"Sorry, everyone. Looks like I ended up being the last to arrive this time. My apologies."
A rough, booming voice rang out. The burly figure of the Dragon Arm Douluo appeared before the group, wearing a broad smile as he spoke.
"How many years has it been? We're long used to this already."
Elder Xu chuckled, speaking with complete indifference.
The Dragon Arm Douluo noticed Jiang Jue among the crowd. His brows lifted slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes before it was quickly concealed.
Elder Xu glanced around the group and nodded faintly.
"Since everyone's here, let's set off."
"Alright, let's go."
No one had any objections; all nodded in agreement.
This advance operation was led by Elder Xu. As the sect master, Du Busi would naturally wait until the decisive moment before making his move.
"Jiang Jue, you must be careful."
Weina clasped her fair hands tightly together, her gaze fixed on Jiang Jue. She seemed to want to say more, but in the end, only these words came out.
"Mm. You should also cultivate diligently."
Jiang Jue smiled gently. Wings sprouted from his back as he followed Elder Xu and the others, flying down the mountain.
Weina's gaze followed Jiang Jue until he vanished into the clouds halfway down the mountain. Only then did she slowly come back to herself.
Suddenly, the space around Weina rippled slightly, and Du Busi's figure appeared.
"What is it, Weina? Can't bear to see Jiang Jue leave?"
Du Busi's eyes flickered faintly as he smiled at her.
It seemed that the plan he had shelved for a whole year might finally be restarted.
"No, no! Sect Master, why are you just like Elder Xu?"
Weina waved her slender hands hurriedly, though her eyes darted away evasively.
"What's wrong with that? If you like someone, go after them. Otherwise, when the chance is gone, it'll be too late for regret."
Du Busi clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with a sigh of emotion.
"People can be trapped for a lifetime by what they couldn't obtain in their youth. Since you're young, do what you want while you still can."
"Then does that mean, Sect Master, that you were the same when you were young?"
Weina's eyes moved slightly as she asked with a light smile.
"Cough, cough. Adult matters—kids shouldn't meddle."
Du Busi, who had been about to gently guide Weina further, was instantly choked by her sudden question.
"Alright, hurry back to the sect. And also—when you have time, go home and visit. Your mother misses you very much."
As if recalling something, Du Busi added this reminder before vanishing from where he stood.
"People can be trapped for a lifetime by what they couldn't obtain in their youth… Is that really so?"
A look of confusion surfaced in Weina's clear eyes. Gradually, that confusion turned into resolve.
...
Five days later.
Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu.
High above, the blazing sun shone brightly.
"Tsk, so this is Mingdu. It's really full of exotic flair—not bad, looks great."
"Sure enough, different lands nurture different people."
On Mingdu's broad streets, Lang Ya and Yu Tao walked behind Jiang Jue. Yu Tao's eyes were like they had automatic targeting enabled, constantly locking onto the beautiful women passing by, and he couldn't help but voice his admiration.
"Second brother, look—"
Bang!
Lang Ya raised his hand and delivered a sharp flick to Yu Tao's head, striking where his "little head was controlling the big one." He spoke with a tone of exasperated disappointment.
"Can you have a bit more backbone?"
"But they're just so fair and so big."
"Hmm?"
Lang Ya froze, his brain momentarily short-circuiting. Looking at his foolish brother, he spoke earnestly.
"When we get back from this trip, your second brother will help arrange a good wife for you, alright? So you won't keep fooling around like this every day."
"Thank you, second brother!"
Yu Tao nodded vigorously.
"Let's go. First, find a place to settle down."
Walking at the front, Jiang Jue spoke softly.
"We'll follow all your instructions, Young Master."
Lang Ya replied solemnly.
"Same here!"
Yu Tao chimed in at the same time.
As they neared Mingdu, the three of them had separated from Elder Xu's group and entered the city through different gates.
Mingdu was unlike the capitals of the former Three Great Empires. The airspace above the city was filled with high-altitude detection soul tools. Anyone flying overhead—even a Titled Douluo—would be detected.
Soon after, the three headed to an inn, each booking a separate room.
After entering his room, Jiang Jue first went to the shower to wash up. Over the past five days, aside from brief rests, they had been traveling nonstop.
The distance from the Heavenly Soul Empire to the Sun Moon Empire, with the Star Luo Empire in between, was by no means short.
After washing up, Jiang Jue sat cross-legged on the soft bed. With a summon of the Soul Refining Banner, Little Tiger appeared beside him.
"Give me Elder Zhang's soul flame."
At Jiang Jue's words, Little Tiger opened its bloody maw, and a bright flame drifted into Jiang Jue's hand.
Taking Zhang Peng's soul flame, Jiang Jue's eyes shifted. His pupils turned gray, and a gray soul ring slowly rose.
As that gray soul ring ascended, it left behind a series of afterimages, making it impossible to tell whether there was one ring or many.
This was the necromantic magic Jiang Jue had been studying over the past three months. As the obscure and difficult incantations echoed from his lips—
Zhang Peng's soul flame suddenly leapt, radiating bursts of light.
When Jiang Jue uttered the final syllable, the soul flame ceased its movement.
"Little Tiger, guard me. I'm going to cultivate for a while."
After tossing the soul flame back to Little Tiger, Jiang Jue took out an ice-blue pearl. This pearl was the one the Water Dragon King had previously given to the Snow Empress, containing his insights and understanding of the ice attribute.
This was extremely precious to Jiang Jue. After all, the Water Dragon King had been a god in life—a god who wielded both water and ice. His comprehension of the ice attribute far surpassed Jiang Jue's current Extreme Ice.
To Jiang Jue, cultivation was equivalent to rest. Moreover, with the existence of the Gold of Life, his physical condition was always excellent.
He sent his spiritual power into the ice-blue pearl, and his entire being entered a special state.
Little Tiger lay beside Jiang Jue, its tiger eyes flickering, its face full of grievance.
"So bitter, truly bitter."
"That evil tiger actually dares to bully me, Little Tiger. Once the master finishes cultivating, I'll definitely report it!"
"I'll let it know what it means to be favored! What it means that Little Tiger must not be insulted!"
The "evil tiger" Little Tiger referred to was naturally the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. Ever since it entered the Soul Refining Banner and realized it couldn't beat the Ice and Snow Twin Emperors, it would occasionally take out its frustrations on Little Tiger instead.
Jiang Jue's cultivation lasted until nightfall.
"The Water Dragon King's understanding of ice really is powerful—like opening up an entirely new path."
Jiang Jue stretched his limbs, put away the ice-blue pearl, and sighed with emotion.
At the same time, his anticipation for the great fortune the Water Dragon King had mentioned grew even stronger.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, Little Tiger let out a roar toward the window. It wasn't hostile, but rather carried a hint of joy.
Mm—this was a familiar aura.
In the next instant, the window opened. A mass of black mist drifted in and condensed into a human figure.
"Young Master, after all these years, we finally meet again!"
This figure was none other than Zhang Peng. His eyes shone with excitement as he looked at Jiang Jue with deep respect.
"Indeed, it's been a long time, Elder Zhang."
"I'm back."
Jiang Jue smiled faintly, his gaze distant and profound.
The two then sat at the table and exchanged a few words.
As if remembering something, Zhang Peng suddenly grew serious.
"Young Master, I've found the soul master with the angel martial soul you mentioned."
"Oh?"
A glint flashed in Jiang Jue's eyes. His fingers tapped lightly on the table as his gaze grew deep.
(End of Chapter)