"Hahaha!"
Inside the Body Sect Tower, Du Busu's hearty laughter echoed.
"Tuo'er, I've lived for over a hundred years, and the experiences of those hundred-plus years aren't as exciting as your mere decade and a few. Fate has made you suffer countless hardships, yet it has also given you unparalleled opportunities."
He had heard a partial truth from Yuwen Tuo, including the Snow Empress. Who would have thought that the Soul Beast embryo he had helped Yuwen Tuo acquire back then was actually the Snow Empress, one of the three Great Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North?
And precisely, his master had left him with a secret art most suitable for Soul Beasts. The chemical reaction of the two combining produced a monster like the current Yuwen Tuo.
If the Snow Empress could be summoned again, with her strength, plus his own support from behind, ensuring Yuwen Tuo's safety should be no problem.
"So, Sect Master, rest assured. This time, I must uncover the truth of the past, and then, kill the Evil Soul Masters until their blood flows like rivers!" Yuwen Tuo clenched his fists and said.
Du Busu lightly patted Yuwen Tuo's shoulder. "Evil Soul Masters have committed countless atrocities; they are the continent's greatest scourge. Whether you're doing this for revenge or to eliminate evil, I support you. Although our Body Sect isn't considered a truly righteous sect, since we have become a Heavenly Soul Protector Sect and are determined to help Vina ascend the throne, then protecting the people of Heavenly Soul is our Body Sect's responsibility, child. Go!"
"Thank you, Sect Master!" Yuwen Tuo nodded, stood up, and walked out of the Body Sect Tower.
At this time, dusk was gradually falling, and everyone else had already left. Only Xiao Xiao remained waiting outside the door.
Seeing Yuwen Tuo walk out of the building, she immediately rushed to meet him. "Tuo Tuo!"
Her voice still seemed a little low, always filled with reluctance.
"Let's go, Xiao Xiao. It's getting late. We should go back and rest." Yuwen Tuo took Xiao Xiao's hand and led her back to their room.
When they first arrived at the Body Sect, Wang Yanfeng only gave them one room, which made him a bit awkward.
But now, it seemed this room was too big. For the next year or so that he would be gone, Xiao Xiao would be living alone, and she would probably feel even more lonely.
"Xiao Xiao, come, I'll teach you some things." Yuwen Tuo led Xiao Xiao to the bedside. The two sat facing each other. "Next, I will be away for half a year to a year. During this time, you must cultivate diligently. I will now impart to you a set of my Ghost Valley Sect's Art of Subjugation and Transformation. Cultivate it well, and in the future, I will certainly help you find suitable Soul Beasts."
"Mm, Tuo Tuo, I will study hard." Xiao Xiao nodded.
She had heard Yuwen Tuo mention this secret art before; it was an un untransmitted secret of their Ghost Valley Sect.
She was already Yuwen Tuo's beloved and junior sister, a genuine Ghost Valley disciple, only then qualified to be taught it.
Two of Yuwen Tuo's Xuanyuan Sword Soul Rings were obtained through this secret art. She had always known that Yuwen Tuo had no other attachments in his life besides her and his elder sister Ling Luochen.
Ling Luochen came from a noble background and possessed immense strength herself, more than enough to protect herself. When Yuwen Tuo was away, his greatest worry was always her.
So she hoped to master this secret art, and in the future, seek out a 100,000-year Soul Beast and subjugate it.
One must know that even the weakest 100,000-year Soul Beast's cultivation was comparable to that of an ordinary Titled Douluo.
In this way, she would be just like Tuo Tuo, carrying a Titled Douluo bodyguard with her, which would put Tuo Tuo at ease.
Yuwen Tuo smiled. What he liked most about Xiao Xiao was her thoughtfulness. She also had a 'love-struck' side, but unlike most, her love was rational. No matter the circumstances, she would never be hindered by the word 'love', preventing their feelings from becoming a cage.
After memorizing the cultivation method, Xiao Xiao rested her head in Yuwen Tuo's embrace and said, "Tuo Tuo, please, please be careful. I will wait for you at home, always. I really, really like Tuo Tuo."
"Okay!" Yuwen Tuo hugged Xiao Xiao's slender waist in return. The two embraced and fell asleep.
A few days later.
The news of the Sun Moon Great Emperor's critical illness suddenly spread across the continent, making the Sun Moon Great Emperor furious.
"Who? Who dares to curse me!"
His health wasn't good, but it wasn't critical yet.
Jing Hongchen quickly advised, "Your Majesty, although this matter is baseless, it's a good opportunity. The Heavenly Soul Empire has delayed us for a year now. With the news of your critical illness spreading, and us using this as a pretext to request the Crown Prince's return, it will be logical and well-founded. The Heavenly Soul Empire, presumably, wouldn't dare refuse."
The Sun Moon Great Emperor thought this made sense. It was just a rumor about him; if it could trick his son into returning, it was worth it.
The situation was exactly as Jing Hongchen predicted. After his people were sent to the Heavenly Soul Empire.
They immediately received a satisfactory reply. The Heavenly Soul Empire had already allowed Yuwen Tuo to return to the Sun Moon Empire first.
Empress Xue Xin stated that although Yuwen Tuo's father and mother were irreconcilable, forcing him to choose one, his mother was in good health, and she believed blood was thicker than water. She believed that the Star Luo Grand Princess would eventually forgive her own son.
But on his father's side, there would be no chance to see him again if he didn't go now. Regardless, Yuwen Tuo should see his Imperial Father one last time.
Upon learning of this thought, the world instantly lauded him for his filial piety and rationality.
With a legitimate reason presented, Yuwen Tuo prepared to depart.
However, when the news reached Star Luo, the atmosphere in the Star Luo court was not so good.
"Bastard."
Xu Yueran completely lost her previous noblewoman image, angrily smashing her entire room.
Only after Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu arrived to comfort her did she reluctantly calm down.
"Imperial Sister, calm down. This matter, Yuwen Tuo is not to blame," Xu Jiujiu said. "That Jing Hongchen's words in the Heavenly Soul court were correct. It was our Star Luo who abandoned Yuwen Tuo back then.
Yet, it was the Sun Moon Empire who never gave up searching for Yuwen Tuo all these years. After the tournament ended,
it was the Sun Moon Empire who first went to the Heavenly Soul Empire, offering generous gifts to demand Yuwen Tuo's return. They seized every opportunity, so naturally, Yuwen Tuo would have a preference for them in his heart."
"In fact, if I were Yuwen Tuo, I would also be moved by his Imperial Father's persistence and effort. Moreover, in the past year, we haven't found any treasures that could surpass the Rank 9 Soul Tools offered by the Sun Moon Empire."
"Whether it's for affection or for benefit, Yuwen Tuo's choice of the Sun Moon Empire is understandable. Furthermore, now that the Sun Moon Great Emperor is critically ill, as his son, it is only right and proper for him to see his father one last time. It is excusable."
Xu Jiujiu had grown quite a bit, learning to consider things from Yuwen Tuo's perspective.
In fact, she had already mentally prepared herself for this.
"What do you know? That man is despicable and shameless. What critical illness? I suspect he's just faking it to trick Yuwen Tuo into going back," Xu Yueran raged.
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