Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Ye Family

The next day, after breakfast, Ling Xiao sat alone in his room, staring at the system panel before him.

Host:
Name: Ling Xiao
Age: Five years old
Soul Martial Arts: Demon Eye Blood Sword, Primordial Flame
Realm: Late Divine Sovereign (Stellar Body not yet activated)
Divine Titles: Great God, God of Life (6/9), God of Death (7/9), God of Judgment (7/9), God of Devouring (6/9)
Divine Powers: Heavenly Finger, Judgment Heavenly Eye, Judgment Flame, Blood Devouring, Spirit Devouring, Soul Devouring, Devouring Heaven, Wind and Thunder Domain, Death God's Phantom, Judgment God's Phantom
Inventory: Low-grade Life Water, Mid-grade Life Water, Soul Martial Arts Advancement Energy, High-grade Life Water, Life Essence, Life Set, Book of Death, Undead War God, Corpse Emperor’s Servant, Death Armor, Death Set, Judgment Wings, Mechanical Evil Tiger, Angel of Slaughter Set, Devouring Beast God, Devouring Set.

“Already so many gains, not bad at all!” Ling Xiao’s eyes sparkled with delight.

After reviewing the system panel, Ling Xiao closed it and left the room. He bid farewell to Bibi Dong before heading toward the Heavenly Dou Empire.

After several minutes, Ling Xiao’s figure appeared above a vast manor. Consulting the map in his hand and scanning the estate, he flew off in a specific direction.

“Qianqian, you and Lingling visited the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy yesterday. How does Lingling feel about it?” an elderly man with half-white hair and a beard, dressed in black and white, asked a beautiful woman beside him clad in pale cyan.

“Father, Lingling really likes the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, and the teachers there like her too. There will be no problem with her admission!” Ye Qianqian replied respectfully. To her right stood a girl—Ye Lingling.

Now eleven years old, Ye Lingling had blossomed into a young lady. She wore a light blue dress, her fair and translucent face exuding a crystal-clear allure. Her bright eyes sparkled with vivacity, her delicate nose charming, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. Petite and exquisite, she looked utterly adorable.

“Is that so? Well, Lingling’s talent must have astonished them all! Frankly, I even think the humble Heavenly Dou Royal Academy isn’t quite worthy of her!” Ye Shuyun’s cheeks flushed as she spoke of the academy with a hint of disdain.

“But Father, aside from the top three sects, the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy is the only place suitable for Lingling to study, and the top three sects don’t allow other families to enter!” Ye Qianqian responded.

“Of course I know that. Otherwise, why would Lingling join such a modest academy? She’s only eleven but already a level thirty-two Soul Sovereign. Who else can compare to such talent?” Ye Shuyun scoffed, though her joy was unmistakable.

“Lingling, if you want anything, just tell Grandpa. I will definitely fulfill your wishes,” Ye Shuyun said kindly, her face softening with a gentle smile.

“Grandpa, I want to visit the Martial Soul Hall someday,” Ye Lingling whispered, lowering her head.

Ye Shuyun’s expression stiffened briefly but soon returned to normal. She nodded with a tender gaze. “Since Lingling wishes to go to the Martial Soul Hall, Grandpa will not stop you. But you must be accompanied by a guard—you’re the hope of our family and must be kept safe.”

Hearing this, Lingling’s face brightened. She warmly clasped one of Ye Shuyun’s hands. “I understand, Grandpa. I will protect myself!”

Ye Shuyun sighed, gently stroking Lingling’s head. How could he not understand the true reason behind Lingling’s wish to visit the Martial Soul Hall?

However, as a neutral family, any connection with the Martial Soul Hall was exceedingly dangerous.

“Aunt Qianqian! Sister Lingling!”

At that moment, a voice suddenly echoed from the sky. The three looked toward the source and saw a figure dressed in white, seated atop a blood-red sword.

The sudden arrival startled Ye Shuyun, who grew slightly wary.

Ye Qianqian and Ye Lingling looked on, puzzled. But when they heard the familiar address, a spark of realization flashed through their minds, and they exclaimed in disbelief, “Xiao’er!”

Ling Xiao descended before them, waving a greeting.

“Aunt Qianqian, Sister Lingling, long time no see!”

Their eyes widened in astonishment, not expecting Ling Xiao to visit today, nor that he had already awakened his Martial Soul.

Ye Qianqian and Ye Lingling stared at Ling Xiao in amazement. They recalled Ling Xiao was only five, yet he now stood nearly as tall as Lingling.

“Xiao’er, you’re here! Lingling was just thinking of finding you!”

Recognizing Ling Xiao, Ye Qianqian’s eyes softened. Over the past year, she had regarded Ling Xiao as her own child. Seeing him again naturally filled her with joy.

“Xiao’er, long time no see!” Ye Lingling stepped forward happily, her face gentle and smiling.

This boy had left a deep impression on Lingling, though he seemed quite ordinary.

Ye Shuyun observed Ling Xiao silently.

“Xiao’er, when did you awaken your Martial Soul? We received no news!” Ye Qianqian asked softly, with Ye Lingling also watching him.

She had planned to visit the Martial Soul Hall when Ling Xiao turned six to witness his awakening, but now, to their surprise, he had already awakened.

“I awakened my Martial Soul a year ago!” Ling Xiao said casually, startling them.

“That’s impossible. You were only four a year ago. How could you have awakened your Martial Soul?” Ye Shuyun retorted.

On Douluo Continent, one could only awaken their Martial Soul at six—an unbreakable truth.

“Is it true, Xiao’er?” Ye Qianqian asked, disbelief coloring her face.

“It’s true. I’ve had my Martial Soul for a year!” Ling Xiao replied, unfazed by their shock.

Ye Shuyun was stunned but knew Ling Xiao had no reason to lie. Still, it was hard to believe since such a thing had never happened before.

Ling Xiao took three bottles of Life Water from his storage space and handed them to the three.

“What’s this, Xiao’er?” Ye Qianqian asked, eyeing the vibrant Life Water in Ling Xiao’s hand. Its dazzling colors captivated her, making her want to drink it immediately.

Ye Lingling and Ye Shuyun also stared intently at the bottles, their deepest desires stirred.

“This is Life Water. Aunt Qianqian, your Martial Soul is the Nine-Hearted Begonia; this should help you. Drink it!” Ling Xiao encouraged.

Ye Shuyun hesitated, unsure if it might be a Martial Soul Hall scheme, considering they were all owners of the Nine-Hearted Begonia Martial Soul.

Ye Qianqian and Ye Lingling also hesitated—not out of fear of Ling Xiao but because the Life Water was too precious.

“Xiao’er, this Life Water must be very valuable. We can’t accept it!” Ye Qianqian said after a moment’s hesitation, both reluctantly looking away from the bottles.

Ye Shuyun was surprised at how much Qianqian and Lingling trusted Ling Xiao, though they had lived together before. After all, Ling Xiao was from the Martial Soul Hall!

“No need. I have plenty of Life Water. These three bottles are nothing. Just drink!” Ling Xiao waved dismissively, unfazed. He still had Life Water from three lakes.

“Well…” Ye Qianqian was at a loss, so Ling Xiao uncapped a bottle.

“Sister Lingling, drink quickly!” Ling Xiao handed the Life Water to Ye Lingling, then two chains appeared, placing bottles into Ye Shuyun and Ye Qianqian’s hands.

Seeing this, Ye Lingling reluctantly drank the Life Water.

Ye Shuyun opened his mouth but said nothing, nervously watching Ye Lingling.

After drinking, Lingling’s aura strengthened. Her soul power rose from level thirty-two to thirty-eight before stabilizing.

Ye Shuyun and Ye Qianqian’s faces were shocked at Lingling’s leap to level thirty-eight. Their eyes returned to the Life Water in their hands, no longer watching Lingling’s dazed expression, and without further hesitation, they drank.

Soon, like Lingling, their soul power surged. Ye Qianqian reached level seventy, seemingly not at her limit, while Ye Shuyun’s power rose from level ninety-two to ninety-four.

The three stood, mouths agape, their minds reeling for a long while.

“How is it? I still have more!” Ling Xiao replenished their empty bottles upon seeing their astonished reactions.

The three looked deeply at the Life Water in their hands, lost in thought.

Ye Shuyun felt an increasing gratitude that Qianqian and Lingling had stayed in the Martial Soul Hall. Otherwise, how else could he have obtained such a treasure?

They carefully sealed the Life Water bottles and kept them close. Such a treasure was meant for critical moments. Their rapid power increase was almost overwhelming; they needed time to consolidate it.

“Why don’t you drink more?” Ling Xiao asked.

“No, our strength rose too fast; we need to stabilize it first. We’ll save the rest for later,” Ye Shuyun shook his head. Ye Lingling nodded in agreement.

This time, Ye Shuyun’s gaze toward Ling Xiao was grave. With such power, one could only wonder how strong the Martial Soul Hall had grown.

Perhaps its strength was now sufficient to challenge all forces on the continent.

Yet, he found some comfort in Ling Xiao’s close relationship with his daughter and granddaughter. Otherwise, he would never have revealed such treasures.