to be taking Yanyan to obtain her third Spirit Ring, so I took the job myself. What, aren't you going to introduce us?" Dugu Bo asked curiously, looking at the two little girls behind Youquan.

"Grandpa Dugu, Sister Yanzi, let me introduce you. These are my two good sisters. This is Baishuang, whose martial soul is the Phantom Spirit Ancient Mirror. This little girl is Zhuang Yanyan, whose martial soul is the Water Cloud Butterfly."

"Sister Shuang, Yanyan, this is Senior Dugu, the Titled Poison. This is his granddaughter, Dugu Yan. Both of their martial souls are the Jade Phosphor Serpent," Youquan introduced both sides.

"Greetings, Senior Dugu, Sister Dugu." Baishuang and Zhuang Yanyan bowed in greeting.

"No need for such formalities. Since you're good sisters of little Quan, just call this old man Grandpa like she does," Dugu Bo said with a smile.

"You can call me Sister Yanzi too, just like little Youquan does," Dugu Yan said with a smile. Then she asked Youquan teasingly, "Little Youquan, where did you find such adorable little sisters?"

"When I was in danger, Sister Shuang saved me. She saved my life," Youquan explained.

After hearing Youquan's words, the grandfather and granddaughter looked at Baishuang and Zhuang Yanyan with even gentler expressions.

Dugu Bo waved a hand grandly. "Let's go. We'll hunt Soul Beasts for you little ones. Just say what you want, and this old man will catch it for you."