If Ye Yu hadn't known Qian Renxue's true identity—
He would've simply thought that she had recognized him as An Lan and was subtly warning him not to return to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena for soul duels.
But because he did know who Qian Renxue truly was—
When she mentioned that Salas had requested a Spirit Hall Execution Order against him and was denied, Ye Yu could only conclude:
She must have stepped in to protect him.
Although he had pledged himself to Qian Renxue's service—
Truthfully, Ye Yu had always seen it more as a calculated alliance than anything emotional.
Yet despite that, Qian Renxue, the young heir of Spirit Hall, had not only "shielded" him...
She had even gone out of her way to caution him about potential dangers.
That left Ye Yu with a tangled mix of emotions.
If I ever gain the strength and the means...
I'll do everything I can to keep you from ending up like you did in the original timeline.
As a transmigrator with no system to rely on, Ye Yu dared not dream too big—but he silently vowed this to himself.
From that day on, Ye Yu never used his An Lan identity to participate in the arena again.
Instead, each morning, he attended classes at Heaven Dou Royal Academy—
And each afternoon, he traveled to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where he continued cultivating using the Inner Core Method. He resonated with the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin, and the surrounding Blue Silver Grass, enhancing his training.
He also tempered his body through lightning forging and soul power compression.
However, once his physical strength had risen to a certain threshold—
Ye Yu discovered that using lightning generated by his own soul power to train the Thunder-Magnetic Body had become significantly less effective.
Thankfully, he still had his External Spirit Bone – Thunder Hell Infernal Spear.
By channeling the spear's far more potent lightning power—
Ye Yu was able to continue cultivating the Thunder-Magnetic Body, enhancing his physical constitution through persistent lightning forging.
And just like that, half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
It was nearly Ye Lingling's birthday.
Because Dugu Yan, having taken the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid, had advanced rapidly and broken through an entire major realm—
She and Ye Lingling could no longer participate in Pair Battles together.
Upon learning of Ye Lingling's birthday—
Ye Yu proposed: "Why don't we give her a high-grade medicinal herb?"
As close friends—
Dugu Yan had already been considering gifting Ye Lingling a rare herb to help her improve her cultivation and natural talent.
Dugu Bo agreed as well.
Due to their shared expertise in medicinal arts and their families' long-standing ties (both facing toxin-related challenges), the Bi Lin Clan and Nine Heart Begonia Clan had always had a close relationship.
However, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well did not have an immortal herb suitable for Ye Lingling's unique constitution.
After consulting with Dugu Bo—
Ye Yu selected a Ten-Thousand-Year White Jade Ginseng King, second only to true immortal herbs, as Ye Lingling's birthday present.
As fate would have it—
Dugu Yan had just reached Spirit Level 40 and needed to venture into the Sunset Forest with Dugu Bo to hunt for her fourth spirit ring.
It would be some time before they returned.
So, the gift could only be delivered by Ye Yu himself.
That evening, Ye Yu invited Ye Lingling out for a walk around the city.
Without Dugu Yan—
It was just the two of them, strolling through the streets of Heaven Dou Imperial City, like a couple on a date.
That night became the happiest night Ye Lingling had experienced...
Since Ye Yu had started seeing Dugu Yan.
On the way back—
Her deep blue eyes, usually hidden beneath her long fringe, shimmered with joy.
Her cool, delicate face held a faint blush, her rose-pink lips curled into a smile that she couldn't suppress.
But suddenly, Ye Yu stopped walking.
"Ye Yu? What's wrong?"
Ye Lingling blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at him in confusion.
"Lingling... do you know what day it is today?"
"It's your birthday."
"Happy birthday!"
With a gentle smile, Ye Yu reached into his Jade Dragon Bracelet and, like a magician, pulled out a beautifully wrapped bouquet of Heart-Linked Chrysanthemums, handing it to her.
The Heart-Linked Chrysanthemum was a very special flower.
It grew many blossoms from a single plant—
But while the flowers never bloomed at the same time, they would all wither simultaneously, a rather unique phenomenon.
"Ye Yu... how did you know I like Heart-Linked Chrysanthemums?"
Startled, Ye Lingling gently took the bouquet from him, unable to hold back her curiosity.
"I remember you mentioned it once... back when we first met, while we were reading together."
"I never forgot."
Ye Yu smiled faintly as he replied.
At that, Ye Lingling's nose stung with emotion.
She thought back to the early days, after they first met—
Reading together, encouraging one another...
She had been the first to meet Ye Yu.
The first to fall for him.
And she was sure—he had feelings for her too.
So why... why did you end up with Yan Zi in the end?
"Oh—this is from me and Yan Yan. A gift for your birthday."
After she accepted the flowers, Ye Yu took out a jade box and handed it to her with a smile.
"Open it and take a look."
Ye Lingling curiously opened the box—
Inside lay a snow-white, translucent ginseng, its root system long and intricate, shaped almost like a tiny human figure.
As a support-type healing Soul Master—
With her clan's deep heritage in medicine, and her own studies in herbology, Ye Lingling instantly recognized it:
A Ten-Thousand-Year White Jade Ginseng King.
"This... this is way too precious!"
"Ye Yu, I can't accept this!"
Ye Lingling's heart trembled. She quickly closed the box and tried to hand it back.
"Lingling—"
Ye Yu caught her hand, his gaze firm.
"This gift was something I discussed with Yan Yan and Grandfather together."
"Forget about whether it's 'valuable' or not."
"In this world, there's no such thing as something absolutely precious."
"Compared to our friendship—this is nothing."
"Aren't we good friends?"
"Please, Lingling... accept it."
Just friendship...?
Ye Lingling's heart ached. She whispered to herself in disappointment.
But she wasn't ready to give up. Clenching her delicate fist, she asked:
"This White Jade Ginseng King... was it Yan Yan who wanted to give it to me?"
"Or... was it you, Ye Yu?"
"Uh—it was... my idea first."
Ye Yu scratched his head sheepishly.
And at that moment—
Ye Lingling felt like the sun had broken through the clouds in her heart.
Joy and warmth bloomed inside her.
I knew it—Ye Yu still has me in his heart!
"Thank you... Ye Yu!"
Since Dugu Yan wasn't here—
Ye Lingling couldn't hold back any longer. Her eyes reddened as she threw herself into Ye Yu's arms.
Breathing in the fresh, life-rich aura emanating from Ye Yu's body...
She wished—truly wished—that this moment could last forever.
Feeling Ye Lingling's affection—
Ye Yu sighed inwardly, his emotions equally conflicted.
After all, when he first enrolled at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, she was the one he met first.
After spending over half a year together day and night—
He had developed real feelings for Ye Lingling.
He could sense that she liked him too.
And if circumstances allowed, he would've happily pursued a relationship with her.
But back then—
He had no right to pursue the heiress of the Nine Heart Begonia Clan.
Her clan would never have approved.
To change his fate, to rise against destiny—
He had no choice but to align himself with Dugu Yan, to gain access to the Immortal Herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He simply had no other option.