Forced to Participate in the Selection

The bustling crowd flowed in and out of the city gates. This was the largest city near Tianling City, and countless people passed through it every day.

An elderly man, trembling slightly, led a child towards Qiluo City along with the crowd. They arrived at the city lord's mansion. Gazing at the heavily guarded residence, the old man stepped forward and spoke to a guard at the gate:

"Excuse me, is this the residence of the Zhilin City Lord…?"

After Yan Qingwan and Ming Tian returned, they pretended nothing had happened. But Ming Tian knew that Yan Qingwan's heart had changed. She was no longer the same Yan Qingwan as before. Perhaps in the eyes of others, she was still just a little girl, but he knew that Yan Qingwan had become numb and cold-blooded. Her heart had grown completely strong, no longer needing anyone's pity.

The Yan family appeared as calm as ever. After Yan Wei returned home, he instructed Yan. Yan was naturally overjoyed at the prospect of entering the Hall of Martial Souls. However, Yan Wei was visibly annoyed after hearing that Yan Qingwan was unwilling to participate in the Hall of Martial Souls' selection.

"Go get Qingwan."

Seeing his father's anger, Yan dared not disobey and quickly went to find Yan Qingwan.

Ming Tian and Yan Qingwan had just returned when they heard Yan Wei calling for Yan Qingwan. Both of them felt a pang of unease, but they couldn't show it. Ming Tian silently adjusted his state, ready to flee with Yan Qingwan if anything went wrong.

When Yan brought the two of them over, Yan Wei snorted at Ming Tian and Yan Qingwan. He could now basically confirm Ming Tian's origins. In his eyes, eliminating Ming Tian was as easy as crushing an ant.

However, the pressing matter at hand wasn't Ming Tian. Looking at Yan Qingwan, Yan Wei, unaware that his facade had been exposed and known by his daughter, asked in a calm and patient tone:

"Qingwan, I heard your brother say you don't want to participate in the Hall of Martial Souls' selection? Why? This is such a great opportunity. You are the first person in Tianling City with Innate Full Soul Power, which is a unique advantage. I guarantee you will be noticed by the Hall of Martial Souls. Why not participate? If you do, our family will have two children entering the Hall of Martial Souls. What a glorious thing that would be."

Yan Wei coaxed, looking at Yan Qingwan.

Yan Qingwan's expression remained calm, as if everyone had nothing to do with her. She didn't look at Yan Wei, but her gaze fell into the distance, and she said:

"I won't enter the Hall of Martial Souls. The Hall of Martial Souls has nothing to do with me."

"Nonsense! What are you talking about! How can it have nothing to do with you? Don't you want to get stronger? Don't you want to waste your talent? Joining the Hall of Martial Souls will only benefit you!"

"Joining the Hall of Martial Souls will only cause me pain. I don't want to be restricted by anything. I am free, not an object to be used for your face."

Yan Qingwan finally raised her eyes to look at Yan Wei. Those eyes were like a deep pool. Yan Wei stared at Yan Qingwan's eyes, and he felt like he was seeing his own wife.

It was the same look, the look when she was leaving him, so determined and resolute.

"You, what do you understand? What have I worked so hard for all these years, if not for you and your brother? Isn't it so that you can live better than others, have better resources, and become better Soul Masters? Have I ever treated you as my capital? Have I ever thought of using you as a means to show off?"

"You truly disappoint your father! I see you've been corrupted by that boy. He's not a good person. Stay away from him, both of you!"

Yan Wei pointed at Ming Tian. Ming Tian, being pointed at like this by Yan Wei, also had a cold look in his eyes, a killing intent hidden beneath his calm surface.

"Don't you dare speak ill of him! You're the one who's a hypocrite, how dare you speak of others?"

"What did you say? You're actually speaking for an outsider? Very good! Very good! Someone, take this boy down! This boy is nothing but an Evil Soul Master! A menace!"

Yan Wei's words startled Ming Tian. Could it be that his identity was discovered? He secretly gathered his Soul Power. If Yan Wei was really going to harm him, he wouldn't mind revealing himself and escaping with Yan Qingwan.

"Father! Father, calm down!"

Yan didn't know how the situation had turned out this way. He had thought it would be a peaceful exchange. He didn't expect his father to become so agitated.

"Father! Don't be so excited. Little Wan might not understand your good intentions, she's still young. Forgive her this time. As for Ming Tian, how could he possibly be an Evil Soul Master? You're too excited. Calm yourself first. This is Little Wan's fault. I'll have her apologize to you."

Yan stood in front of the two of them, trying to persuade Yan Wei. Yan Wei sneered, looking at Ming Tian and Yan Qingwan.

"Boy, you have some tricks, eh? Both of my children are speaking up for you. Do you dare to admit you're not an Evil Soul Master? If you're not, how could you have such talent? What's your purpose in getting close to my children!"

Yan Wei questioned Ming Tian. The hand Ming Tian was holding clenched, but then he suddenly laughed:

"Master Yan, what are you talking about? I'm really not an Evil Soul Master. I'm just a poor, down-on-his-luck child who came to Tianling City and was taken in by Young Master Yan. I have no ulterior motives at all. I've always been grateful for the Yan family's kindness. Please, judge me fairly. If Master Yan really wants to treat me as an Evil Soul Master and punish me, I have no complaints. After all, I owe the Yan family."

Ming Tian went to Yan Wei, speaking sincerely. He was acting pitiful, and he seemed harmless. Anyone who didn't know the truth might genuinely think that Ming Tian was being wronged.

"That's right, Father. Ming Tian is right. Our Yan family is a large family. We absolutely cannot tarnish our reputation from years of building by falsely accusing Ming Tian of being an Evil Soul Master!"

Yan also stepped forward and spoke, which made Yan Wei even angrier. But upon careful thought, he realized that it was reasonable. He didn't have direct evidence, and he had only listened to Luo Di Ya La's analysis. If he accused Ming Tian of being an Evil Soul Master and killed him, it could cause trouble.

In fact, if he killed Ming Tian, he could say and do whatever he wanted. But Yan Wei, despite his many flaws, had one good quality: he loved his children very much and always thought of them.

He couldn't let Yan and Yan Qingwan resent him. If that happened, he would have been a very bad father.

Calming down, and looking at Ming Tian who was acting aggrieved and at his mercy, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fear. He was afraid of the depth of this child's scheming. He had to find a way to get rid of him, but he couldn't bring himself to act directly.

After a long thought, an idea came to his mind.

"Boy, you said you're not an Evil Soul Master, so you're going to stubbornly deny it?"

"Master Yan, Ming Tian is not an Evil Soul Master to begin with, so how can I deny it?"

He couldn't let up, he couldn't show weakness. Clenching his teeth, Ming Tian knew he absolutely couldn't reveal his identity as an Evil Soul Master. Moreover, there was no evidence to prove he was. The Evil Soul Master village had been massacred, and his Martial Soul cultivation didn't have any characteristics of an Evil Soul Master. Outsiders couldn't tell.

"Alright, if that's the case, do you dare to participate in the Hall of Martial Souls' selection? Evil Soul Masters have always been at odds with the Hall of Martial Souls. If you dare to participate and achieve a certain ranking, I'll believe you're really just an ordinary Soul Master. Do you dare?"

Yan Wei looked at Ming Tian, his eyes revealing a killing intent. Since he couldn't directly act against Ming Tian, he would let Ming Tian die by accident in the Hall of Martial Souls' selection, and let the Hall of Martial Souls make the move for him. If Ming Tian refused, he would have something to hold over him.

Ming Tian's heart was shocked. He didn't expect Yan Wei to think of this idea. Judging by his expression, he was definitely trying to take his life. He couldn't act himself, was he planning to collude with the Hall of Martial Souls to kill him?

His Soul Power had risen to thirty-seven levels, and he had a Soul Bone, and his physique had been enhanced. Few people of his age could defeat him. Moreover, if he didn't agree, he would obviously be caught by Yan Wei, who would use it as an excuse to pin the label of Evil Soul Master on him.

It seemed that he had to participate in this selection. He had wanted to stay out of it.

"Alright! Since Master Yan doesn't trust me, I'll participate in the Hall of Martial Souls' selection! And if I'm selected for the Hall of Martial Souls, I'll give the spot to the Yan family to prove my innocence!"

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