Return to Heaven Dou City
Xiao Wu continued, "So where do we go now?"
"Return to Heaven Dou City," Tang San said without hesitation. "The most important thing now is to help you find the Godhood Inheritance. And the Crown Prince's Residence might have information about this."
Tang San thought to himself, "I must get my hands on the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
The four girls nodded simultaneously, a hint of anticipation flashing in their eyes.
The five packed their belongings and continued northward, their figures gradually disappearing into the golden desert.
The oasis behind us was slowly being covered by shifting sand dunes.
Two months later.
North of Heaven Dou City.
The city gate was teeming with people—merchants, travelers, Soul Masters, soldiers, and all sorts of people coming and going, their noise audible from a great distance.
Everything is the same as it was three years ago.
Five weary travelers stood on a high slope, gazing blankly at the majestic city wall ahead.
It was Tang San.
Two months ago, they set off from that oasis and continued their journey north.
Half a month later, they successfully crossed the Great Wasteland Desert and reached the border between the Great Wasteland Desert and the Far North.
Just as they left the desert, Ye Lingling broke through to level 60.
So the five of them went to the Far North to help Ye Lingling find a suitable Soul Beast.
After nearly a month, they finally found a 35,000-year-old Light attribute Soul Beast.
After absorbing the Soul Rings, Ye Lingling's Soul Power rose to level 62, and her Soul Ring Configuration was two yellow, two purple, and two black.
Then the five of them set off for Heaven Dou City without stopping.
Looking at the familiar city, the five of them couldn't help but feel inexplicably moved.
Their eyes were slightly red, and a thin layer of mist covered their eyes.
Tang San reached out and pulled the four of them into his arms.
The five people hugged each other tightly.
It has been three years since I participated in the Soul Master Tournament and left Heaven Dou City.
More than a thousand days and nights, tens of thousands of miles, and hundreds of battles.
The emerald green of the Blue Silver Forest, the silvery white of the Frozen Forest, the glaciers of the Far North, the grasslands of the Northern Border, the poisonous fog of Death Canyon, and the golden yellow of the Great Wasteland Desert.
Their deep footprints are left everywhere.
They experienced life-or-death battles, and they also shared tender moments.
All the difficulties failed to defeat them; instead, they brought them closer together as a family.
When they left three years ago, they were five young Soul Masters.
In three years, they went from Soul Ancestor and Soul Kings to Soul Emperors and Soul Saints, from being hunted down to being able to face Titled Douluos head-on.
Now, they're back.
Tang San was level 76. He was level 57 when he left, meaning he leveled up 19 levels in three years.
Dugu Yan was at level 67, and left at level 54, rising thirteen levels in three years.
Xiao Wu was level 64 when she left, and level 52 when she left. She rose 12 levels in three years.
Shui Bing'er was level 63 when she left, and level 43 when she left. She leveled up 20 times in three years.
Ye Lingling was at level 62 when she left, having risen 20 levels in three years.
At the same time, Tang San also obtained a 100,000-year-old left leg bone.
Dugu Yan obtained a 60,000-year-old Soul Devouring Demon Spider Skull and a 40,000-year -Man Faced Demon Spider right arm bone.
Shui Bing'er obtained a Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull, and an External Soul Bone, the Frost Dragon Wings.
Ye Lingling obtained an Illusion Wisdom Skull and Blue Silver King Right Leg Bone that was 90,000 years old.
Most importantly, Tang San and Ye Lingling passed the Divine Examination.
Such a rate of growth can only be described as a dramatic transformation.
"Third Brother, shall we go into the city?" Dugu Yan asked, holding Tang San's hand, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes.
Tang San glanced at the four of them and smiled, "Of course, let's go into the city!"
The five people walked down the slope and joined the crowd at the city gate.
The five of them quietly returned to the Dugu Manor and met Dugu Bo.
The Dugu Manor remains unchanged from three years ago. Passing through the front courtyard, one arrives at the inner garden.
Dugu Bo was sitting on a stone bench, holding a cup of tea in his hand, slowly sipping it.
Hearing footsteps, Dugu Bo looked up.
At that moment, his hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, his eyes widened suddenly, and his mouth opened slightly.
After three years, his grandson-in-law, granddaughter, and the other girls finally returned.
He put down his teacup, stood up, and glanced at the group of people before finally fixing his gaze on Dugu Yan.
"Yan Yan, you're finally back." Dugu Bo's voice was choked with emotion, and his eyes were slightly red.
Dugu Yan's eyes also reddened. She stepped forward, took her grandfather's arm, and rested her head on his shoulder, just like when she was a child and acted coquettishly.
Dugu Bo reached out and put his arm around his granddaughter, gently patting her back with his rough hands.
Tang San stood aside, recalling how Dugu Bo had once faced five Titled Douluos alone for his sake, showing no fear of death, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Dugu Bo sent someone to invite Ye Lingling's grandfather Ye Renxin, over.
Fifteen minutes later, Ye Renxin arrived.
"Lingling." Ye Renxin's voice trembled.
Ye Lingling quickly walked over and hugged her grandfather.
She had never been away from her grandfather for so long in her life.
The group sat around the stone table in the garden.
Dugu Bo ordered his servants to bring in more chairs and had the kitchen prepare a table full of delicious food.
The seven people began to share their experiences over the past three years.
When Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin heard about the current Soul Power Level and Soul Bone configuration of the group, their faces were filled with disbelief.
When Ye Renxin looked at the Nine Heart Begonia Emperor in his granddaughter's palm, tears streamed down his face.
Finally, upon learning that Tang San and Ye Lingling had both passed the Divine God Test, the two old men were utterly shocked.
Ye Renxin grasped Ye Lingling's hand with trembling hands, his voice hoarse. "Lingling, you are Grandpa's pride. Now, you have your own path, your own choices. Grandpa can finally rest easy."
Ye Lingling's eyes reddened. She gripped her grandfather's hand tightly and nodded vigorously.
Tang San said solemnly, "Grandpa, don't worry. Lingling is with me, and I won't let her suffer. No matter how difficult the Divine Examination, I will help Lingling get through it."
Then he turned to Dugu Bo and said, "Grandpa, don't worry. I will definitely find suitable divine position assessments for Yan Yan, Xiao Wu, and Bing'er. Even if I don't, I will find a way to bring them along. We are family, and we will never be separated."
Dugu Bo looked at the determination in Tang San's eyes, nodded, and a smile curved his lips.
In the stillness of the night, Tang San and the four women went to rest.
Although the Dugu Manor mansion had many rooms, the five of them were reluctant to separate, and even if it was crowded, they still slept in the same room.
The five people huddled together, their bodies pressed against each other, their body heat passing between them.
The group rested at the Dugu Manor for three days, completely relaxing the tension that had accumulated over the past three years.
There was ravenous eating at the dinner table, and even more intense physical contact.
Dugu Bo, being quite tactful, did not disturb them, but instead instructed his servants to prepare delicious food for them on time.
The three-day rest allowed all five of them to fully relax, both physically and mentally.
Having washed away the dust of the journey, the weariness on her face was replaced by a rosy glow, and her tense nerves finally relaxed.
Tang San stood in the garden of the Dugu Manor, looking at the starry sky above.
The stars were densely packed, like countless eyes watching him.
Tomorrow, he is going to see someone.
Someone he has been thinking about for the past three years.