One Flute Supports Ten Thousand Soldiers

At Ye Lingling's question, the other three turned to Lu Xuan as well, their eyes full of curiosity.

"Why not feel it for yourselves?" As Lu Xuan spoke, white light flashed in his palm, and the Jade Flute appeared.

He set the flute to his lips and began to play. Clear notes flowed through the room, soothing everyone who heard them and filling them with a sense of ease.

Ye Renxin, Zhao Yan, and Ye Qingxian could all clearly sense a slight increase in their strength, defense, and speed.

Beside them, Ye Lingling's eyes widened in astonishment. "I feel like I'm bursting with strength!"

"First Soul Skill: Jade Flute Triple Melody!" Lu Xuan held nothing back. "Anyone who hears the flute gains attack, defense, and speed equal to twenty percent of my own attributes. The boost lasts as long as I keep playing. Once the music stops, it gradually fades and disappears completely after five minutes."

"Only twenty percent of yours?" Disappointment crossed Zhao Yan's face. No wonder the boost he had felt was so slight.

Lu Xuan was only level fourteen. Twenty percent of his attributes amounted to less than one percent of Zhao Yan's own strength, a gain that barely made a difference.

"Don't underestimate it. This is an extraordinary skill," Ye Qingxian said gravely. "Xiao Xuan is only level fourteen now. What if he becomes a Titled Douluo someday? Would twenty percent of a Titled Douluo's attributes still be insignificant?"

"She's right." Ye Renxin stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. "This is a skill made for the battlefield. Even if Lu Xuan only reaches Soul Emperor, he could use it to raise hundreds or thousands of ordinary people to the level of Soul Elders."

If he became a Titled Douluo, he might even grant ordinary people the attack, defense, and speed of Soul Sages.

That was what it meant for one person to support an army of ten thousand.

"Xiao Xuan." Ye Renxin looked at Lu Xuan with approval. "Congratulations. Given time, you may even take the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's place as the world's foremost support soul master."

Lu Xuan did not let the praise go to his head. He simply smiled. "It's all thanks to your guidance, Master. Without it, I wouldn't have chosen the Azure Jade Bird for my Soul Ring."

He turned to Zhao Yan and added sincerely, "And thank you for your help, Uncle Zhao. I couldn't have obtained this Soul Ring without you."

"Heh, we're family. No need to be so formal." Zhao Yan was pleased by the thanks, and his expression relaxed.

With Lu Xuan gaining such an exceptional skill, brimming with potential, everyone in the Ye Family rejoiced. For a time, the household was filled with warmth.

But that joy did not last. As Ye Lingling's sixth birthday drew closer, a lingering sorrow crept back into the eyes of the Ye Family.

After lessons ended that day, Lu Xuan looked at Ye Renxin. "Master."

"You and Aunt Ye have seemed down these past few days. Has something happened?"

Ye Renxin forced a bitter smile and sighed. "Xiao Xuan, you would learn the truth in another two days anyway, so I won't hide it from you. My life is nearing its end."

"What?" Lu Xuan's expression changed sharply. "How can that be? You're a Soul Douluo, Master. You're healthy and free of illness. How could your lifespan be ending?"

"Xiao Xuan, it's because our family's martial soul is the Nine Heart Begonia." Ye Renxin sighed heavily and slowly revealed the secret. "Its gifts are unmatched, but it carries an inborn shackle. No more than two Nine Heart Begonia soul masters can live in the world at the same time. Only when one dies can a descendant awaken that martial soul."

"In two days, it will be time for Lingling's martial soul awakening. To preserve the family legacy, my sacrifice is unavoidable."

Though he had long since resolved to die, Ye Renxin's voice still grew heavy with grief as he spoke of it. "Xiao Xuan, the greatest blessing of my life was taking you as my disciple before I passed away. If Lingling can stay by your side afterward, I'll be at peace."

It's here. This moment has finally come.

Lu Xuan had expected it. He had spent this time turning the matter over in his mind, rehearsing countless things he might say and even deciding what expression to wear.

"Master." After listening to Ye Renxin, Lu Xuan spoke so calmly that he almost sounded detached. "I don't think this is necessarily hopeless."

"What did you say?" Ye Renxin looked up at him, his brow tightening. "Xiao Xuan, do you understand what you're saying?"

With the Nine Heart Begonia and his family's legacy at stake, even the usually gentle Ye Renxin showed a rare flash of displeasure. "I won't blame you for speaking without thinking, but you mustn't entertain such ideas again!"

"Master, please think about it!" Lu Xuan hurried on. "If only two Nine Heart Begonia soul masters can exist at once, wouldn't the problem be solved if either you or Aunt Ye evolved your martial soul?"

"If evolution won't work, even an inferior mutation might do. As long as the martial soul is no longer the Nine Heart Begonia, the rule binding your family would no longer apply."

"Xiao Xuan, you're being far too naive." Ye Renxin's irritation faded at the suggestion, leaving only helplessness. "Do you truly think the Ye Family's ancestors never considered those two paths?"

"Over a hundred generations have studied the problem, yet none found a way to evolve the Nine Heart Begonia. As for inferior mutations, we did discover three methods." Ye Renxin smiled bitterly. "Two would turn the subject into a Fallen Soul Master. The third requires an extraordinarily poisonous substance that is almost impossible to find."

Lu Xuan had expected as much. If the Ye Family's ancestors had found a way out, the family would not have dwindled to so few members.

His suggestions had only been a lead-in. He had yet to reveal what he was really counting on.

"Master," Lu Xuan said evenly, "the little girl who saved me was named Dugu Yan, wasn't she? Lingling told me her grandfather is a poison-attribute Soul Douluo. Perhaps he has the rare poison you've been searching for."

Still acting as though the idea were no more than an innocent whim, Lu Xuan continued, "Even if Senior Dugu has no poisonous herb that could degrade a martial soul, he might have a secret medicine that induces a deathlike state. If you or Aunt Ye took a Fake Death Drug before Lingling's awakening, perhaps it would fool the rule governing your martial souls."

"And if that fails, Lingling might awaken Uncle Zhao's martial soul instead." Lu Xuan looked utterly serious. "Uncle Zhao and Aunt Ye are still young. They could have a second child, or a third, and hope one of them awakens the Nine Heart Begonia."