Chapter 14:
Zhu Zhuqing looked lonely. At just over six years old, she was under immense pressure, and it was exhausting.
Lin Bai didn't try to persuade her to give up. It was easy to offer words of comfort when you weren't the one suffering. But by following the path set before her, Zhu Zhuqing still had a chance to escape her fate.
"Forget about him for now. A soul master's priority should be cultivation." Lin Bai's voice was calm. "Stand in front of the mirror and summon your martial spirit. I might be able to guide you."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated but then recalled Lin Bai's ability to possess her. Hope flickered in her heart. If she could grow strong enough, no one would be able to dictate her destiny.
"Alright."
She hopped off the stool and, as she walked, summoned her Ghost Civet.
Facing the full-length mirror, Lin Bai observed the young Zhu Zhuqing—still a child yet already burdened with responsibility.
She wore a specially tailored black outfit from the Zhu family. Her bright eyes, delicate features, and serious expression gave her an air of cold maturity, though there was an undeniable cuteness to it. Small, sleek cat ears twitched atop her head, listening attentively to her surroundings. Behind her, a black tail curled shyly.
A long silence passed. When Lin Bai didn't respond, Zhu Zhuqing finally asked in a low voice, "Well? Do you see it? I don't have much soul power left—I can't hold on much longer."
"Just a little longer. I'm almost done."
Lin Bai had long discovered that even in his spirit state, he could use the Eye of Appraisal. However, it was weaker than when he had a physical body and required more time to analyze.
As streams of data filled his vision, he carefully examined the details of Zhu Zhuqing's martial spirit.
Advanced Martial Spirit: Ghost CivetMartial Spirit Traits: Shadow, AgilityPotential Evolution Paths:Nether White Tiger – Requires devouring and fully integrating the White Tiger bloodline.Shadow Elvis – Requires deepening the dark attribute, evolving into a being hidden within the shadows.Nether Nine-Life Cat – Strengthens the concept of "cat," enhancing survivability to the extreme.
The evolution paths were ranked from easiest to hardest. Strangely, the Nether White Tiger was the most accessible of the three, highlighting just how difficult the other two transformations would be.
[Second evolution pathway analysis in progress…]
"I can't hold on anymore," Zhu Zhuqing muttered, her voice weary. Her soul power had run dry, forcing her to withdraw her martial spirit.
"That's enough for now. Rest. I need time to think."
Lin Bai fell into deep thought, considering both how to help Zhu Zhuqing and how he could benefit from doing so.
Evolving into the Nether White Tiger isn't an option. The White Tiger bloodline was exclusive to the Dai family's royal lineage. Even if Zhu Zhuqing managed to obtain it, it would be wasted without the necessary foundation—assuming she wasn't outright killed for trying. Furthermore, Lin Bai's Silkworm Dragon martial spirit could only devour and absorb, not extract and return.
And besides, the Nether White Tiger is too conspicuous. It would immediately draw the attention of the Star Luo royal family. If Zhu Zhuqing were part of the Dai bloodline, this wouldn't be a problem—but she wasn't.
That leaves the other two paths. Deepening the dark attribute seemed more straightforward than reinforcing the "cat" concept. More importantly, Lin Bai himself needed to study the dark attribute's applications. If he guided her through the process, he could learn alongside her.
With a plan forming in his mind, he tested summoning his martial spirit. Though his soul body could call upon it, he lacked soul power, meaning he would have to rely on Zhu Zhuqing's reserves.
"Zhu Zhuqing," he said at last, "I have a way to mutate and evolve your Ghost Civet. Once your martial spirit changes, your connection to the Dai family's martial fusion skill will be severed. That alone will solve your current predicament."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered with interest, but Lin Bai continued, "However, it's not without risk. The process will be painful. Do you want to take that gamble?"
He waited patiently for her response. His plan hinged on her complete cooperation—without it, there was no point in proceeding.
"No matter how dangerous it is, I'm willing to try."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was firm. Despite her young age, she already carried the determination of a true warrior.
"But why are you helping me?" she asked suddenly.
There was no such thing as a free favor in this world. She understood that much. Yet, she had nothing to offer in return except her dependence on the Zhu family.
Lin Bai thought for a moment before replying, "Let's just say I find you pleasing to the eye."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly but didn't press further.
"Back to the topic," Lin Bai continued. "You haven't attached your first soul ring yet, have you?"
She shook her head. "It's been five months since I awakened my martial spirit, and I just reached the tenth level. But because of that person's escape, there was a huge commotion. I was delayed for a few days and didn't have time to hunt for a soul ring."
"Perfect—" Lin Bai stopped himself. "Uh, I mean, the delay turned out to be fortunate."
"It doesn't matter," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice calm. "I don't care about that coward anymore. If my Ghost Civet can truly evolve, I'll cut ties with him for good."
She was well aware of how rare martial spirit mutations were, especially for something as stable as the Ghost Civet. In recorded history, it had only mutated a handful of times. But the possibility of failure—and death—dimmed the light in her eyes.
Lin Bai sensed her hesitation. "Are you confident your family will allow you to obtain a dark-attribute soul ring?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. She furrowed her brows, then shook her head. "No. The Zhu family has spent centuries refining the selection process for the first two soul rings. The chosen soul beasts guarantee optimal compatibility and powerful soul skills. They won't let me deviate from that."
Lin Bai sighed. "That's what I expected."
If Zhu Zhuqing wanted to mutate her martial spirit, she had no choice but to acquire a dark-attribute soul ring. There was no room for compromise.
"That means you'll have to take the risk and venture into the Soul Hunting Forest yourself," Lin Bai said. "This is the first and most crucial step in your martial spirit's mutation. There can be no mistakes."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated. The Soul Hunting Forest contained soul beasts up to a thousand years old. For a child who had yet to become a proper soul master, it was a place of near-certain death.
Lin Bai remained silent. He could protect her—he was confident in that—but he wanted her to make the choice on her own.
It didn't take long. Zhu Zhuqing steeled herself, pushing aside her fear. For the sake of freedom, she would take the risk.
"I'll do it."
"Good. Gather supplies today, and I'll meet you tomorrow. It's best if no one finds out."
Zhu Zhuqing let out a bitter chuckle. "No one pays attention to me anymore. Ever since I awakened my martial spirit, I've been left alone."
Lin Bai immediately understood. They're afraid of getting caught in the power struggle for the throne. He sighed. Life in the Star Luo Empire was ruthless—even noble blood didn't grant protection.
"Misfortune and fortune go hand in hand," he said. "In this case, it works in our favor. Don't be discouraged. Things will change."
With that, he ended the possession and withdrew.
The room fell silent. Zhu Zhuqing sat alone once more, but this time, loneliness didn't consume her. A new resolve burned in her heart. For the first time, she had a path forward—and a light to follow.
*****
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