The familiar city of Heaven Dou.
At the residence of the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan, three guests arrived.
Though the area was already remote and sparsely populated, the clan didn't even station guards at its gates.
However, when Lin Feng and the others arrived, they found two high-ranking Soul Kings guarding the entrance.
Ling Yuan spoke up:
"There's a Contra inside. Seems to be a fire-attribute power-type Soul Master—same attribute as me. I'm quite sure of it."
Lin Feng frowned:
"Sister Ling Yuan, can you tell who it is? Do you know them?"
In this era, even Contras were rare across the continent. In Heaven Dou City, any Contra was sure to be known by name.
Ling Yuan shook her head—she didn't recognize the aura of this Contra.
As the trio approached, the two guards moved to greet them.
One of the guards' eyes lit up and bowed slightly toward Ling Yuan:
"Greetings, Elder Ling Yuan."
Ling Yuan frowned and immediately erected a sound-isolating barrier.
Lin Feng looked at the two men with mild surprise.
Thanks to their masks, Lin Feng and Qian Renxue's true identities hadn't been revealed.
The guard who had recognized Ling Yuan pulled the other aside and both deeply bowed toward Lin Feng and Qian Renxue.
"Greetings, Holy Son Lin Feng. Greetings, Your Highness."
Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes:
"You'd better explain yourselves."
"Yes, Your Highness. We were sent under the Pope's orders, from Spirit City, to provide protection for the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan.
We came with a local Platinum Bishop, an 82nd-level Contra.
Since Elder Ling Yuan didn't disguise herself, I recognized her immediately.
I used to serve under Lord Golden Crocodile and often heard him curse a scholar named Lin Feng. I guessed your identity from there."
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed further:
"You're quite clever. But if you heard Grandfather Golden Crocodile's words directly—who's backing you two?"
The guard gave an awkward smile:
"Well, uh… we're just illegitimate descendants with some connections."
Qian Renxue rolled her eyes—so they were the result of one of Grandpa Golden Crocodile's romantic affairs.
She didn't dwell on why Golden Crocodile had cursed her. Lin Feng interjected:
"What happened with the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan? Why are you here?"
The guard named Jin Zhao quickly replied:
"I honestly don't know, sir. I guard outside every day and haven't even been allowed into the estate."
"Tsk…"
Ling Yuan frowned. "Let's go inside and ask Wanqing directly."
Just as they entered, the Platinum Bishop approached them.
"Greetings, Elder Ling Yuan, Holy Son Lin Feng, and Your Highness."
"Mm. Why are you here under the Pope's orders? How long have you been stationed?"
As they walked, the bishop answered:
"Three months ago, I was sent with one task: to protect the budding talent of the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan.
Their martial soul mutated again and produced someone with innate full soul power—Level 15.
The new martial soul is called Sacred Heart Begonia. It no longer suffers from the limitations of the original Nine-Heart Begonia.
The Pope considers this individual a precious existence. A Titled Douluo might later be dispatched to protect her."
Lin Feng nodded. So that day, after Ye Lingling took the immortal herb, her mother had sensed something special. Her Nine-Heart Begonia had undergone a true transformation.
And this was even before martial soul awakening. Which meant… starting with Ye Lingling, Sacred Heart Begonia might become a hereditary martial soul.
Without its old limitations, just how strong was this new version?
As for why Bibi Dong had only sent a Platinum Bishop for now—Lin Feng could understand.
After all, the Pope's Hall had no other usable Titled Douluos besides Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo.
Oh, right—Ling Yuan technically belonged to the Pope's Hall too, but her identity was… special.
As Lin Feng's woman, and Qian Renxue's sister, Bibi Dong couldn't command her directly.
The Titled Douluo who'd be sent later would probably need to be borrowed from the Worship Hall. How sad.
Though a Contra was already strong, without a Titled Douluo, something always felt lacking.
"Innate soul power of Level 15?" Qian Renxue said, surprised.
Aside from herself, she'd never seen anyone break through the cap of Level 10 innate soul power.
This Ye Lingling…
"You may go now. Continue guarding your post."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly and turned to Lin Feng:
"Xiao Feng, how should we handle this?"
Lin Feng shrugged:
"What else can we do? It's already been a year since Lingling's awakening. If I'm right, her parents deliberately kept her from cultivating—suppressing her soul power by three or four levels to keep up the appearance of being a normal full soul power user.
The martial soul, however, can't be hidden forever. She'll have to show it sooner or later.
Sacred Heart Begonia, huh. I wonder what its effects are?"
"Wanqing!"
Ling Yuan suddenly called out to a graceful figure in the distance.
Ye Wanqing blinked, quickly stuffed the crab meat she was eating into her mouth, and ran toward them. She even stumbled a little from rushing.
"Still love crab meat, huh?"
Ye Wanqing rolled her eyes at Ling Yuan and studied the glow between her brows thoughtfully.
She narrowed her eyes, glanced in front and behind Ling Yuan, then looked over at Qian Renxue.
Despite their subtle differences, nothing escaped Ye Wanqing's sharp eyes.
She nodded deeply and smirked:
"Long time no see—and it looks like someone's finally gotten her wish, hmm? Judging by your expressions, I'd say you've had a very nice couple of days."
Ling Yuan froze and looked down. Seemed… a bit bigger?
Her cheeks flushed, and she raised her hand to smack her.
Ye Wanqing dodged with a giggle:
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing. Sometimes I really envy the three of you. Always so harmonious together.
I assume you're here about the agreement and Lingling?"
Lin Feng nodded:
"Correct. What's Lingling's martial soul like now?"
Ye Wanqing tapped her lips thoughtfully, then said:
"It seems to have inherited all the advantages of my Nine-Heart Begonia. The attached soul rings grant more soul skills too.
Her first skill is still healing, but it's completely superior to mine. It even surpasses me when I was a Soul Elder.
Also…"
She lifted her head proudly and beamed at the group:
"My Lingling has innate Level 15 soul power! Has that ever existed in the history of the Douluo Continent? Never!
And it's an auxiliary-type martial soul! Lingling is destined to be the strongest support-type Soul Master!"
"You're not the one with Level 15 soul power. Why are you so excited?
Besides, do you think Level 15 is all that amazing?"
There was someone here with innate Level 20 soul power, after all.
Ling Yuan snorted. Ruining her sister's moment was something she was good at.
Ye Wanqing arched a brow:
"Ling Yuan, you've changed! You don't even call me Xiao Qing anymore!"
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on most of my translations, become a p@tron at p@treon.com/LordHipposApostle