Lost Daughter, Lost Treasure

Lin Ran nodded.

Du Busi was right. His first soul skill was indeed related to Bloodline Power. Whether it was probing the outside world or observing his own body internally, both were closely tied to his perception of Bloodline Power.

So my martial soul really does include blood, bone marrow, and vital energy? And it even has the life attribute?

He looked at Du Busi, his gaze turning more solemn.

Not long after they met, Du Busi had already clarified the direction of his future cultivation.

Sure enough, for a sect to rise to the very peak of the continent and endure for thousands of years, it naturally had its own foundation.

Du Busi's expression also turned serious. Looking directly at Lin Ran, he said solemnly, "After all that, child, are you willing to take me as your master?"

As soon as those words fell, the room fell silent.

Zhong Heng looked at Lin Ran expectantly. Huo Yun'er was overjoyed, while Vina's beautiful eyes revealed faint traces of envy amid her surprise.

Although she possessed Twin Martial Souls, and her second martial soul was one of the Body Sect's most powerful martial souls, she still had not been accepted as Du Busi's disciple.

Lin Ran did not hesitate. He rose to his feet and gave a respectful bow. "Disciple Lin Ran greets Master."

Du Busi immediately helped Lin Ran up. Beaming with joy, he clapped his hands and laughed. "Now that you have entered my school, this old man will surely pass on all that I have learned in my life, protect you as you grow, and hope that you strive forward diligently so that you may surpass your master in the future."

"I will. I definitely won't disappoint Master's expectations!" Lin Ran said.

"Good. My, Du Busi's, disciple should have such ambition." Du Busi looked at Lin Ran, even more satisfied.

He then turned to Huo Yun'er and asked gently, "You must be Xiao Ran's family, right? Your martial soul is your eyes?"

"Yes." Huo Yun'er nodded.

"What a pity. If you had found our Body Sect when your martial soul first awakened, then given the importance of an eye martial soul, you could have become a powerful expert in the future as well."

Du Busi said regretfully.

At this point, the level of Innate Soul Power was no longer the decisive factor in determining a soul master's future, especially for the Body Sect. The strength of a Body Martial Soul mainly depended on which part of the body it was. Eyes were undoubtedly among the more important kinds.

"You are also a disciple of our Body Sect, so you will not need to be separated from Xiao Ran in the future. I will remain in Heaven Dou City for one day. Once you and Xiao Ran have packed up, follow me to the Body Sect tomorrow."

Du Busi's tone carried a hint of inquiry as his gaze swept over Lin Ran and Huo Yun'er.

"Alright."

With their parting approaching, Vina did not return to the palace until evening, reluctant to leave.

"Huh, Imperial Father, why are you here?"

At the entrance to her chambers, Vina saw the Heaven Soul Emperor standing there, gazing at the setting sun.

Hearing Vina's voice, the Heaven Soul Emperor turned around with a smile on his face. His tone held a trace of teasing. "I came to see whether my daughter had run off with someone. It seems she hasn't yet."

Vina's face flushed red. Lowering her head, she protested softly, "Imperial Father!"

The Heaven Soul Emperor chuckled and asked, "So Lin Ran joined the Body Sect today? When is he leaving?"

Vina said happily, "Yes, and the Sect Master even accepted him as his disciple. It's just a pity that he's leaving tomorrow."

"Body Master actually accepted a disciple personally? He is your Sect Master's only disciple, isn't he?"

The Heaven Soul Emperor was surprised, then looked at Vina with a resentful gaze.

He knew what that information meant.

Barring any surprises, Lin Ran would very likely become the next Sect Master of the Body Sect in the future.

Yet such a genius—he had clearly had the chance to win him over early, only for his daughter to "sell him off" first.

"That's right."

Vina shrank her head a little sheepishly, but her soft voice was filled with immense pride, as though she were the one who had been accepted as a disciple.

The Heaven Soul Emperor sighed. "Little Vina, tomorrow, choose two gifts from the imperial treasury. One will congratulate Body Master on gaining such an outstanding disciple, and the other will congratulate Lin Ran on finding such a fine master. You must also get along well with Lin Ran in the future."

"Mm." Princess Vina nodded. She looked up at her Imperial Father, hesitation appearing on her face before swiftly turning into resolve. In a small voice, she said:

"Then, Imperial Father, can I return to the sect with him tomorrow?"

The Heaven Soul Emperor's face darkened.

Vina hurriedly said, "Didn't Imperial Father say that I should get along well with him? And you were even going to marry me to him."

"?"

The Heaven Soul Emperor's expression darkened further. "Who said I was going to marry you to him?"

Princess Vina raised her head helplessly. "Grandpa Liu told me. Could it be that Grandpa Liu lied to me?"

The Heaven Soul Emperor felt his fists harden. Through gritted teeth, he spat out a few words. "That old bastard!"

So it was fake after all. Princess Vina felt disappointed.

The Heaven Soul Emperor silently resolved to properly deal with that old thing. Hm, all of the Royal Auction House's earnings for the next ten years would be deposited into the inner treasury.

Looking at the disappointed Vina, he pondered for a moment before saying:

"Whoever you wish to marry in the future, Imperial Father will support you, as long as you like him. As for returning to the Body Sect tomorrow, Imperial Father permits it—but only this once. You may not do so again in the future. You should also spend time with your mother and me."

Princess Vina's emotions rose and fell like a roller coaster. Her disappointment immediately turned into delight, and even her always soft, gentle voice rose several pitches as she shouted happily, "Thank you, Imperial Father! Imperial Father is the best!"

The Heaven Soul Emperor looked at Princess Vina dotingly, but she turned and ran off, leaving behind only her cheerful voice.

"Imperial Father, I'm going to the treasury to pick out gifts! Rest early."

The Heaven Soul Emperor's expression stiffened. After a long while, he finally sighed. "A daughter can't be kept once she's grown."

At the same time, he secretly made up his mind. This time, the cost of the gifts would be deducted from that old bastard's salary.

Early the next morning, just as Lin Ran was about to set out with Du Busi, Princess Vina arrived. She even intended to return to the sect with them.

Moreover, she brought two gifts—both Soul Bones that were over ten thousand years old.

Lin Ran looked at Du Busi, who told him to accept them all.

Lin Ran remembered the favor owed to the Heaven Dou Empire.

Whether the Heaven Dou Empire's intentions were self-serving or not, the benefits they gave were real. He could not be like Yu Xiao Gang and Tang San, accepting Spirit Hall's subsidies while cursing Spirit Hall for harboring vile ambitions.

Du Busi wrapped everyone in Soul Power and shot toward the horizon like lightning. Lin Ran could only watch as the earth beneath them slowly receded.

In less than half a day, they crossed half of the Heaven Dou Empire and arrived at a solitary peak in a desolate land.

The perilous mountain rose into the clouds, standing by the sea and at the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Sun Moon Empire.

As the Heaven Dou Empire's guardian sect, this was the Body Sect's stronghold.

Du Busi led them up the mountain. Before long, Lin Ran saw a cluster of buildings halfway up the slope.

"Greetings, Sect Master."

When the Body Sect disciples passing by saw them, they stopped to salute them, while curiously sizing up Lin Ran and Huo Yun'er.

They had long heard that before dawn yesterday, the Sect Master had impatiently gone out to bring back a genius. This handsome youth must be the one?

They felt somewhat envious. For the Sect Master to value him so highly, his martial soul had to be top-tier.