The Wheel Turns

"The banquet tonight was excellent." Bone Douluo ate with great relish, sensing that today's dishes were different from usual.

"Reporting to Elder, today is the sect tournament. I invited Shopkeeper Li from the Heavenly Human World Inn to prepare several special home-style dishes," Hall Master Lei, seated at the table below, reported truthfully.

"Hall Master, you've gone to great trouble." Ning Fengzhi was also very pleased with tonight's banquet.

"Sect Master, it is my duty." Hall Master Lei was naturally delighted to hear that the Sect Master was satisfied.

After the banquet, Ye Xiaofeng went to see Shopkeeper Li. Seeing Ye Xiaofeng enter, Shopkeeper Li hurriedly asked, "Young Master, how did it go?"

"For now, everything is going smoothly. You can return to the inn tomorrow morning and resume business as usual." Ye Xiaofeng smiled at Shopkeeper Li.

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements right away." Shopkeeper Li returned that very night, while Ye Xiaofeng also went back to his room to rest.

The next day, Ye Xiaofeng went to find Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Before he could knock on the door, it opened on its own. Sword Douluo Chen Xin had likely sensed his arrival.

"Disciple greets Master." This time, Ye Xiaofeng did not kneel. He merely clasped his hands before him and bowed slightly.

"No need for formalities." Sword Douluo sat in his chair and lightly raised a hand. Ye Xiaofeng floated into the air as a stream of light entered his body. His entire body felt warm, filled with an indescribable sense of comfort.

"Your talent and physique are both exceptional. Not bad." Sword Douluo withdrew his hand, and Ye Xiaofeng slowly landed. Sword Douluo gave an approving remark before leisurely continuing to sip his tea.

"Thank you for your praise, Master." Ye Xiaofeng was naturally delighted by Sword Douluo's evaluation.

"Now you can tell me. Where did your martial souls come from?" With a wave of Sword Douluo's hand, a layer of white light formed a barrier around the entire room. Sword Douluo knew Ye Xiaofeng was neither his descendant nor a survivor of the Sword Sect.

"This disciple does not know either." Ye Xiaofeng did not know where to begin.

"I noticed you when you first came to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Later, I went to Skywater Academy and met those three little girls. They told me all about you." Sword Douluo smiled faintly at Ye Xiaofeng.

"So Master already knew. Please keep it secret." Ye Xiaofeng felt as though Sword Douluo's eyes could see straight through him.

"You mean your Innate Full Soul Power of level thirty?" Sword Douluo asked.

"I'm not referring only to Innate Soul Power. There are also my Twin Martial Souls and soul rings." Ye Xiaofeng spoke with a pleading expression.

"Release your Twin Martial Souls." Sword Douluo was already immensely shocked inside, though he did not show it.

Ye Xiaofeng released his two martial souls. Sword Douluo was not overly astonished by the Seven Kill Sword, but he was greatly shocked upon seeing the Jade Swan martial soul.

"What a pity." Sword Douluo Chen Xin saw Ye Xiaofeng's Twin Martial Souls, a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius in the current world, then saw that both of Ye Xiaofeng's martial souls had soul rings attached.

"Master, look." Ye Xiaofeng stopped simulating his soul rings and directly revealed eight thousand-year purple soul rings.

Even Sword Douluo Chen Xin, a Titled Douluo, could not suppress the excitement in his heart after seeing Ye Xiaofeng's Twin Martial Souls. Now, upon seeing eight thousand-year soul rings, Sword Douluo's entire worldview was overturned.

"How is that possible?" Sword Douluo sprang from his chair, rushed before Ye Xiaofeng, and grabbed his shoulders with both hands as he demanded an answer.

"I don't know either. Every time my Soul Power reaches a bottleneck, soul rings naturally appear. And the age of the soul rings can increase as well," Ye Xiaofeng answered honestly.

"But I just examined your body. You are clearly human!" Sword Douluo saw far too many suspicious points in Ye Xiaofeng and could not believe what was before him.

"Master, why are you confused? I was human from the start." Ye Xiaofeng smiled, not realizing the severity of the matter.

"Who else knows about this?" Ye Xiaofeng's secret was too great. If others learned of it, they would do everything possible to capture him and uncover his secrets.

"Other than Bing'er and the others, no one knows." Ye Xiaofeng had not told anyone else.

"Feng'er, your secret is too great. Deal with those three girls." Sword Douluo said blandly.

"No, Master. They won't tell anyone. Please spare them." Ye Xiaofeng knew his secret was enormous. If it were revealed, the entire soul master world would likely erupt, especially Spirit Hall.

"They truly haven't told anyone, including me." Sword Douluo smiled at Ye Xiaofeng.

"Master, you tricked me?" Ye Xiaofeng felt as though ten thousand horses were galloping through his heart. He had not expected Sword Douluo Chen Xin to be so shameless in his old age. This old man was full of schemes and wickedness.

"I tested her. That girl was far too vigilant. But boy, your luck with women is quite impressive." Sword Douluo gave a lecherous grin.

"Master, please spare them. They once saved this disciple's life. I cannot repay kindness with enmity." Though Ye Xiaofeng did not want to believe Sword Douluo would kill them, it was not impossible for the sake of protecting his secret.

"Was it merely a life-saving debt?" Sword Douluo asked with an expression that said he understood perfectly.

"Hehe, Master, isn't that only natural?" Ye Xiaofeng could only smile helplessly along with him.

"Do not mention this matter to anyone again, not even those close to you. Continue cultivating as you have been. As for your personal affairs, handle them yourself." Sword Douluo still gave Ye Xiaofeng a special warning.

"This disciple understands. Thank you, Master." Though Ye Xiaofeng knew Sword Douluo had tricked him into revealing all his secrets, he still believed Sword Douluo would keep them confidential.

"Also, until you possess sufficient strength, restrain your edge. You will not escape death every time." Sword Douluo had seen how much Ye Xiaofeng had displayed his edge before the Sect Master and others yesterday. If not for him, Ye Xiaofeng might have faced assassination afterward.

"Disciple joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in order to learn the strongest swordsmanship. I ask Master to fulfill this wish." Ye Xiaofeng immediately dropped to one knee.

"You need not kneel in the future. Since I have accepted you as my disciple, I will naturally teach you swordsmanship. But do not forget what you said before." Sword Douluo looked calmly at Ye Xiaofeng.

"Master, within the limits of this disciple's ability, I can ensure the sect prospers for a thousand years." Ye Xiaofeng was confident that reaching the highest realm of cultivation was only a matter of time.

"Master, how did you come to join the sect?" Ye Xiaofeng thought that, with Sword Douluo's strength, founding a sect of his own would have been no problem.

"My father, Chen Jianjun, who was also a Supreme Douluo, founded the Sword Sect with his own hands. The sect was no weaker than the current Upper Three Sects. When my father was level ninety-eight, he encountered the strongest opponent of his life. His opponent was a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo. To show respect for my father, that Peerless Douluo used his full strength as well. Father fought him for three days and three nights, but ultimately suffered grave injuries and was defeated. Three days later, he died from his injuries." Sword Douluo spoke calmly, with no sorrow visible on his face.

"What happened afterward?" Ye Xiaofeng was somewhat curious about what came next.

"After Father died, the Sword Sect's strength plummeted. Many enemies came to our door. I fought them, but they had too many people, and I had only just broken through to the Soul Douluo realm. I could not withstand them. In the end, I escaped with the few survivors, and Fengzhi saved us."

Sword Douluo could have lived and died with the sect, but the sect elders had chosen to self-destruct in order to protect Chen Xin and create an opportunity for him to escape. This became a scar in his heart, as well as a joke Bone Douluo often mocked him with. From then on, Bone Douluo kept calling him a coward.

"Master, if one day I establish a force of my own, would you support me?" Ye Xiaofeng phrased it tactfully.

"I understand what you mean, but I cannot leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Fengzhi has shown me great kindness. However, if you are ever in trouble, I will still act for you." Sword Douluo had his own difficulties and did not wish to leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Perhaps after the Sword Sect's destruction, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had become his home.

"Thank you, Master." Ye Xiaofeng said nothing more. Sword Douluo had his own difficulties, after all. Seeing Sword Douluo's loyal and righteous side made Ye Xiaofeng happy. If Sword Douluo could leave so easily, would Ye Xiaofeng truly be able to trust him?

"By the way, Master, what level have you cultivated to now?" Ye Xiaofeng knew Sword Douluo Chen Xin had already reached the Titled Douluo realm, but he did not know his current level.

"I am already level ninety-six. After reaching the Titled Douluo realm, it is not something you can overcome merely through effort or talent. What matters more is comprehension. I have been stuck at level ninety-six for ten years. Without deeper insight, it will be difficult to break through to the next realm." Sword Douluo spoke very frankly.

"Master, I mean, what if... what if one day, a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo were to help you?" Ye Xiaofeng looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin, but inwardly wondered what realm Master could reach if Mother helped him one day.

"Perhaps I could rise one or two levels, but it would be impossible to reach level ninety-nine. Did you not understand what I just said? Only your own comprehension can allow you to break through." At that moment, Sword Douluo also thought that if a Peerless Douluo helped him, he might possibly rise one or two levels and reach his father's realm.

"So that's how it is." Ye Xiaofeng spoke thoughtfully.

"Do you think Peerless Douluos are candy?" There were only two Peerless Douluos on the entire continent. One was Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall, the opponent who had killed his father. The other was Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect, but he had vanished from the soul master world thirty years ago. No one knew where he had gone.

"Hehe, I was just saying." Ye Xiaofeng brushed it off with a smile.

"Master, shouldn't we take a walk around?" Ye Xiaofeng smiled at Sword Douluo.

"It is time to get some fresh air." Sword Douluo Chen Xin had remained in his room and had not gone outside yet.

"Master, allow me to lead the way." Ye Xiaofeng hurriedly tried to please him.

Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the Great Soul Arena.

"Why did you bring me here?" Sword Douluo frowned slightly. This brat had tricked him early in the morning.

"Hehe, Master, have you forgotten? The one hundred million I offered you is still stored here. This is simply more convenient." Ye Xiaofeng smiled with an innocent expression.

Sword Douluo could not say much more, and the two entered the Great Soul Arena.

"Manager Luo, good morning. Have you been well lately?" As soon as he entered, Ye Xiaofeng saw Luo Shaotian.

Luo Shaotian was just about to lose his temper when he saw Sword Douluo Chen Xin behind Ye Xiaofeng.

"I did not know Senior Chen Xin had arrived. Forgive me for failing to welcome you properly." Luo Shaotian immediately suppressed his anger and hurriedly greeted Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

"No need for courtesy. I am merely accompanying my disciple for a casual walk. Go about your business." Sword Douluo made it very clear that Ye Xiaofeng was his disciple.

"Senior Chen Xin, please wait a moment." Luo Shaotian hurried inside. Ye Xiaofeng guessed there must be an important person within.

Soon, Luo Shaotian emerged behind Xue Qinghe.

"Senior Chen Xin, I did not know you had come. My subordinates were ignorant and failed to welcome you properly." Xue Qinghe spoke politely.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are too courteous. This old man is merely taking a stroll to clear his mind. There is no need to pay me any attention." Sword Douluo smiled at Xue Qinghe as well.

"Senior Chen Xin, please come inside." Xue Qinghe smiled at Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

Ye Xiaofeng followed them in. With Sword Douluo present, he was certain to collect today's debt.