"No worries, Ye Shao, we'll take our leave first."

Chen Donghai responded with a fist salute, waved his large hand, and led the team away.

His heart was filled with regret.

Today, there were an unusually large number of top figures present at his birthday event.

Heroes from all walks of life came in droves, most of the famous big shots from the Ancient Martial Realm were also present.

However, compared to Ye Huan, these big shots were nothing.

If Ye Huan had attended the birthday banquet personally, the prestige of the banquet might have increased by several levels!

Although Chen Donghai did not voice his thoughts, anyone with a keen eye could see it directly.

If, earlier, some might have thought Ye Huan's identity was impressive but didn't understand how impressive, now they truly understood!

The giants of the Ancient Martial Realm could elevate the status of Chen Donghai's banquet by one tier.

Ye Huan alone could achieve the same!

This means Ye Huan's identity alone could overshadow all giants of the Ancient Martial Realm!

How formidable is that?

Everyone who witnessed this scene was deeply shocked!

"Xiao Ye, your current status is truly remarkable."

Zhou Qinglian exclaimed in shock.

Ye Huan smiled indifferently: "It's just a reputation, not worth mentioning."

"Your reputation is enough to intimidate the whole world."

Zhou Qinglian sighed again, then suppressed the shock in her heart, smiled casually, and asked: "Xiao Ye, you came to Celestial Sea this time specifically to see me, didn't you?"

Ye Huan nodded: "Yes, I have something I'd like to ask you, if it's convenient with you."

"Just ask." Zhou Qinglian replied very amicably. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"I want to ask..." Ye Huan paused for a moment, his expression became serious: "Did Tianyun have any significant appearance changes before and after the adoption?"

This question was rather peculiar, leaving people bewildered.

Both Liu Tianyun and Zhou Qinglian were somewhat puzzled.

"Uh... I don't know exactly how to ask, but that's basically what I mean." Ye Huan scratched his head and said.

Learning from the Di Family's usage of Liu Tianyun's DNA for long-term gene cloning research over the past twenty-three years indicates they must have obtained a large amount of Liu Tianyun's DNA sequences around the time of her adoption, twenty-three years ago!

DNA exists within human cells.

Cells are present in skin, hair, nails, blood, and many other things, and to acquire them in large amounts, one must obtain a substantial amount of hair, skin flakes, or nails, or possibly blood.

Nails are unlikely; people only have ten in total on their hands and feet.

It wouldn't be realistic for the Di Family to have used pliers to pull out all of Liu Tianyun's nails, right?

Not feasible!

Collecting large amounts of blood is also impossible; their research was certainly secretive, and to prevent leaks, they must have secretly stolen Liu Tianyun's DNA sequences.

Only hair and skin flakes remain.

The human body continually sheds skin flakes, but obtaining large amounts isn't realistic.

Hair, on the other hand, is the easiest to acquire!

After pondering for a long while, Ye Huan's expression suddenly changed, "President Zhou, do you have any photos from when Tianyun was adopted?"

"Yes, every child taken in has a photo with me. I'll go find it." Zhou Qinglian said as she headed to the office.

Ye Huan and Liu Tianyun accompanied her.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhou Qinglian dug out a photo from a large stack!

This photo featured her, Liu Tianyun, and Liu Aimin!

In the photo, the young Liu Tianyun was biting her finger, her small hand held by Liu Aimin, with a puzzled look.

Ye Huan stared at it for a few seconds, then took out his phone to send a WeChat message to Liu Aimin.

Asking Liu Aimin to help find a photo of Liu Tianyun after she was adopted.

Soon, a black-and-white photo was sent over.

After scrutinizing it for a while, Ye Huan's brows furrowed deeply.

Sure enough, it was exactly as he suspected!

In the post-adoption photo, Liu Tianyun's hair was overall shorter by five centimeters compared to before the adoption!

"President Zhou, did Tianyun get a haircut when she was adopted?"

"How did you know?"

Zhou Qinglian was surprised, "Children typically go to a barbershop outside the welfare institute for haircuts, but the day Tianyun was adopted, a new employee from that shop wanted to meet them and practice their skills, so they volunteered to come to our institute for a free haircut."

"It was quite a peculiar thing, so I remember it well. That day, after Liu Aimin completed the adoption procedures for Tianyun, that person happened to come over, so I let Tianyun stay a little longer and had a haircut."

"But speaking of strange things..."

"I initially thought that the barbershop would take the children's hair to sell, but that new employee eventually only took Tianyun's hair, and after that, I never saw them again."

"By the way!"

After recalling for a moment, Zhou Qinglian suddenly exclaimed: "I remember now, the shop was called Jianye Hair Salon, and the owner was Li Jianye. Later, I heard he had some opportunities, met some big figures, and then the shop closed!"

After hearing this, Ye Huan walked out of the office and turned his gaze towards Li Jianye, who was still lying outside the courtyard like a dead dog!

…

"Ye Shao, don't get me wrong, you're really overestimating me."

"Who am I, Li Jianye? A stingy and dishonest merchant!"

"Every time Zhou Qinglian brought kids to my shop for a haircut, I tried various ways to scam a bit, how could I send an employee to the welfare institute for free? And I ran the barbershop for eight years, always acting as both the owner and the barber myself, because it's a small business that doesn't earn much."

Ye Huan came to the entrance of the welfare institute and asked Li Jianye about the free haircut, receiving such a reply from him.

One must admit, Li Jianye is quite honest, with a rather clear self-awareness.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have given such a frank self-assessment.

Ye Huan placed his hands in his pockets and raised his eyebrows slightly.

No need to think too much; the person who pretended to be a new employee at Jianye Hair Salon to offer free haircuts at Spring Welfare Institute was definitely a member of the Di Family!

They didn't come to give free haircuts, but to obtain a large amount of Liu Tianyun's hair!

More precisely, to acquire the DNA sequences from the hair!

The Di Family truly played like a cunning old sow, with scheme after scheme, thinking up any possible method to achieve their goals!

Ye Huan's expression varied, becoming even more perplexed about the Di Family's purpose in cloning Liu Tianyun!

Did the Di Family decide to clone her because they knew Liu Tianyun is the "Phoenix Maiden," to create another "Phoenix Maiden"?

Or are there other purposes?

For now, these are unknowable!

The only certainty is that the Di Family surely knows Liu Tianyun's lineage.

She isn't of the Liu Family, lacking the Liu bloodline.

Then who are her parents?

Being able to birth a "Phoenix Maiden," surely their identities are extraordinary!

Ye Huan thought this deeply, casting a profound glance at Liu Tianyun.