Chapter 859: Yan Ling

Liu Yusheng was a martial artist at the ninth level of the Heavenly Awakening realm, which was already extremely powerful in the small town of Luoding.

Apart from him, the martial artists of the Green Sea Mercenary Corps were also battle-hardened, each with considerable strength.

The main task of the Luoding mercenary corps was to escort merchant caravans into the Chaotic Demon Sea.

Over the years, the mercenary corps that managed to survive were all exceptionally formidable.

However, after so many years, merchant caravans that frequently traveled this route usually greased the palms of various major and minor powers along the way.

These minor powers in the Chaotic Demon Sea were merely after some cultivation resources.

As long as the merchant caravans were generous enough, they wouldn't go for the kill.

For these minor powers, the merchant caravans were like leeks they cultivated—they would harvest them from time to time.

But recently, things seemed to have changed. Two or three merchant caravans had mysteriously disappeared along this route, leaving no trace behind.

Consequently, the merchants had been in a state of panic.

Yan Jun had taken on a big job this time. To earn this money, he spared no expense and hired the Green Sea Mercenary Corps.

At that moment, inside a carriage of the caravan, a woman held a five- or six-year-old girl in her arms, her eyes full of tenderness.

"Master Ye, thank you so much! My daughter has been tormented by her illness since birth. We've consulted many alchemists, but none could cure her. If not for meeting Master Ye, my daughter might not have lived much longer!" the woman said gratefully.

This woman was named Lin Shuang, Yan Jun's lawful wife. The little girl in her arms was naturally their daughter.

The Master Ye she referred to was none other than Ye Yuan, who had traveled all the way from Yihai City.

After several twists and turns, Ye Yuan eventually arrived in Luoding City.

There were no teleportation arrays leading directly to the Chaotic Demon Sea from the outside world, so to enter the Chaotic Demon Sea, one had to go on foot.

In a place like the Chaotic Demon Sea, traveling alone was too conspicuous. Those martial artists wouldn't care who you were; killing for treasure was a common occurrence.

Although there were no high-level martial artists at the edge of the Chaotic Demon Sea, and Ye Yuan wasn't afraid of them, it would still be a lot of trouble.

Coincidentally, Yan Jun's caravan needed an alchemist and was recruiting from outside. Ye Yuan volunteered.

Although Yan Jun offered a high reward, no one applied.

Alchemists had weak combat abilities; following a caravan into the Chaotic Demon Sea was no different from suicide.

Alchemists held a high status in Luoding City, but very few dared to enter the Chaotic Demon Sea.

Ye Yuan didn't have a high-level alchemist badge, so when he came to apply, he was met with disdain. However, with his skills, after demonstrating a little, he completely won over Yan Jun.

Yan Jun's daughter was named Yan Ling. When she was still in swaddling clothes, she had been captured by a powerful figure from the Chaotic Demon Sea, who had damaged her meridians with a special technique.

That year, Yan Jun had paid a huge price to ransom his daughter back.

But he never expected that the daughter he got back would be in such a state.

The martial artist who had taken Yan Ling was notorious in the fringe areas of the Chaotic Demon Sea. Even Liu Yusheng dared not provoke him.

Helpless, Yan Jun had to spend a fortune to hire alchemists to keep his daughter alive.

But that person's technique was extremely skillful. Over the past few years, Yan Jun had spent tens of millions of Earth Essence Crystals, yet Yan Ling's condition only worsened.

This time, due to special circumstances, Yan Jun and his wife had to bring their daughter along, but no alchemist was willing to travel with their caravan. In desperation, Yan Jun had to recruit an alchemist in Luoding City.

As luck would have it, Ye Yuan was looking for a way into the Chaotic Demon Sea at that time. When he saw the recruitment notice, he took the initiative to join.

"Brother Ye Yuan, you're amazing! When I grow up, I want to be an alchemist like you, a master revered by thousands!" Yan Ling looked up at Ye Yuan with admiration.

Under Ye Yuan's treatment, Yan Ling's mental state had improved greatly. Compared to her previous sickly appearance, she was like a different person.

Ye Yuan affectionately patted Yan Ling's little head and said with a smile, "Ling'er is gifted and intelligent; you'll definitely become a remarkable alchemist in the future!"

Yan Ling's lively eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Ye Yuan, are you telling the truth?"

"Of course it's true. When has Brother Ye Yuan ever lied to you?" Ye Yuan laughed.

Ye Yuan wasn't just trying to cheer Yan Ling up; this little girl was a natural Wood Spirit Body, a born alchemist.

For an alchemist, the most important things were flame control and soul power. A natural Wood Spirit Body had a natural affinity for flames, giving it an inherent advantage in flame control that no one else could match.

However, to Ye Yuan, the Yan family were just passersby in his life, so he naturally wouldn't show too much concern.

Yan Ling, however, jumped for joy upon hearing this: "Great! Great! When Ling'er becomes as powerful as Brother Ye Yuan, I'll cure everyone's illnesses so they won't have to suffer like Ling'er did."

Ye Yuan was slightly taken aback, not expecting such words to come from a little girl.

Though childish, it was a grand aspiration and should be the lifelong pursuit of an alchemist.

For a five-year-old girl to say such things showed how much she had suffered over the past few years.

Even Ye Yuan was shocked when he first saw Yan Ling. For such a little girl to survive to the age of five was nothing short of a miracle.

You see, an infant's meridians are not yet fully formed and are very fragile.

Although that person's technique was extremely skillful, it had nearly destroyed Yan Ling's vitality.

Logically, it would have been a miracle for Yan Ling to live even a year.

As she grew older, Yan Ling's meridians would slowly develop, but this process only intensified her suffering.

If not for meeting Ye Yuan, Yan Ling would have surely died.

Even Ye Yuan had to be extremely careful when treating Yan Ling, not daring to make the slightest mistake.

"Hehe, Ling'er will definitely make it!" Ye Yuan encouraged with a smile.

Lin Shuang patted Yan Ling on the back and said affectionately, "Go play with your father. Your mother has something to discuss with Brother Ye Yuan."

"Okay!" Yan Ling nodded obediently and climbed out of the carriage.

After Yan Ling left, Lin Shuang's expression darkened, and she said, "Master Ye, I know this is abrupt, but there's something I'd like to entrust to you."

Ye Yuan wasn't surprised by Lin Shuang's demeanor and said, "Madam Yan, are you worried that this journey won't go smoothly and want to entrust Ling'er to me?"

Lin Shuang was startled, not expecting Ye Yuan to have already read her thoughts. She nodded and said, "The heads of the two missing caravans were both acquaintances of ours, very cautious men. They had traveled this route for many years without any mishaps. I never thought this time they would finally..."