Chapter 41: Check-in Mission, Hundred-Thousand-Year external Spirit Bone
"Alas!"
The old man took a deep breath, a trace of determination flashing in his murky eyes. He suddenly looked toward a certain direction—the location of the Sunset Forest.
"Big Dipper Academy!"
The old man said resolutely.
"Big Dipper Academy?"
Ye Lingling was startled.
"Exactly!"
The old man analyzed with an urgent tone.
"According to the news circulating across the continent, this Big Dipper Academy is mysterious and unpredictable. They can cultivate Geniuses like Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong who make it onto the Martial Soul Ranking. Even the evolution of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul is related to them. Their foundation is unfathomable!"
He looked intently at Ye Lingling: "Most importantly, they don't seem to fear Spirit Hall. Now that your Nine Heart Begonia has completed its ultimate metamorphosis, when it comes to support ability, especially in the healing Domain, almost no one in the world can surpass you."
"Perhaps... perhaps such a mysterious academy would be interested in you and willing to offer protection. This is our only, and best, choice right now."
"No matter what, we must take this gamble!"
Ye Lingling looked at the desperate light in her grandfather's eyes, then sensed her transformed Martial Soul. Determination gradually appeared in her clear, cold eyes.
She did not want to become the Puppet of any power.
She yearned for freedom, yearning to truly control her own destiny.
"Alright! Grandpa, I will listen to you. We will go to Big Dipper Academy!"
Ye Lingling nodded vigorously.
The decision was made; there was no time to lose.
A trace of reluctance flashed in Old Master Ye's murky eyes. He tightly grasped Ye Lingling's hand and lowered his voice: "Lingling, listen to Grandpa. I cannot go with you."
Ye Lingling was astonished: "Grandpa?"
"Spirit Hall's target is you. If I travel with you, the target will be too large, and neither of us will escape!"
Old Master Ye spoke extremely quickly, with undeniable decisiveness. "You must go alone. I will have Ye Zhong secretly escort you. He is an eighty-third rank Soul Douluo, enough to ensure your safe arrival at the outskirts of the Sunset Forest."
He paused, a hint of bitterness and resolve appearing on his face: "As for me, I must stay. I am the Family Head of the Ye Family. As long as I remain here, Spirit Hall will fear repercussions and might not immediately harm the other members of the Family. This will buy you time."
"If I also leave, the entire Ye Family will be instantly wiped out! As long as you are safe, join Big Dipper Academy, and receive protection, our Ye Family will still have hope!"
Ye Lingling instantly understood her grandfather's painstaking efforts, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She knew how heavy the burden on her shoulders was.
This concerned not only her personal freedom but also the survival of the entire Family.
"Grandpa... you must take care of yourself!"
A thousand words ultimately condensed into this single, tearful instruction.
"Hurry and go!"
Old Master Ye pushed her forcefully, then turned. His retreating figure, stretched long by the setting sun, was filled with tragic grandeur.
Ye Lingling gritted her teeth, took one last look at her grandfather and the Family behind her, and resolutely turned away.
Under the cover of Ye Zhong, the Family's most loyal guard, she silently left Heaven Dou City.
She sped toward the direction of the Sunset Forest.
However, less than half an hour after Ye Lingling left.
"Boom!"
A powerful pressure, carrying a rich floral fragrance, descended upon the Ye Family Residence like a storm!
Yue Guan's figure appeared in the courtyard. His expression was grim, and his sharp gaze swept over the waiting Old Master Ye.
"Family Head Ye, where is your granddaughter Ye Lingling?"
Yue Guan got straight to the point, his tone carrying undeniable pressure. "His Excellency the Supreme Pontiff requests her presence. Please have her come out to meet me."
Old Master Ye felt awe in his heart, but forced a calm expression, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo, your presence is an honor, but I apologize for not welcoming you earlier."
"It is just unfortunate that Lingling went out to visit a friend a few days ago and has not yet returned. This old man does not know her specific whereabouts."
Yue Guan's eyes turned cold. His powerful Spiritual Power instantly swept across the entire Ye Family Residence like mercury flowing across the ground.
Sure enough, he did not find any trace of Ye Lingling.
He had just made a fruitless trip to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and now, having rushed here upon receiving accurate information, he was still a step too late!
"Family Head Ye, I advise you not to make a mistake!"
Yue Guan's voice was laced with chill.
"The removal of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul restriction is a matter of great importance, and His Excellency the Supreme Pontiff is determined to obtain it. If you conceal the truth, harbor her, and hide her, you are making an enemy of the entire Spirit Hall!"
"Can your Ye Family bear the consequences?"
Old Master Ye straightened his back and met Yue Guan's gaze without flinching: "Your Excellency, please understand, this old man truly does not know Lingling's whereabouts. If she returns, I will certainly inform Spirit Hall immediately."
"Incorrigible!"
Yue Guan completely lost patience, and a trace of malice flashed across his face.
The repeated failures made his anger burn fiercely.
"Since you refuse the toast and prefer the forfeit, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Guards!"
"Take everyone from the Ye Family back to Spirit Hall for custody. I want to see if that Ye Lingling can truly abandon her entire Family!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several powerful figures appeared from all directions. They were all Cardinals of Spirit Hall, possessing formidable aura.
Old Master Ye's expression changed drastically, but he was powerless to resist. He could only watch as his Family members were restrained by the Spirit Hall powerhouses, his heart filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness.
He only hoped that his granddaughter could safely reach Big Dipper Academy... Big Dipper Academy.
Lu Xiao was currently guiding the newly arrived Ao Yin on techniques related to Elemental Control. Seeing the Dragon Clan youth's astonishing Comprehension Ability, he felt quite pleased.
Just then, the familiar notification sound in his mind rang out again:
[Ding! Detected conditions met for a Special Check-in Mission. Check-in Mission released: Recruit Ye Lingling (Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master) to join Big Dipper Academy.]
[Mission Reward: Hundred-Thousand-Year External Soul Bone—Wings of the Void Realm!]
A sharp light flashed in Lu Xiao's eyes. The System had been triggered twice in one day, and the reward for this Check-in Mission was such a generous Hundred-Thousand-Year External Soul Bone!
The System truly never acts without reason.
"Ye Lingling... the Nine Heart Begonia that had its curse lifted..."
Lu Xiao's lips curved slightly.
"Such a top-tier support system Soul Master is indeed worth recruiting. However, Spirit Hall's actions are probably faster than imagined."
With a thought, he slightly extended his Spiritual Power.
He sensed a pair of people anxiously searching on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.
The aura of the girl among them was pure and full of vitality; it was undoubtedly the transformed Nine Heart Begonia.
"Wenji."
Lu Xiao spoke calmly.
A graceful green figure appeared in the room like a gentle breeze; it was Cai Wenji, holding her zither.
"Dean, you called for me?"
"Go to the outskirts of the Sunset Forest and bring back a girl named Ye Lingling. She is a Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master, currently being pursued by Spirit Hall, and her Family may already be in danger."
Lu Xiao instructed, simultaneously transmitting Ye Lingling's location information to her.
Cai Wenji was exceptionally intelligent and immediately understood the urgency and importance of the matter. She bowed and said, "Wenji accepts the order."
Her figure flickered, and she vanished from the spot... at the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.
Ye Lingling and the guard Ye Zhong moved through a dense patch of woods, both wearing expressions of anxiety and fatigue.
They had been searching this area for a long time, but still could not find any trace of Big Dipper Academy.
It was as if the academy did not exist in the world at all.
"Young Miss, is this Big Dipper Academy... truly here?"
Ye Zhong couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his face full of doubt.
When he released his Spiritual Power to investigate, he could only sense the aura of a primal forest.
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