"Senior, what do you mean by this?" Meng Shu asked in confusion.
Chao Tianxiang had always cultivated according to her family's inherited method. Otherwise, she would not have reached Soul Ancestor at the age of twenty-eight.
Her Innate Soul Power was at rank six. This was already an exceptionally fast cultivation speed.
"The Serpent Cane Martial Soul belongs to yin, and women themselves are yin by nature. It is actually very suitable for female Spirit Masters to cultivate."
"Your family's inherited cultivation method involves adding snake-type Martial Souls as Soul Rings. That is why the Dragon and Snake Family once produced a Title Douluo."
"But haven't you noticed? Why is it that male Spirit Masters with the same Serpent Cane Martial Soul increase their Soul Power faster than female Spirit Masters?"
Qian Yufeng spoke again.
After thinking it over carefully, Meng Shu realized it was true. He and his wife had begun cultivating together, yet his Soul Power Level was already ten ranks higher than hers.
Chao Tianxiang said, "This junior is foolish. Please enlighten me, Senior."
"Senior, what exactly is the problem here?" Meng Shu asked curiously.
"No rush. Since fate has brought us together today, I will clear up your doubts." Qian Yufeng gestured for them not to worry, then looked toward the bodies of the Thirteen Protectors.
"Although these people came to kill me, they were also subordinates of an old acquaintance who had only recently passed away. I promised to bury them."
"You two can bear witness."
As soon as Qian Yufeng finished speaking, he took two steps back.
He stretched out both hands and softly called out, "Open!"
A circular pit appeared in the ground ahead. Qian Yufeng used his Soul Power again, placing their bodies into the pit one by one.
Finally, he covered them with earth, selected a rock, smoothed one side of it, and carved the words [Tomb of the Thirteen Protectors of the Nation] onto it before planting it before the raised mound.
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang silently watched him complete everything. Such control over Soul Power had long surpassed their understanding.
After finishing the burial, Qian Yufeng took out three incense sticks from his storage Soul Tool, crouched down, and inserted them before the tombstone. He ignited them by rubbing them with Soul Power.
"Rest in peace. Tell her that I did not let her down."
"As for this world's future, I will ensure that it always favors Spirit Hall!"
Qian Yufeng rose to his feet and looked at Meng Shu and his wife again.
"Let's change locations and wait for two people to arrive."
After saying that, he quickly selected a suitable spot less than twenty meters away.
Soon, the three of them moved elsewhere. Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang watched Qian Yufeng with expectant expressions.
"The reason male cultivators of your Serpent Cane Martial Soul progress faster than women lies in their own yang energy. It can work with the yin energy inherent in the Martial Soul, achieving a degree of yin-yang balance."
After Qian Yufeng finished speaking, he casually asked, "If I remember correctly, male Spirit Masters with the Serpent Cane Martial Soul have never suffered from cultivation deviation, have they?"
Meng Shu replied, "Senior is correct. My mother suffered a loss of control over her Soul Power once in those days. Fortunately, my father discovered it in time, so it did not lead to more serious consequences."
"If female Spirit Masters wish to improve this issue, they must make adjustments to their fourth and fifth Soul Rings."
"And for the first Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, they must choose a snake-type Soul Beast with some yang energy. Combined with the attributes granted by the fourth Soul Ring, it can neutralize that immense yin energy."
"You came to Sunset Forest intending to hunt a Crypt Demon Spider, so you could gain a Soul Skill that interferes with enemies in battle. After all, that is what your family elders did as well."
Qian Yufeng paused and continued while looking at Meng Shu.
"As a man, you are naturally different. But your wife cannot make the same choice."
"By the way, what are your current Soul Power Levels?"
Meng Shu said, "Senior, I have just broken through to rank fifty."
Chao Tianxiang said, "Senior, I have just broken through to rank forty."
Just as Qian Yufeng had said, there was a ten-rank gap in Soul Power between the husband and wife.
"Meng Shu, there is no problem with you choosing a Crypt Demon Spider for your fifth Soul Ring. The two of you can easily kill one around ten thousand years old if you work together."
"But Chao Tianxiang, after Meng Shu obtains his Soul Ring, you should go to Star Dou Great Forest and seek out a Mandala Snake or a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. As for the Crypt Demon Spider, you can choose it for your sixth Soul Ring."
Qian Yufeng gave his final advice.
Just as he finished speaking, two figures swiftly landed nearby. They were Qian Lingxin and Qian Lingsu.
"Family Head, are you all right?!" Qian Lingsu asked worriedly.
"I am fine. They have all been buried," Qian Yufeng said, preparing to leave as well.
Encountering the Peerless Dragon and Snake had been a coincidence.
Their family was also known for righteousness in the Spirit Master world, so giving them a few pointers was nothing much.
"Meng Shu, as the Peerless Dragon and Snake of this generation, you and your wife should cultivate well. Perhaps you may surpass the predecessors of every past generation."
"It was fate that we met today. I should return now as well."
Qian Lingxin and Qian Lingsu walked behind him and stood side by side.
"Senior, Meng Shu will remember today's guidance deeply. Should the Dragon and Snake Family ever be of use to you, we will certainly do everything in our power!" Meng Shu said gratefully.
"Mm. I hope that the next time we meet, you will already have seven Soul Rings."
After Qian Yufeng finished speaking, the three of them swiftly flew away.
Meng Shu stared at their retreating figures in shock.
Title Douluos—three Title Douluos!
Chao Tianxiang looked at her stunned husband and smiled. "Stop staring. Senior has already gone far away. It is time to handle our own business."
Meng Shu came back to his senses and entered Sunset Forest together with Chao Tianxiang.
Three days later, Qian Yufeng and the other two arrived at Tianyong City once more.
They planned to rest here for a while. Traveling was truly too boring.
Of course, Qian Yufeng also needed to meet Mu Cheng.
He naturally brought his two attendants to Maple Leaf Retail.
The attendant led them to the third floor, and Mu Cheng soon entered.
"President, was your operation this quick?!"
Hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was no easy task, especially out at sea.
"Little Cheng, I came this time to tell you the truth about what happened to your father back then."
"You have been investigating it in secret. I know that."
"Now that you can stand on your own, there is no reason to keep it from you any longer."
Qian Yufeng went straight to the point and explained why he had come.
Mu Cheng knew that this President had to be someone who knew the truth. She had merely been waiting for him to tell her himself.
Her grandfather had always avoided the matter. She guessed there was something difficult to speak of.
For something that even her grandfather avoided, it could only be related to the President.
Mu Cheng sat across from Qian Yufeng, took several deep breaths, and said, "President, tell me. I am mentally prepared."
"Your father appeared to have been surrounded by Fallen Spirit Masters, stayed behind alone to cover the retreat, and ultimately died after enduring great hardship. In truth, however, he was assassinated in a planned attack. They cooperated with the Fallen Spirit Masters, and that was the true reason for your father's death," Qian Yufeng said.
The previous Phoenix Feather Douluo had been the strongest person below rank ninety-five.
How could ordinary Fallen Spirit Masters possibly have killed him?
Mu Cheng's eyes widened. The result was simply too unbelievable.
"President, this..." She still found it difficult to accept the truth.
She would rather believe that her father had died in battle.
"The mastermind behind this conspiracy was the previous Heaven Dou Emperor. The ones who acted were the Heaven Dou Empire Secret Guard Organization, an organization that obeys every Heaven Dou Emperor without condition."
"Targeting your father was meant to weaken my strength and prevent me from posing an even greater threat to the Heaven Dou Empire."
Qian Yufeng spoke again, though when he mentioned that organization, he paused ever so slightly.
Mu Cheng immediately sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "Who was the leader of that organization? Could it be that the President knows them?!"
Qian Yufeng nodded and said, "The leader of that organization was named Xue Yao. She was the younger sister of the previous Heaven Dou Emperor."
Before you continue