Chapter 65: The Seven Treasures Maiden
Ah Yin had blossomed into a stunning young woman. Now 19, she was at the age when a girl's youth gradually transitioned into full maturity. Under Ye Wen's guidance, her cultivation far surpassed what it had been in the original story; she was now a powerful Soul Emperor at level 63. The two of them, having grown up together, were deeply in love, and they had formally married when Ah Yin broke through to Soul Emperor. It was a simple ceremony, as neither had many family members or friends, and they chose to keep it private.
That night, Ah Yin's elegance and beauty unveiled the depths of her love for Ye Wen, and over the months following, they became a model couple. Ye Buyi, Ye Wen's grandfather, was thrilled. He had long hoped for great grandchildren but understood that bearing children too early could be harmful, even for a soul master like Ah Yin. Thus, Ye Wen subtly prevented her from conceiving for now, ensuring Ye Buyi remained none the wiser.
Thanks to years of restorative care and the pure life energy within the Blue Silver Forest, Ye Buyi himself appeared more youthful than ever one could almost say he was reliving a second spring. And while Ah Yin had not yet become a mother, she radiated the elegance of a married woman. Her long blue dress, both modest and refined, and her light blue hair, falling gracefully down her back, highlighted her regal poise. Dressed in royal jewels, she could have been mistaken for a queen.
"Are you sure this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well you spoke of is actually in the Sunset Forest?" Ah Yin asked, curious but confident in her husband.
Some habits die hard. Even after marriage, Ah Yin continued to call him "brother." But to Ye Wen, the nickname only deepened their connection. Confident in his growing strength, Ye Wen led them toward Sunset Forest, enjoying this journey like a newlywed trip, steering the horse drawn carriage himself.
"Of course. I'm positive it's hidden deep within Sunset Forest," he replied. "I read about it in an ancient, rare manuscript. It's a place where plant based soul beasts like you can grow at ten times the speed, thanks to its perfect environment. The place is paradise for plant type soul beasts, home to rare treasures that can boost even an ordinary soul master's potential to the Soul Sage level."
Ah Yin raised an eyebrow, remembering the last time he mentioned "ancient manuscripts." That had been how he first persuaded her to travel with him.
On their wedding night, Ah Yin had asked Ye Wen why he had chosen to protect her back then.
Rather than answer directly, he smiled mysteriously and said, "Who knows? Maybe it was love at first sight… or perhaps I was simply captivated by you. Or maybe I just couldn't bear to see such a pure girl fall victim to human greed."
The flippant tone didn't fool Ah Yin. She knew his love ran deeper than his words. No longer concerned about the past, she felt at peace with the man she loved.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Sunset Forest, a well organized soul hunting team moved through the trees. Dressed uniformly and bearing identical soul crests on their chests a design of five people forming a seven tiered tower they were unmistakably from the esteemed Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Moving quickly, they followed a familiar path leading to an area where their sect had long hunted a particular group of soul beasts.
Their familiarity with the route soon paid off, and they managed to locate several suitable soul beasts for their mission.
"Miss, these soul beasts should meet your needs. What do you think?" the team leader asked.
The young girl, around fifteen or sixteen, with waist length pink hair, wore finely tailored clothes that highlighted her noble status. Although her face showed a hint of displeasure, she still looked every bit the charming beauty she would grow into.
"No, these aren't enough for me," she replied. "Let the others take them. According to Master Ye Wen's theory, my third ring must be at least 1,500 years old. These beasts just reached the thousand year mark; they're far from meeting my standards. Keep searching the more I accumulate, the stronger my martial soul will be, which is crucial for my future."
"Yes, Miss," the leader replied, quickly sending out the team's agility type soul masters to scout further.
Each member of the team was at least at the Soul Ancestor level a position that would easily make them a force to reckon with in any small town. Yet, despite their strength, they showed absolute respect for the girl, a true mark of their duty within the sect. They were here to protect their young charge, a job they took seriously and without complaint.
This young girl was Ning An'an, the youngest daughter of the current Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect master. Born late in his life, Ning An'an was a cherished "little princess," highly talented and adored by her family. She was also the full blood sister of Ning Fengzhi, and despite their significant age difference, their family bond was strong.
Ning An'an had a particular reverence for Ye Wen. Both being auxiliary type soul masters, she admired his suggested improvements for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. She also happened to be a lover of biographies and historical novels. To her, Ye Wen embodied the kind of inspirational figure she read about a man of humble origins who had managed to etch his name into history.
Although the hunting party's average cultivation level was moderate, their experience was exceptional. In just half a day, they captured a 1,500 year old Swift Leopard and brought it to Ning An'an.
Satisfied, Ning An'an promptly put the soul beast down with swift precision.
For auxiliary type soul masters like her, all absorbed soul rings ultimately became support skills, benefiting others more than themselves. Exceptions, like Oscar's Mirror Image Sausage, were extremely rare.
This led her to appreciate the wisdom of Ye Wen's teachings even more. While it was commonly known that an ordinary soul master's third ring should not exceed 1,760 years, Ning An'an, through physical conditioning, had expanded her capacity far beyond average limits, allowing her to target a higher quality soul ring.
The theory that physical strength influenced soul ring absorption limits was groundbreaking. Most soul masters focused solely on cultivating soul power and overlooked their physical training, letting it grow naturally. But Ye Wen's theory promoted a new standard, where structured body conditioning made an extraordinary difference.
Such unique insights were invaluable to an ambitious soul master like Ning An'an.
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