With a soft chime, Ye Lingling's soul vein was successfully forged.
To Lin Feng's eyes, her first soul vein shimmered like translucent jade. The transformation altered her demeanor—the former icy aloofness softened into quiet grace. Though still reserved, her features now carried natural serenity. No longer expressionless, her relaxed brows and subtle smile brought visible relief to Madame Ye.
Seeing this change after a year of delayed cultivation, the mother couldn't help but feel pleased.
Lingling stared at her Sacred Heart Begonia, its soul rings vanished, blinking those luminous eyes that now sparkled with newfound vitality. "So this is the true essence of Big Brother's cultivation method," she murmured, long lashes fluttering as she activated her first soul skill—a wide-range healing ability matching the Nine-Heart Begonia's signature technique. "Mother must have already established these soul veins too~"
The ability to invoke soul skills without summoning her martial soul fascinated the young girl.
Lin Feng stored his Innate Treasure Pearl, surprised by Lingling's internal constitution. The treasure's innate ability to nurture meridians and channel soul power granted him exceptional sensitivity to energy flows. What puzzled him was how Lingling's extra five levels of innate soul power seemed... artificially implanted.
Normally, a soul master's energy permeated their entire body before formal cultivation—like leaves naturally growing from a tree's branches. Yet Lingling's surplus power bore faint traces of external origin. Even as it assimilated, Lin Feng's pearl-enhanced perception detected the anomaly.
His gaze drifted skyward. (So a deity has taken interest in Lingling—the Nature Goddess? Or perhaps...)
"Big Brother," Lingling's voice interrupted his thoughts as she danced to his side, "I want to attend school. Staying home every day is so dull."
"School?" Lin Feng turned to Madame Ye. "She hasn't entered primary soul academy yet?"
The matriarch nodded apologetically. "We thought to delay a year or two. Her excessive soul power would draw unwanted attention."
Lin Feng understood the concern. While Dugu Bo fearlessly paraded his granddaughter's achievements—a twenty-plus level Soul Grandmaster at eight years old with a thousand-year second ring—his family enjoyed protected status within Spirit Hall's stronghold. The Nine-Heart Begonia clan, however, remained politically exposed in Heaven Dou Empire. Publicly enrolling their heiress in a Spirit Hall academy would send premature signals about factional alignments.
"With soul veins established, conventional academies are no longer suitable," Qian Renxue noted with concern. Madame Ye's eyes widened in realization—Lin Feng hadn't yet publicized the soul vein system.
After contemplation, Lin Feng sighed. "Primary academy will have to wait, Lingling. You'll need to stay home a while longer."
The girl's lips pursed in resigned acceptance—a temperament already crystallizing despite her tender age. Qian Renxue found the sight unbearably pitiful. She rapped Lin Feng's head lightly. "Admit it—you didn't consider this complication earlier, did you?" she whispered.
Lin Feng winced. "True... Wait, neither did you! Shared responsibility?"
A glare from golden eyes made him backtrack immediately. "My mistake. I'll handle it."
Clearing his throat, he produced a handwritten volume. "While formal schooling must wait, I can teach you personally, Lingling. This contains my complete theories—far beyond anything primary academies offer."
As Lingling examined the text, her finger paused on the co-author's name. "Why is Sister Xue's name here too? Did she help write this?"
Qian Renxue flushed slightly. Ever since Lin Feng gifted her the original soul vein research notes—where she'd carved her snowflake sigil—all his subsequent publications bore her mark. "Not exactly," she admitted playfully, "but I provided... inspirational guidance."
While Lingling immersed herself in the book, Lin Feng addressed Madame Ye in lowered tones. "We'll be heading south soon. I'll establish your remaining soul veins first. As for Lingling's situation..." He hesitated. "Best resolved after my return. Alternatively, you could petition the Pope about relocating to Spirit Hall earlier. Her political acumen surpasses mine regarding factional dynamics."
Madame Ye's eyes gleamed. "A Trojan horse strategy? This way, our clan's ties to Spirit Hall remain concealed while..." She studied Lin Feng shrewdly. "But you're planning something beyond this. Care to enlighten me?"
Lin Feng's lips curved mysteriously. "Certain truths reveal themselves through actions. The world's reaction will clarify everything."
"Since when did you start speaking in riddles?" Madame Ye rolled her eyes. Her gaze drifted between the engrossed Lingling, the patiently instructing Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan, then back to Lin Feng's satisfied expression. A knowing smile surfaced.
As a mother and Nine-Heart Begonia wielder, she'd immediately noticed the subtle but unmistakable feminine radiance emanating from the two young women—that particular bloom only cultivation and intimacy could produce.
Her voice slipped into Lin Feng's mind as a private whisper: "That queen of yours doesn't seem opposed to you acquiring another jewel for your collection, hmm?"