After the Five Elements Exchange Tournament concluded, the name of the Godwind Academy became known throughout Heaven Dou City for the first time.
The news of the public sale of elixirs caused an uproar at herbal medicine shops of all sizes.
The vendors talked to everyone they met about the effects of the Meridian-Warming Pill and the price of the Soul-Fortifying Pill. As a result, several versions of the alchemy team from the Godwind Academy were fabricated – some said it was a reclusive master in charge, others said it was someone who had undermined the Spirit Hall, and the stories became more and more outrageous.
By the time these discussions reached the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they had already passed through several hands.
In the team's lounge, several members were chatting around the stove. When they mentioned the last entry in the list of medicinal pills from the Godwind Academy— "There are also high-end pills that can compensate for innate defects in Martial Soul " —Ye Lingling's hand paused for a moment.
She was organizing her medicine kit when her finger stopped on a bottle of hemostatic powder and lingered there for a long time.
Inherent defects in Martial Soul.
She didn't participate in her teammates' discussion; she simply closed the first-aid kit quietly, put on a coat, and went out.
Her Martial Soul was the best healing Martial Soul in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but it was also the Martial Soul that carried the heaviest shackles. If that rumor was true, even if there was only a sliver of a possibility, she had to find out for sure.
She first went to the herbal medicine shop in Heaven Dou City to find out more about the original rumors, and then headed east of the city.
She was going to find Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan did not live in the dormitory of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Since taking the Clear Pivot Turbidity-Transforming Pill, her poison was completely cured, and her health improved day by day, but she spent less time at the academy than before.
She rented a small courtyard on the east side of Heaven Dou City. The courtyard was filled with herbs that she had brought from her grandfather's herb garden. She said she wanted to learn how to take care of them, but really she just wanted some peace and quiet.
When Ye Lingling pushed open the door, Dugu Yan was squatting in the yard loosening the soil around a dark green herb.
She looked up and saw the anxious and excited expression on Ye Lingling's face. She quickly put down the shovel in her hand, stood up, and patted the dirt off her knees.
" Lingling? What's wrong?"
Ye Lingling recounted everything she had overheard in the herbal medicine shop. She spoke so quickly that she herself felt somewhat incoherent.
When he said the phrase "can solve the innate defects of Martial Soul," his voice finally calmed down, as if he had placed all his hopes on those few words.
" Yanyan, if this pill really exists, it might be able to cure the poison in your Martial Soul and the curse on my Soul Ring. Shall we go to the Godwind Academy together?"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan paused for a moment, then slowly put the shovel down. She looked at Ye Lingling, a complex emotion welling up in her eyes.
Her silly sister, upon hearing a rumor of dubious veracity, rushed to find her, her first thought not being whether her own curse could be broken, but whether their problems could be solved together.
As for himself? He had already taken the Clear Pivot Turbidity-Transforming Pill and the poison had long been neutralized, but because of his grandfather's request for secrecy, he hadn't mentioned a single word to Lingling.
" Lingling," Dugu Yan spoke, her voice a few decibels softer than usual, "Actually, there's something I've been struggling with for a while, but today, I feel it's necessary, and I must, tell you."
Then Dugu Yan recounted the whole story of how she took the Clear Pivot Turbidity-Transforming Pill. From her grandfather Dugu Bo finding Feng Lingtian, to refining the pill to counteract the backlash from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's poison, and then to her grandfather's request for her to keep the secret.
"My poison has been completely cured." Dugu Yan rolled up her sleeves, revealing her arm. The arm that used to be covered with purplish-black poison patterns was now smooth and clean, with only a few very faint marks remaining.
She continued, "I haven't had any flare-ups since then. Grandpa said the remaining toxins have been cleared out and it won't recur."
Dugu Yan lowered her sleeves, looked into Ye Lingling's eyes, and her voice carried a long-suppressed apology.
"I didn't mean to hide it from you. Every time I saw you these days, I wanted to tell you, but Grandpa said this matter concerns Feng Lingtian's safety and also the secret of the Godwind Academy's elixirs, so I can't say a word. I've been thinking about what to do with your Martial Soul."
The curse of the Nine Heart Begonia is more troublesome than my poison. I've been keeping it in mind, but I genuinely didn't know there were pills that could repair the deficiencies in Martial Soul. Now that I know, I will not stand idly by."
Ye Lingling listened quietly without saying a word.
Dugu Yan had kept this from her for so long, it would be a lie to say she didn't mind at all. But she knew even better that if she were the one holding such a secret, which concerned her grandfather's safety and her benefactor's trust, she wouldn't be able to speak up.
Dugu Yan stood up and patted the dirt off her apron.
"I'll go find Grandpa right now and ask him to ask Feng Lingtian what exactly this pill that can repair Martial Soul defects is all about."
Dugu Yan walked to the door, then turned around, her expression becoming more serious than before.
" Lingling, there's one more thing you must promise me. You must never tell anyone other than you and me that Feng Lingtian refined the pills."
They saved my grandfather and my lives; we must remember this kindness. I'll go ask them for you this time. No matter the outcome, we mustn't reveal their secret. If it gets out, Feng Lingtian will be in danger."
Ye Lingling nodded solemnly. " Yanyan, don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Dugu Yan glanced at her, making sure she was serious, before pushing open the door and striding out of the courtyard.
Ye Lingling sat alone in the courtyard, looking at the dark green herb whose soil had been loosened halfway. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
Dugu Yan's poison had been cured; her arms were smooth and clean, and she no longer paused to speak due to pain. These real details were more convincing than any rumors.
And now, the elixir that can cure the innate defects of Martial Soul might be in the same academy.
She clenched her hands on her knees. Not out of nervousness. The future seemed less uncertain, but she wanted to know more—whether she had a chance to obtain the elixir that could cure the innate defects of Martial Soul.