“Sister, you were the one who struck it, right?” Feng Ling emerged from the tribal temple and couldn't help but be surprised when she saw the soul lamp in Xue Zi Ning’s hand.
“How… how could she possibly strike the soul lamp?” Feng Xian, who had rushed out shortly after, looked incredulous.
“Second sister, I don't like hearing you say that. Why couldn't she strike the soul lamp? Not only is it possible, but she can also hold it with ease,” Feng Ling said triumphantly.
The soul lamp was the treasured lamp of their Feng Yin clan, originally left behind by an ancestor of the Xue family.
It also stipulated that if anyone could strike it, the Feng Yin clan would have to agree to one condition for the person who struck it.
At first, the Feng Yin clan was very fearful. The past catastrophe of being wiped out had taught them that various powers coveted their abilities. Those who obtained them gained a congenital advantage in vying for dominance, while those who didn't sought to destroy them by any means necessary.
At that time, the elders of the Feng Yin clan decided to go into seclusion. After searching for many years, they finally discovered a place to survive beneath the desert sands.
And so, the entire Feng Yin clan came to this place.
After living in a daze for over a hundred years, each time a new monarch ascended, they would send out the most outstanding Feng Yin disciples of the current generation to protect the new monarch.
This current empress was one that the Feng Yin clan had only heard of once in a hundred years. They had selected the most outstanding disciples among the Feng Yin generation to be sent out.
However, they never expected that two of their four most outstanding disciples would die.
It was rare for their Feng Yin clan disciples to die. Although there were many assassination attempts around the emperor, people of the Feng Yin clan were not defenseless.
But the death of two people at once further reduced the already scarce population of the Feng Yin clan, leaving two fewer Feng Yin people.
Later, they heard that the empress was tyrannical, and Feng Yu died at her hands, and Feng Ying also died.
The remaining Feng Jiu and Feng Wu had also lost contact with the Feng Yin clan.
The elders of Feng Yin discussed and decided to send people out to gather information about the outside world. This led to Feng Ling leaving Feng Yin, and Feng Xian acting atrociously in the desert.
Xue Zi Ning held the soul lamp. When she picked it up just now, she inexplicably felt a warm current flow into her body. It was very warm, like a spring breeze.
“Miss, you struck the soul lamp. The Feng Yin clan owes you a promise. You can state whatever you wish,” the Great Elder said.
“Sister, tell me your wish, and I will help you fulfill it,” Feng Ling said, holding her hand.
“Can it be stored?” Xue Zi Ning asked, looking up.
The Great Elder glanced at her and said after a pause, “Yes.”
“I haven't decided yet. I'll state it when I've thought it through!” Xue Zi Ning said.
The Great Elder nodded, “Agreed.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Zi Ning saw the soul lamp in her hand suddenly turn ethereal and then enter her hand. A mark of the soul lamp appeared on her hand.
“Sister, don't be afraid. Because you haven't made up your mind yet, your soul will be housed within your body. Once it's fulfilled, it will emerge.”
Hearing Feng Ling's explanation, Xue Zi Ning nodded, “Okay, I understand.”
“Feng Ling, come in,” the Great Elder suddenly said, looking at Feng Ling.
Feng Ling stuck out her tongue and looked at Xue Zi Ning, saying, “I’ll be inside for a moment. Sister, wait for me…”
Xue Zi Ning patted her shoulder, “Go ahead, I'll wait for you here.”
Feng Ling nodded. She had only taken a few steps before returning and said in a low voice, “If second sister says anything you don't like to hear, just retort a few words.”
Xue Zi Ning smiled and tapped her forehead, “Look how young you are. Don't bother yourself with these things.”
Feng Ling smiled and left.
Xue Zi Ning stood there waiting for Feng Ling. Feng Xian had not left either, but was sizing her up. “Do you think that with the soul lamp and Feng Ling, you can run rampant in the clan? I'm telling you, it's impossible.”
“Miss Feng Xian, you misunderstand. I don't wish to run rampant here. Coming to the Feng Yin clan was not my intention.”
Feng Xian snorted coldly, “You can fool that silly girl Feng Ling, but don't think you can fool me.”
“How have I fooled you?”
Feng Xian sneered, “Approaching Feng Ling, coming to Feng Yin, striking the soul lamp, wasn't it all meticulously planned by you?”
“Miss Feng Xian, you worry too much. I am not that capable to have predicted that Feng Ling was from your Feng Yin clan, nor could I have known I would end up in Feng Yin, let alone that striking the soul lamp would make your Feng Yin clan owe me a condition.”
Feng Xian snorted coldly, seemingly not believing her words.
“Feng Ling, I told you not to bully my sister.” Feng Ling came out and stood protectively in front of Xue Zi Ning, facing Feng Xian directly.
Feng Xian sneered sarcastically, “Feng Ling, you will pay the price for your current naivety in the future.”
“What I do is none of your business. You just need to restrain yourself properly and stop bothering my sister. Otherwise, I won't be polite,” Feng Ling said angrily.
“Sister, you don't need to speak for her. Everyone in the Feng Yin clan knows what kind of person she is – cold-hearted and indifferent, thinking everyone owes her,” Feng Ling said.
Feng Xian was taken aback, her expression turning angry, “Then you had better keep a good eye on your sister, or I’ll kill her one of these days.”
“Feng Xian, don't you even listen to the Great Elder?” Feng Ling invoked the Great Elder's name.
“No one can dictate my decisions,” Feng Xian said coldly.
“Crazy, sister, let's go…” Feng Ling pulled Xue Zi Ning away.
She subconsciously glanced back at Feng Xian, who was still standing in the same spot. For some reason, she felt a sense of loneliness emanating from Feng Xian.
“Sister, don't be afraid. With me here, no one will dare to bully you,” Feng Ling promised her.
“Don't worry, if I don't provoke them, they won't come looking for trouble with me.”
Feng Ling pulled her hand and led her into a room. She pushed the door open and said, “Sister, you will live here with me from now on.”
Xue Zi Ning nodded, “Okay.”
Feng Ling was so happy she almost spun around, “Finally, I don't have to live in such a big room alone anymore.”
“Is it usually just you alone?” Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but ask. This place was very large, and if she were alone, it would indeed feel rather empty.
Feng Ling nodded, “Yes. Sister, you also know that our Feng Yin clan members are becoming fewer and fewer. When I was young, there were maids here. But as the population decreased, we can only do many things ourselves now. To be honest with you, Sister, when I lived in such a large room as a child, I cried myself to sleep every time.”
“This place isn't very suitable for sleeping alone,” Xue Zi Ning said.
Feng Ling nodded, stepped forward, and took her arm, “It’s so good, Sister. You can stay here with me. Sister, can you stay here forever from now on?”
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. Seeing this, Feng Ling quickly said, “Until you state your condition to the soul lamp, and the soul lamp is returned to its place, Sister cannot leave.”