As Lin Feng finished speaking, three voices quickly responded.
One of them, a man's voice, stood out particularly loud.
Father Ye immediately stood up, his eyes intensely fixed on Lin Feng.
He had been quietly sitting there, smiling and listening to the conversation, appearing calm and reserved. But now, he was no longer silent.
In a flash, he stood before Lin Feng, grabbing one of Lin Feng's arms with considerable force.
His warm and gentle face turned unusually serious.
"Xiaofeng, you're not lying to me, are you?"
If an ordinary person had said such a thing, the three members of the Ye family might not have reacted so strongly—they would have taken it as a joke.
But this was someone brought by Ling Yuan, so clearly, he wouldn't speak lightly.
Even if it was just some speculation about the Nine-Hearted Begonia Spirit, it likely came from deep and thorough contemplation.
To Father Ye, there was nothing more important than his wife.
Watching his other half slowly approach death with no way to help—was a form of torture.
No matter how composed he acted in the past, now he could no longer suppress the emotional turmoil in his heart.
What if—just what if—this young man truly had some valuable insight?
Lin Feng patted Father Ye's trembling hand and gently lowered it.
"To be honest, it's just a bit of understanding on my part.
Just now, when Sister was sensing her soul skill, I noticed a problem.
The Nine-Hearted Begonia is indeed one of the strongest healing-type martial spirits—but its origin is sealed."
Mother Ye furrowed her brows, her eyes focusing on the Nine-Hearted Begonia in her right palm.
"Origin?"
Lin Feng nodded.
"Yes. The origin. A martial spirit is the most fundamental aspect of our body. It often reflects a person's traits.
For instance, soul masters with fire-type martial spirits tend to be more free-spirited and unruly.
Healing-type soul masters are generally gentler.
That's because a martial spirit's essential attributes share the same root as ourselves—it's a projection of who we are."
Ye Wanqing, holding Ye Lingling's hand, anxiously asked:
"Then what do you mean by the origin being sealed?"
A glow emitted from Lin Feng's innate soul pearl.
"While the Nine-Hearted Begonia does have peak-level healing soul skills...
The variability of those skills has been fixed to a single trait.
That's what we call anchoring of the martial spirit's origin."
Father Ye frowned.
"I still don't quite understand what you mean."
"To put it simply, the Nine-Hearted Begonia is a martial spirit suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth.
Its powerful soul skills have led the world's natural rules to restrict it.
This world denies the Nine-Hearted Begonia any further advancement and also limits the number of soul masters who can awaken it."
Father and Mother Ye exchanged a glance and sighed, then returned to their seats.
"In fact, we've had similar suspicions ourselves.
Think of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—its martial spirit is like ours. It cannot break through the Soul Saint level.
And in our case, it's even more severe."
Ye Lingling blinked in confusion, unable to grasp their discussion.
"Auntie, are they talking about gods and demons? Lingling doesn't understand."
Ye Wanqing gave an apologetic look to Lin Feng and the others, then led Ye Lingling out of the room.
Since this involved martial spirits, it was better for Lingling not to be exposed too early.
Lin Feng patted Ling Yuan's delicate hand, giving her a reassuring look.
"You should've felt my soul skill earlier. Although not as strong as the Nine-Hearted Begonia, its fundamental trait is highly dynamic.
You probably noticed it—it can produce specific healing effects based on my intent. It can target external injuries or focus on meridians.
I'm able to do this thanks to a cultivation method I've been practicing and the heavenly treasures I've absorbed.
This allowed me to attain a new level of control over the deep laws embedded within soul skills—freeing me from the shackles of worldly rules."
Mother Ye's pupils contracted.
"Then Xiaofeng… you really have a solution?"
Lin Feng nodded.
"There are two approaches I've considered to solve this issue.
The first is martial spirit evolution—enhancing the spirit's grade to break through the suppression of heaven and earth.
The second is gaining mastery over one's origin power to shatter the martial spirit's constraints.
This second method can be achieved with the technique I've cultivated—it allows soul masters to truly connect with the origin laws."
Father Ye frowned deeper, probing:
"Why have I never heard of such a technique?"
Lin Feng chuckled.
"Because I created it myself. I haven't released it yet, but soon."
Father Ye clenched his fist slightly. Suddenly, he realized that Lin Feng had likely come with another motive today.
As expected, Lin Feng continued:
"I have the heavenly treasures needed for martial spirit evolution.
As for the technique to break the origin's chains, I can lay the foundation for you ahead of time.
However, I do have one condition."
"To join the Spirit Hall, right?"
Mother Ye asked calmly, but Lin Feng shook his head.
"If Sister doesn't wish to, then there's no need. I only ask that you don't support any other faction.
As for your future path—I believe you'll make the right choice yourselves."
Mother Ye nodded. As long as it didn't involve openly joining Spirit Hall, they could accept it.
Recently, Dugu Bo had joined Spirit Hall with his entire family.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Family practically spat blood over it.
Xue Xing was sulking for days—the recruitment plan hadn't even started, and the target had already been snatched by Spirit Hall.
Right now, the only titled Douluo that the Heaven Dou Empire could claim were Sword and Bone of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Dugu Bo, a powerful figure on the verge of becoming a Titled Douluo, was supposed to be recruited—but he ran off. How frustrating.
Naturally, the Imperial Family's hostility toward Spirit Hall deepened.
For the Nine-Hearted Begonia family rooted in Heaven Dou, if they were to pledge allegiance to Spirit Hall now, open conflict might break out.
Stealing their young talents wasn't enough—now they were outright raiding?
Seeing their expressions relax, Lin Feng said:
"My technique still needs more time before it can truly help you. The version I'll release publicly won't involve origin-level laws for now.
However, I can give Lingling the immortal herb that can evolve her martial spirit right away."
After presenting both paths, the Ye couple were visibly shaken.
They found themselves believing Lin Feng even more.
Father Ye resumed his usual silence and exchanged a look with Mother Ye.
She nodded:
"This is truly a miraculous path. Though it feels like something's missing, the effects are extraordinary.
Xiaofeng, we agree to your condition. We'll join Spirit Hall secretly. Now, what is this immortal herb?"
After Lin Feng explained its effects, Mother Ye immediately rushed to him.
She understood—now that Lin Feng had shared these two secrets, the Nine-Hearted Begonia clan was effectively tied to Spirit Hall.
Until the ancient martial spirit issue was resolved, everything else had to be set aside.
Seeing her slightly flustered, Lin Feng turned to Ling Yuan and said:
"Go call Wanqing and Lingling back in."
Lin Feng was confident that there was only one immortal herb that could solve the Nine-Hearted Begonia issue—Delicate Fragrant Immortal Camellia.
As for Mother Ye's condition, it would need to wait until he could forge a soul meridian for someone else.
To master the heavenly truths within a martial spirit and break its chains—this was a long process.
Even for Lin Feng, only after months of getting used to his second soul meridian had he become confident in attempting to forge a third—and eventually help others forge theirs.
Suddenly, Father Ye asked:
"Then Xiaofeng, if there's already an immortal herb that can solve Lingling's issue, why bother offering such a heaven-defying technique?"
Lin Feng gave a strange smile.
"When it comes to children, the more the better, right? I just happen to like kids. Don't you agree, Sister?"
Mother Ye blushed, casting a playful glare at Lin Feng and Ling Yuan.
Ling Yuan shyly pinched Lin Feng and whispered,
"You're being improper again." Then she turned to fetch Wanqing and Lingling.
Father Ye coughed awkwardly.
T/N: For up to fifteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at P@treon.com/LordHipposApostle