Fan Zitian led Ming Zhitian to a shed where a middle-aged man in a Taoist robe and plain clothes was feeding a horse.
Ming Zhitian stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Jin Ye?"
Mr. Jin Ye turned, noticing Ming Zhitian’s treasures and extraordinary aura, "Indeed. And you are..."
Fan Zitian quickly introduced, "This is a distinguished guest from our mansion, Mr. Ming."
Ming Zhitian cupped his hands, "This junior is Ming Zhitian."
"!"
Mr. Jin Ye frowned, then spoke, "Sky King Emperor?"
Ming Zhitian humbly replied, "A mere empty title."
Mr. Jin Ye bowed first, then said, "Please, let us converse in the side chambers."
"Very well."
Mr. Jin Ye led him to the side chambers of the City Lord’s mansion and personally poured him tea. Ming Zhitian waved his hand, "I shall dispense with pleasantries. I have a question for you."
Mr. Jin Ye placed down his teacup, "Your Majesty, please speak."
Ming Zhitian said, "I have always had a question: who are my parents?"
Mr. Jin Ye said, "That Kong Tianxing..."
Ming Zhitian interrupted, "He is merely my adoptive father. When I was seven years old, he took me in. I was young and ignorant then and did not pursue the whereabouts of my birth parents."
Mr. Jin Ye nodded, stood up, "I shall go and look."
After a moment, Mr. Jin Ye returned with an ancient book and opened it to search.
Soon, Mr. Jin Ye found it, "Ming Ya, Chen Buqi?"
Ming Zhitian could no longer sit still, his excited heart unable to suppress its fervor.
Mr. Jin Ye closed the ancient book and looked at Ming Zhitian, "Your father is named Ming Ya, and your mother is Chen Buqi."
Ming Zhitian pressed further, "And then?"
Mr. Jin Ye shook his head, "The historical register only contains this information. I apologize, but beyond this, I am unable to assist further."
The clues once again ran dry. Ming Zhitian was enveloped in mystery, "Regardless, I have finally learned their names. Thank you, Mr. Jin Ye."
The two arrived at the City Lord's mansion. Bai Yang released Han Wen and handed it to Ming Zhitian, "I have thought about it. Even taking his life would be of no use. Since it has passed, let it be in the past. But he must serve a life sentence."
Ming Zhitian nodded, "A life for a life, especially for the City Lord’s wife. Absolutely."
After bidding farewell to the City Lord, Ming Zhitian said to Mr. Jin Ye, "How much are the coins for the inquiry just now? I will pay you."
Mr. Jin Ye chuckled and shook his head, "To be frank, Yun Shu was someone I admired. That you can fulfill the wish of her husband and avenge Yun Shu shall be considered an exchange."
As Ming Zhitian rode Bak out of the city, Bai Qianqian rode up, "May I have a memento? Because, since childhood, I have heard of your great name, Sky King Emperor."
Ming Zhitian drew the Gaolan Jade Flute from his waist and presented it to her, "Blow this when you miss me."
.........
Ming Zhitian handed Han Wen to Tian Ranmei and ordered her to imprison him. Tian Ranmei again tried to persuade Ming Zhitian, "Instructor, if you desire it, I can abdicate at any time."
Ming Zhitian waved his hand, "No. Govern well. Billions of people are in your hands. The mission of protection is yours to inherit."
Ming Zhitian rode Bak, searching for thousands of miles, not only to find his biological parents but also not forgetting to help his master, Sheng Ran Yizhou, find traces of the cultivation world.
Forty-nine days later, under a lonely night, a campfire burned, with a person and a beast warming themselves beside it.
Suddenly, the dark night was illuminated by an injured fire phoenix, its light covering the entire land!
Ming Zhitian gently kicked the sleeping Bak, "Bak, wake up! Chase!"
In the past, the word "phoenix" only existed in myths. To witness it with his own eyes now, Ming Zhitian still felt a sense of wonder. He quickly urged Bak to pursue.
Because the fire phoenix dripped phoenix blood as it soared through the air, Ming Zhitian immediately recognized that it was injured.
With every drop of phoenix blood that fell, either wondrous herbs grew in the barren land, or exotic flowers bloomed, or withered plants were revitalized, bursting with life.