"What happened?"
Gui Mei explained, "I followed the route and reached a stretch of Wild Mountain Region, where I found two bodies crushed into pulp. Judging by the time, they must have been the Nuoding City branch hall master! From the traces at the scene, the killer was definitely a Strength-type Soul Master, with cultivation at least Soul Douluo level."
Bibi Dong was furious. She struck the ground with her scepter, and immense pressure instantly filled the entire Pope Palace, leaving Yue Guan and Gui Mei gasping for breath as they trembled in place.
"This is a declaration of war against Spirit Hall!"
Yue Guan said, "Your Holiness, please rein in your Thunder Fury. Finding the killer is our top priority."
"Hmph!" Bibi Dong withdrew her pressure and asked Gui Mei, "Gui Mei, do the bodies and the number of people add up?"
Gui Mei hurriedly replied, "Your Holiness, that's the strangest part. There should have been three bodies: the branch hall master, the coachman, and Lian Xiaotian. But one is missing."
"Could someone have survived and escaped?"
Yue Guan quickly dismissed the idea. "That doesn't make sense. Both of them were crushed into pulp. How could anyone have survived? But there were only two bodies at the scene, and no child's body. There's only one possibility—the killer took the child away?"
Bibi Dong said, "Gui Mei, you took so long. You must have done some investigating, right?"
Gui Mei replied, "Yes, Your Holiness. I discovered that Saint of Medicine Ye Renxin passed through that stretch of Wild Mountain Region around the same time. But there was no one in his group who fit the killer's profile. What's more, a boy suddenly appeared among Ye Renxin's party along the way. He was said to be a distant relative, but I couldn't find out exactly when he showed up."
"So, Old Ghost, you suspect the killer didn't finish off the child, and Ye Renxin happened to pass by and rescue him?"
Gui Mei shook his head. "That was what I thought at first, but I later ruled it out. Ye Renxin is only a Soul Saint. Even the Nine-Heart Begonia's healing ability, unrivaled on the continent, couldn't bring the dead back to life at the Soul Saint level."
"Besides, I saw that boy from a distance. He didn't look like the one in the report. And you know how sensitive I am to light attributes, but I couldn't sense the slightest trace of light from him. Instead, I found that his aura was somewhat like mine."
Yue Guan said, "So it wasn't Ye Renxin?"
Bibi Dong made her decision. "Even if it really was Ye Renxin, that child can no longer be of use to us. He must have joined the Ye Family, and the Ye Family won't be easy to deal with. Our urgent priority is to dig out the killer! Otherwise, we'll lose even more promising talents in the future."
"We obey, Your Holiness!" X2
A month later, Xing Tian finally arrived at Ye Mansion with Ye Renxin.
Ye Mansion stood in a quiet part of Heaven Dou City, but its façade was still extraordinary.
Two stone lions stood before the vermilion gates, and a gilded plaque hung above them. Even standing outside the entrance, Xing Tian could smell the fragrance of flowers and grass.
When the two gatekeepers saw Ye Renxin's carriage, one hurried inside and loudly announced, "The head of the family has returned!" The other respectfully came forward and led the carriage straight into the estate.
The inside of Ye Mansion was even more elegant. Beyond the moon gate in the front courtyard lay a courtyard paved with bluestone, with all kinds of flowers and plants growing in every corner.
Farther in, pavilions and towers stood in orderly arrangement, while delicate palace lanterns hung beneath the covered walkways.
"This is the Ye Family's residence in Heaven Dou City. From now on, it's your home too." Ye Renxin patted Xing Tian on the shoulder, his voice warm.
Before long, everyone in the estate had gathered in the main hall.
There were white-haired elders, middle-aged pillars of the family, and a few fresh young shoots around ten years old. Every one of them behaved with proper decorum.
When they saw Ye Renxin take the seat of honor and Ye Lingling stand at his right hand, they all bowed in greeting. "Head of the family!"
Ye Renxin nodded, invited everyone to sit, and motioned for Xing Tian to stand on his other side before introducing him to the gathered crowd.
"This child is Xing Tian. You can call him Xiao Tian. He's a distant relative I brought back. His talent is even greater than Lingling's. He'll be staying here from now on, so make sure to look after him and never neglect him."
Apart from the children, everyone in the hall felt a storm surge within them.
Ye Renxin had placed Xing Tian at a position almost equal to Ye Lingling's, then emphasized his talent. Anyone with even a shred of sense could hear what he meant.
The elders were the first to speak up. "Rest assured, Head of the family. We'll take good care of Young Master Xiao Tian."
The others chimed in as well, introducing themselves. Their gazes toward Xing Tian held a little more curiosity and respect.
Xing Tian felt both warmth and surprise.
He was touched that Ye Renxin had not only taken him in, but had also given him such a high standing. He would remember this kindness.
But he was also surprised. Almost everyone in Ye Mansion had gathered, servants aside, yet Ye Lingling's parents were the only ones missing.
Was something keeping them away from Heaven Dou City? Or was there another reason?
Xing Tian pressed his lips together, but in the end, he didn't ask.
This was the Ye Family's private business. Even though Ye Renxin had given him a high standing, he was still an outsider and shouldn't pry.
After dinner, Ye Renxin called Xing Tian into his study alone. "Xiao Tian, tomorrow the estate will host a banquet for an honored guest."
Xing Tian immediately guessed who the guest was. "The powerful old friend you mentioned on the way here?"
Ye Renxin smiled. "That's right. Your Martial Soul has only just re-formed, and it's undergone a mutation completely opposite to its original attribute. It's extremely unstable. If you start cultivating, you risk shattering your Martial Soul again, so I forbade you from cultivating your Martial Soul throughout the journey."
"This old man has limited knowledge and doesn't know what to do. But my friend is well-traveled and knowledgeable. Perhaps he can point you toward a solution."
Xing Tian's heart skipped a beat. He had already noticed that the true qi he cultivated seemed to be convertible into Soul Power, and that this world's laws of cultivation were quite peculiar.
Whenever one's Soul Power reached a multiple of ten, one had to attach a Soul Ring. Without one, the next level was impossible to break through, which also made it difficult for his true qi to grow.
Although the Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art's level depended mainly on surviving death tribulations and the number of times one died and returned to life, it also demanded immense power. He would probably need several years to build up enough strength to challenge the Second Death Tribulation.
He had also discovered another power awakening inside him. It seemed to be a Martial Soul too, and it could be cultivated. But after all, the Martial Soul he had shown Ye Renxin was the Mantis Martial Soul.
Even though Ye Renxin had saved his life, Xing Tian wouldn't tell him everything. In a way, that was also a form of protection for the Ye Family.
Because of the influence of the Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art, the Mantis Martial Soul had completely lost its light attribute after reforming. His appearance and aura had changed as well, so he had no fear of drawing the Clear Sky Douluo's attention.
Therefore, the Mantis Martial Soul remained his first choice for cultivation, and Xing Tian urgently needed to resolve its instability.
"Grandpa Ye, please tell me who this honored guest is. How should I talk and get along with him?"
Ye Renxin's smile faded, and he grew serious. "His name is Dugu Bo. He's a Titled Douluo, with the title 'Jade Phosphor'!"
"So he really is a Titled Douluo!"
Xing Tian had already suspected as much. Among Ye Renxin's old friends in the imperial capital, there was probably no one besides a Titled Douluo whom the Saint of Medicine would rely on.
But hearing Ye Renxin confirm it with his own ears still left him shocked.
Most people never met a Titled Douluo in their entire lives, yet he was only six and was about to meet his second one. He truly didn't know whether he was lucky or unlucky.
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