The carriage's suspension was simply awful. It was fine near the cities, but once they entered the wilderness, the roads were littered with stones and potholes. The violent jolting nearly smashed Ye Yan's backside into eight pieces.
After a month-long journey, Ye Yan arrived at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. Only on the way had he remembered that Heaven Dou Royal Academy admitted nobles exclusively, so he couldn't just walk in and cling to Yanyan's coattails.
Besides, he didn't have the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and couldn't identify the immortal herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. If he accidentally picked a poisonous one, he would end up flat in a coffin.
There was no helping it. Ye Yan could only sell himself now. Given Qian Renxue's love of talent, he trusted she wouldn't bear to kill a peerless genius with twin martial souls and a hundred-thousand-year first soul ring.
Then he would pledge his loyalty. Getting Chrysanthemum Douluo's illustrated herb guide would take only a word from her. Once he obtained the immortal herbs, he could use them to win her favor in return and have that silly little angel firmly in the palm of his hand.
At the entrance to the Eastern Palace, two squads of armored guards were patrolling. Seeing him in plain clothes without a Soul Master escort, they assumed he was an ignorant commoner and moved to drive him away.
He hurriedly summoned the Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, and his powerful soul power erupted.
"My name is Ye Yan. I'm nine years old, a rank-twenty, one-ring tool Soul Master of the power attack system, with innate full soul power. I've come specifically to pledge my service to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Innate full soul power!
The guard was startled. After calling out to the others, he led Ye Yan into the crown prince's residence, apologizing repeatedly along the way.
"This way, young sir. I had eyes yet failed to recognize Mount Tai. I'll have someone inform the crown prince immediately."
Innate full soul power was exceedingly rare across the entire continent. Even Heaven Dou Royal Academy didn't have a single person with it. Now one had come voluntarily to serve their lord, so the guard naturally dared not show the slightest negligence.
"Xue Qinghe" was also somewhat surprised upon hearing the news. Although even innate full soul power fell far short of her own gifts, he was still a prospective Titled Douluo. She received him directly in the main hall.
The moment Ye Yan entered the hall, he teleported in front of her and seized her white-jade hands, his sparkling eyes brimming with admiration.
"Wow, so you're His Highness the Crown Prince! I grew up hearing stories about you. Our old village chief always said that as long as the crown prince was here, the heavens would remain clear."
What incredible speed!
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed. What was that? A soul skill? Even I couldn't react! Feeling the warmth against her hands, she unobtrusively freed them from his grasp.
"You flatter me, you flatter me. I've only done what I ought to as crown prince. But you, young Ye, have already reached rank twenty at such a tender age. You truly put the rest of us to shame."
What a convincing act, was Ye Yan's first reaction. But since you insist on pretending, don't blame me for taking advantage of you~
"Brother Qinghe, could you dismiss everyone? I have a secret I'd like to tell you."
Qian Renxue's brow tightened. What could possibly warrant all this secrecy? Still, she did as he asked. With the two elders, Snake Lance and Pufferfish, present, she had no fear of any tricks he might pull.
Ye Yan gave a wickedly charming smile and summoned his two martial souls, Blue Silver Grass and the Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords. At the same time, an enormous scarlet soul ring slowly descended from above his head, its violent soul power fluctuations forcing Qian Renxue several steps backward.
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
Her brilliant golden eyes filled with shock, and she unconsciously overlooked even his twin martial souls. It wasn't that she had never seen a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring; both Golden Crocodile and Qian Daoliu possessed one.
What shocked her was that Ye Yan's very first ring was a hundred-thousand-year one. But how was that possible? Wasn't the limit for a first ring only a little over four hundred years?
No matter how astonishing your talent or how far you could push the limits, surely you couldn't go this far?
The sight of Qian Renxue standing there dumbstruck left Ye Yan thoroughly satisfied. So what if you started at rank twenty, were the reincarnation of an angel's remnant soul, and were Spirit Hall's young master? You still fell for this handsome fellow.
"Brother Qinghe, I'm actually only six this year, not nine like I told the guard. I happened across a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that had just transformed, and used a little trick to swindle this soul ring out of it."
Huh?!
Hissing kitty ≽^⚈⩊⚈^≼
What kind of absurd luck was this? My father lost his life going after a hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast, and he still didn't get it.
This boy managed it all by himself at six? Could he be some child of destiny straight out of a storybook?
Still, thank goodness he came to me so early. What could a six-year-old child possibly understand? With enough guidance, wouldn't he become the sharpest blade in my hand?
Ahem. Qian Renxue wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.
"Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts are all exceptionally cunning, yet you managed to take one down entirely on your own. Truly, heroes emerge from the young."
Then her tone shifted, and she firmly placed her hands on Ye Yan's shoulders.
"However, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast always drops a soul bone. Although I won't covet your good fortune, other Soul Masters on the continent may not be so scrupulous. Until you can protect yourself, you'd best not reveal your soul ring to anyone."
Although she had her two stalwart guardians, she couldn't have them follow Ye Yan every moment. Even without looking farther afield, her own teacher, Ning Fengzhi, with his kindly face and ruthless heart, would never let him slip away if he found out.
Whether he recruited Ye Yan as a son-in-law or killed him for his soul bone, neither was something Qian Renxue could tolerate. She already regarded Ye Yan as her own possession.
Ye Yan nodded to show he understood. Unless he was doing it to live off someone else, anyone who saw his soul ring would have to be a dead man!
Only then did Qian Renxue remember that he had already reached rank twenty. She asked whether he needed her to arrange an escort to the Sunset Forest for soul hunting, or whether his family would accompany him instead.
Since martial souls were inherited from one's parents, and higher-quality martial souls meant stronger innate soul power, Qian Renxue naturally wouldn't assume his family had no Soul Masters. Unfortunately, the person she had met was a transmigrator.
A veil of tears immediately gathered in Ye Yan's bright eyes. He hugged Qian Renxue tightly and buried his head in her chest.
"Brother Qinghe, I... I haven't had parents for as long as I can remember. All these years, I've lived in a straw shack and eaten wild greens. I miss them so much, X﹏X."
Qian Renxue felt deeply guilty. She hadn't expected his childhood to have been so miserable. In a way, they were fellow sufferers.
Feeling the dampness against her chest, Qian Renxue didn't push him away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and gently patted his back. Seeing how helpless Ye Yan looked, she was briefly overwhelmed by maternal affection.
"It's all right, it's all right. I'm here. If you don't mind, I could be your mommy~"
Meanwhile, Ye Yan was taking shameless advantage of her. Even with the soul bone disguise, he could still feel those rolling hills, with their milky fragrance spilling everywhere.
Wait, what did she just say?
Ye Yan stiffened. Did she just let that slip? Kitty, you're disguised as a man right now! And you want me to call you Mommy? Do you take me for some ordinary junior from Valorant?
Feeling the sudden change in the boy in her arms, Qian Renxue finally realized she had let something slip in the heat of the moment. Since that was the case...
"Snake Lance, Pufferfish, seal the doors!"
Before you continue