"So that's how it is~" Qian Renxue nodded slightly, finding it quite reasonable.
"Hmph~ I'm not sickly at all." Jin Yue'er pouted.
"Heh~ Isn't that all thanks to His Eminence, the Golden Crocodile's meticulous care?" Ye Tian chuckled.
With the Golden Crocodile Douluo's nearly overprotective love for Jin Yue'er, it would be difficult for her to contract any serious illness. However, regarding his speculation about Jin Yue'er's Martial Soul, Ye Tian actually had more to say. After all, he didn't know whether the Golden Crocodile Douluo's Golden Alligator King Martial Soul had evolved upon breaking through to the Titled Douluo rank, similar to how Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor Martial Soul evolved. If it were the same situation... then it was almost destined that Jin Yue'er wouldn't awaken the Golden Alligator King Martial Soul.
"Actually, we should thank you more." Qian Renxue looked at Ye Tian and said softly, "Grandpa Golden Crocodile asked us to tell you that his promise is now in effect."
"Then I thank His Eminence, the Golden Crocodile." Ye Tian was overjoyed.
"No need to thank me, no need! It's only right!" Jin Yue'er waved her hands repeatedly, as if Ye Tian were thanking her instead.
Ye Tian couldn't help but laugh wryly. The promise of a ninety-eighth rank Titled Douluo could easily crush the vast majority of forces. However... Ye Tian hadn't yet figured out how to use it. His own weight was still too light; it was better to keep it for now. Favors are gone once used, so of course, they must be used where they count the most.
"By the way, here are the Pills for the past two days." Smiling, Ye Tian took out two porcelain bottles and handed them to Qian Renxue and the others. At the same time, he asked curiously, "Speaking of which, Yue'er, what is your Innate Soul Power? Judging by your current mood, it shouldn't be low, right?"
"Hmph hmph~ Of course it isn't!" Jin Yue'er crossed her arms, raised her head, and looked somewhat proud. Yet, she made no move to take the pills.
"Hmm?" Ye Tian suddenly felt that something was off. He glanced at the bottle in his hand, then at Jin Yue'er, who remained unmoved... After thinking for a moment, he finally realized where this sense of incongruity came from! It came from Jin Yue'er herself!
At this moment, Jin Yue'er still had five Sky-Piercing Braids on her head, a longevity lock around her neck, wore a mandarin jacket, and black tapered trousers... Outwardly, there was no change at all. But Jin Yue'er's behavior and demeanor had undergone a significant transformation! If this were any other time... forget that Ye Tian had already taken out the pills and was handing them to her; even if Ye Tian were just standing in front of Jin Yue'er, she would eagerly rush over and pat Ye Tian a couple of times, hoping to get more pills regardless of whether there were any to be had. It was precisely because of this that Ye Tian felt Jin Yue'er was acting strangely, even abnormally.
He shook the small porcelain bottle in his hand and looked at Jin Yue'er puzzledly. "Yue'er, what's wrong? Did awakening your Martial Soul make you forget who I am?"
"Pfft, haha..." Jin Yue'er and Qian Renxue glanced at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"Of course not!" Jin Yue'er let go of Qian Renxue and let out a playful cry. Suddenly, with a speed Ye Tian didn't expect and found unfamiliar, she rushed over in an instant, spread her arms, and tightly hugged Ye Tian!
"Ouch! Hey!" Caught off guard, Ye Tian cried and laughed, "Maybe it'd be better if you didn't know me after all."
"No way!"
Jin Yue'er narrowed her eyes, pressing tightly against Ye Tian as she exclaimed joyfully, "I have level seven Innate Soul Power! Thank you! Thank you, Ye Tian, I love you the most!"
Her delighted cries continued until she even lifted Ye Tian off the ground with her waist.
Witnessing this, Qian Renxue's smile gradually stiffened and visibly began to fade.
"Level seven?" Ye Tian held the porcelain vial with both hands, allowing Jin Yue'er to hoist him up while genuinely feeling happy for her. He chuckled and asked, "Does that mean you won't need to take pills anymore?"
"Ah! Dream on, you!" At the mention of pills, Jin Yue'er immediately reacted, quickly setting Ye Tian down and snatching the medicine from his hands. She knew full well these pills could enhance a Soul Master's talent—skipping them was absolutely out of the question!
Hands on her hips, Jin Yue'er declared, "Today is my birthday! Ten pills aren't enough—you still owe me a birthday present!"
With that, she triumphantly rolled up her sleeve to reveal the bell on her wrist, instantly storing the porcelain vial inside. She even winked playfully at Ye Tian, clearly showing off that from today onward, she could use a Soul Guidance Device too.
"Heh, no problem. I'll make sure you're satisfied," Ye Tian replied with a smile, not refusing her request. A birthday gift was nothing major.
"Glad you know what's good for you~" Jin Yue'er giggled.
Ye Tian couldn't help but smile at her. He wondered if her mind had finally matured, or if her past obsession with his pills was simply due to fear of something going wrong during her Spirit Awakening. Whatever the reason, he didn't see Jin Yue'er's change as a bad thing. It was a form of growth, wasn't it? After all, it wasn't great for a girl to be too eccentric.
Still, Ye Tian felt that Jin Yue'er would only truly grow up when she realized it was time to change her proud hairstyle. Those five sky-piercing braids—even Qian Renxue wouldn't be able to pull them off! No matter how beautiful someone was, that style would ruin their appearance.
With these thoughts, Ye Tian moved over to Qian Renxue. Imagining her with a different hairstyle almost made him laugh aloud.
Qian Renxue gave him a strange look and couldn't resist touching her face, thinking there might be something dirty on it. "Ye Tian, what's wrong?"
"Ahem, it's nothing," Ye Tian coughed dryly and handed her the porcelain vial. "Little Xue, this is for you."
"Thank you," Qian Renxue said softly, biting her red lips to suppress the urge to touch Ye Tian's hand as she carefully accepted the vial.
"Ah, right, right!" Suddenly, Jin Yue'er, who had just quieted down, rushed over from Ye Tian's side and hugged him tightly right in front of Qian Renxue, nearly knocking him over.
Under Qian Renxue's slightly furrowed brows, Jin Yue'er pressed her face against Ye Tian's and shouted, "Ye Tian! I declare... from today on, I'm your teammate! You have to take care of me!"
"Yikes!" Ye Tian grimaced; Jin Yue'er's voice was really too loud.
"In the future, I'll protect you properly," Jin Yueer declared proudly, holding him close.
"Happy, Ye Tian? Haha, you smell so good—why do you keep getting more fragrant?"
"Probably because I broke through again," Ye Tian rolled his eyes, somewhat exasperated.
What use is a teammate with only level seven Soul Power to him now?
He's just freeloading and eating for free!
"You broke through again?"
Qian Renxue's eyes held surprise.
But seeing her good friend clinging to Ye Tian, her little mouth almost brushing against his face, she instantly lost her admiration.
She quickly reached out to pull Jin Yue'er off Ye Tian.
"Alright, Yue'er!"
"Didn't you say you were going to treat Ye Tian and Nana to a big meal? Hurry and get down—it'll be dark soon!"
Whether intentional or not, Qian Renxue slipped up and threatened:
"If you don't get down now, I'll tell Ye Tian about you crying."
"Crying?"
Ye Tian looked at Jin Yue'er, puzzled.
Why was she crying? Was she too happy about awakening her Martial Soul?
"Ah! Sister Xue, you told him!"
Jin Yue'er immediately let go of Ye Tian, feeling a bit embarrassed under his gaze.