The setting sun sank into the depths of the forest. Dense trees blocked most light, leaving only thin golden rays piercing the canopy. The air smelled of damp earth and faint grass.
Lin Yang and Ye Lingling walked through fallen leaves, heading deeper into the woods. Their goal: find Ye Lingling a suitable fourth soul ring—a ten-thousand-year one.
Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan already possessed ten-thousand-year fourth rings; Xiao Wu's was 19,000 years old. Compared to Lin Yang and Dugu Yan, the little rabbit's transcendent ring condensation was less impressive. Given their current strength, full-power fights were rare, so the team's other members lacked clear understanding of optimal ring configurations. Ye Lingling was no exception.
Following Lin Yang's example, she practiced Flower Breathing daily and consumed large quantities of physical-enhancement potions. Her physical abilities far exceeded those of ordinary support-type soul masters. Her third ring was a 4,000-year Celestial Star Flower; absorbing a ring just over 10,000 years old would not be difficult. Ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beasts were trivial for Lin Yang, so Ye Xuanyin had entrusted Ye Lingling to him without worry.
Lin Yang suddenly stopped. "Linlin, have you been trying to activate your mark lately?"
Ye Lingling paused, then nodded quietly. "I want to try… but something always feels missing."
Unlocking the mark wasn't complicated. Reaching the "normal" level with breathing technique was only the start; controlling body temperature and heartbeat was manageable. The true key was mental state.
Ye Lingling had long mastered Flower Breathing to the normal stage, yet no pattern appeared. The biggest reason: she still saw herself as a support-type soul master, not a swordsman wielding a blade. Her swordsmanship was for sparring, not killing.
All who bore these marks shared one trait: when facing life and death, they gripped their weapon with unbreakable will to survive and the courage never to flinch from death. That was precisely what Ye Lingling lacked.
Lin Yang met her gaze calmly. "If you want to unleash that mark… then defeat it."
Before she could reply, Lin Yang vanished. A snake-like vine shot from above! She instinctively dodged. The thick vine slammed into the ground, gouging a deep trench.
Only then did she see the attacker clearly: elongated vines covered in python-like scales, moving with impossible agility. Nine Curved Snake Vine! Among plant-type soul beasts it was notoriously ferocious—anything entering its territory was strangled, bones becoming nutrients.
Clang! Ye Lingling drew her long sword with a soft whistle and parried the incoming vine.
Bang! The impact was immense. Terrifying force nearly tore the sword from her grip. She staggered back, leaving two footprints, barely dispersing the shock.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The forest seemed alive. Nine vines lashed like venomous snakes, completely encircling her.
Ye Lingling's face paled. She gripped the hilt with both hands. This terrifying soul beast… can I really defeat it?
The vines attacked in unison—merciless, endless, storm-like.
Whoosh! Ye Lingling gritted her teeth and hissed. Her mind went blank—only one thought remained: Defeat it. Survive!
Flower Breathing – Third Form – Imperial Plum Shadow!
Light flashed. Multiple layers of plum-blossom barriers surrounded her. Ye Lingling swung her sword with flawless technique. Yet even at full speed she had only two hands. The Nine Curved Snake Vine possessed nine vines—its attack frequency existed on another level. Her defense shattered in two breaths.
Bang! A vine struck her. She flew backward, coughing blood, a gruesome chest wound exposed.
Gritting her teeth, she rose. The Nine Heart Begonia appeared in her left hand. Three soul rings shone; three streams of light instantly healed her. The terrifying wound closed at visible speed—the Nine Heart Begonia's legendary healing fully unleashed.
Before the wound fully closed, the vines attacked again. This time Ye Lingling was clever—she used the terrain to dodge and circle, buying healing time while searching for an opening.
Hidden in the shadows, Lin Yang nodded with satisfaction. "Not stupid after all."
Whoosh! A vine lashed violently. Ye Lingling dodged sideways; it grazed her arm and smashed the ground, sending dirt and dust flying.
Opportunity!
Flower Breathing – Fourth Form – Red Flower Robe!
Petals danced in elegant arcs, merged, and instantly severed the vine. Ye Lingling landed panting, staring at the tangled remains. The severed section withered into dead wood while the other end regenerated visibly.
She wasn't surprised. The nine-vine plant appeared to have nine tendrils, but only one was the true main vine; the other eight were secondary. Secondary vines could regenerate repeatedly. Only destroying the main vine would kill it. Yet the nine vines were both real and illusory, extremely agile—finding the main one was nearly impossible.
But how will I know if I don't try?
Ye Lingling darted through the forest. The vines chased relentlessly. Trees toppled; dust rose. From above it looked as though she were deliberately herding all nine vines together.
Her eyes lit up. Her sword flashed—nine consecutive strikes in an instant. The blade shone, faintly fusing into a massive peony.
Flower Breathing – Fifth Form – Fruitless Peony!
The Nine Curved Snake Vine reacted instantly. Its nine tendrils gathered and lashed like whips. At that moment Ye Lingling's eyes turned blood-red; two streams of bloody tears flowed from the corners.
Flower Breathing – Final Form – Red Eyes of the Other Shore!
Everything around her slowed to a crawl. Ye Lingling stared at the vines. Their swaying afterimages appeared as clear fragments, revealing every detail.
Found it! Eight vines showed varying damage; only one remained perfectly protected. Its instinctive reaction had tried to shield the main vine—now its greatest weakness.
Ye Lingling moved, pouring her last soul power into a single slash.
Flower Breathing – Seventh Form – Begonia Nine Hearts!
A faint purple begonia pattern quietly appeared on her shoulder blade. The blade flashed like a ribbon—beautiful beyond words, like blooming apple blossoms.
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