Star Dou Great Forest Riot, Parting with Di Wan

"Looks like you're in a good mood? Hm, you're already level 54? Even with an extra four thousand years, that's far too much of a Soul Power increase, isn't it? Heh, looks like what I said before might really not be without hope?"

"Just four thousand years, and it was a Wind Spirit. Where would all that Soul Power come from? I cultivated it in advance. You, on the other hand, have gotten sharper again. This was only a tiny fluctuation of Soul Power I failed to rein in after absorbing the soul ring, yet you could still tell?"

You Chen looked at Di Wan with a meaningful expression.

With the support of the Aura Concealment Art, his ability to hide his level had risen to another level.

This world was not one where everyone had their level displayed above their heads, or where revealing one's aura immediately let everyone know each other's level.

When judging a Soul Master's level, people first looked at their soul rings, then their aura.

Thus, assessments were generally more accurate when dealing with someone of similar strength.

Seeing You Chen's expression, Di Wan wrinkled his nose and curled his lips. "You really are as cautious as ever. It's just a level. Do you think I'd go around telling other people?"

Just a level...

There was nothing wrong with Di Wan's way of thinking.

That would indeed be the case for anyone else, but You Chen had no choice but to be more vigilant about this.

Going from level 48 to level 54 was fine. No one knew when You Chen had reached level 50 in the first place.

But if, two or three years later, his strength suddenly jumped into the sixties, anyone would notice something was off.

It seems I need to place even more importance on cultivating the Aura Concealment Art. If I have no other choice, I'll use that Flash of Inspiration.

You Chen pondered silently.

Yet he said aloud, "The best means of keeping a secret is for no second person besides yourself to know it. The next best thing is for those who know it to keep their mouths shut. Di Wan, walls have ears. I'm not afraid of you knowing, but what if someone watching me has planted some sort of Soul Skill or method on me that can eavesdrop..."

"Alright, alright. I'll be careful."

Di Wan wore an expression that said, "What the hell are you talking about?" Still, he knew You Chen's personality. Though he did not understand, he remembered it.

He immediately added, "Anyway, the matter's settled. You're going to Notting City in Fasinuo, right? Who knows how long it'll take you to get there on your own. Want me to take you?"

You Chen was about to agree.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Terrifying beast roars seemed to echo throughout the entire forest, while countless birds and beasts fled in every direction, their frantic rush filling the air with noise.

Di Wan's expression instantly changed. Without bothering to continue chatting with You Chen, he grabbed him and swiftly soared into the sky.

"What's going on? Have the soul beasts in this forest gone mad? Don't tell me that Wind Spirit we just killed had some big shot backing it?"

"No, you're overthinking it, Di Wan. I guarantee, on the honor of a theoretical master, that the two are absolutely unrelated."

While responding to Di Wan's jab, You Chen silently turned to look in the direction the beast roars had come from.

Remembering a crucial piece of information, a glint flashed through You Chen's eyes. Could it be that guy? What a coincidence—today of all days?

With Di Wan's speed, they flew out of the Star Dou Great Forest in just two hours.

Just as Di Wan was about to continue west and give You Chen a lift, You Chen finally spoke.

"Di Wan, this is far enough."

"Hm? We've only just entered the Balak Kingdom. Fasinuo is still a long way off."

"That's right."

Di Wan did not understand what You Chen was up to this time.

But Di Wan was not the sort to pry—one of the reasons You Chen liked ordering him around.

You Chen often had bizarre episodes anyway. Whenever Di Wan encountered something he could not understand, he simply attributed it to the thought, "I suppose genius scholars are just like that."

He readily set You Chen down and asked, "I'm planning to stay in Spirit City for a while. Is there any message you need me to pass on to your pretty maid?"

As he finished speaking, Di Wan mischievously whistled at You Chen. His gaze was full of teasing provocation.

You Chen completely ignored Di Wan's suggestive look and said in a businesslike tone, "I want to collect data on the age of the first several soul rings of Soul Masters who have used Whale Rubber over the years. Preferably with their physical data and spiritual power data from that time as well."

As a young man from the twenty-first-century age of information technology, how could You Chen possibly fail to take an interest in Soul Tools after arriving in Douluo?

Back when he had been researching the concept of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, You Chen had started developing Soul Tools capable of measuring and collecting Soul Master data more precisely several years in advance.

These days, most of Spirit Hall's new-generation elites used this thing to measure themselves before absorbing soul rings. As long as their memory was normal, they would not completely forget such crucial data.

"Huh? Another new research project? You're way too boring for a man, aren't you?"

"What do you care!? Just tell me, are you helping or not?"

"Fine. Notting City, right? Even if I don't have time myself, I'll have someone deliver the things there."

As though recalling something, You Chen shook his head. "No need to go through all that trouble. Just give them directly to my head maid when the time comes, and have her arrange for them to reach me."

"That works too. Since you brat doesn't want to see this old face of mine any more than necessary, I won't make a nuisance of myself."

After saying that, Di Wan shrugged, turned around with a carefree air, raised his right hand to wave at You Chen, and shot into the sky. Under the starry night, even his silhouette soon vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, You Chen silently entered the nearest city...

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

On a country path in the Balak Kingdom, an adorable little girl with a scorpion-tail braid that fell past her hips, dressed in a cute little pink outfit, skipped along freely, swinging her arms back and forth.

As she walked, she hummed an unknown tune, a clear yet foolish smile hanging on her face.

She was somewhat like a husky wildly letting loose after its owner left home.

"Little girl, don't you know that bandits have been appearing around here often lately?"

Suddenly, a magnetic voice reached the little girl's ears.

A flicker of vigilance appeared on her face. Turning around, she saw a young man wearing large black-rimmed glasses, his temperament gentle and scholarly, seated on a tree stump. He had been the one who spoke.

"Uncle, who are you?"

Perhaps because the man looked rather gentle, the little girl immediately relaxed her guard and asked, "Why are you sitting here? Waiting for someone?"

"I'm heading somewhere rather remote to handle some business. I've been walking for quite a while, so I'm merely resting here briefly. You, on the other hand, did you not hear what I just said? Instead of worrying about what I'm doing, shouldn't you pay more attention to your own safety?"

The man wearing plain glasses was naturally You Chen.

The extra accessory was not because he wanted to cosplay Aizen. Rather, he considered that improvements in his martial soul's quality might further refine his appearance in the future. To keep people from noticing anything suspicious because of that, he equipped himself with this new item.

And as for this adorable little girl with the scorpion-tail braid, who else could she be but Xiao Wu?