Qian Renxue didn't say a word.
Her eyelashes quivered slightly, but she didn't open her eyes.
> "Would you be willing to tell me what happened? I'm here, and I'll listen to anything you want to say."
Qian Renxue pressed her lips together, her heart a little chaotic.
> What was I even thinking yesterday?
How did I end up running to his bed like that…? And now I'm still lying against him—so embarrassing…
Knowing she couldn't pretend to be asleep much longer, Qian Renxue opened her eyes.
She struggled to sit up and lay with her back to Lin Feng.
Her voice was hoarse and choked with sobs.
> "Xiao Feng, I… wuu—"
Qian Renxue hurriedly wiped at the corners of her eyes, but she couldn't stop the tears.
She clearly didn't want Lin Feng to see her crying—yet she just couldn't hold it in.
> "Wuu… mm?"
Qian Renxue froze.
Because Lin Feng had wrapped his arms around her from behind, and the feeling at her waist sent a strange ripple through her heart.
> "If saying it out loud is too painful… then don't say it.
But whenever you're ready—I'll always be here for you."
Qian Renxue stopped crying, though her eyes still shimmered with tears.
Choking back sobs, she spoke haltingly:
> "Xiao Feng… my father is gone…"
Lin Feng was stunned.
Now he understood why Qian Renxue had disappeared these past two days—it had to be because of this.
He opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say.
> "Xiao Feng, I have to go now. If Grandpa finds I'm gone, he'll worry."
> "Xiao Xue, you…"
Qian Renxue tidied her slightly messy hair and rubbed her cheeks.
She got out of bed quickly.
Lin Feng also rose, watching the girl still burdened with grief.
Suddenly, he took her hand.
> "Come on. Let's wash up, then grab some breakfast."
Neither of them mentioned last night.
An unspoken understanding passed between them.
Qian Renxue took a sip of soy milk, but today it tasted too complex.
Sometimes bitter.
Sometimes sweet.
Sometimes bland.
She set the porcelain bowl down in frustration and sighed.
> "Xiao Feng, come take a walk with me."
> "Alright."
The two walked side by side along the pathways of the Martial Soul Hall.
Today, the entire place felt unusually quiet. There were far fewer people than usual.
> "You noticed it too, didn't you?"
> "Noticed what?"
Qian Renxue kicked a stone aside.
> "There are fewer people around."
> "Mm."
She stopped walking and stared at Lin Feng.
> "Grandpa put me under house arrest here. I can't even see my enemy fall with my own eyes.
Xiao Feng, tell me—if I want to destroy a top-tier faction, what should I do?"
"…"
Before Lin Feng could respond, Qian Renxue continued:
> "I need more power. One person's strength isn't enough. Even the Martial Soul Hall as it is now isn't enough."
A mysterious gleam flashed in her eyes.
Lin Feng's heart raced.
> Why does it feel like this little loli is turning dark?
> "Xiao Xue, the Grand Preceptor stopped you from going because he's worried for your safety.
Just focus on cultivating. Once you have the strength, you'll be able to do much more.
Don't let hatred become your obsession. It'll cloud your heart."
Qian Renxue chuckled softly.
> "I understand what you're saying.
I just… feel really bad inside."
She wiped her eyes and turned around.
> "I'm leaving first. You won't see me for a few days.
I need time to sort myself out. I don't want to cry in front of you again."
> "…Okay."
Watching Qian Renxue's retreating back, Lin Feng felt a wave of unease.
Suddenly, Qian Renxue turned and dashed back with soul power boosting her steps.
She stopped right in front of Lin Feng—and kissed him lightly on the lips.
> "Huh?"
Lin Feng stood frozen, cheeks flushed red.
Though they had slept together last night, there hadn't been any intimate contact.
But this—this was their first kiss.
Was it just… gone, just like that?
Qian Renxue beamed brightly and whispered in his ear:
> "Stamped. You're mine now, Xiao Feng."
Her eyes sparkled playfully as she winked at him—then gracefully turned and left.
She left behind Lin Feng standing like an idiot, dazed, fingers lightly touching the kiss on his lips.
> "This brat's got some luck, huh? Actually bagging the young miss."
Ling Yuan sighed softly from a distance, envious of youth.
She had always focused on cultivation due to her talent—and now, she was still alone.
> "Maybe… I should try looking for someone too?"
But when she thought about the people around her:
Those who matched her strength were too old.
Those her age lacked the cultivation.
Those with good age and talent lacked looks…
> "Tch. Too troublesome. Maybe it's just better to stay single."
She shook her head.
Her gaze drifted toward Lin Feng, who was still touching his lips—she couldn't help feeling annoyed.
In a flash, she appeared in front of him and tugged on his ear.
> "Brat, stop daydreaming. Time to get back to your research!"
Lin Feng helplessly swatted her hand away and walked toward the secluded chamber in the Scripture Pavilion.
> "Someone's in a hurry, but I'm not telling."
> "You little rascal!"
---
The days in the Scripture Pavilion felt a bit dull.
Suddenly missing someone by his side made Lin Feng feel slightly unsettled.
He looked at the Innate Spirit Pearl in his hand.
Its misty aura flowed constantly.
This Martial Soul was brimming with powerful life energy, its radiance bringing a spring-like warmth.
Qian Renxue used to pester him often to lend it to her—she liked hugging it like a pillow.
In terms of attributes, Lin Feng's first soul skill came from a 300+ year-old evergreen vine—a wood attribute beast.
In traditional medicine, the liver corresponds to wood, heart to fire, spleen to earth, lungs to metal, and kidneys to water.
> Wood creates fire → fire creates earth → earth creates metal → metal creates water → water creates wood.
Lin Feng planned to use these five internal organs as the core to construct his initial soul meridian network.
Once the full soul meridian path was researched, he could run a full energy cycle with these centers.
Currently, he was beginning the process of integrating his soul ring into the liver's meridians.
He hadn't chosen a high-year soul ring at the start, because the higher the age, the more unstable the soul ring's energy.
For experimentation, there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
After all, if a soul ring shatters, its age becomes meaningless.
> "Sister Ling Yuan? I'm ready to begin integrating the first soul ring."
A graceful figure appeared.
Ling Yuan frowned slightly:
> "So soon? Are you confident?"
Lin Feng nodded:
> "Integrating the ring is just another application of soul power compression.
While the Ring Detonation method isn't simply breaking a ring for energy, it has patterns that can be studied.
I've already figured out all that can be deduced from it.
My Innate Spirit Pearl can now freely move within my body, ready to protect my meridians, bones, and blood at any time.
If you're still unsure, Sister Ling Yuan, you can call more healing-type soul masters."
Ling Yuan nodded:
> "Then wait a moment."
A while later, Ling Yuan returned with an elegant female soul master and gestured for Lin Feng to begin.
Lin Feng recognized the soul master—it was Ye Zixin, a 73rd-ranked Soul Sage and teacher at the academy.
Her Martial Soul was the Water Fairy Flower.
Meanwhile, high in the sky—hidden from perception—stood a figure: Qiandao Liu, who had received Ling Yuan's transmission.
> "Huu—"
A faint yellow soul ring danced over the Innate Spirit Pearl, then hovered above Lin Feng's right hand.
With a flip of his left hand, he directed the pearl into his liver, the pure white glow illuminating his entire body.
Ling Yuan and Ye Zixin were stunned.
Lin Feng shouted lightly:
> "Break!"
Clang!
The sharp sound of shattering glass rang out.
The soul ring in Lin Feng's hand disintegrated.
It no longer looked like a solid ring—but like mist, larger in volume and drifting freely.
> "Cough…"
Lin Feng frowned deeply, enduring the pain of the shattered soul ring as he struggled to draw it back into himself.
---
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