Hearing those words, Ye Tian looked a little disappointed. "With Xiao Ying and the others gone, searching for my sister will be much more difficult."
After all, Xiao Ying was their guide and Ye Xinglan's class leader.
Seeing Ye Tian's disappointed expression, Xiao Bai and the Sea Witch exchanged glances, both tightening their lips at the same time.
Finally—
The Sea Witch silently stepped forward, placing her warm and delicate hand on Ye Tian's shoulder.
"…Actually, during these three days you were gone, we have also been searching—and we've made a significant discovery."
"You mean… you've already found her?"
Ye Tian's eyes suddenly lit up, and he pointed at Xiao Bai and the Sea Witch, clicking his tongue.
"Did you find my sister, only for Xuan Miaoyin and the others to take her away?"
Upon hearing this, the Sea Witch and Xiao Bai exchanged another glance.
"…The tracking mark disappeared when we entered the core region of the Star Dou Forest. There was… a female corpse there."
"This is the identification tag I retrieved from the body."
The Sea Witch extended the tag in her left hand toward Ye Tian while slightly tightening her grip on his shoulder.
She was genuinely afraid that Ye Tian might not be able to handle the blow and collapse on the spot.
Hearing the weight in her voice, Ye Tian looked between the Sea Witch and Xiao Bai, finally sensing that something was wrong.
Instinctively, he took the identification tag from the Sea Witch's hand.
The moment he touched it, his entire body stiffened as if electrocuted, and his spine went ice-cold.
The tag bore a single, neatly inscribed character—"Lan."
And his sister's name was Ye Xinglan!
Ye Tian froze, staring at the tag, completely motionless.
The blood vessels in his eyes slowly darkened, his gaze turning crimson.
"So, in the end… I was still too late?"
Ye Tian clenched the wooden tag with all his strength, gripping it tightly.
The Sea Witch, watching from the side, had no idea how to comfort him.
Despite her long lifespan, she had never personally experienced the pain of losing a loved one.
She knew she lacked both the ability and the right to console Ye Tian.
The only thing she could do was quietly step away and let him grieve alone.
Half an Hour Later
Ye Tian took the initiative to approach the Sea Witch.
Aside from his slightly red-rimmed eyes, his expression had returned to normal.
"Was her body buried?" he asked.
The Sea Witch nodded gently. "Xiao Bai and I have already built a grave for her."
"Thank you." Ye Tian bowed slightly.
"No need for thanks," the Sea Witch said, holding his hand. "This is simply something we should do."
"I'd like to see her grave," Ye Tian said softly.
"I'll go with you," the Sea Witch responded, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.
Even though the burial site was dangerously close to the core region of the Star Dou Forest, she did not hesitate.
It wasn't just a duty assigned to her by Lord Poseidon.
It was also an act of genuine concern from one friend to another.
"But we can't stay too long," she added. "Xiao Bai and I have both reached the Title Douluo level, and lingering in the core region for too long might attract the attention of the two ruling soul beasts."
With their terrifying strength, even another ten years of cultivation wouldn't allow her and Xiao Bai to surpass them.
Encountering them would be incredibly dangerous.
Ye Tian waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about them—I know both of those soul beasts."
"Huh? You know them?"
The Sea Witch was stunned.
Even back when she was just a naive young girl, she had heard of the fearsome reputation of the two core-region soul beasts.
Even Super Douluo could be instantly slain by them.
Yet Ye Tian, who was visiting for the first time, claimed to know them?
That was a bit too outrageous.
Seeing her shock, Ye Tian briefly recounted his experiences from the past three days.
"No wonder…" The Sea Witch suddenly understood.
"So this time, I'm not just here to visit my departed sister."
"I also need to find the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape to get answers—who exactly killed my sister?"
Ye Tian's eyes burned with unquenchable fury.
He had never been one to hold grudges.
But he never feared them either.
Whoever was responsible… would pay dearly!
Ye Xinglan was the only family he had in this world!
…
Led by the Sea Witch, the three of them made their way toward the grave.
A day passed.
"This is it," the Sea Witch said heavily, pointing at a mound of earth that had yet to fully dry.
"…Did she die peacefully?"
Ye Tian clenched his fingers together, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the grave, speaking through gritted teeth.
The Sea Witch remained silent.
Because she didn't know how to answer.
For a soul master who died in the Star Dou Forest, the best outcome was to be swallowed in one bite by a soul beast.
Otherwise… the death would be much more gruesome.
Glancing at the Sea Witch's expression, Ye Tian took a deep breath.
"I understand."
Xiao Bai's eyes were red as she stepped forward, wanting to say something comforting but unable to find the words.
She reached out halfway—then hesitated and pulled her hand back.
"…Ye Tian, my condolences."
As someone who had never witnessed such tragedy, Xiao Bai cried even harder than Ye Tian.
Just as the three of them were consumed by grief—
Three figures suddenly rushed toward them at high speed.
It was Xiao Wu and her group.
They had discovered the hidden message in Ye Tian's silk pouch and uncovered the map's secret.
They were just about to investigate when the Sky Azure Bull Python sensed Title Douluo-level intruders in the core region.
So they came to check—
And ran straight into Ye Tian.
"Huh? Ye Tian, didn't you leave? Why are you back?"
Xiao Wu tilted her head in confusion.
"Why are your eyes so red?"
She leaned closer, her large eyes meeting Ye Tian's.
She even wiggled her rabbit ears cutely, hoping to cheer him up.
But Ye Tian showed no reaction.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Xiao Wu glanced around—
And suddenly noticed the grave in front of Ye Tian.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Don't tell me… one of Ye Tian's teammates died here?"
"But wait… this place looks so familiar."
She glanced around, then suddenly gasped in realization.
"This is… the place where I saved Sister Aya half a month ago!"
For a moment, Xiao Wu's thoughts became jumbled.
Meanwhile—
The Sky Azure Bull Python slithered forward, flicking its tongue as it warily eyed Xiao Bai.
"A soul beast?"
It was utterly stunned.
A soul beast… in human form?
That completely shattered its understanding of the world.
Was its own cultivation lacking?
No, impossible…
After all, it had cultivated for 200,000 years, while this white shark had barely reached 100,000 years.
"Yes."
Instinctively, Xiao Bai took a step back, nodding.
"Are you Ye Tian's friend?" the Sky Azure Bull Python asked, glancing at Ye Tian. "What happened here?"
"Bodyguard."
Xiao Bai hid behind the Sea Witch, only answering the first question.
As for the second—
She kept her lips tightly sealed, refusing to say a word.
(End of Chapter)
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