If a Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Master could achieve the miracle of limb regeneration at the Soul Sage level, even the Heaven Dou Empire would have a hard time protecting Ye Lingling and her mother.
Seeing that Ye Lingling, a Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Master, couldn't heal Shui Minger's injuries, disappointment appeared on the faces of Shui Bing'er and the others.
"Sorry, I can't save her. But I know someone who probably can!"
Ye Lingling slowly withdrew her Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul. Looking at the sorrowful and desperate expressions of Shui Bing'er and the others, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy and gently spoke.
"Really? Who is it? Please, tell us! Whether it works or not, all three of our academies owe you a favor."
Feng Ying, hearing this, felt as if he had grabbed a lifeline in desperation. Hope instantly ignited in his eyes as he looked at Ye Lingling in surprise.
Ye Lingling hesitated for a moment, then glanced toward Lu Jingming, who was not far away talking with Xue Qinghe.
"Him?" Following Ye Lingling's gaze, Shui Bing'er and the others also saw Lu Jingming, their faces showing confusion.
Back at the contamination point, they'd already witnessed the terrifying power and dominance of Black Lu Jingming. No matter how they looked at him, he didn't seem like a healing-type Soul Master!
Despite their doubts, Shui Bing'er and the others still walked toward Lu Jingming.
"Little brother, as long as you can save Minger, I'm willing to do anything for you."
Feng Ying stepped forward, made his intentions clear, and then showed an unshakeable determination on his face.
"So am I," Huo Lin quickly added, refusing to be outdone.
"Mr. Lu, as long as you can save my aunt, Skywater Academy is willing to pay any price."
Shui Bing'er was just as decisive. They were out of options and had no choice but to trust Ye Lingling's judgment.
"How interesting. How did you figure out I'm a healing-type Soul Master too?" Lu Jingming looked curiously at the cool, blue-haired Ye Lingling.
Neither he nor Black Lu Jingming had ever displayed healing abilities. How did Ye Lingling perceive it?
"I can sense it. Your second Martial Soul is of the healing type. My Martial Soul told me."
Ye Lingling recalled the white lance that appeared when Black Lu Jingming used his Martial Soul Fusion Skill, its overwhelming life aura making even her Nine-Heart Begonia tremble.
She had a strong hunch that the power held by that white lance might even break the curse her clan's Martial Soul bore.
The Nine-Heart Begonia is a top-tier healing Martial Soul, holding a status in the healing field much like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in the support field.
However, like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Nine-Heart Begonia also has a flaw: at most, only two Soul Masters can exist in the same era.
In this generation, only she and her mother possess this Martial Soul; their entire family counts just the two of them.
Yet the aura from that white lance made her Nine-Heart Begonia want to yield in submission.
Such submission only happens when encountering a superior Martial Soul of the same type—like how a True Dragon Martial Soul naturally dominates other draconic Martial Souls. The lance's Martial Soul was simply born superior to her Nine-Heart Begonia.
Hearing Ye Lingling's explanation, everyone was shocked.
Was there really a healing Martial Soul even stronger than the Nine-Heart Begonia?
The Nine-Heart Begonia is so powerful in healing that it's cursed; like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, it comes with a flaw.
But now, there appeared someone with a healing Martial Soul even stronger than the Nine-Heart Begonia—how could everyone not be shocked?
At the same time, hope flashed in Shui Bing'er and the others' eyes.
If there was a Martial Soul stronger than the Nine-Heart Begonia, could it really save Shui Minger? With that hope, they all looked at Lu Jingming with expectation.
"Little friend Lu, why not show us your second Martial Soul?"
Ning Fengzhi could barely hide the anticipation in his tone. Twin Martial Souls were rare enough, even rarer were those combining powerful attack and healing abilities.
Lu Jingming pondered, then saw the pleading look in Shui Bing'er's eyes, and finally nodded.
At this moment, he also needed to establish a foundation in this world, and the Elemental Academies were a good choice.
Whether building a chamber of commerce to sell stigmas or promoting soul tools, he'd need many people.
But he couldn't bring a mass of people from another world, so if he could win over the Elemental Academies, all the better.
He never planned to become a great power here—just a chamber of commerce would suffice.
What he sought in this world was the power of reality, not conquest.
However, he did plan to find a suitable partner, and in his eyes, Spirit Hall was an ideal ally: it was strong, would later have a god in residence, and treated commoners fairly, representing the common people.
By contrast, the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, supported by Tang San, represented the aristocracy.
He saw that after Spirit Hall's fall, the treatment of commoners plummeted; compared to this world, it was night and day.
Here, when children reach a certain age, Spirit Hall sends a Soul Master to awaken their Martial Souls for free and provides various subsidies to ensure even low-level Soul Masters have stable income.
Spirit Hall truly covered the entire continent—even the most remote villages would get a visit for free Martial Soul awakening.
Take Su Yuntao, the blind Douluo who awakened Tang San's Martial Soul—if not for Spirit Hall, Tang San would have spent his life as a blacksmith, never awakening his Martial Soul due to Tang Hao's depression.
Without awakening, you can't absorb soul rings. Even with his Mysterious Heaven Record, Tang San would never progress in this world.
It's fair to say Tang San benefited greatly from Spirit Hall's services—free awakenings, gold soul coins, all provided by Spirit Hall.
Yet it was Tang San who ultimately destroyed Spirit Hall.
If he'd replaced Spirit Hall and worked for the people, that'd be one thing, but he just left after destroying them, ascending to the divine realm and ignoring the commoners' fate.
Look at the treatment of commoners ten thousand years later: now you have to pay soul coins for Martial Soul awakening. How many can afford that?
If you can't become a Soul Master, your hard-earned money is wasted.
Many can barely feed themselves, let alone save money.
As time passes, it gets harder for commoners to change their fates.
In Douluo Continent, without awakening your Martial Soul, no matter how talented you are, you'll remain at the bottom of society.
Even a transmigrator like Tang San would have remained a blacksmith his whole life if he couldn't awaken.
If even a transmigrator can't escape, how could an ordinary person?
Having made up his mind, Lu Jingming no longer hesitated.
With a wave of his right hand, a white knight's lance appeared in his grasp—six blood-red soul rings with green divine patterns lined up on its shaft.
Although everyone had seen these six rings on Black Lu Jingming, seeing them again, Ning Fengzhi and the others couldn't help but gasp.
"What a little monster!"
Dugu Bo, now beside Dugu Yan, thought that compared to Lu Jingming, Tang San wasn't even worth mentioning.
"Fourth soul skill: Life Reconstruction!"
As the fourth soul ring on the lance shone, a vast power of creation turned into gentle white light, enveloping Shui Minger.
With the knight's flower's cell-level repair ability, not only could he repair a heart, but even an entire body was possible.
"It's really healing her!"
Watching the previously shattered area of Shui Minger's chest restore itself from nothing, everyone gasped again.
Such astonishing restorative power was unheard of for them—only the legendary gods were said to possess such miracles.
Instantly, everyone thought of Black Lu Jingming at the contamination point.
Since the original could heal so powerfully, the clone likely could too.
They realized they'd underestimated those clones.
Sword Douluo frowned deeply.
Remembering the earlier battle, he actually could have continued fighting and might have found a chance to kill Black Lu Jingming.
But now, he was glad he hadn't—against such an undying opponent, he'd likely be the one to die.
"The body is healed. Now we just need to wait for the negative energy to dissipate and the soul's seal to lift. She'll wake up soon," Lu Jingming said, retracting his lance.
Truthfully, he hadn't expected Shui Minger's soul to have survived in such a state.
But upon reflection, it made sense.
Those corrupted by negative energy often had their souls imprisoned in their bodies, allowing them to constantly supply negative force and emotions.
This way, even as puppets, they could serve as fighting power or speed up the contamination point's negative energy accumulation.
In fact, negative energy would gradually dissipate if removed from the point—something Lu Jingming and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had intentionally designed.
Otherwise, if those clones could leave freely, the world would fall instantly.
Even now, this contamination point was strong only because of the planet's will, but it had just been born. The real troubles lay elsewhere.
Lu Jingming knew that in Slaughter City and the ocean, there were two other troublesome contamination points.
"Thank you, Mr. Lu. Skywater Academy will never forget your great kindness," Shui Bing'er said, bowing deeply.
Her bow, though unintentional, showcased her graceful figure.
Though her clothing wasn't revealing, even from above, Lu Jingming could only glimpse a hint of snowy skin—but he had to admit, Shui Bing'er's figure was exceptional for her age.
If he remembered right, she was only sixteen, just a year older than him.
Soul Masters' physiques really did develop faster under the nourishment of soul power.
"By the way, I want to create a chamber of commerce to sell some items. Miss Shui Bing'er, could you help me?"
Lu Jingming smiled, gently helping Shui Bing'er up.
"Of course, please just call me Bing'er, Mr. Lu. You're Skywater Academy's benefactor—there's no need to stand on ceremony."
Shui Bing'er shook her head. Shui Minger was not only her aunt, but a high-level leader at Skywater Academy. Losing her would be a huge blow.
Lu Jingming had saved Shui Minger, making him Skywater Academy's greatest benefactor. Whatever he asked, they'd do their best to fulfill.
"Mr. Lu, both God Wind and Blazing Fire Academies are also willing to help."
Feng Ying and Huo Lin exchanged a look and stepped forward sincerely.
The three Elemental Academies had always been close, and both men were pursuing Shui Minger.
They weren't fools—they knew connecting with someone as mysterious and powerful as Lu Jingming, who had heaven-defying healing powers, could only bring benefits.
Just like Ye Lingling and her mother—no fighting power, but with the Nine-Heart Begonia, they were honored guests of the Empire.
That's the value of healing Soul Masters on Douluo Continent. Rare everywhere, they're respected in any force.
"Brother Lu, you're being too polite. If you need anything, I'll do my best. I have some influence in the Heaven Dou Empire," Xue Qinghe said with a smile, tone slightly reproachful but without a trace of anger.
"Little friend Lu, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can also help with the chamber of commerce," Ning Fengzhi added.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was famous for appraisal and had great business acumen. In wealth, they ranked first among the seven great clans, second only to the empires and Spirit Hall.
"Thank you all!" Lu Jingming accepted Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi's offers.
After all, this world was his laboratory; he didn't plan to conquer it. Building good relations was all gain, no loss.
"Father!" Though some distance away, Lu Jingming's healing of Shui Minger caught Shrek Academy's attention.
Seeing Lu Jingming repair Shui Minger's heart, Tang San's eyes lit up, and he looked at Tang Hao.
If he could reconstruct a shattered heart, could he also heal Tang Hao's injuries?
He wanted to ask Lu Jingming to help, but their relationship wasn't good, and they'd barely spoken.
Swallowing his pride to ask for help was hard.
As he hesitated, Xiao Wu noticed his struggle.
She quietly approached Ning Rongrong and whispered, "Rongrong…"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed to have a good relationship with Lu Jingming, and Ning Rongrong was the only one who'd talked to him before. Xiao Wu hoped she could ask for help.
Ning Rongrong didn't hesitate and ran to Lu Jingming.
"Mr. Lu, could you save Lord Clear Sky and Teacher Zhao?" Ning Rongrong looked at Lu Jingming with hope and pleading in her eyes.
Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly but didn't stop her.
Tang San had helped Ning Rongrong before, and the sect couldn't ignore that. Besides, owing Lu Jingming a favor was fine; reciprocation built stronger ties.
"Clear Sky Douluo's body is corroded by the power of death—there's nothing I can do. As for your Teacher Zhao, if you can get him out and his soul is intact, I can try."
Lu Jingming spread his hands helplessly.
To be honest, it wasn't that he couldn't heal Tang Hao—he just didn't want to do it for free.
Unless Tang Hao offered Ah Yin's hundred-thousand-year soul bone as payment—but knowing Tang Hao's love for Ah Yin, he'd likely never give it up, probably saving it for Tang San.
As for Zhao Wuji, Lu Jingming didn't care. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would pay for his healing, but only if Shrek could get him out of the contamination point.
"This…" Ning Rongrong looked helplessly at Tang San, then hesitated, looking to Sword and Bone Douluo.
Ning Fengzhi could read Ning Rongrong's mind and said, "Rongrong, it's not that Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa aren't willing—it's just too dangerous in there."
He wasn't unwilling to do Shrek a favor, but he couldn't risk Sword and Bone Douluo.
Who could guarantee that Black Lu Jingming wouldn't use martial soul fusion again? Even Clear Sky Douluo barely blocked it using his Ring Explosion technique, and still got hit by Black Castorice's fifth skill, corroded by the power of death.
For Ning Fengzhi, their safety was more important than any favor.
Sword and Bone Douluo exchanged helpless looks.
Though confident, after the recent battle, they had no guarantee of survival. The clones were formidable; Black Gu Yue could manipulate space, Black Jinhsi could control time, and one careless move could mean instant death.
"I'll go save Zhao Wuji myself!"
Liu Erlong, hot-tempered and impulsive, wouldn't wait for the Seven Treasure Sect. She turned to rush into the contamination point.
But Yu Xiaogang and Flender weren't so rash—they knew how dangerous it was. Without their Martial Soul Fusion, going in alone was suicide.
Even with all three, without Sword Douluo and others to draw fire, rescuing Zhao Wuji was a fantasy.
"Erlong, calm down! We need to plan. If Zhao's soul is still there, we have time."
Flender was anxious too, but reason told him not to be impulsive.
Given Shui Minger's case, Zhao Wuji's soul was probably still in his body.
As long as his body wasn't destroyed again, there was hope—even without Lu Jingming, they still had Yearning Heartbroken Red.
Thinking of that herb, Xiao Wu hesitated. She'd wanted to use it to save Tang Hao.
But she knew if she gave it to Tang Hao, her own soul beast identity would be exposed without its aura-concealing effect.
Despite her hesitation, seeing Tang San's pain, she couldn't bear it and whispered, "San-ge, I have Yearning Heartbroken Red—maybe it can help Uncle."
"It's useless. The power of death keeps devouring my father's life. Yearning Heartbroken Red can only buy time, not cure him," Tang San shook his head.
He'd already thought of it, but after investigating, he found that unless the death force was cleared, restoring life would only prolong the suffering.
So when Lu Jingming said he couldn't help, Tang San didn't doubt it—he understood medicine too well.
That was the root of his despair. Otherwise, with his Ice and Fire Eyes, he could easily find herbs to restore Tang Hao's life force.