Chapter 117: Comprehensive Advancement (Part 3)
Seeing the holy and noble spirit image before him, Ye Wen's expression shifted dramatically.
"Qianqian? Qian Clan? Oh, come on! I originally thought her martial spirit was similar to Huo Wu's from the original story, just another elemental spirit... but it turns out to be a divine martial spirit, the Sacred Angel?" he muttered. "This is insane! If the Qian family from Spirit Hall ever finds out they have a lost clan member here, they'll tear Tianxing Academy apart!"
Ye Wen's concern wasn't unfounded. On the Douluo Continent, martial spirits were at the core of every soul master family, carrying with them their legacies, techniques, and even bloodlines. The prospect of a core bloodline outside its original family was a serious matter, almost always resulting in forced reunification unless backed by a formidable Titled Douluo. This was why the continent's top clans each retained a monopoly over their unique martial spirits there were no other Haotian clans or Blue Lightning families outside the respective sects.
The Angel Clan, widely regarded as the apex of all martial spirits, was particularly strict about safeguarding its line. Yet as he considered Qianqian's origins, he found himself wondering, "If Qianqian really comes from such an elite family, then why was she abandoned in David City?"
Nevertheless, she had been with him for years, sharing secrets and growing under his guidance. For her, there was no returning to Spirit Hall Tianxing Academy was her true family. What claim did the Qian clan, who had ignored her for twelve years, have on her now?
At that moment, Qianqian's eyes fluttered open, her thick lashes framing a pair of brown eyes that now held a faint golden hue. She felt an unprecedented warmth and strength flowing through her.
"Cough, cough…" Ye Wen quickly draped a cloak around her, as Qianqian, slightly disoriented, realized her robes had been burned to ashes during her spirit's transformation. Blushing furiously, she clutched the cloak close, grateful for her master's thoughtfulness.
"Thank you, Master…" Her voice was shy, and even Ye Wen, who'd experienced two lives' worth of emotions, felt slightly flustered. After all, at her age, there wasn't much to see, yet he was still self conscious.
"Ah, haha!" he laughed awkwardly, scratching his head.
Qianqian soon noticed the new, divine form of her martial spirit, and rather than feeling joy, she appeared nervous, casting a quick glance at Ye Wen. She seemed to understand the gravity of this revelation. Given her knowledge of martial spirits and their classifications, she knew the significance of the angelic form that now radiated behind her.
"Go and get changed first," Ye Wen said gently. "We can talk more about your martial spirit afterward."
Qianqian, now even taller than before and nearly reaching Ye Wen's shoulder, changed in a nearby room. Once she returned, they sat in silence for a while, neither quite knowing what to say. Finally, Qianqian broke the silence.
"Master, I didn't mean to hide anything from you."
Ye Wen softened, assuring her, "Everyone has their own secrets, Qianqian. I'm glad you trust me enough to share yours."
It turned out that Qianqian's father was indeed a soul emperor from the Spirit Hall's Qian family, whose usual duties involved hunting down dark soul masters. He'd unexpectedly fallen in love with a dark soul master whose spirit was a variant Blue Silver Grass that absorbed life essence to grow stronger. Although she hadn't harmed humans, she had used her abilities on soul beasts and other plants, attracting unwanted attention. Envy fueled whispers had eventually exposed her.
What followed was a series of entanglements. Her father had refrained from imprisoning or killing her mother, given that she hadn't harmed anyone, only soul beasts. However, he kept her under close watch. Over time, this arrangement led to an inevitable bond, and Qianqian was born.
Still, due to her mother's status as a dark soul master, they could never return openly to the Qian clan, where all soul masters of dark origin were viewed with extreme prejudice. So her parents hid away in David City. Qianqian's father was eventually called away on a mission to capture a soul emperor level dark soul master. Unable to bear the thought of him going alone, her mother joined him, leaving Qianqian in the care of neighbors. However, both her parents disappeared, and soon after, local thugs claimed their home, leaving her orphaned and alone.
Having finished the story, Ye Wen could only shake his head. It was a sad irony those who protected others were often abandoned by the very world they tried to save. Though such tragedies were rare, they still existed.
Ye Wen looked at Qianqian, whose fate had already been shaped by countless hardships. "What do you want to do now?" he asked.
Qianqian, still a young girl at heart, looked at him with hope. "Master, please don't make me go back. I don't want to join Spirit Hall's Qian family."
Ye Wen smiled gently, placing a hand on her golden curls. "Silly child, what are you talking about? Tianxing Academy is your home. But from now on, you'll need to hide your martial spirit. If someone recognizes your angelic power, you'll have to pretend to have ties to the Qian clan. The key is to make sure no one suspects you."
Qianqian felt a warmth spread through her heart, dispelling her fear of the future. Nodding, she felt calmer and more grounded in her new circumstances. She and Ye Wen then delved into a discussion about her transformed spirit, the Four Winged Angel.
Ordinarily, angelic spirits began with two wings, only gaining a second pair at the soul sage level and reaching a full six winged form only at Titled Douluo level. Qianqian's Four Winged Angel had already surpassed its natural progression.
(End of Chapter)
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