Parting Gifts, Bound for Star Dou

Ling Yun remained at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for several more days, bringing himself to peak condition. Using the sect's resources, he refined some pills and a few small trinkets in preparation for any eventuality.

Before leaving, he made a special trip to see Ye Lingling.

After the perilous finals of the tournament and Ling Yun's timely rescue, Ye Lingling had grown even closer to him. In those clear, pure eyes of hers, there seemed to be something more than gratitude.

In a pavilion at the rear of the mountain, Ling Yun handed Ye Lingling a newly refined jade pendant. It was more exquisite than the previous one, jade-green throughout and imbued with stronger life energy and protective formations.

"Keep this on you and wear it close to your body. At a critical moment, it may save your life," Ling Yun said.

Ye Lingling accepted the pendant. Feeling its warm aura and Ling Yun's feelings within it, her eyes reddened slightly. She asked softly, "Thank you, Ling Yun... Are... are you leaving?"

"Mm." Ling Yun nodded. "I'm going out to train for a while."

Ye Lingling raised her head and looked bravely into Ling Yun's eyes. "Then... will you come back?"

"If fate wills it, we'll meet again." Ling Yun smiled and gently ruffled Ye Lingling's hair. "Cultivate well. Your Nine Heart Begonia has tremendous potential. Your future achievements will be no less than Sect Master Ning's."

Feeling Ling Yun's intimate gesture, Ye Lingling's lovely face flushed crimson, her heart pounding like a startled deer. She nodded forcefully. "Mm! I'll definitely work hard! I'll wait for you to return!"

Ling Yun withdrew his hand without saying anything more. He turned and left, his figure vanishing into the mist-shrouded mountain path.

Clutching the warm jade pendant, Ye Lingling gazed in the direction Ling Yun had disappeared, unwilling to leave for a long while.

After bidding farewell to Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo, Ling Yun quietly departed from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and left Heaven Dou City.

His first destination was the Star Dou Great Forest.

On one hand, he wanted to visit the Lake of Life. It might contain the life-source energy he needed, which could help the Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor evolve. On the other hand, he wanted to confirm Tang San and Xiao Wu's situation. If Tang Hao truly made a move against Xiao Wu, Ling Yun would not mind intervening. Though he had little connection with Xiao Wu, it was not easy for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to take human form, and he did not wish to see her reduced to a soul ring. More importantly, he could not stand Tang Hao's bullying ways.

Relying on his powerful Spiritual Sense and speed, Ling Yun headed south, avoiding official roads and crowds as he traveled through deep mountains and ancient forests. He trained as he journeyed. Whenever he encountered a suitable soul beast, he would exchange blows with it to hone his combat skills and gather some materials along the way.

Several days later, he entered the bounds of the Star Dou Great Forest. The deeper he went, the denser the spiritual energy within the forest became, and the more powerful soul beasts he encountered.

Ling Yun concealed his aura and moved through the dense forest like a ghost, heading toward its core. He could sense a vast, ocean-like surge of life energy at the heart of the forest. That should be the Lake of Life.

At the same time, he vaguely sensed several powerful auras clashing in another direction. One was filled with violent thunderous power—it should be Tang Hao. Another was gentle yet resolute, resembling Xiao Wu's. There was also an extremely powerful soul beast aura. Could it be... the Sky Azure Bull Python?

The battle had already begun?

Ling Yun's gaze sharpened, and he accelerated toward that direction.

Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, a battle that would determine fate was underway. And with Ling Yun's arrival, what new variables would this battle bring?