Chapter 40: Ye Lingling's Shock, Arrival at Tian Dou City

"I… I saw it!"

Upon hearing her teacher's question, Ye Lingling instinctively nodded, her wide eyes and slightly parted lips making her look adorable.

"Teacher, I feel his soul power fluctuations aren't much stronger than mine, but he's… so powerful!"

"I used to think Yu Tianheng from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was the top genius… but now it seems that's not the case."

Bai Xue nodded gravely. "And did you notice, Lingling?"

"When that young man released that attack just now, none of his soul rings lit up."

"Though I've heard that if one has strong enough spiritual power, they can release a soul skill without revealing their soul rings or even disguise their colors…"

"But clearly!"

"A Soul Grandmaster like him absolutely doesn't possess such powerful spiritual strength. Therefore, the technique he just used wasn't a soul ring-attached skill, but rather—"

"A self-created soul skill!"

"A self-created soul skill?!"

Ye Lingling gasped in shock, quickly covering her mouth with her hand to muffle the sound.

"Yes!"

Bai Xue sighed softly. "With a powerful protector by his side and such overwhelming strength himself, I'm curious which great family this genius belongs to?"

"Could it be the Spirit Hall?"

But in the end, Bai Xue shook her head, ceasing her speculation.

After all, she hadn't heard of any faction on the continent producing such an overwhelmingly talented youth!

"Let's go over. Though we originally came out to check if the sudden surge of soul power indicated danger…"

"In the end, we ended up watching someone else practice their soul skill—it's somewhat rude."

"And considering our earlier misunderstanding, let's go apologize now."

"Mm." Ye Lingling obediently nodded.

Soon, the two walked out of the woods and approached Dai Chengfeng and Zhu Fan.

"I thought you weren't coming out," Zhu Fan said, looking at Bai Xue and Ye Lingling emerging from the forest. He wasn't surprised at all, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

After all, Zhu Fan was a Soul Douluo, and his second soul skill had reconnaissance capabilities. Without special measures, there was no way they could have evaded his detection.

Hearing this, Bai Xue looked embarrassed.

"Forgive us, my lord. Lingling and I didn't mean to spy…"

"We were resting when we suddenly sensed intense soul power fluctuations coming from this direction. We wanted to see if you were encountering any soul beasts and thought we might lend a hand."

Zhu Fan didn't respond but instead turned to Dai Chengfeng.

"What do you think, Chengfeng?"

"Forget it. They meant well, and my soul skill is newly created—I need to test it in real combat anyway. It'll help me refine it further."

Zhu Fan nodded upon hearing this. "Since Chengfeng says forget it, then we'll let it go."

He then looked at Bai Xue and Ye Lingling. "It's only because Chengfeng is forgiving. If it were someone else, you two would've paid a price."

Hearing Zhu Fan's warning, Bai Xue and Ye Lingling nodded, looking at Dai Chengfeng with gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord Chengfeng. You're truly magnanimous."

Dai Chengfeng shook his head. "No need for thanks. You may leave—I need to rest."

"Mm~"

Bai Xue nodded, relieved, and began to pull Ye Lingling away.

But at this moment, Ye Lingling stood rooted in place.

"Lingling?"

Bai Xue looked at Ye Lingling quizzically.

Ye Lingling stepped forward, bowed slightly to Dai Chengfeng, and said, "Thank you for earlier today… and…"

"I'm sorry for misunderstanding you back then."

"It's fine."

Dai Chengfeng smiled at the pure and stubborn girl, waving dismissively. "In the Great Star Dou Forest, those who don't stay vigilant end up as soul beast food."

"It's normal for you to be cautious."

"If you really want to thank me, how about giving me a map? My uncle and I are heading to Tian Dou City, but we don't have one."

"My lord, are you also going to Tian Dou City?"

Bai Xue looked at Dai Chengfeng and Zhu Fan. "Since we're heading the same way, why not travel together? Lingling and I will guide you for free and help you avoid some detours."

Hearing this, Dai Chengfeng smiled faintly without hesitation.

After all, he had already planned his route to Tian Dou City. How could he not have a map?

His purpose in saying this was simply to travel with them, using this opportunity to lure out Ye Lingling's grandfather, the Medical Saint Ye Renxin.

Thus, Dai Chengfeng gave a slight bow. "If that's the case, then I'll trouble Teacher Bai Xue."

"And Miss Lingling."

"Not at all~"

Ye Lingling shook her head.

After a brief conversation, the night grew deep. After agreeing to set off together the next morning, Bai Xue took Ye Lingling back to their camp.

"Chengfeng, is that girl really that important?"

At this point, Zhu Fan curiously looked at Dai Chengfeng. "Normally, with your personality, if they dared spy on your training, you'd probably have left no survivors, right?"

"How could you be… so gentle?"

Dai Chengfeng shook his head. "I'm not planning to hide my strength or play any tricks. As I said earlier, if they saw, they saw."

"Moreover, I'm eager to find someone to test my spear!"

"And also…"

"Uncle, surely you've heard of the Medical Saint Ye Renxin?"

"I think I've heard of him."

Zhu Fan stroked his chin. "But since that Medical Saint is from the Tian Dou Empire, I didn't pay too much attention."

"Ye Lingling is Ye Renxin's granddaughter. She herself isn't that important, but her grandfather is crucial to me. The success of this journey might even depend on him."

"I see."

Zhu Fan suddenly understood. "I didn't expect that girl to have such a significant background. But if she has a Medical Saint as her grandfather, why would she come to the Great Star Forest with only a Soul King teacher to obtain her second soul ring?"

"Who says he didn't come?"

"If he hadn't come, the smaller soul beasts along the way wouldn't have been driven away completely, and you could still faintly smell traces of medicinal herbs."

Dai Chengfeng looked again with satisfaction at the destruction caused by his earlier spear strike—fallen trees, shattered rocks…

"No wonder it's a soul skill created by fusing the Overlord Spear Technique, Great Sumeru Hammer Technique, and Disorderly Wind Splitting Hammer Technique. It's truly powerful!"

Dai Chengfeng nodded contentedly.

"Uncle, let's rest. We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow."

"Mm."

The next morning—

"I was wondering why the sun feels so bright today. Turns out all the trees in front are gone!"

Zhu Fan looked at the countless tree stumps ahead, still unable to suppress his amazement even after a night had passed.

Dai Chengfeng shook his head. "It's a pity I don't have a heavier spear; otherwise, the power might have been even greater."

"You little monster…"

"Is this attack even stronger than your second soul skill?"

"This isn't your limit?"

"Genius!"

Zhu Fan looked at Dai Chengfeng, questioning his very existence.

At this moment, Bai Xue, dressed in white robes, and Ye Lingling, still in her Tian Dou Imperial Academy uniform, approached.

"Lord, are you ready? Shall we depart?"

"Mm."

The group of four set off on the road to Tian Dou City.

The journey thereafter went surprisingly smoothly.

In fact, until they exited the Great Star Dou Forest, the group hadn't encountered any particularly powerful soul beasts—only weak ones.

This left Dai Chengfeng somewhat disappointed, as he had hoped to test his White Tiger Tyrant Spear Technique in real combat.

However, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

After all, it was impossible for that Soul Douluo to truly allow his granddaughter to venture into the Great Star Dou Forest with only a Soul King as protection.

Until—one and a half months later!

Dai Chengfeng had to admit that having locals guide the way made the journey significantly faster.

Originally, he estimated it would take four to five months to reach Tian Dou City, but to his surprise, it only took about three and a half months.

At this moment, Ye Lingling pointed to the city ahead and said to Dai Chengfeng, "Chengfeng, that's Tian Dou City!"

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