Chapter 276: Solving Ye Lingling's Spirit Martial Soul Defect
"Cough, senior sister, how have you been recently?"
Dugu Feng was the first to break the silence.
Ye Lingling took two steps forward, closing the distance to just two steps from Dugu Feng.
"Since absorbing the celestial herb last time, I have been cultivating within the mansion!
Just waiting for you to take me on a trial journey!"
Ye Lingling's calm tone contained no complaints, which made Dugu Feng feel at ease.
He suddenly had an idea and replied, "That's exactly why I came, to take senior sister on a tour. I see your strength is close to reaching Soul Emperor, so it's the perfect time to hunt soul beasts!"
Ye Lingling's strength surprised him.
She had already reached level fifty-eight.
Eating the celestial herb really made a difference.
Plus, with the help of his Dan Zhu, he was confident he could break through to Soul Emperor within a year.
Dugu Feng didn't explain why he had taken so long to come, which made Ye Lingling curious.
Apart from news of the Poison Demon King and Glazed Divine Goddess during the first year after the Soul Master Competition, she had known it was about Dugu Feng and Ning Rongrong.
Her disappointment was hard to imagine.
Hearing others call Dugu Feng and Ning Rongrong a celestial couple stirred bitterness within her.
After all, she had known Dugu Feng before Ning Rongrong.
Before Dugu Feng enrolled, she and her grandfather Ye Qingxin had visited the Dugu Mansion.
But Ning Rongrong beat her to it.
Dugu Feng had only spent a little over a year with Ning Rongrong; was he cultivating all the rest of the time?
Ye Lingling believed if it weren't for something important, Dugu Feng wouldn't have delayed coming for so long.
"You haven't contacted me all this time!" Ye Lingling said.
She signaled Dugu Feng to sit down, and she sat beside him.
Then she picked up the teapot nearby and brewed some tea.
Her movements were flowing and graceful—clearly trained from a young age—which made Dugu Feng feel pleased watching her.
"I have been cultivating in a special place. After breaking through to Soul Emperor, I've been looking for suitable soul beasts!" Dugu Feng said.
A fragrant scent wafted out as Ye Lingling served the tea, a flash of joy crossing her heart.
Sure enough, Dugu Feng's absence was due to cultivation, and her lingering worries melted away.
"I only returned to Tiandou City a few days ago. Just in time to witness the drama within the royal family—the Crown Prince and the Prince clashed over the poisoning of the Snow Night Emperor, and even I got involved."
Dugu Feng recounted how Qian Renxue was lured, Prince Xue Xing sent troops, and the crossbow attack on the four single attribute races.
Ye Lingling kept exclaiming in surprise.
"I didn't know so much had happened!" she sighed.
She also understood the level Dugu Feng was at—though she had overestimated him, she was still shocked.
Dugu Feng could already influence the empire's situation.
After chatting for a while, the old feelings between them gradually surfaced, and the years apart no longer created a barrier.
An hour later, after communicating with Ye Qingxin, Ye Lingling followed Dugu Feng out of the Ye Mansion.
This time, Dugu Feng didn't plan to leave Tiandou City far behind.
He intended to take Ye Lingling to cultivate at the Ice and Fire Two Phenomena Eye.
"Senior sister, I already have some guesses about the defect of your Jiuxin Begonia Martial Soul. It can definitely be solved!"
They hitched a carriage, didn't hire a coachman, and Dugu Feng calmly drove the horses toward the city outskirts.
Ye Lingling's body trembled in disbelief. "You have a way?"
"Your Martial Soul has such harsh limitations, which must stem from the Martial Soul's inheritance issue. If you can prompt the Martial Soul to mutate or evolve, that will solve the defect!"
Ye Lingling immediately felt down again. "Last time, that eight-petal celestial orchid you gave me, such a miraculous celestial herb, still couldn't evolve my Martial Soul!"
"Senior sister, the eight-petal celestial orchid has already changed part of your Martial Soul.
Cultivation speed is determined by the Martial Soul. Top-tier Martial Souls cultivate faster and their soul techniques are stronger. The orchid improved your cultivation speed, so how could it not have changed your Martial Soul?
It only altered the essence of the Martial Soul, so normally it's hard to detect.
Perhaps there is a lack of energy to promote evolution. I know a place rich in plant essence, perfect for your cultivation!"
Ye Lingling's hope rose again. If others claimed they could fix the Martial Soul defect and promote evolution, she'd dismiss them as liars.
But Dugu Feng was too extraordinary.
She had no choice but to believe him.
As they approached Sunset Forest, Dugu Feng parked the carriage at a supply town.
Then he took Ye Lingling into the forest.
Naturally, their hands intertwined.
Ye Lingling's heart pounded; the last time in Sunset Forest, when Dugu Feng helped her hunt the fourth soul ring, their relationship had made great progress.
Now, it was Sunset Forest again.
She felt the time for them to fully merge was near.
"Don't be nervous. There are no soul beasts here that can threaten me!" Dugu Feng noticed Ye Lingling's tension and quickly reassured her.
Ye Lingling's long eyelashes lifted slightly as if rolling her eyes. Am I nervous about the soul beasts?
I'm nervous about you!
After walking a bit, Dugu Feng said, "I'll fly you!"
He wrapped his arm around Ye Lingling's waist, pulling her body close.
Then a faint light glowed from the right leg bone of his Blue-Silver Emperor.
The two of them lifted off the ground and flew into the air.
They swiftly drifted toward the center of Sunset Forest.
Moments later, they landed atop the two mountains flanking the Ice and Fire Two Phenomena Eye.
"I had a feeling this place was special last time, but I just got my fourth soul ring and was too excited to ask you!" Ye Lingling said in wonder.
Dugu Feng stared at the dense steam rising ahead, moist and carrying the smell of sulfur.
"Below is a hot spring where cold and heat meet, containing powerful ice and fire energy. The celestial herb I gave you came from here. Come, I'll take you down!"
Dugu Feng held Ye Lingling as they descended. His arms and back emitted cold and hot energy respectively.
The two energies wrapped around them.
They formed a small man-made Ice and Fire Two Phenomena Eye, protecting Ye Lingling from the cold and fire poison here.
Not even Dugu Bo dared to cultivate here for long.
Only the Ice and Fire Two Phenomena Eye could counteract the toxins.
Dugu Feng had tamed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Fiery Apricot Beauty Herb, so he could instantly create his own Ice and Fire Two Phenomena Eye. After filtering the cold and fire poisons, they could only feed his Tyrant Poison.
Upon entering this place, the Tyrant Poison inside Dugu Feng stirred vigorously.
Tyrant Poison loved this spot, as its energy could rapidly increase here. It was a precious site rivaling the Killing City.
The Killing City contained strong mental toxins, which enhanced Tyrant Poison's spiritual power.
But here, the toxins' energy was richer and more diverse, allowing Tyrant Poison to develop endless transformations.
(END CHAPTER)
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