Ming Tian used his remaining soul power to dig a large pit. He carefully placed the Little Flame Fang Beast's corpse inside and gently covered it with soil.
During this process, he kept muttering something, seemingly talking to someone.
"Just like this… I buried the bodies of everyone in our village in the earth, just like this. I know they won't come back, but I still wanted them to rest in peace."
"Then I left our village and came to Tianling City. I met Big Brother Yan, and I'm so grateful to have met such wonderful people like you."
He gently patted the last handful of soil into place. Exhausted, Ming Tian sat on the ground. He had no strength left. He looked up at the clear, round moon in the sky, and a few tears escaped his eyes.
Not far from Ming Tian, Yan Qingwan, who had absorbed her Soul Ring, quietly listened. Her normally expressionless face softened with a hint of sadness, and her gaze towards Ming Tian was complex.
So that's how it was… Ming Tian…
"Thank you for telling me this. I won't tell anyone, I promise you. If Qingwan ever lets this slip, may she not have a good ending."
Yan Qingwan walked over to Ming Tian and sat down beside him.
"From now on, you can consider our home as your own. We will also help you find your sister. Also, I've always had doubts about my mother's death. My father told us that our mother died at the hands of an Evil Soul Master, but I've never understood why an Evil Soul Master would kill her. Brother hates Evil Soul Masters because of Mom, but I don't think it's that simple."
"I'll keep your secret and won't tell my brother. We'll find out the truth together."
"Speaking of which, you really helped me this time. You helped me obtain a Soul Ring. If it weren't for you and the Little Flame Fang Beast, I might have died today. Thank you. I really like this birthday present."
Yan Qingwan released her Soul Ring. The yellow Soul Ring rose into her hand, appearing very small. Under the glow of the Soul Ring, Yan Qingwan seemed to possess an even more mysterious aura.
"No, I didn't actually complete what I promised you. You don't need to comfort me like this. Saving a life is one thing. I will definitely help you obtain a Soul Ring myself, to fulfill what I said on your birthday. If you don't succeed with the first ring, then wait for your second one. If you miss the second, wait for the third. One day, I will personally help you obtain a Soul Ring. That will be when I truly fulfill the promise I made on your birthday."
Ming Tian said with a determined expression, a hint of stubbornness, and a touch of cuteness.
"Pfft, alright, I know. Then I'll trouble you with my Soul Rings from now on. I don't even know how far I can go. If I become a Titled Douluo and you still haven't helped me get a Soul Ring, will you hunt a Ten-thousand Year Soul Beast for me?"
"Of course!"
Ming Tian blurted out without thinking, not even sure why he said that.
"Ming Tian!!!! Xiaowan!!"
Just as the two were talking, Yan's voice came from a distance. The two were overjoyed. Hearing Yan's voice meant he was still alright.
"Brother!! Big Brother Yan!!"
"We're over here!!"
The two also shouted loudly. Hearing Ming Tian and Yan Qingwan's voices, Yan and He Chen, who were looking for them, were also delighted. The two soon found them by following the sound.
"Uncle He Chen?"
Seeing He Chen and Yan together, Ming Tian and Yan Qingwan were both surprised and delighted.
"You two little ones, you've made us search for you. Are you both okay?"
He Chen asked with concern.
"We're fine, Uncle He. I wonder if you…"
"Haha, since you're both fine, then naturally I'm fine too. Look."
He Chen threw out a wooden nail from his hand. Seeing this wooden nail, the two understood that He Chen had already killed the Steel Winged Bat. Otherwise, the characteristic mark of the Steel Winged Bat wouldn't have easily fallen into He Chen's hands.
"This night was truly dangerous. I think we should go back first and come back to get the Soul Ring after dawn."
He Chen said, but Yan Qingwan and Ming Tian smiled.
"Uncle He Chen, there's no need. I've already obtained a Soul Ring, look."
With that, Yan Qingwan released her own Soul Ring. He Chen, looking at Yan Qingwan's yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring, was also astonished.
"This… how did you obtain it?"
Yan Qingwan explained the events of the Little Flame Fang Beast saving her life, but she concealed the role Ming Tian had played.
After listening to Yan Qingwan's explanation, He Chen and Yan were also shocked, but Yan couldn't help but feel that something wasn't quite right. Looking at Ming Tian, and thinking of the special ability Ming Tian used during the soul battle with the Yuan family, he couldn't help but furrow his brows.
The four said no more. Since the task was completed, they immediately returned to Tianling City. This trip had exhausted Ming Tian and the others. Returning to the Yan family, getting a good night's sleep, recovering, and cultivating their soul power was the most important thing.
Ming Tian used the Thousand-Year Soul Ring skill for the first time. This usage also gave him an assessment. With his current soul power and mental strength, he estimated that he could only use Heavenly Void Vision about three times at its peak. After using it three times, his soul power would be almost exhausted.
Moreover, Ming Tian also found something else. The ethereal mental power seemed extremely important, with very strict requirements for the release of some soul skills. For example, if he encountered an opponent with higher mental power than his, the effect of Heavenly Void Vision would be almost zero.
However, Ming Tian couldn't find any clues on how to improve his so-called mental power. It seemed that he would have to consult Meng Qianji next time.
Cultivating soul power was one thing, but cultivating the body was also extremely important. The strength of the body directly determined how much pain Ming Tian could endure when he next added a Soul Ring or absorbed a Soul Beast. Even as You Hua Mo said, Ming Tian could now absorb Soul Rings and Soul Beasts with around seven thousand years of cultivation, but the absorption process would be very difficult and the pain from his mind and body would be much greater.
To reduce this pain, Ming Tian had to strengthen himself in all aspects.
Every morning, he would exercise in the Yan family's courtyard to strengthen his body and stretch his muscles.
This day was no exception. Sometimes Yan would also train with him. When Ming Tian was almost done with his training, a fast, azure silhouette suddenly flashed in front of Ming Tian. Before Ming Tian could see who it was, he felt a gust of wind rushing towards him, and a large fist swung towards his face.
Ming Tian quickly retreated, pushing back with one foot and raising the other to collide with the oncoming fist. After neutralizing the punch, his Soul Rings lit up, and his hands turned into scorpion claws, ready to unleash energy and strike.
"Hey!! Just a spar, no soul power allowed!"
Only then did Ming Tian see the person in front of him. It was Yuan Yun, who had previously engaged him in a soul battle.
Only he could have such speed. The Azure Crane Martial Soul made him an expert in speed, even without soul power or a Martial Soul.
Ming Tian retracted his scorpion claws, wondering what the young master of Tianling City was doing at the Yan family. Moreover, since it was Yuan Yun, then as his sister, Yuan Yu…
"Clap clap…"
The sound of clear hand claps rang out. Ming Tian looked towards the sound and found that Yuan Yu was indeed there, and Yan Qingwan was also with her.
"Not bad reaction speed. We meet again, Ming Tian."
Yuan Yu still had a somewhat cold demeanor, her face as smooth as jade, always dressed in gray tones, and her hair was a gradient of light gray, short, with black at the ends.
"You're too kind, I've seen the two young city masters."
Ming Tian nodded, and Yuan Yu frowned at the title.
"No need for such a title. Our families have a private relationship with the Yan family. I call Xiaowan my sister, and you can call me Sister Yu."
"Sister Yu?"
Ming Tian tilted his head and called out.
"Ah~~"
Yuan Yu smiled. The previous soul battle loss to Ming Tian and Yan had embarrassed her, and now she had recovered some face.
"Hey! Boy, call me Brother Yun and let me hear it!"
Yuan Yun put his arm around Ming Tian's shoulder from the side, smiling and speaking heartily.
"Understood, Brother Yun."
"You're here today to…"
"I heard that Sister Wan obtained a Soul Ring, so I came to see her. Also, we have another matter, we want to invite you."
"What is it?"
"To participate in a new soul battle at the Grand Soul Arena, the final mode, seven versus seven."