Just as Gu Yue and Yun Xian stepped out of the office, the heavy door clicked shut behind them—
and the air in the room instantly changed.
A long silence lingered before Yun Ming spoke, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.
"I didn't think you'd take someone as your disciple," he said, still leaning back in his chair, gaze unfocused as if lost in thought.
Leng Yaozhu turned toward him slowly. Her expression was unreadable, yet her eyes carried the faint glint of restrained emotion.
"And I never thought you would hide something like this from me, Yun Ming," she replied, her tone cold and quiet—too quiet.
"Oh?" Yun Ming tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "What did I hide?"
Leng Yaozhu didn't answer immediately. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve before she spoke, voice low but firm.
"Yun Xian's soul power level is twenty. And it hasn't been long since his awakening. There's only one explanation…"
Her gaze locked onto his. "He was born with innate soul power level twenty."
Yun Ming's faint smile faded. His eyes lowered, shadows crossing his face as silence swallowed the room once more.
Leng Yaozhu's composure cracked. "Why did you hide it from me?" she demanded, her voice trembling between anger and hurt.
"Do you not trust me? Or…" her words caught in her throat before spilling out, "have you only ever seen me as a tool?"
Her voice broke slightly at the end, and the pain beneath her anger bled through.
She—who was gifted with both beauty and talent—had pursued this man, only to be gently pushed away.
Still, she had stayed by his side, never showing hostility, never crossing the line.
But now… knowing that he had hidden something so significant from her—
from his closest friend—
it cut deeper than rejection ever had.
After hearing Leng Yaozhu's trembling words, Yun Ming exhaled softly. The sound was neither weary nor cold — just heavy, as if it carried the weight of too many secrets.
"Listen," he began, his voice calm but low, "Yun Xian's condition is… too complicated to explain. That's why I didn't reveal it to anyone—except for the three elders: Cai Yue'er, Zhou Shi, and Feng Wuyu. They were there when Yun Xian awakened his Martial Soul."
He paused, his gaze distant, eyes flickering with something between pride and burden. "I can only say this much — he is my only hope."
Leng Yaozhu's anger faltered at his tone. The heat in her voice faded, replaced by quiet concern. She took a step closer, her expression softening.
"So… what Martial Soul did he awaken?" she asked gently. "It must not be something like yours, especially if you told him to choose a Life Attribute spirit soul."
A faint smile ghosted across Yun Ming's lips — the kind that wasn't joy, but acknowledgment of something extraordinary and fateful.
"He didn't awaken one," he said slowly. "He awakened two."
Leng Yaozhu nodded absently, almost missing his words—
Then the meaning struck her. Her eyes widened, disbelief flashing through them.
"What? You mean… Twin Martial Souls?"
Yun Ming inclined his head slightly. "Yes. But… it's different from what you may think."
Leng Yaozhu frowned, her curiosity overcoming her composure. "Different? How?"
Yun Ming's voice dropped to a near whisper, as if speaking the names alone carried power.
"He awakened the Seraphim… and the Nine Heart Begonia."
Leng Yaozhu froze. For a long moment, she didn't even breathe. Then, in a dazed voice, she managed,
"The Seraphim? The one connected to the Angel God?" Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it. "Wait—that could make sense if he inherited it from Ya Li. She does possess the Angel Bloodline… but the Nine Heart Begonia?"
She shook her head, confusion and disbelief mingling in her tone.
"That's impossible. The Nine Heart Begonia is unique — it shouldn't appear again, not unless…"
Her words trailed off as her eyes locked on Yun Ming's calm face.
But there was no guilt, no flicker of denial — only quiet certainty.
And that silence told her everything.
No, she thought, Ya Li would never… and Yun Ming—
then how could this be?
The weight of mystery hung between them, the room filled with quiet tension and the faint hum of soul power that never seemed to leave Yun Ming's presence.
"Please," Yun Ming said softly, his voice carrying a rare trace of warmth. "Stop thinking something inappropriate. Xiao Xian is my child — I know it too well."
His tone left no room for doubt, steady and sincere. Leng Yaozhu blinked, her face flushing slightly in embarrassment as she averted her gaze.
A heavy silence lingered before Yun Ming spoke again — this time, slowly, as if unsealing memories buried deep within his heart.
He began to tell her everything.
From the day Yun Xian was born — the pain, the miracle, the despair — to every strange occurrence that followed. The struggle Ya Li faced, the impossible survival of their child, and the awakening that defied all logic.
As Yun Ming spoke, his calm voice filled the room, but his eyes grew distant, shadowed by recollection. The more Leng Yaozhu listened, the tighter her heart felt.
By the time he finished, she could no longer hold back her tears.
She covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly.
To imagine what Ya Li went through — what Yun Ming endured — it was unbearable.
She was a woman herself; she didn't need to be told how deep that pain could cut.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the faint hum of soul power crystals embedded in the walls, softly glowing in the dim light.
Then—
Ring—Ring—
The sharp chime of Leng Yaozhu's communicator broke the silence, echoing through the room.
She quickly wiped her tears and glanced at Yun Ming, who simply nodded for her to answer.
Seeing the caller ID, Leng Yaozhu's brows furrowed slightly. Gu Yue?
She glanced once at Yun Ming, then accepted the call.
"Yue'er, what happened? Why did you call me?" she asked, her tone gentle but curious.
"Teacher…" Gu Yue's voice came through the communicator, slightly hesitant, almost cautious. "Xian Yun has chosen his Spirit Soul."
Leng Yaozhu tilted her head. "Oh? Then what's the problem?" she asked, not sensing anything unusual yet.
There was a brief pause on the other end — the kind that made her instincts sharpen.
"He chose a purple Spirit Soul… of an Emerald Swan," Gu Yue finally said.
Leng Yaozhu froze. Her eyes widened slightly as the name sank in. Even Yun Ming, who had been sitting silently, turned his gaze toward her.
For a moment, the room felt still — like time itself hesitated to move.
Then she drew a slow breath and composed herself, masking her surprise behind calm authority.
"…I see," she said softly. "Let him take it with him, and come here."
"Okay, Teacher," Gu Yue replied, and the call ended with a soft click.
The communicator's light dimmed, leaving only silence between them once again.
Leng Yaozhu turned toward Yun Ming, noticing the faint smile tugging at his lips.
"How did you know he would choose the Emerald Swan spirit soul?" she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
Yun Ming chuckled softly, his tone calm yet filled with quiet confidence.
"You may not know," he said, "but Yun Xian's spiritual power has already surpassed the Spirit Origin Realm and reached as high as the mid-grade Spirit Connection Realm."
Leng Yaozhu's expression flickered in surprise, but Yun Ming continued, his voice low and steady.
"Not only that—his physique carries both Life and Light attributes. So I knew from the beginning that he would naturally be drawn to the Emerald Swan, even if he didn't understand just how rare it truly is."
He paused, his smile deepening slightly as his gaze drifted toward the window, the afternoon light outlining his calm features.
"But what truly surprises me…" he added, glancing back at her, "…is that you were willing to bring out something like that."
Leng Yaozhu's lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.
Yun Ming's eyes softened, his tone turning thoughtful.
"The Emerald Swan… among all healing-type Soul Beasts, its kind stands at the pinnacle. You know as well as I do—it once produced one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts: Bi Zi, the Emerald Swan Queen."
His voice lowered further, filled with quiet reverence.
"Though they lack offensive strength, their vitality and healing abilities are unmatched. It's said that Bi Zi herself could restore severed limbs of equally powerful Soul Beasts in an instant."
As his words faded, the room fell into a contemplative silence.
He paused, his gaze distant, as though recalling the long-forgotten age of ancient beasts.
"Though they lack offensive power, their vitality and restorative ability are beyond compare. Bi Zi herself could heal severed limbs of equally powerful Soul Beasts in an instant."
Then, his tone deepened slightly.
"But that was in the ancient era. The Emerald Swans are now an extinct species, with only a few surviving—hidden carefully under the protection of other Ferocious Beasts. That's why their soul spirits are so precious."
He leaned back, eyes half-closed, voice carrying quiet gravity.
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a priceless treasure… something that even the highest of the Spirit Pagoda would hesitate to bring out."
A faint smirk played across Leng Yaozhu's lips as she looked toward the door where Yun Xian would soon appear.
Noticing it, Yun Ming's expression darkened slightly. "What are you plotting?" he asked, his tone calm yet carrying a note of warning.
Leng Yaozhu tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Nothing much," she said lightly. "You'll understand when he comes back."
Yun Ming studied her for a moment, then sighed softly and leaned back in his chair, letting the matter drop—for now.
On the other side, moments before Gu Yue's call…
"I choose this Spirit Soul," Yun Xian said, his voice steady but filled with quiet conviction.
Gu Yue blinked, momentarily stunned. Her gaze shifted toward the shimmering Spirit Soul before him—an elegant purple light pulsing softly around the translucent image of an Emerald Swan.
She composed herself quickly, masking her surprise behind calm eyes. "Why this one?" she asked. "There are others far stronger or more versatile."
Yun Xian smiled faintly, almost wistfully. "Haha, you might find it funny if I told you," he said. "But the feeling I get from this Spirit Soul… is that it was originally mine."
Gu Yue's brows furrowed slightly.
"That's the first reason," Yun Xian continued. "The second… is that it still has a will to live. It wants to see the outside world again. I can feel it." His gaze softened as he looked at the swan's flickering form. "So, I've decided to take it with me."
For a heartbeat, silence filled the chamber.
Gu Yue's eyes widened ever so slightly. Deep inside, something stirred—a flare of anger, faint yet sharp.
How ironic, she thought. A human… speaking with such kindness about a Soul Beast.
None around her knew the truth—that she was the Silver Dragon King, the ruler of all Soul Beasts. To hear a human speak of them with empathy instead of greed—it didn't comfort her; it unsettled her. It reminded her of everything that had been lost.
Yet as she looked at Yun Xian, her anger faltered for a moment. His expression wasn't one of pity or arrogance—it was simply… genuine.
And that, perhaps, was what angered her most of all.
Gu Yue's expression darkened, her golden eyes flickering for an instant with suppressed rage.
"If you feel so much sympathy toward them," she said slowly, her voice laced with restrained anger, "then why hunt them to the point of extinction?"
Her tone was calm enough to sound casual, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it — the kind of anger that could shake the air itself if fully unleashed.
Of course, she couldn't afford that. Not here. Not now. If anyone saw through her disguise, everything she'd built would collapse in an instant.
Yun Xian, however, didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled faintly and looked toward the flickering image of the Emerald Swan spirit soul.
"You're right," he said softly. "Humans did hunt them — to the brink of extinction. And it was our fault for not stopping it."
He paused, his eyes reflecting the swan's soft green light, calm but determined.
"That's why I want to change this system. I want to change how people think, live, and act. I can't do it alone… but I'll find others who share the same dream — and together, we'll make it possible."
For a brief moment, even Gu Yue was silent. His words carried no arrogance, only conviction — a rare thing for a human.
Then she gave a quiet, humorless chuckle. "Hehe… then, all the best in doing so," she said, though the faint tremor of anger in her voice betrayed her mockery.
Yun Xian glanced at her, sensing the sharp undertone. "Why?" he asked gently. "Do you not want this to happen?"
"Of course I do," Gu Yue replied calmly, her tone returning to icy composure. "But your way… will take too much time."
Yun Xian smiled, as if her cold logic didn't discourage him at all. "Then why not join me in this reformation and help me?" he asked. "I don't know why, but I feel like if you were with me, I could actually make it possible."
For a moment, Gu Yue froze. Something in his voice — that quiet sincerity — struck a chord deep within her. But she quickly crushed it beneath her calm facade.
"Haha… thank you for thinking so," she said, forcing a light laugh. "But I'm sorry — I won't take part in such a meaningless struggle."
Yun Xian only nodded, his expression unchanging. "Is that so? Then it's a pity. But… if you ever change your mind, you're welcome to join me anytime."
Gu Yue said nothing. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer — unreadable, conflicted — before she turned away.
She pulled out her communicator and dialed a number. "Teacher," she said when the line connected, her voice steady again, "Xian Yun has chosen his spirit soul."
After a brief exchange and receiving permission, she cut the call. Then, without a word, she reached out and gently took the Emerald Swan's spirit soul.
"Let's go," she said curtly, walking toward the exit.
Yun Xian followed behind her quietly, his gaze still thoughtful, unaware that the girl walking ahead of him — calm, distant, and beautiful — was the ruler of the very beings he wished to protect.
After walking for a few minutes through the quiet corridor, Gu Yue and Yun Xian finally arrived before the familiar door of the office.
Gu Yue raised her hand and knocked lightly.
Knock, knock.
A calm voice came from inside. "Come in."
She pushed the door open. Inside, Yun Ming and Leng Yaozhu sat opposite each other, the air between them carrying faint traces of earlier tension. Both looked up as the two entered.
"Hehe, you both came back," Leng Yaozhu said with a soft smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "We were just talking about you."
Yun Xian nodded politely and took a seat beside his father, while Gu Yue stepped to her teacher's side, holding the crystal sphere containing the glowing Emerald Swan Spirit Soul. The faint emerald light shimmered across the room, reflecting in everyone's eyes.
Leng Yaozhu leaned forward, resting her chin lightly on one hand as she studied the boy. "You really do have a good eye," she said warmly. "You chose something that's rare even among the rarest Spirit Souls."
Yun Xian blinked, clearly confused. "Eh? Rare?" he asked, scratching his cheek awkwardly. He truly had no idea what he had chosen; Gu Yue had said nothing about its significance.
Seeing his dumbfounded expression, Leng Yaozhu couldn't help but chuckle softly, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
Cute, she thought, amused by his innocence.
Across from her, Yun Ming sighed deeply, rubbing his temple. "Alright, enough teasing," he said. "Just name your price and stop talking nonsense."
Leng Yaozhu's playful smile vanished instantly, replaced by a glare that could have frozen the air.
"Yun Ming," she said sharply, her voice laced with irritation. "Do you take me for a merchant?"
Her eyes narrowed, and the faint aura of her Title Douluo pressure rippled subtly through the room.
"Even if you offered me everything you own—" her gaze flicked briefly to him, "—even yourself—I still wouldn't sell this Spirit Soul."
The atmosphere turned heavy. Gu Yue's hand tightened slightly around the crystal ball, while Yun Xian glanced between the adults, unsure whether to speak.
Yun Ming remained calm despite her anger, exhaling slowly. "I didn't mean it that way," he said evenly, though his eyes reflected a mix of resignation and understanding.
Leng Yaozhu turned her head away with a quiet hmph, but the faint flush on her cheeks betrayed that her anger wasn't entirely professional.
Leng Yaozhu's expression softened as she turned her gaze toward Yun Xian, her eyes glimmering with a mix of fondness and intent.
"So," she began, voice light but steady, "I have a proposal for you, Xiao Yun. Would you like to hear it?"
Yun Xian straightened in his seat, sensing the weight in her tone. "Please tell me," he said politely.
Beside him, Yun Ming remained silent, eyes narrowing slightly as if already suspecting something.
Leng Yaozhu leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, her voice smooth and deliberate.
"If you want this Spirit Soul," she said, "you have two choices. Either pay one hundred million Federal coins and a soul bone of at least fifty thousand years…"
Her words paused briefly as she met Yun Ming's gaze. Then, with a faint, knowing smile, she continued,
"…or, accept me as your Godmother."
For a heartbeat, the room went still.
Then—
BANG!
The sound of Yun Ming's palm slamming the table shattered the silence. The force made the teacups tremble, their contents rippling under the shockwave of his restrained power.
"Impossible!" he thundered, rising to his feet. His usually calm eyes blazed with fury. "Leng Yaozhu, don't talk nonsense! This cannot happen!"
Even Gu Yue blinked in surprise at his sudden outburst. The pressure rolling off him was enough to make the air hum faintly.
Meanwhile, Yun Xian sat frozen, completely bewildered. He looked between his father's anger and Leng Yaozhu's calm smile, not understanding why something that sounded so simple had sparked such rage.
If it's just becoming her godson… and it means I can get such a precious Spirit Soul, he thought, why would Father react like this?
Leng Yaozhu, however, didn't so much as flinch. She waited for Yun Ming's voice to fade, then looked at him coolly.
"Yun Ming," she said, her tone sharp yet composed, "I didn't ask you."
Her gaze shifted to Yun Xian again, softening. "I asked Xiao Yun. Let him decide."
The tension in the room deepened, like the calm before a storm.
Gu Yue's eyes darted between the three, her instincts telling her that what seemed like a simple offer carried something far deeper—something tied not just to politics or friendship… but to the heart.
Hearing her words, Yun Ming clenched his jaw and sat down heavily, his expression dark. It wasn't that he was truly angry—how could he be, when the woman before him was his childhood friend? But still, something in her tone struck a nerve he couldn't quite ignore.
Meanwhile, Yun Xian hesitated, glancing between them before finally asking, his voice soft and a little uncertain,
"Can I really get it… if I become your godson?"
Leng Yaozhu's lips curved into a radiant smile, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
"Haha, of course," she replied, her tone almost teasing. "Not only that—you might even gain a few things your father could never give you."
Yun Ming's brows twitched.
Yun Xian blinked, still unsure what to do. "Then… what should I do?" he asked earnestly.
Leng Yaozhu leaned forward slightly, a gentle warmth in her gaze.
"You don't need to kneel or perform any ceremony," she said softly. "Just call me… Mother."
A long, weary sigh escaped Yun Ming. He rubbed his temple, knowing there was no stopping what was about to happen.
Yun Xian scratched his cheek awkwardly, his face flushing.
"Uh… that… I can't do," he said, embarrassed. Then, after a brief pause, he smiled shyly and added, "Second Mother."
Leng Yaozhu's brows had furrowed in slight displeasure at his hesitation—but the moment those two words left his lips, her expression melted. She let out a soft, delighted chuckle, her eyes filled with warmth.
"Second Mother, hmm? I suppose… I can accept that."
"Gu Yue, open the seal on the crystal ball so Xiao Yun can form a bond with his spirit soul," Leng Yaozhu instructed gently.
"Understood," Gu Yue replied softly.
She retrieved a sleek, scanner-like device from her storage soul guide. A faint hum filled the air as she activated it, and a ray of pale blue light swept across the crystal ball. In the next moment, the surface of the sphere shimmered before turning fully transparent—revealing the spirit sealed within.
Bathed in a soft emerald glow, a magnificent swan hovered gracefully inside the crystal. Its feathers seemed woven from pure light, each movement leaving trails of gentle green ripples that radiated life energy.
Yun Xian's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened in awe as he stepped forward unconsciously.
"Wow… it's beautiful," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine wonder.
For a moment, the room fell silent—only the soft luminescence of the Emerald Swan reflecting in everyone's eyes.
"Okay, the seal is released. Quickly, form the bond," Leng Yaozhu urged, handing the glowing crystal sphere to Yun Xian.
Yun Xian nodded slightly and accepted it with both hands. He took a deep breath, then extended his left palm. A soft lavender light bloomed, and a delicate flower materialized above it—his Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
As soon as the flower appeared, the Emerald Swan let out a melodious cry. It burst from the crystal in a trail of green light, circling gracefully around Yun Xian and the flower. After a few elegant loops, it settled lightly on Yun Xian's lap, its emerald feathers shimmering softly.
Leng Yaozhu smiled. "It seems it has already chosen you as its master."
Hearing that, Yun Xian's lips curved into a faint smile. Closing his eyes, he directed his soul power and spiritual energy toward the Emerald Swan. The gentle creature responded immediately—its own aura pulsing in rhythm with his, willingly merging with his essence.
A few moments later, the bond was complete. Two radiant purple soul rings rose around Yun Xian's body, spinning slowly with a dignified glow. When he opened his eyes, a flash of vibrant green light flickered in them—calm yet brimming with vitality.
Yun Ming, who had been watching silently, stood up. "Since you've absorbed the spirit soul, let's go," he said curtly.
Yun Xian nodded obediently. The Emerald Swan dissolved into motes of emerald light, vanishing together with the Nine Heart Begonia.
Leng Yaozhu didn't stop them but smiled faintly. "Remember to come next week."
"Okay," Yun Ming replied with a short nod.
As they turned to leave, Leng Yaozhu's eyes softened. "Also, Xiao Yun—you can come too if you'd like."
Yun Xian smiled brightly. "Okay, I'll come. Thank you, Second Mother."
The warmth in his voice made the corners of Leng Yaozhu's lips curl upward, but Yun Ming's expression darkened ever so slightly. His jaw tightened, though he said nothing, simply taking his son's hand as they left the office.