The Return and the Stir It Caused

"What did you say?! The Divine Craftsman Tie Futu has broken through to the Soul Douluo—?!...

In the magnificent palace of "Wood Plant City," beneath a Mu Jin tree that had reached three hundred years of age, King Grand Duke Mu Feng stood up somewhat erratically, staring intently at the eunuch before him.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch bowed deeply and said respectfully, "The message was sent back an hour ago by our secret guards stationed at the ' Blue Silver Territory ' Mountain Sea Estate."

"According to the report from the secret guards, it was said by Baron Ling Yi of Baron Blue Silver himself."

"Ling Yi?" Upon hearing this name, Grand Duke Mu Feng frowned slightly. "He... he's back?"

The eunuch said, "Three hours ago, at noon, they appeared in North Mouth River Town of ' Blue Silver Territory ' with a girl who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old."

"Call--"

Grand Duke Mu Feng let out a long sigh, trying to calm himself down. He turned his gaze to the eunuch and said in a deep voice, "Tell Mu Li to be careful lately. If Ling Yi comes to ' Wood Plant City,' notify me immediately!"

"In addition,"

He took a deep breath, but still couldn't suppress his surging emotions. "Send someone to Gengxin City of the Star Luo Empire as quickly as possible. I need to know if the Divine Craftsman Tie Futu has truly become Soul Douluo!!!"

"Yes!" the eunuch replied loudly, took a few steps back, and then turned and left quickly.

"Bang--!"

Watching the eunuch's departing figure until he disappeared from sight, Grand Duke Mu Feng, who had been restraining his emotions, finally slammed his palm on the table in front of him, shattering the heavy, white jade table into dozens of pieces, and the tea and snacks on it scattered everywhere.

Outside the garden, the maids, who had been dismissed early on, all lowered their heads and dared not make any move.

[Blacksmith Association - Water Wood Duchy Branch]

"What?! That kid's back?!"

Mu Li sat in the seat that originally belonged to Old Master Jin, stopped his Soul Power meditation, and looked at the eunuch who had just come from the palace with some surprise.

"Earl Excellency, the Grand Duke asked me to inform you so that you won't be caught off guard if Baron Ling Yi were to suddenly visit..." the eunuch said respectfully.

"Prepare?" Mu Li frowned immediately, displeased. "What do I have to prepare?"

"In terms of status, I am Earl, and he is merely a minor baron. Within this association, I am currently the president, and he is only a vice president."

"Not to mention, he's just a Grand Soul Master, while I'm Soul Ancestor. Do I need to be so careful and prepared just because he's coming back?"

Faced with Mu Li's anger, the eunuch remained calm, still keeping his head down, and said softly, "Earl Excellency, firstly, according to our investigation, Baron Ling Yi has now broken through to the Soul Elder, a Healing System Soul Elder."

"Furthermore, putting aside strength, the network of connections that Baron Ling Yi built up within the duchy in previous years is also quite formidable."

"Behind him stood the Soul Emperor with the ' Jade Phosphorous Serpent ' Martial Soul, and the Soul King, Earl Jiang Yuan..."

"Alright!" Mu Li his hand, interrupting the eunuch's narration, and said impatiently, "I know, I'll be more careful from now on, no need to say anything more!"

Nonsense! Do you really think he, Mu Li, is a good-for-nothing playboy who just wants to eat and wait to die?

Wasn't that just to save face?

That eunuch has absolutely no sense of propriety!

Mu Li, who experienced that period of time, truly understands the "horror" of Ling Yi.

That network of connections—it's fair to say that Ling Yi's strength was too weak; otherwise, it's hard to say whether the Grand Duke of the [Water Wood Duchy] would still bear the surname 'Mu'.

His exceptional social skills and strong affinity, combined with the personal connections and networks he built through treating the wounded, almost made the lower and middle classes of the entire duchy know only "The Great Physician" Ling Yi, and not Grand Duke Mu Feng.

During the height of Ling Yi's fame, the five marquises who controlled the five major military departments of the duchy would always mention the name "Ling Yi" in their conversations with their soldiers. The orders of the top generals were not as effective as the execution of Ling Yi's words.

Given the status of Grand Duke Mu Feng and the five marquises, how could they tolerate such a situation?

However, it's not so easy to take down Ling Yi.

We must consider the growing power of the Blacksmith Association's Water Wood Duchy branch at that time; we must consider that the Cold Wind Grand Camp, Song Yao (of Marquis of Cedar) and the Blacksmith Association's Water Wood Duchy branch were a community of shared interests; we must consider the perceptions of those in the three major cities and five military commands of the Water Wood Duchy who were on friendly terms with Ling Yi...

Most importantly, Ling Yi, who was in a state of great prosperity and prosperity at the time, knew when to back down and returned directly to the ' Blue Silver Territory ', no longer concerning himself with the affairs of the outside world.

This retreat even relieved Grand Duke Mu Feng, who felt a Sisi pang of guilt towards Ling Yi.

To alleviate this Sisi sense of guilt, after discussing with the five marquises, Grand Duke Mu Feng decided to send Ling Yi to the border battlefield between the two great empires.

Whether one lives or dies is determined by fate!

I thought that with Ling Yi's intelligence, he should understand the intentions of the Duchy's higher-ups: even if he didn't die on the battlefield, he would stay outside and never return.

The position of Lord of the Blue Silver Territory was reserved for him, as was the position of Vice President of the Blacksmith Association of the Water Wood Duchy, leaving a semblance of dignity for both parties and others within the principality.

But now, he's actually back?

Thinking of this, a flash of inspiration Mu Li. His eyes fixed intently on the eunuch, he asked, word by word:

"Was it that Dugu Bo who broke through to the Soul Saint realm?"

In his understanding, only in this way could Ling Yi have the confidence to return without fear of the infighting that had once occurred within the country.

Faced with Mu Li's question, the eunuch shook his head.

"Call--"

Mu Li breathed a sigh of relief, a relaxed expression on his face. "That's true, breaking through to the Soul Saint realm isn't so easy."

"Besides, even if that Dugu Bo breaks through to the Soul Saint, Ling Yi shouldn't think he can regain control of the association here."

Soul Saint, we have them here too..."

As they were talking, a Youyou was heard whispering:

"Earl Excellency, according to the secret guards, after Baron Ling Yi returned to the ' Blue Silver Territory ' Mountain Sea Estate, he told his relatives and friends that his martial uncle, the former president of the [Blacksmith Association], the Divine Craftsman Tie Futu, broke through to the Soul Douluo realm more than two months ago—"

Mu Li: "..."

Around the same time, news of Ling Yi's return spread rapidly to every interested person in the entire [Water Wood Duchy], bringing them a sense of unease and unease.

The instigator of all this is still holding a second celebratory banquet in the "Blue Silver Territory" Mountain Sea Estate.

Standing before the main seat, Ling Yi raised his wine glass, surveyed the hundreds of people in the room, a strange smile flashing in his eyes, while his face broke into a hearty laugh:

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us raise our glasses together to our ' Blue Silver Territory,' to every single one of the ' Blue Silver Territory ' members..."

Still writing, there will be another chapter tonight.