Nine Heart Begonia

"As long as you transfer to my academy, I can provide enough Bottles o' Enchanting to get you to at least level 40, one Enchanted Golden Apple that can raise your innate soul power by one level, and an immortal herb suited to you."

Ye Lingling did not agree immediately. Instead, she looked at Dugu Yan, who nodded at her with a serious gaze. "Lingling, it's true."

Ye Lingling withdrew her gaze and remained silent for quite a while, her tone still calm. "What is an immortal herb?"

Dugu Yan answered for Li Chen before he could speak. "Those medicinal plants in Grandpa's garden that he doesn't dare touch."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and displayed the phantom of her Netherworld Jade Python, its dark green scales gleaming with an eerie light.

"Look, my martial soul evolved because I ate an immortal herb."

Ye Lingling studied Dugu Yan's martial soul, then returned her gaze to Li Chen's face. "Among the immortal herbs you mentioned, is there one that can free me from the Nine Star Begonia's curse?"

She remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, hope stirred.

The Nine Heart Begonia lineage passed down through a single heir. Each generation could have only one successor, and only two Nine Heart Begonia soul masters could exist on the continent at any one time.

Li Chen was not actually certain whether an immortal herb could break this bloodline curse. "I'm not sure either. Could you show me your martial soul and let me take a look?"

Ye Lingling remained silent for two breaths before slowly raising her right hand.

A soft, pale pink light spread across her palm, and the phantom of a palm-sized begonia blossom emerged from it.

Li Chen stared at the Nine Heart Begonia and quietly activated his second soul skill.

[Martial soul]: Nine Heart Begonia

[Type]: Healing-type plant martial soul

[Quality]: Top-tier martial soul

[Basic traits]: All soul skills are fixed as group healing; soul rings enhance healing effectiveness;

[Additional information]:

World Bloodline Contract (/upgradenine_heart_begoniamax=2)

Only 2 Nine Heart Begonia soul masters can exist at the same time;

...

Li Chen frowned. What his analysis revealed was not a curse, but a contract. Roughly translated, it meant upgrade, Nine Heart Begonia, maximum value of 2.

If that was the case, however, the problem would be easier to solve. After activating his Martial Soul Avatar, his second soul skill would be able to modify this data.

He had tried making modifications before, but the scope was very limited, and he could only modify entries that contained commands.

Clearly, this met all the requirements. The modification did not need to be extensive. Even if he could not change it to a two-digit number, changing 2 to 9 would more or less solve the problem.

At worst, they would still be unable to grow into a large clan, but at least it would successfully resolve their current problem.

"As for the Nine Heart Begonia's curse, I can solve it without an immortal herb. But I have a condition of my own."

Ye Lingling lifted her eyes to him. "What condition?"

"The Ye family must join my organization, Heaven Beyond Heaven," Li Chen said plainly.

Ye Lingling fell silent for a long while. Her voice was calm but solemn. "I can't make decisions for the Ye family. I'll have to go home and discuss this with my mother."

Li Chen nodded without pressing her. "I'll be at the courtyard at the end of West Street in Heaven Dou City. You can come find me anytime within the next three days."

"All right."

Seeing that she seemed to have something to discuss privately with Dugu Yan, Li Chen left first with Dugu Bo.

They had not gone far from the small building when Dugu Bo, strolling with his hands behind his back, suddenly lowered his voice. "Little Monster, can you really solve the Nine Heart Begonia's curse?"

Li Chen kept walking and answered casually, "The Nine Heart Begonia's condition isn't actually a curse. It's a contract signed with the world. The contract limits the number of Nine Heart Begonia martial souls to two, and my martial soul just happens to be able to change that number."

"What exactly is your martial soul? It has its own space and a heaven-defying ability to level up using experience points, and now it can even change something like this. Don't tell me you came from that Divine Realm."

Li Chen glanced back at him and smiled, his tone relaxed. "Just stick with me, Old Poison, and don't worry. I guarantee you'll be feasting on the finest food and drink in the future."

Dugu Bo's eyelid twitched, and he snorted. "I don't think you're trying to let this old man feast on fine food and drink at all. You've clearly set your sights on my Yanyan."

Li Chen was just about to speak when footsteps sounded behind them. Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan emerged from the small building side by side.

"Grandpa, I'm going home with Lingling for a bit. Help us both withdraw from the academy."

"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Dugu."

Dugu Bo glanced at her, then at Ye Lingling, who was waiting quietly a few steps away. "All right, all right. I'll take care of it."

Li Chen chose not to go with them and returned to the small courtyard instead. Naming the two mouse girls the previous night had given him some inspiration, and now was a good time to put it into action.

Back at the courtyard, he summoned Fang Wu and asked, "Where is Shang Lu right now?"

Fang Wu summoned his martial soul and activated a soul skill. White dots appeared across the map, and he quickly located the one representing Shang Lu.

"Venerable Lord, Lord Shang Lu is currently in Barak City."

"Can you teleport?"

"Venerable Lord, this servant has not yet reached the level required for a teleportation soul skill."

Hearing this, Li Chen leaned back in his chair. "Send someone to summon him."

At the same time, he silently decided to increase the Cartographers' resource allocation again when he returned. That would make locating people much more convenient.

With the Teleportation Stele available, Shang Lu arrived in less than half an hour.

"Venerable Lord, what are your orders?"

Li Chen laid out his idea directly, explaining everything: a deck of fifty-four cards plus one Joker, along with the rules for Fight the Landlord, Texas Hold'em, Three-Card Poker, and so on.

Shang Lu's eyes grew brighter as he listened. "Venerable Lord, with these Playing Cards, this won't just be entertainment. It'll be a money-printing machine."

"All right, all right. Remember to prepare a special custom-made deck for me. Now go make the arrangements."

After Shang Lu left, Li Chen prepared to use up that day's creative mode. Now that he had the Transformation Table, creative mode's initial value lay in taking one of each item and selling it so the table could learn it.

After that, its purpose would simply be to obtain high-value items to replenish his daily EMC value.

He soon decided which items to take: a Monster Spawner, Villager Spawn Eggs, and Iron Golems to ensure sufficient manpower.

Hay bales would ensure sufficient food, while Blocks of Redstone would ensure sufficient energy.

Wandering Trader Spawn Eggs-the trading company was currently managed by Shang Lu alone, so this was a good opportunity to add more staff.

Witch Spawn Eggs-having more Witches working together on research would also allow them to explore several directions at once.

Nether wart-with only one Witch before, it had been consumed slowly, but now he needed to replenish it.

After taking these items out, he immediately sold them all. The Transformation Table would automatically sort and organize them, making it convenient for him to find whatever he needed.

Li Chen had thought he would have to wait at least a day for an answer, but to his surprise, it came that very afternoon.

Someone knocked on the courtyard gate, and Liu Liujiao went to open it.

Outside stood Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, who had brought a middle-aged woman with them. The woman wore a simple, neat blue-gray dress, and her features bore a strong resemblance to Ye Lingling's.

Liu Liujiao led them into the hall and bowed to Li Chen. "Venerable Lord, the guests have arrived." With that, Liu Liujiao quietly stepped aside.