Spirit Banyan Barrier
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Ye Qinghe changed into an elegant dress and, with Ye Lingling in tow, arrived at the Blue Tyrant Academy.
Yan Zu was practicing his morning exercises in the courtyard of the Secluded Bamboo Pavilion, the internal energy of the Nine Yin Manual slowly circulating within his body. Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others had not yet gotten up, and the courtyard was quiet.
Ye Lingling led her mother through the courtyard gate and saw Yan Zu standing there, having finished his practice. She stepped forward and said softly, "Yan Zu."
Yan Zu turned around and saw a gentle-looking middle-aged woman standing behind Ye Lingling. He was slightly taken aback. "Sister Lingling, who is this—"
Ye Lingling stepped aside and introduced, "This is my mother."
Ye Qinghe stepped forward, her gaze falling on Yan Zu. She carefully examined the boy before her; he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, with a tall and straight figure and handsome features. Most striking was the faint golden beauty mark under his left eye, which added a touch of gentleness to his appearance. Despite being just a boy, he possessed a calm and composed demeanor that instantly won people's favor.
This is the young man who helped his daughter Martial Soul Evolution.
Ye Qinghe took a deep breath and bowed solemnly. "Yan Zu, my name is Ye Qinghe, and I am Lingling's mother. I have come today to express my gratitude."
Yan Zu quickly stepped aside to avoid it, then stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Auntie Ye, please get up. This junior is unworthy of such a great courtesy."
Ye Qinghe insisted on completing the bow, and when she straightened up, her eyes were already red. "Yan Zu may not know, but my Ye family has been trapped by the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia for generations, and the inheritance of this family has always come at the cost of the lives of our loved ones. Lingling's grandfather—he died so that Lingling could awaken her Martial Soul. Over the years, I have been constantly worried, fearing that Lingling would also follow that path."
Her voice choked with emotion, yet she spoke each word with absolute clarity, "It was you, young master, who gave Lingling a new life and hope for the Ye family. Ye Qinghe has no way to repay this kindness. From this day forward, whenever the Ye family needs our help, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Zu's expression turned solemn. He bowed to Ye Qinghe again, this time with the respect due to a junior to an elder. "Auntie Ye, you flatter me. Lingling is my partner, so it's only right that I help her. Besides, Lingling herself is resilient and has an extraordinary will, which is why she was able to withstand the tempering of the elixir. She deserves half the credit for this."
He paused, then added, "Auntie Ye, just call me ' A-Zu,' there's no need to be so formal."
Looking into his sincere eyes, Ye Qinghe felt even more favorably disposed towards him. She nodded and changed her address, saying, "A-Zu, then don't call me ' Auntie Ye ' anymore, just call me Auntie Qing."
Yan Zu readily agreed, "Auntie Qing."
Ye Lingling stood to the side, watching her mother and Yan Zu get along harmoniously, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She whispered, "Mother..."
Honey, A-Zu is a really good person.
Ye Qinghe glanced at her daughter, a knowing tenderness flashing in her eyes, but said nothing more.
In the distance, Xiao Wu peeked out of the room and, seeing this scene, whispered to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, "Sister Lingling's mother is here, Little Brother A-Zu. Let's go out later."
Ning Rongrong peeked through the crack in the window and sighed softly, "Sister Lingling —it hasn't been easy for her either."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, but simply nodded silently.
Seven days later, at dawn, after Ye Lingling had completely stabilized the evolution of the Sacred Heart Begonia and adjusted herself to her peak condition, Liu Erlong and Yan Zu decided to take her to Sunset Forest to hunt for her Fourth Soul Ring.
"Lingling, your Sacred Heart Begonia's essence is the ultimate in life and healing, but too much rigidity leads to breakage. Pure support will ultimately be passive in the perilous Soul Master World." Before setting off, Yan Zu had an in-depth discussion with Ye Lingling. "This Soul Hunting shouldn't be limited to improving healing abilities; it should also seek to fill your weaknesses. A Plant-type Soul Beast with both powerful control and excellent defense capabilities, if you can make it your own and form Soul Spirit, will give your survivability and tactical value a qualitative leap."
Ye Lingling listened attentively, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "I understand. Just like Rongrong's Black Armor Dragon Turtle, only by possessing the ability to protect itself can it better support the team. Yan Zu, what kind of Soul Beast do you think is suitable?"
Yan Zu already had a target in mind through the "Gazetteer of Mountains and Rivers": "There is a Soul Beast in Sunset Forest called Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan".
This tree is not an offensive type, but its root system is extensive, spreading underground and weaving into a net with extremely strong binding force. Moreover, the spiritual tendrils hanging from the crown can form a domain, interfering with Soul Power perception and slowing down the enemy's movements.
More importantly, its vitality is immense, resonating with your Sacred Heart Begonia essence. If a contract is successfully formed, its binding and domain abilities can complement your healing, allowing you to control the battlefield and protect your teammates, or retreat to protect yourself and buy time.
"The Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan— " Ye Lingling murmured, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, "It sounds perfect."
Liu Erlong nodded in agreement. "A good choice. The combination of control and defense perfectly compensates for Lingling's weaknesses. Without further ado, let's set off."
The three traveled light and entered the sunset again. With Liu Erlong, the newly promoted Soul Douluo, and Yan Zu, the "humanoid Soul Beast Detector," the journey went quite smoothly. Thanks to Yan Zu's Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eyes and keen perception of life force, they avoided many unnecessary troubles.
Two days later, in a secluded valley, far from human habitation and filled with ancient, towering trees, they found their target: a gigantic Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan. Its canopy, like a magnificent parasol, covered an area of a hundred meters, with countless pale golden spiritual tendrils cascading down like waterfalls, swaying gently in the wind, exuding a tranquil and mysterious aura. The trunk required several people to encircle it, and its bark possessed a jade-like luster, its age a staggering twelve thousand years!
"This is it," Yan Zu whispered. "Sister Lingling, get ready. Teacher Liu, please suppress its resistance, but try not to damage its essence, so that the contract can be formed."
A flash of crimson light appeared in Liu Erlong's eyes as the Scarlet Flame Dragon King Martial Soul possessed him, and the powerful Soul Power pressure instantly enveloped the Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan. The Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had awakened its intelligence, Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan sensed a fatal threat. It immediately shook violently, and countless roots broke through the soil, coiling towards the three of them like giant pythons. The drooping spiritual tendrils also suddenly straightened, emitting fluctuations that interfered with Soul Power.
"You beast, you dare to resist!" Liu Erlong sneered. He did not unleash his Eighth Soul Skill, "Dragon Flame Heaven-Burning Array," but merely formed a wall of flames to block and burn all of Spirit Banyan's attacks. The scorching dragon flame aura countered the wood attribute, causing the Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan to let out painful hiss, greatly reducing its resistance.
"Lingling, now!" Yan Zu shouted, and at the same time, Little Jade leaped out from his shoulder, spreading an auspicious aura that surged toward the Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan with the intention of comforting and communicating.
Ye Lingling took a deep breath, and the Sacred Heart Begonia Martial Soul bloomed in her palm. The evolved begonia flower was incomparably holy, and its golden stamens exuded a pure and powerful life aura.
This aura caused the raging Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan to pause abruptly, instinctively sensing a call from a similar yet higher level of life.
Ye Lingcheng calmed her mind and, following the method taught by Yan Zu beforehand—combining the Nine Yin Manual's concentration technique with the affinity and connection with Soul Beast —gently transmitted her spiritual power and the life fluctuations of the Sacred Heart Begonia.
"Powerful being—I have no intention of destruction, but wish to forge a pact with you, to share life, and to witness the Great Dao together—my power can nourish your essence; your abilities can protect my path—"
Her voice, transmitted through her spiritual power, resounded directly into Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan's dazed consciousness. Sensing the incredibly alluring aura of the Sacred Heart Begonia, which seemed to elevate her own life level, and noticing Little Jade's auspicious power that drew all things closer, as well as Liu Erlong's terrifying power that could destroy her at any moment, Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan's struggles gradually subsided.
Within its vast spirituality, after weighing the pros and cons, it ultimately chose to accept this "invitation."
A pale golden light emanated from the main body of the Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan, growing brighter and brighter until it finally coalesced into a slightly illusory, countless-fold smaller sapling of the Spirit Banyan, which slowly drifted toward Ye Lingling.
At the same time, a deep black Soul Ring emerged from the main body of the Spirit Banyan.
Ye Lingling relaxed her mind and body, guiding the illusory image of the Spirit Banyan sapling into her Sacred Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
The moment the two came into contact, they blended seamlessly. A faint, almost imperceptible golden vein appeared on the edge of the Sacred Heart Begonia's leaf, making its overall aura even more profound and powerful. Immediately afterward, the 12,000-year-old black Soul Ring was also successfully absorbed into her body.
The absorption process went more smoothly than expected. The Sacred Heart Begonia's vitality was already strong, and it became even more extraordinary after evolution. Coupled with the solid foundation laid by the "Ice and Fire Body-Tempering Pill" and the buffer brought by the Spirit Banyan Soul Spirit's voluntary fusion, although the energy of the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring was still immense, it did not cause Ye Lingling an unbearable burden.
With the protection of Yan Zu and the care of Liu Erlong, she finally succeeded in absorbing the essence after three full hours.
When she opened her eyes again, her Soul Power had stabilized at level 45! Four Soul Ring— two yellow, one purple, and one black—slowly rotated beneath her feet. The black Soul Ring was deep and lustrous, showcasing the power of Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
With a thought, her Fourth Soul Ring lit up, swirling with black light.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Spirit Banyan Barrier!"
Centered on Ye Lingling, a field with a diameter of thirty meters is released. All friendly units within the field receive continuous healing, and their Soul Power recovery speed is increased by thirty percent. At the same time, Spirit Banyan vines will randomly grow within the field and Entanglement the enemy.
This is a powerful Soul Skill that combines domain control and healing effects!
The Thousand-Thread Spirit Banyan Soul Spirit, which Martial Soul Fusion, is usually nurtured within the Sacred Heart Begonia. When necessary, it can manifest as a phantom to defend itself or assist in control, possessing great spirituality.
"Success!" Ye Lingling felt the changes within herself and the wondrous connection between herself and her Soul Spirit. An unprecedentedly bright smile bloomed on her usually cool face, and her eyes were filled with gratitude as she looked at Yan Zu and Liu Erlong.
Liu Erlong nodded with satisfaction. "Good! With this Soul Skill and Soul Spirit, Lingling, your strength has undergone a complete transformation!"
Yan Zu also smiled and said, "Congratulations, Sister Lingling. Now you're a perfect blend of offense, defense, and support; your future is bright."
The three returned laden with spoils. After returning to the Blue Tyrant Academy, Ye Lingling spent several more days familiarizing herself with her newly acquired power and Soul Spirit.