Invincible Soul Emperor-Chapter 23 Leaving the Ye Family

"The Holy Soul is missing part of its Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit? Grand Elder, what do you mean?" Ye Qingchen’s eyes brimmed with confusion as he looked at the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder’s face was grave. "Normally, everyone’s Martial Soul is complete and whole. However, under certain special circumstances, a Martial Soul can become incomplete. This can happen in several ways: a portion of its Martial Soul Force might be extracted by someone else, it could be damaged by prenatal poisoning, or it might simply be inherently incomplete from birth. There’s also a final case where a Martial Soul is so powerful that it splits off a portion of its Soul Power and bestows it upon a nearby lucky individual, who then awakens a Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Xiao Xiao falls into that last category. Originally, given her constitution and with the nourishment of her own body and the Way of Heaven, the lost portion of the Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit would have had no effect on her if she had awakened the Vermilion Bird Holy Soul normally. But because killing Wang Hu caused her to awaken it prematurely, she defied the Way of Heaven, leaving her Holy Soul incomplete! And an incomplete Holy Soul is incredibly dangerous for her! She could very well die because of it!"

Ye Qingchen’s eyes widened in shock. "Die? Is it really that serious? Grand Elder, is there any way to help Xiao Xiao?"

The Grand Elder shook his head and let out a long sigh. "There are ways, but they are extremely difficult. The first is to find the person who possesses Xiao Xiao’s Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit and kill them. Once the Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit is masterless, it will naturally return to its original host. Xiao Xiao’s Vermilion Bird Holy Soul would then complete itself, and her body would heal on its own."

Ye Qingchen’s brows knitted together. In this vast sea of people, there are countless individuals who possess a Vermilion Bird Martial Soul. Trying to find the one with the Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit would be like finding a needle in a haystack! By the time I find the right person, Xiao Xiao would have likely already died, her body torn apart by the scorching power of her Martial Soul! This method is completely impractical!

"Grand Elder, I’m afraid that method won’t work. What’s the second option?" Ye Qingchen asked, looking at the Grand Elder with desperate hope.

The Grand Elder spoke. "The second method is to find the Ironwood Soul Flower, a fourth-grade celestial treasure. It has a powerful restorative and harmonizing effect on a martial artist’s Martial Soul. If I were to refine it for Xiao Xiao to consume, it would also help complete her Martial Soul and allow her to overcome this crisis."

Ye Qingchen froze. Ironwood Soul Flower! Although he had never seen an Ironwood Soul Flower, the name of this celestial treasure was deeply etched into his mind. It was because his father, Ye Changqing, had died in the Qingyun Mountain Range while searching for the Ironwood Soul Flower for him! His father, a late-stage Martial Artist, had been unable to find the flower and had even lost his life in the attempt! This just goes to show how incredibly difficult finding the Ironwood Soul Flower is! This second option is no less difficult than the first!

"Mmmph... so hot... Young Master, I feel so awful..." As they spoke, Xiao Xiao whimpered, her delicate brows furrowing even more tightly. Her small face was flushed red as one hand clutched her head and the other desperately tugged at her clothes.

"Xiao Xiao!" Ye Qingchen’s eyes filled with concern as he pulled her scalding body into his arms, trying to use his own body to cool her down. Soon, the skin on his chest was scorched bright red, but he seemed completely unaware, continuing to hold Xiao Xiao tightly. With his help, her temperature dropped slightly, the deep red faded from her face, and she gradually stabilized.

"Doing this can only help her temporarily. It doesn’t solve the root problem. She still cannot escape her fate of death," the Grand Elder said with a deep sigh, watching Ye Qingchen clutch Xiao Xiao without letting go.

Ye Qingchen said in a low voice, "Grand Elder, besides the two methods you mentioned, are there any other ways to help Xiao Xiao?"

The Grand Elder shook his head again. "My abilities and experience are limited. I only know of the two methods I just told you. Beyond that, I have no other ideas."

Ye Qingchen fell silent for a moment. He looked down at Xiao Xiao in his arms, then raised his head to face the Grand Elder and said with conviction, "Finding and killing the person with the Heaven-Gifted Martial Spirit is unrealistic. I will go to the Qingyun Mountain Range immediately to search for the Ironwood Soul Flower!"

The Grand Elder was taken aback. "You?" Back then, Ye Changqing, with his late-stage Martial Artist cultivation, entered the Qingyun Mountain Range and failed to find the Ironwood Soul Flower, even dying in the process! Now, Ye Qingchen’s cultivation is merely at the Eighth Layer of the Martial Apprentice realm. If he goes to the Qingyun Mountain Range, forget about finding the flower, it will be a miracle if he even makes it back alive! What’s more, the Li Family is still out there, watching like a tiger stalking its prey! The moment Ye Qingchen leaves the Ye Family residence, Li Zhe will surely lead his men to kill him! Ye Qingchen would be walking to his death!

"Ye Qingchen cannot go to the Qingyun Mountain Range! I will go find the Ironwood Soul Flower for Xiao Xiao!" a voice boomed from outside the room as Patriarch Ye Changyun strode in.

Just as Ye Qingchen was about to speak, Ye Changyun raised a hand, cutting him off. "My cultivation is at the Eighth Layer of the Martial Artist realm, far higher than yours. My chances of finding the Ironwood Soul Flower are also much greater. I am the best choice to go!"

Ye Qingchen replied without a moment’s hesitation, "In that case, I will go with you, Patriarch! With one more person comes more strength!" For Xiao Xiao, he had to risk everything.

The Grand Elder looked between the two of them and said, "Then you both should go and give it your all. However, with my abilities, I can only keep Xiao Xiao alive for one month. Remember, you must return within one month! Otherwise, even if you find the Ironwood Soul Flower, it will be useless!"

Seeing Ye Qingchen’s resolve, Ye Changyun was about to nod when a clansman rushed in. "Patriarch, an expert from the Heavenly Profound Sect has arrived to investigate the deaths of Wang Hu and Liu Haizhou. They have specifically requested your cooperation. The investigation is expected to last about a month!"

"What! Why now of all times!" Ye Changyun frowned and looked over at Ye Qingchen. He wasn’t worried about what the Heavenly Profound Sect might find, but a month-long investigation meant he couldn’t get away to the Qingyun Mountain Range at all!

Ye Qingchen clenched his fists. "Patriarch, you should stay. The Ye Family needs you more right now. I will brave the Qingyun Mountain Range alone! Don’t worry, I’ll be careful."

Ye Changyun had wanted to persuade Ye Qingchen to give up, but seeing his determined gaze, he was reminded of Ye Changqing from all those years ago. This father and son were truly cut from the same stubborn cloth; they were impossible to persuade!

Sighing, Ye Changyun patted Ye Qingchen on the shoulder. "It won’t take long. I’ll at least escort you to the Qingyun Mountain Range." He was worried the Li Family would make a move against Ye Qingchen in Qingyun Town.

Ye Qingchen understood his concern and nodded.

The Grand Elder interjected, "Ye Changyun, if you escort him, the Li Family will likely attack Ye Qingchen the moment you two separate. It serves little purpose. I have a good relationship with the Pavilion Master of the Rising Sun Pavilion in Qingyun Town. As it happens, they are heading deep into the Qingyun Mountain Range to gather herbs today. If we have Ye Qingchen join their party, the Li Family will be too wary of the Rising Sun Pavilion to dare touch a hair on his head. Plus, he can look for the Ironwood Soul Flower along the way. It kills two birds with one stone!"

Ye Changyun nodded. "That is an excellent idea!"

"Excellent! Then I’ll have to ask you to take me to the Rising Sun Pavilion, Grand Elder!" Ye Qingchen said urgently.

"Let’s go!"

The two hurried away from the Ye Family residence.

The very instant Ye Qingchen left the Ye Family residence, a message was delivered directly to the Li Family. "What? Ye Qingchen has left the Ye Family residence?" Li Zhe’s eyes lit up, then blazed with an endless, murderous intent. Ye Qingchen is practically courting death!