Lin Xiao didn't say a word.
His gaze was fixed on Ye Qingxian, as if he had just discovered a priceless treasure.
Just moments ago, after the Nine-Hearted Begonia had fully healed the lingering internal injuries left by the outbreak of his evil fire, a bold idea had taken shape in his mind.
"The Nine-Hearted Begonia's healing ability...
Isn't this basically a Senzu Bean from Dragon Ball!?"
No matter how severe the injuries, one use could bring a person back to full strength. That's why Goku and the others used Senzu Beans to assist in extreme training.
One of the main reasons the human body can't break its limits easily is that overtraining damages the foundation—it can even cripple someone completely.
But the Nine-Hearted Begonia's incredible healing power…
Could bypass that entirely.
Take electric stimulation, for instance—it can train muscles rapidly. High-intensity training is the fastest way to improve strength, but it often comes with risks of serious damage.
Another example:
When Lin Xiao's evil fire surged, it rampaged through his meridians like a raging beast, damaging them with every pass.
Up until now, Lin Xiao had been relying on his Five Animal Forms to slowly heal and nourish his body. While repairing the damage, the exercises also expanded and strengthened his meridians.
Even his internal organs had toughened over time.
He called this method the:
"Evil Fire Body Tempering Technique!"
Its advantages were enormous in terms of physical improvement.
The drawback? It could easily cripple you.
If the Ice Heart Technique failed to suppress the fire, or if the internal damage exceeded what the Five Animal Forms could handle, the consequences would be disastrous.
But now—he had found the solution.
The Nine-Hearted Begonia's unparalleled healing powers!
To Lin Xiao, it wasn't just a combat support spirit.
It was a cultivation cheat code.
The Nine-Hearted Begonia was the true number-one support spirit on the continent!
His heart stirred with excitement, and he couldn't take his eyes off Ye Qingxian—even forgetting how awkward it might look to others.
Sure enough, Ye Qingxian noticed his strange look and raised an eyebrow.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were both frozen in shock, staring at him.
Ye Lingling, embarrassed and angry, raised her slender hand—
—and smacked Lin Xiao on the back of the head!
"Lin Xiao! What's with that look!? Were you trying to eat my mom with your eyes!?"
Only then did Lin Xiao realize how weird he must have seemed.
But he didn't care.
"Auntie Ye, the Nine-Hearted Begonia truly is the greatest auxiliary spirit in the world!"
He looked directly at Ye Qingxian, speaking with absolute conviction.
Lin Xiao went on to explain his situation in detail—how, after his body had been ravaged by the evil fire, he had relied on the Five Animal Forms to slowly heal and strengthen himself. The process not only repaired his injuries, but improved his physical foundation.
Even his organs had toughened significantly.
"Auntie Ye, when Spirit Masters absorb spirit rings, the maximum age of the ring they can absorb is mainly determined by the strength of their bodies. Mental strength also plays a role, but physical strength is the primary factor."
"If someone can temper their body beyond the average level of others at the same rank before absorbing their rings, they'll be able to take in much older, stronger rings."
"And higher-age spirit rings grant greater enhancements."
"It becomes a snowball effect—the strong become even stronger."
Lin Xiao's tone turned serious:
"The Nine-Hearted Begonia has the power to change fate itself.
Even someone with weak talent could stand at the center of the Spirit Master world if they used its power to strengthen their body continuously!"
His words shook everyone in the room.
Ye Qingxian didn't speak at first. She instinctively released her spirit power and scanned the surrounding area to make sure no servants were nearby. Then she stood up and sealed the windows and doors.
Once she was seated again, she slowly reached up and removed her white veil, revealing a gentle and elegant face, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.
"All this time, I've wondered," she began softly,
"Why would the Nine-Hearted Begonia—despite its amazing healing ability—be cursed by the heavens, while the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which enhances a wide range of battle stats, is not?"
"Every generation of Begonia users must face parting and death.
Whenever a new one appears, an old one must fade away."
"Today, that mystery is finally solved."
Ye Qingxian sighed deeply.
"You must never tell anyone about this.
'The tree that stands out in the forest is the first to fall.'
The world of Spirit Masters is full of schemes and deceit—this kind of knowledge could bring disaster."
Lin Xiao nodded solemnly.
"A man is not guilty, but harboring a treasure is a crime," he said.
"This secret must be protected."
Ye Qingxian's face was filled with sorrow. Even Ye Lingling, usually so lively, had gone silent.
Lin Xiao had a vague idea of what they were grieving over.
Most likely, it was the curse of the Nine-Hearted Begonia...
If Ye Lingling were to fall in love and have children someday—and if her child inherited the Begonia spirit—then either she or Ye Qingxian would have to die.
An unspeakable kind of pain.
Seeing the look of grief on their faces, Lin Xiao couldn't help but soften.
"Actually… there might be a way to overcome the curse of the Nine-Hearted Begonia," he said.
"The restriction of only two users existing at the same time—maybe it's not unbreakable."
"But I can't say for sure. We'll have to wait until the Poison Douluo returns."
Ye Lingling's sorrowful face lit up instantly.
"Lin Xiao, are you serious!?"
"I don't need a guaranteed solution—even a fifty-fifty chance is enough!"
Lin Xiao nodded.
Ye Lingling was overjoyed.
Ye Qingxian, on the other hand, seemed untouched by his words. Perhaps she had already tried too many things and been disappointed too many times. She said nothing, as if she no longer dared to hope.
Lin Xiao didn't mind.
After all, although certain celestial herbs could evolve the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine-Treasure version, and in theory could also affect the Begonia's limitations—no one had ever truly confirmed it.
The greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment.
It was best not to promise too much from the start.
Turning to Ye Lingling, Lin Xiao spoke a little awkwardly:
"Ye Lingling… could I ask a favor of you?"
Ye Lingling smiled knowingly.
"You want help with physical training, right? Leave it to me."
"But—are you doing normal training, or using the Evil Fire Body Tempering? That one sounds a bit... risky."
Lin Xiao's gaze sharpened.
A phoenix is reborn from its ashes.
Though the evil fire was dangerous, its power was undeniable. With the Ice Heart Technique and his Five Animal Forms, the risks had already been minimized.
There was no longer any threat to his life.
"Of course I'm using the Evil Fire Body Tempering!" he declared with determination.
From now on, before taking any celestial herbs, he would refine his body through evil fire—and force the fire to evolve once more!
How many chances does one have to fight for their life?
This was his moment, and he would seize it with the full fire of youth.