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However, seeing that it was about to dawn, Yang Xiaotian was in no rush to consume the Four Symbols Spirit Pill for cultivation.
He safely stored the Four Symbols Spirit Pill and sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate the Primordial Dragon Art.
After days of relentless cultivation, Yang Xiaotian felt that he could awaken the second head of the True Dragon Power soon.
Once he awakened the second head of the True Dragon Power, his strength, as well as defense and speed, would skyrocket again.
At this time, just as the sky was getting light, Yang Chao came out of the mansion's main gate and smelled a faint scent of blood.
He looked around suspiciously.
Finally, he saw several patches of blood on the street not far from the main gate.
The bloodstains, dried by the night breeze, had already become very faint.
Yang Chao touched the ground with his finger and judged that the bloodstains were likely left the previous night.
Could there have been a fight here last night?
However, he hadn't heard any noise of a fight.
After investigating without finding anything, Yang Chao went to the market in Xingyue City to buy some new furnishings, but as he passed by the Zeng Family Mansion, he saw white cloth hanging all over the mansion, and wails of crying emanated from within.
Yang Chao felt curious and inquired with a passerby, only to be shocked, "What, Zeng Hongsen was killed last night?"
"Not just Zeng Hongsen, his steward was also killed," the passerby spoke in a hushed voice. "I hear the steward's head was chopped off and rolled several meters away after it was found on the ground."
Yang Chao felt a turmoil inside.
Even though Zeng Hongsen's steward wasn't an Innate Fourth Stage Grandmaster, he was still at the late stages of Innate Level Three. It was hard to believe that he too had been killed.
"Zeng Hongsen and his steward are killed, and no other experts from the Zeng Family heard the fight?" Yang Chao asked.
The passerby shook his head, "No, the Zeng Family experts didn't hear any noise of a fight. Both seem to have been swiftly killed by the attacker in one move, which is why there was no noise."
Killed swiftly in one move?
Yang Chao was even more shocked.
Whoever could kill Zeng Hongsen and his steward in one move definitely possessed power beyond the Innate Fifth Stage.
Who could it be?
Not many in Xingyue City were capable of swiftly killing Zeng Hongsen in one move.
Could it have been an expert from outside the city?
The Zeng Family was also a major clan in Xingyue City, and with Zeng Hongsen, the head of the family, being killed, it caused a great commotion in the city.
Meanwhile, Wen Jiawei, who had just gotten up in the morning, was so frightened upon hearing the news of Zeng Hongsen's murder that he was in a complete panic.
"Dead, dead!" Wen Jiawei's mind thundered, and then he remembered the mysterious alchemist his cousin had spoken of, sending chills down his spine.
Luckily, he had sent Zeng Hongsen away last night. If Zeng Hongsen had stayed at his mansion, who knows what might have happened.
The more Wen Jiawei thought about it, the more frightened he became.
At this time, in the Yang Family Manor's courtyard, Chen Yuan was also in distress.
Yesterday, when Yang Xiaotian and Yang Zhong had their bout, he had publicly declared that if Yang Xiaotian defeated Yang Zhong, he would take Yang Xiaotian as a disciple.
But Yang Xiaotian just had a second-level Martial Soul.
He, the Deputy Dean of Divine Sword Academy, taking a disciple with only a second-level Martial Soul?
If word got out, wouldn't he become the joke of the entire Divine Sea Country?
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But if he didn't accept, wouldn't he become someone who went back on his word?
When that gets out, how would others view Chen Yuan?
Chen Yuan expressed his predicament to Princess Cheng Beibei.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Beibei said, "Master, you needn't be troubled. If Master doesn't wish to take him as a disciple, we can just give him some compensation; I doubt he will dare to harbor any resentment."
Yang Xiaotian, with a second-level Martial Soul, if he were to take her Master as his teacher, wouldn't that make him her junior brother?
She, as the fourth princess of the Divine Sea Country, holds such a noble status. If someone with a second-level Martial Soul became her junior brother, that would be a great loss of face for her.
"Compensation?" Chen Yuan's heart stirred.
Cheng Beibei stated, "I have a portion of top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid here. The top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid is hard to come by in the market. When the time comes, we'll give this top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid to Yang Xiaotian; he will surely be overcome with gratitude."
Chen Yuan nodded and immediately had someone summon Yang Chao and Yang Xiaotian to the Yang Family Manor.
Just as Yang Chao had returned to his residence from buying new furniture in the market, he received the summons and hurriedly brought Yang Xiaotian to the Yang Family Manor.
Seeing Yang Chao and Yang Xiaotian arrive, Chen Yuan carefully chose his words before saying to them, "Yesterday, during Xiaotian's match with Zhong'er, I said that if Xiaotian were to win, I would take Xiaotian as my disciple."
"At the time, it was said in jest. I hope you won't take it seriously."
Yang Xiaotian himself didn't want to be Chen Yuan's disciple, so he didn't mind what was said.
However, Yang Chao felt a deep sense of disappointment upon hearing this.
At that moment, Princess Cheng Beibei took out the Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid and said to Yang Xiaotian, "Here is a portion of top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid, my master's compensation to you."
She then placed the top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid on a table to the side, waiting for Yang Xiaotian to come and take it.
"You should thank my master," added Cheng Beibei.
Top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid?
Yang Xiaotian glanced at the top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid on the table. To him now, even the highest-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid was trash.
Did Chen Yuan and Cheng Beibei really think he would covet their top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid?
"No need. Keep the top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid for your own use," Yang Xiaotian said to Cheng Beibei.
What he couldn't stand the most was Cheng Beibei's condescending attitude, as if she were bestowing charity.
Cheng Beibei had expected Yang Xiaotian to happily come forward and take the Spiritual Liquid. Upon hearing his response, she frowned and said, "Yang Xiaotian, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid is hard to find in the market. Were it not for us, you likely wouldn't have the chance to even see it in your lifetime."
Chen Yuan was also taken aback.
He had not expected Yang Xiaotian to refuse the top-grade Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid.
Yang Xiaotian looked indifferently at Cheng Beibei and said to his father Yang Chao, "Father, let's go!"
Just then, Chen Yuan suddenly spoke up, "Wait." He then addressed Yang Xiaotian, "Child, we mean no harm or prejudice towards you. May I have another look at your Martial Soul?"
Although Yang Hai was convinced Yang Xiaotian had rapidly improved by consuming large quantities of Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid, he was still curious and wanted to take another look at Yang Xiaotian's Martial Soul.
Yang Xiaotian shook his head and said, "No need. It's unnecessary."
Yet Yang Chao spoke up, "Xiaotian, since Chen Yuan wishes to have another look at your Martial Soul, summon your Martial Soul again and let Chen Yuan have a look."
In truth, he was equally puzzled.
Because he knew that he had never given his son any Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid to ingest.
Seeing the earnest look in his father's eyes, Yang Xiaotian hesitated for a moment before finally summoning his Black Tortoise Martial Soul again.
Instantly, intense black light surged.
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