Mu Yuqing was also bewildered.
What was going on?
The Great Liang Kingdom had clearly stated before that Ye Fan's life token had shattered. How could he be alive and well now?
Could it be...
Did Ye Fan have a twin brother?
"Master!"
Liang Ruijing called out happily, then noticed another person beside her master.
"And this is...?"
"This is His Highness the Crown Prince," Mu Yuqing quickly introduced, then looked at Ye Fan with a strange expression. "Your Highness, you've come to find Master Ye...?"
This was said to Liang Ruijing, and also to Ye Fan.
After speaking, Mu Yuqing slyly winked at Liang Ruijing.
*My dear disciple, what is happening? My master just said that Ye Fan was dead, and now you're both alive and kicking. This makes it very difficult for me!*
"I was indeed attacked before," Ye Fan said, walking closer. "I used a substitute puppet to escape, which is why Sect Master Mu and the others mistakenly believed I was dead."
This explanation was something Ye Fan had concocted on his way back. While it sounded incredible, it was more plausible than him being resurrected from the dead. Besides, if puppet technology reached a certain level, one could indeed create puppets that looked indistinguishable from real people. If not informed beforehand, others would think it was a living person!
Of course, creating such a lifelike puppet required some special methods. A low-level approach involved using available materials, such as the skin and flesh of a living person. However, this method was too cruel, so most puppet masters wouldn't use it. A more advanced technique required higher-grade materials, like a special substance that could mimic the texture and feel of human skin. But these materials often had more significant uses, so they were rarely wasted on puppets. After all, puppets were merely tools for combat or assistance, and most people wouldn't bother with the external appearance, which they considered useless. Of course, it wasn't impossible that some puppet masters had peculiar hobbies or needs...
"So, that's how it is..." The Crown Prince nodded as if he understood. He didn't really understand the profession of a puppet master. However, the puppets he had seen all looked obviously fake, clearly artificial and very different from real people. But since Ye Fan said it, it might not be true! After all, the puppets he had seen were the works of third or fourth-tier puppet masters. Their artificial appearance might have been due to their technical limitations. But Ye Fan had a seventh-tier powerhouse behind him! Perhaps puppets made by a puppet master of this caliber could truly be indistinguishable from the real thing! Just because he hadn't seen it didn't mean it didn't exist!
Furthermore, Ye Fan's statement conveyed an important piece of information! Besides a seventh-tier artifact refiner and an alchemist, Ye Fan also had at least a seventh-tier puppet master behind him! But he also knew this wasn't the time to be curious. The ancestor was still at home twitching...
After a few perfunctory pleasantries, the Crown Prince stated the purpose of his visit. Having said that, the Fifth Prince looked at Ye Fan nervously. "I wonder if Master Ye could lend a hand..."
"This isn't a place to talk," Ye Fan said, glancing around. "Why don't we find another place to discuss this?"
And so, Mu Yuqing led everyone to a vacant room.
"You two discuss, we won't disturb you." With that, Mu Yuqing left the room with Liang Ruijing.
"Can you tell me more about your ancestor's condition?" Ye Fan asked immediately after they left. The Crown Prince had only said that the ancestor was in trouble and needed his help, but he hadn't elaborated.
"It's like this..." The Crown Prince explained the entire sequence of events. About a thousand years ago, during a beast tide, the royal ancestor encountered a demon beast at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. At that time, the ancestor was only around the seventh level of the Nascent Soul stage. Fortunately, for some reason, the demon beast seemed very weak, allowing the ancestor to barely exchange a few blows with it. However, even in its weakened state, the demon beast almost drove the ancestor to the brink of despair. Although the ancestor managed to save his life, he was poisoned by the demon beast. And then today, he went to spectate and was doubly stimulated...
After listening, Ye Fan's eyes flashed with embarrassment. The commotion in the demon beast forest today was caused by his resurrection. Although he didn't know why, it was a fact. In this light, the ancestor of the Ard Empire was indirectly affected by him.
*This is awkward...*
It just goes to show, people should avoid "eating melons" too much... otherwise, they might end up collapsing themselves... Of course, Ye Fan would only think about this to himself and would never tell the Crown Prince...
"You mean..." Ye Fan asked with a straight face, "the one who attacked your ancestor back then was a Soul Refining Python?"
"That's right," the Crown Prince quickly replied. "A Soul Refining Python at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage!"
Ye Fan nodded. Soul Refining Pythons weren't inherently strong fighters, even being among the weaker ones at their level. Their fragile bodies were even less resilient than demon beasts at a lower stage by two small realms! Otherwise, even if that peak Nascent Soul stage Soul Refining Python was weakened, it would still be far beyond the capacity of the royal ancestor, who was only at the seventh level of the Nascent Soul stage, to deal with! But this didn't mean Soul Refining Pythons were weak. On the contrary, they were definitely the most troublesome of demon beasts at their level! Not to mention human cultivators, even demon beasts of the same level were wary of provoking them! The reason for this phenomenon was their terrifying toxicity! The toxicity of the Soul Refining Python wasn't extremely potent, and those who were poisoned might not even notice it at first. However, as time passed, the poison would gradually erode the target's body, and even their soul! Like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, this was the most terrifying aspect of the Soul Refining Python! Those poisoned, whether human or beast, might be able to suppress the toxicity for a long time with their own strength, but it was only a temporary suppression! They would ultimately face utter destruction! Unless the cultivator's level far surpassed that of the Soul Refining Python, they could refine the poison with their powerful strength. But this was only theoretical. After all, if a cultivator had this ability, they would have already killed the Soul Refining Python and wouldn't have been poisoned. As for whether Ye Fan could cure this poison... was that even a question! No matter how powerful a Soul Refining Python was, it was still just a demon beast in the cultivation world. Ye Fan, who was once a top-tier alchemist in the God Realm, could resolve the toxicity of a Soul Refining Python as easily as playing a game!
"I can't guarantee I can definitely find a way," Ye Fan said, not being too definitive even though he knew it was possible. "But let's take a look at your ancestor's condition first." After all, this matter was related to him in some way, so Ye Fan felt it was appropriate to go. As for searching the royal treasury for some items... *Are you kidding me! Am I that kind of person?!*
"Thank you, Young Master!" The Crown Prince excitedly took out a ring. "A small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't find it too little..."
"Your Highness is too kind," Ye Fan quickly declined. "Didn't I just say I can't guarantee I'll have a solution?"
"It doesn't matter," the Crown Prince pushed the ring back. "Whether it works or not is secondary; consider it making a friend." Since the Crown Prince insisted, Ye Fan couldn't refuse any further. After all, the other party was sincerely offering it, and if he refused, the other party might feel disheartened. And so, the two happily headed towards the imperial palace.