Martial Soul Evolution

At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Xiao Yu held a pill that exuded a rich medicinal fragrance. It had been refined from the essences of three Immortal Herbs—the Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew—along with more than a dozen premium medicinal herbs. It was also Xiao Yu's preparation for absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring.

Not far away, Dugu Yan held a pale red pill that gave off a hazy mist. She looked anxiously at Dugu Bo beside her and asked, "Grandpa, can this really evolve my Martial Soul if I eat it?"

Although Ye Lingling said nothing beside Xiao Yu, her beautiful eyes, fixed on him, seemed to be asking the same question.

"Rest assured, you little ones."

With his long-cherished wish finally fulfilled, Yang Wudi was in high spirits. He patted his chest and assured them, "The Breaking Clan's alchemy arts have been passed down for centuries. Immortal Herbs are born from gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the essence of the sun and moon, and possess the power to reshape all creation. Eat it, and you'll definitely gain something beyond your expectations."

"Yan Yan, eat it!"

Dugu Bo told Dugu Yan, "Old Goat's ingredients are all great tonics. Even if it can't evolve your Martial Soul, it will greatly improve your physical strength and increase the speed at which you cultivate Soul Power."

Urged on by the grandfather she trusted most, Dugu Yan finally swallowed the pill. Xiao Yu smiled faintly at Ye Lingling and opened his mouth to place the pill inside.

Ye Lingling had nearly reached the point of blindly following Xiao Yu. Only after seeing him take the pill did she open her cherry lips and cautiously swallow hers.

As for Zilong, Xie Wu, and the others, their Martial Souls originated from constellations and could not evolve any further. Thus, Yang Wudi had given them only tonics to strengthen their bodies and increase their cultivation, which they chewed down by the mouthful like candy beans.

The moment Xiao Yu's pill entered his stomach, he felt a warm current flow from his lower abdomen and rapidly spread outward. Terrifying medicinal power erupted, and the surging heat flooded into the meridians throughout his body like a deluge. Xiao Yu gritted his teeth, hurriedly sat cross-legged, and circulated his Soul Power to refine the medicinal energy.

Under the effects of his Soul Power, the originally raging medicinal energy gradually calmed. Xiao Yu felt as though every pore in his body had opened, greedily absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.

His Soul Power drove the medicinal energy through a full cycle. The meridians, bones, and internal organs within Xiao Yu's body underwent qualitative changes under its stimulation, while his soul improved rapidly under its nourishment. Xiao Yu felt as though he were swimming through a golden sea, forgetting everything else.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yu finally finished absorbing the medicinal energy. His eyes slowly opened, and the first thing he saw was Ye Lingling's concerned yet anxious face.

"Xiao... Xiao Yu, y-you're awake!"

Ye Lingling was startled when Xiao Yu suddenly opened his eyes, and she spoke with a slight stammer.

Xiao Yu nodded gently, reached out to rub Ye Lingling's little head, and said softly, "I'm fine. How about you? How well did you absorb the medicinal energy?"

"We finished ages ago. Who's as slow as you?"

Before Ye Lingling could answer, Dugu Yan spoke bluntly from beside her. "Ling Ling and I finished absorbing the pills half a month ago. You wouldn't wake up, and this silly girl has been worried sick about you these past days. She couldn't eat or drink properly and lost so much weight!"

"Sister Yan Zi, don't talk nonsense!"

Ye Lingling's little face instantly flushed crimson. Embarrassed, she said, "I... I didn't."

By the end, her voice had become as soft as a mosquito's buzz. Even Xiao Yu, who was closest to her, could not hear what she had said.

Xiao Yu smiled faintly, took Ye Lingling's soft little hand, and said, "Didn't I tell you? I'd never do anything reckless. I took too long absorbing the medicinal energy this time and made you worry."

"Mm."

Ye Lingling nodded gently. Not only did she not pull free from Xiao Yu's grasp, she instead felt much more at ease like this.

"Right." Seeing this, Xiao Yu immediately changed the subject. "What effects did the pills have after you took them?"

Ye Lingling answered, "After I absorbed the medicinal energy, my Soul Power broke through level thirty. Sister Yan Zi was already at the level-thirty bottleneck before taking the medicine, so Grandpa Dugu went and caught two thousand-year soul beasts for us. After absorbing the spirit rings, my Soul Power reached level thirty-three, while Sister Yan Zi's is nearly level thirty-seven."

Before taking the medicine, Dugu Yan had already been at the bottleneck just short of Soul Elder, while Ye Lingling had only been around level twenty-six or twenty-seven. This increase in Soul Power was within Xiao Yu's expectations.

"What about your Martial Souls? Did they undergo any changes?"

The pill Dugu Yan had taken contained the essences of three Immortal Herbs: the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Infernal Delicate Apricot, and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. Ye Lingling's pill contained the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, and Eight Petal Immortal Orchid. Xiao Yu did not believe the essences of three Immortal Herbs would only increase Soul Power.

"Sister Yan Zi's Martial Soul evolved into a flood dragon. Although it lost its original toxicity, it gained immensely powerful offensive abilities."

Ye Lingling answered softly, "My Martial Soul seems to have changed too. Besides its original healing abilities, it can now restore Soul Power. Somehow, my Martial Soul seems to be telling me that the shackles originally belonging to the Nine Hearted Begonia have disappeared from me!"

"That's right!"

Xiao Yu affirmed Ye Lingling's words. "One of the ingredients in the pill you took came from the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb. This herb is noble and magnificent, capable of absorbing the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon. It has effects beyond imagination on plant-type Martial Souls. The curse of the Nine Hearted Begonia no longer exists in you. Your Martial Soul is no longer simply a Nine Hearted Begonia—it should be a superior Martial Soul of the Nine Hearted Begonia."

At this point, Xiao Yu paused. "Ling Ling, it seems that no superior Martial Soul of the Nine Hearted Begonia has ever been recorded. How about you name it yourself?"

"Saint... Saint Hearted Begonia!"

Ye Lingling did not know why, but when she heard Xiao Yu say she should name her Martial Soul, this name surfaced in her mind.

"Not a bad name!"

Xiao Yu nodded, then solemnly reminded Ye Lingling, "Ling Ling, after we return, don't let anyone know about your Martial Soul Evolution except your grandfather and father."

"Why?"

Before Ye Lingling could respond, Dugu Yan could not help asking, "Ling Ling's Martial Soul evolving is such a good thing. Why hide it and keep others from knowing?"

"You can never truly know what's in someone's heart!"

Xiao Yu said seriously, "Forget anyone else. Take the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, currently revered as the continent's number one support-type sect. The Nine Hearted Begonia only cannot threaten their position because of the limitations of its Martial Soul inheritance. But if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect learns that Ling Ling's Martial Soul has resolved this flaw, what do you think they'll do?"

Ye Lingling said quietly, "My grandfather and father have said the same thing. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has always been wary of our Nine Hearted Begonia Family. Their disciples have continuously kept watch around the outskirts of our family estate."