Xuan Zi Is Severely Maligned

Hurrying back to the hall, Ye Xinglan immediately inquired with the staff member in charge of registration.

The answer she received was consistent: no Soul Master named Lu Mingfei had entered the Spirit Ascension Platform today.

Ye Xinglan felt as if struck by lightning, staggering back several steps.

After a few seconds of silence, she darkened on the spot, crossing her arms and looking coldly towards the corridor at the back of the hall.

"Since you could meet me, you must have entered through the Heaven Dou Spirit Pagoda. I'll wait here for you. Let's see if you come out."

Seeing that something was wrong, one of the staff members kindly brought her a stool, but she refused with a shake of her head.

Because they were forcibly "cured of internet addiction," people soon appeared in both corridors, quite a few of them, all discussing the dangers and excitement of the Spirit Ascension Platform world. It was much more thrilling than the currently popular online games.

These were Soul Masters who had entered the beginner and intermediate Spirit Ascension Platforms, mostly young people. As for the advanced Spirit Ascension Platform, entry was on fixed dates each month, not today.

Since the Spirit Ascension Platform was established, there had been cases of forced interruptions. Therefore, after receiving the promise of retaining their entry qualifications, these Soul Masters did not become agitated and demand an explanation. Instead, they found it novel, as the last forced interruption was a century ago.

They had certainly rushed to get here.

Ye Xinglan seemed indifferent to the people passing by. However, some equally young teenagers would secretly glance at her.

In terms of facial features, Ye Xinglan was indeed incredibly exquisite. Her skin was as delicate as white jade, and her brows carried a heroic spirit rarely seen at her age, truly capturing the hearts of some young boys.

Some older teenagers from prominent families recognized Ye Xinglan's identity and their expressions immediately changed. They slapped their younger brothers on the forehead.

In Heaven Dou City, the Ye family maintained a very low profile. However, whenever the governor held a banquet, the head of the Ye family was always seated beside him, indicating their hidden strength. Ye Xinglan had also attended a few times.

Some teenagers from powerful families, having seen her at banquets, found her unfamiliar at first glance but recognized her on the second.

Just then, Ye Xinglan's gaze shifted. She saw a tall figure emerge from the crowd – it was her father, Ye Changming.

Ye Xinglan quickly walked up to him. "Father."

Ye Changming also saw his daughter and a doting smile appeared on his face. But remembering that his daughter had secretly entered the Spirit Ascension Platform first, his expression immediately soured.

"This is bad."

Ye Xinglan felt a sense of foreboding and prepared to use her charm skills to escape this lecture. But suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her azure eyes suddenly bursting with intense anger, and she shouted, "Lu Mingfei!"

Right behind Ye Changming, Nan Liujing, whose face was still slightly pale, appeared within Ye Xinglan's line of sight.

Upon hearing the name Lu Mingfei, Ye Changming's expression was unreadable. Just as he was about to help Nan Liujing explain, his daughter's hand suddenly grabbed the Star God Sword, pointing its tip directly at him, looking fierce and aggressive.

This scene instantly drew the attention of everyone in the hall, and pairs of eyes instinctively looked over.

A staff member said in a deep voice, "Young lady, this is a non-combat area of the Spirit Pagoda. Releasing your Martial Soul is prohibited."

"Xinglan." Ye Changming frowned.

Ye Xinglan pursed her lips, snorted, and retracted her Martial Soul.

Nan Liujing said irritably, "Why are you shouting so loudly?"

"Why did you lie to me? Your name isn't Lu Mingfei at all." Ye Xinglan strode forward, stopping less than a meter away from Nan Liujing, staring straight at him.

"Is that important?" Nan Liujing retorted.

"It's very important," Ye Xinglan said earnestly. "Because you are my partner. You told me that partners should trust each other, but you won't even tell me your real name."

Ye Changming listened, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He no longer intervened.

Nan Liujing was taken aback. He saw the strong stubbornness appearing in the girl's clear, ocean-like eyes.

He suddenly remembered that in the original timeline, Ye Xinglan had eaten dozens of large meat buns and two blood-sucking red bean buns to restore her Soul Power and stamina just to help Tang Wulin forge the first component of his Battle Armor. She endured the backlash and severe injuries from the blood-sucking red bean buns to fulfill her promise.

This girl was tsundere and arrogant, but loyal and righteous, and her word was her bond.

It was precisely because of their two hours of mutual help that she had truly considered him a partner. That's why she was so angry upon discovering his name was different.

"My brother's name isn't Lu Mingfei. His name is Nan Liujing."

Na'er, startled by Ye Xinglan's imposing manner, her small face tensed. But she still mustered the courage to step forward, facing Ye Xinglan directly.

"Nan Liujing?" Ye Xinglan looked at the adorable girl in front of her, who looked like a porcelain doll, and asked Nan Liujing in surprise, "Are you Uncle Sun's nephew?"

Nan Liujing smiled and rubbed Na'er's head, then proactively extended his hand. "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Nan Liujing."

Ye Xinglan did not extend her hand, continuing to stare at him.

Nan Liujing played his trump card: "We won't drink the water from the Heaven Dou River anymore."

"Ye Xinglan." Ye Xinglan immediately extended her hand.

The two hands, one large and one small, shook gently.

That's right, she was too true to her word.

An unimportant little interlude ended. Nan Liujing proactively informed the staff member who had guided him earlier that he had killed a special-type Wind Baboon. Learning that the declaration would take time, he left with Ye Changming and the others. Unexpectedly, as they were leaving, they ran into Chu Ziyuan and Chu Zihang, brothers. What a coincidence.

Watching Nan Liujing leave, the staff member who had helped Nan Liujing with the declaration quickly took another elevator exclusively for staff use.

He was not an ordinary employee but the Supervisor of the Spirit Ascension Platform branch, so he had more freedom.

Ascending, he soon reached the second floor of the Spirit Pagoda and found a door labeled "Soul Spirit Supervisor-General."

He knocked lightly.

"Come in," a voice called from inside.

The person's expression was normal as he opened the Gate of Opening and walked in.

The office was very large. An elder behind the desk saw him and, as if triggered by a passive skill, pressed a hidden button beside him. The entire room entered a soundproof state.

"Director, I've discovered a genius who hasn't appeared before." The staff member explained his purpose.

The Director, with great tacit understanding, said, "Let me see."

The Supervisor took out a crystal card, about the size of a thumbnail, and handed it over.

The Director took it and inserted it into a slot beside the computer.

Naturally, an icon appeared on the computer screen. After clicking on it, several scenes were displayed.

These were scenes of Nan Liujing with a purple Soul Ring floating around him, and subsequently killing a special Wind Baboon and a Thousand-Year Green Bush Wolf.

All of it was secretly recorded, not intercepted from the internal network.

The Director's eyes lit up, "What about his age?"

The Supervisor said, "He's six years old. This can be confirmed when he enters the Spirit Ascension Pod. And when his identity information was registered, it was confirmed that he hasn't joined our Spirit Pagoda. However, the person who brought him to the Spirit Ascension Platform is Ye Changming, the head of the Ye Family."

"Brought by Ye Changming?" The Director raised an eyebrow. "That's troublesome. I fear this child is being secretly cultivated by the Tang Sect."

The Supervisor said, "I was worried about that too, which is why I used the excuse of reporting the Soul Spirit Selection Card to you to ask if you wanted to report it further up."

The Director pondered for a moment and made a decision. "A top-tier Dragon Subduing Staff Soul Master who doesn't belong to the Qian Gu Family is worth recruiting. I'll report it to my superiors first. If they're interested, I'll personally visit the Ye Family. You go back first and keep this child's matter confidential for now. If the Pagoda Master asks why it wasn't reported, use Ye Changming as a shield."

Matters concerning Soul Spirits were something he and the Pagoda Master shared the highest monitoring authority over. Issuing a Soul Spirit Selection Card of such high value indeed required his personal involvement.

"I understand." The Supervisor came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

The Director rewatched the video several times, his gaze growing more fervent with each viewing.

The Heaven Dou Spirit Pagoda had always been firmly in the hands of the Qian Gu Family, considered their basic territory. Almost all of its high-ranking officials obeyed the Qian Gu Family, but he was an exception.

Leaving the Spirit Pagoda, a cold wind hit him, making him shiver.

Heaven Dou City was still shrouded in dark clouds, and fine rain fell, bringing moisture.

People walked by the roadside holding umbrellas of various colors, like a sea of flowers.

The roads were still congested, but much better now.

Inside the luxurious Soul Guide Vehicle at that time, as the soundproofing was activated, Ye Changming immediately lectured Ye Xinglan.

Ye Xinglan responded like a toad being poked, occasionally uttering a sound, but appearing absent-minded.

Ye Changming, as a father, felt helpless, but his daughter had lost her mother at a young age, and he didn't want to be too harsh.

"Uncle Ye, it's getting late. How about we find a place to eat and chat?" Nan Liujing couldn't stand it any longer and proactively changed the subject.

Speaking of food, Na'er, who had been sitting obediently beside him, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had been fully charged.

Ye Xinglan gave Nan Liujing a grateful look. "I know a very delicious place, we can go check it out."

"Okay." Nan Liujing trusted the local's choice.

Still in the east of the city, a small shop, not luxuriously decorated but warm and clean, was located there.

Seven or eight tables were already filled with guests, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air.

The boss and several employees were busy in the kitchen, and the flames from the "Planetary Engine" could be seen.

The proprietress chatted with regular customers.

Bubbling heat rose from the iron pan, and white mist carrying a rich aroma drifted upwards.

In front of Nan Liujing was a grilled fish, similar to the Chongqing-style grilled fish from his previous life.

There was an iron pan on top and a rack for charcoal below, ensuring the grilled fish in the pan was continuously heated, and the stir-fried base ingredients would meld more into the fish, creating a rich flavor.

Nan Liujing stared at Ye Xinglan, who was already impatient, "I didn't expect you to like grilled fish."

Ye Xinglan rubbed her hands together, looking like a gourmand. "Ordinary grilled fish can't impress me. This place specializes in the famous Yuhao Grilled Fish. It's said the boss even went to the Grilled Fish Academy in Star Luo City for advanced studies. The taste is absolutely authentic."

Na'er sat beside her, eager to try, but the fish hadn't fully absorbed the flavors yet. She could only widen her beautiful eyes and wait patiently.

Nan Liujing said regretfully, "This grilled fish is good, but it lacks soul."

Ye Xinglan blinked, "Soul?"

Ye Changming remained silent, using serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish from the bottom, which was somewhat flavorful, for Na'er.

Na'er's eyes curved into crescents as she began to eat the fish earnestly.

Nan Liujing asked, "You haven't been to Star Luo City?"

"No," Ye Xinglan shook her head.

"No wonder you don't know," Nan Liujing said, as if he suddenly understood.

Ye Xinglan asked in a low voice, "I heard Father say that Uncle Sun lives in Star Luo City. Since you're his nephew, you must have seen authentic Yuhao Grilled Fish. Is this place not authentic?"

Nan Liujing didn't explain. He casually searched on his phone and handed it to her. "Here, this is authentic Yuhao Grilled Fish."

Ye Xinglan leaned closer and saw pictures of a grilled fish restaurant. The grilled fish in the pictures were skewered on iron skewers, each not very large, about half a jin to a jin. There were also ones like they were eating now, weighing six or seven jin, grilled first and then placed in an iron pan to be cooked with stir-fried ingredients.

Ye Xinglan frowned, "Doesn't this restaurant also have the kind of grilled fish we eat, grilled first then boiled?"

"I'm talking about that blackboard on the wall. That's the soul," Nan Liujing said, picking up a piece of fish and chewing it. Mmm, pickled pepper flavor, the same taste as in his past life.

People who study swordsmanship have extremely sharp eyesight.

Ye Xinglan looked again. As soon as she finished reading, she muttered, "The origin of Yuhao Grilled Fish?"

"Legend has it that Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao's wife, Tang Wutong, once fell ill and couldn't eat anything. Spirit Ice Douluo was extremely anxious. By chance, while making soup, he had an inspiration and turned it into grilled fish. His wife was greatly amazed after eating it, and her illness quickly recovered..."

Ye Xinglan read it word by word. By the end, she was completely stunned and said in surprise:

"Such a familiar story. There's a flatbread shop in our Heaven Dou City with a similar blackboard. However, the protagonist of the story there is Spirit Ice Douluo's mother. It's said that Spirit Ice Douluo himself told others that when he was young and neglected in the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, he couldn't even get enough to eat. His mother would secretly steal hot flatbreads from the kitchen every day and hide them in her chest to bring to him, even burning her chest in the process."

"Later, after Spirit Ice Douluo ascended, because the story was so famous, some junior Soul Master Academies still require students to use this story to write essays praising the greatness of mothers. So, is this what you mean by soul?"

"Yes." Nan Liujing's expression was strange. He never expected that the story about the grilled flatbreads had also been passed down.

Who exactly was the person who wrote the diary?

Ye Xinglan rolled her eyes, "I thought you meant cumin and chili powder were the soul. That's it?"

She clearly disdained the story passed down by Huo Yuhao and immediately changed the subject:

"Nan Liujing, you must have recognized me long ago, right? That's why you tricked me into using a fake name."

Nan Liujing looked at her fair, melon-seed-shaped face with heroic charm and smiled, correcting her, "Things concerning Soul Masters can't be called trickery. As a Soul Master, one must be cautious. Your name, like your Martial Soul and Soul Skills, needs to be kept secret. That's why I changed my name."

"Why is that?" Ye Xinglan, who had never been exposed to such things from her father, immediately became interested. This was much more interesting than Huo's Mother hiding grilled flatbreads in her chest.

Nan Liujing put down his chopsticks and discussed with her, "Let me tell you, some evil Soul Masters have a Blood Paper Martial Soul. If you reveal your name, they might write it on it, and you might inexplicably become disfigured, develop pus, and end up in a tragic state."

"Don't scare me." As a girl who valued her appearance, Ye Xinglan shuddered at the thought of becoming disfigured and developing pus.

No, she absolutely did not want that.

"Brother is tricking you."

Suddenly, Na'er, who had been solely focused on eating, chimed in.

Ye Xinglan was startled and quickly asked, "What do you mean tricking me?"

Nan Liujing felt a sense of foreboding and prepared to stop Na'er, the chatterbox.

Ye Xinglan immediately shot him a cold glance, stopping him.

Na'er's rosy lips were glistening with oil, and she said in a soft, sweet voice, "Brother used ghost stories to scare me before. Later, after I cried, he comforted me by saying those stories were made up. So, sister, you don't need to be afraid."

Knowing that Na'er's appetite had grown, Ye Xinglan had ordered a few more fish, thus winning the foodie's favor.

Seeing her brother trying to scare people again, the foodie Na'er immediately betrayed him.

Ye Xinglan suddenly fell silent, her eyes dangerous.

Nan Liujing coughed dryly, pretending not to see, "Na'er, this grilled fish is a bit spicy. You can't have any more after you finish the one in your bowl."

Hearing this, Na'er, who was holding a bowl and gnawing on a fish head, froze, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

Is it too late to apologize now?

Ye Xinglan couldn't stand it, "How can you bully your own sister like that?"

Na'er nodded like a pecking chicken.

"Let's ignore him." Ye Xinglan grinned and pinched Na'er's soft, bouncy cheeks, saying generously, "Tell me what else you want to eat, and I'll pay!"

"I want more pickled pepper grilled fish." Na'er's tears instantly vanished, and she praised enthusiastically, "Sister, you're so nice."

"That's right." Ye Xinglan tilted her fair chin up, looking proud.

Nan Liujing was helpless, but looking at Na'er, who was much more cheerful than before, a smile couldn't help but appear on his lips.

"Such Soul Masters do exist."

Suddenly, Ye Changming spoke up unexpectedly.

Ye Xinglan was immersed in her sister's praise, and the atmosphere was broken. She frowned, "Dad, why are you scaring people too?"

Ye Changming shook his head, "Killing with paper has indeed been recorded in history, though not as mysteriously. With your talent, you will sooner or later encounter more things that ordinary people don't. It's inevitable that you will encounter similar evil Soul Masters. Remember to be cautious. Even if you have the strength to surpass them, you cannot be careless."

When it came to serious matters, Ye Xinglan was always attentive. She said in a deep voice, "You've educated me many times in this regard. Wasn't the first Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda ten thousand years ago, who was also the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek Academy, Xuan Zi, the same kind you're talking about, Dad? Because of carelessness, despite being a Rank 98 Titled Douluo, he was toyed with by a Soul King, who also took away the young Spirit Ice Douluo."

"If Spirit Ice Douluo hadn't been tough, he might have died at the hands of that evil Soul Master called Death God Emissary. Without a Soul Spirit, ten thousand years later, the entire Soul Master system might have faced major problems."

Nan Liujing couldn't help but glance at Ye Xinglan again. He didn't expect her to know about events from ten thousand years ago.

First the grilled fish, then the grilled flatbreads, and now Xuan Zi. Who was the good person recording all this?

And also.

Xuan Zi, you're quite pathetic, being brought up and criticized even ten thousand years later.

If Ye Changming's earlier silence was intentional, meant to let Nan Liujing and Ye Xinglan chat and build rapport, then this meal, as it progressed, turned into an experienced Soul Master elder teaching two rookies about Martial Souls and Soul Skills.

Whether it was Nan Liujing's Dragon Subduing Staff Martial Soul application or Ye Xinglan's modified sword skills, he could point out their strengths and weaknesses.

Under the warm lamplight, Na'er, despite saying it wasn't spicy, was panting "si ha si ha" with a flushed face, yet she didn't stop.

Nan Liujing and Ye Xinglan were like students attending a class.

Ye Changming's divine power enveloped their location, isolating them from the noise of other diners.

Outside the shop, the light rain had stopped, and the ground was still damp.

Occasionally, passersby with their hands in their pockets and shivering walked past.

There was nothing more peaceful than this.

Ye Xinglan's father's name was originally Ye Tianqiong. I changed it.