"Divine Lord!"
Ying Qianshi knelt before Ye Ming.
Behind him, another woman with a pale face also knelt.
It was Duolisha.
"My subordinates have failed in their duty of supervision, and I hereby plead for punishment from the Divine Lord," Ying Qianshi said with his head bowed and shame.
Upon learning that Duolisha's carelessness had nearly led Nangong Qianyu into enemy hands, he was furious.
After all, such a low-level mistake was absolutely not permitted among the Shadow Divine Guards.
Let alone the fact that it had nearly led to the "Main Consort" being harmed.
Therefore, Ying Qianshi directly used the "Soul Whip" on Duolisha.
Soul Whip: A very special weapon.
When it strikes a person, it leaves no physical wounds but directly affects the soul. The pain caused by soul injury is tens of times greater than physical pain.
Consequently, even though Duolisha possessed late-stage Guanwu Realm strength, she was now extremely weak and could collapse at any moment.
Yet, with her strong willpower, she pleaded with Ying Qianshi to bring her before Ye Ming, hoping for a chance to atone for her mistakes.
"Divine... Divine Lord, please... please give me another chance, I will definitely protect..."
Duolisha tried to use her last ounce of strength to beg, but her body slowly slumped, unable to finish her final plea.
Even though her body collapsed, her consciousness remained clear. Her eyes were filled with longing.
"Alas!"
Ye Ming looked at Duolisha, who had fallen to the ground, with some pity.
He hadn't expected Ying Qianshi's punishment to be so severe. Soul injury was something ordinary people could not endure.
Not only did Duolisha endure it, but she also managed to make her way to him.
This perseverance!
It moved Ye Ming!
He waved his hand, and a stream of pure white energy flowed into Duolisha's body, slowly beginning to repair her damaged soul.
A moment later, Duolisha managed to stand up with difficulty.
"Divine Lord, please..."
"Enough! I am going to the provincial capital tomorrow. Qianyu and the others will be entrusted to you!" Ye Ming interrupted Duolisha directly and said calmly.
"Yes!"
Duolisha bit her lip, her eyes turning slightly red.
"Go. Qianyu and the others are still worried about you!"
After Duolisha left, Ye Ming looked at Ying Qianshi and asked in a deep voice, "After the news of the auctions across various regions was released, have there been any changes?"
"Not yet!" Ying Qianshi continued, "But judging by the flow of ancient martial artists from various regions, there have already been some minor skirmishes. If not stopped in time, it might cause some negative repercussions before the auctions begin!"
"Minor skirmishes?" Ye Ming pondered for a moment, seeming to understand something. "Grudges between ancient martial sects?"
"The Divine Lord has guessed correctly! Due to the astonishing items listed in the subsequent auctions, ancient martial sects from surrounding areas have almost all mobilized. Therefore, when disciples of sects with past grievances meet, conflicts are inevitable." Ying Qianshi said with some worry, "And these incidents are becoming more frequent. Even with the Shadow Divine Attendants secretly monitoring, I fear it might spiral out of our control!"
Simply put, they had too few people to mobilize. Controlling the overall situation was difficult.
"Divine Lord, if other Divine Kings were to come..." Ying Qianshi suggested.
"It is not yet time for them to appear!" Ye Ming shook his head and added, "Don't worry, someone will help us supervise those ancient martial artists."
"What does the Divine Lord mean?"
Ying Qianshi did not understand.
"The Ancient Martial Artist Association!" Ye Ming uttered a name.
The Ancient Martial Artist Association!
Ye Ming was certainly not hearing about this organization for the first time, having learned of it from Liang Can and his disciple. He had already interacted with this organization several times in the past few years.
Therefore, Ye Ming was well aware of the organization's purpose!
When a large number of ancient martial artists entered the world, they would absolutely not allow the grudges between ancient martial sects to endanger public order.
Thus, Ye Ming said that someone would help them restrain the ancient martial artists.
"So that's how it is!" Ying Qianshi exclaimed, "It seems the Divine Lord had foreseen this situation long ago. It is my subordinate's lack of foresight!"
"You have done very well so far, and I am very satisfied!" Ye Ming said with a light smile. "However, there is one matter that requires your special attention."
"Please instruct me, Divine Lord!"
Ying Qianshi looked somewhat expectant.
"Among the numerous auctions to follow, the one in the provincial capital will be the liveliest," Ye Ming said with some concern. "I fear the situation there might get out of control. Therefore, a strong individual capable of deterring all sorts of scoundrels must be stationed there."
That individual, of course, referred to Ying Qianshi.
"Your subordinate understands!"
"Mm!" Ye Ming reminded, "If there are no issues at the headquarters of the Ancient Martial Artist Association at that time, you may not need to act. Otherwise..."
Ye Ming did not finish the latter part of his sentence.
But Ying Qianshi could already sense the gravity of his words.
What Ye Ming meant was simple: the auction in the provincial capital might lead to internal strife within the headquarters of the Ancient Martial Artist Association.
After all, the finale item being auctioned in the provincial capital was too special.
Therefore, he was giving Ying Qianshi a precautionary warning.
"By the way, how is Feng Wuji doing?"
At this moment, Ye Ming suddenly remembered Feng Wuji, whom he had assigned to Ying Qianshi for training.
"Rest assured, Divine Lord. When you see him next time, that brat will have undergone a complete transformation!" Ying Qianshi said with a mysterious smile.
Mm!
That's right. He had indeed "transformed his bones."
Perhaps he had also shed a layer of skin.
"I am looking forward to it!"
For some reason, seeing Ying Qianshi's smile made Ye Ming feel that Feng Wuji was undergoing some inhuman treatment.
...
Returning to the villa, the moment Ye Ming stepped through the door, he sensed several cold gazes fixed upon him.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
He had just returned, and he hadn't offended these little ancestors!
But when he saw Duolisha, who was surrounded by the women, Ye Ming seemed to understand.
So, they were here to champion Duolisha's cause!
"Hmph! Ye bastard, look at how Sister Lisha has been tortured, are you even human?" Nangong Qianyu unleashed a barrage of scolding.
Even Fang Junxue, who usually doted on him the most, didn't give him a good look.
"I..."
Ye Ming had no words to defend himself.
He swore to heaven and earth!
He wasn't the one who had inflicted the punishment.
"Qianyu, little..."
"Mm!"
When Duolisha was about to say "Miss Qianyu," she was glared at by Nangong Qianyu.
"Uh! Alright!" Duolisha could only change her address, "Qianyu, this matter truly cannot be blamed on Divine... Young Master. This kind of punishment is what I deserve to bear."
"Hmph! How could the punishment be so severe! Look at you now!" Nangong Qianyu said, looking at the listless Duolisha with great pity.
If she had seen Duolisha before Ye Ming's treatment, she might have already clenched her fists and charged at someone.
"Why don't we let Ye Ming treat Sister Lisha?" Bai Qiushui suggested.
"She definitely needs a good treatment!" Fang Junxue also agreed.
"Ye, hurry up and come here!" Nangong Qianyu issued a direct command.
At this moment, Ye Ming, facing the collective reprimand of the women, had no temper at all.
Not only that, but he had to force a smile, daring not to show any disrespect.
Who would have thought that the high and mighty Divine Lord would also have such a day.
Ye Ming felt helpless.