At Nording

As winter gave way to summer and summer to winter, three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Three years later, Dugu Chen was now over nine and a half years old. He had grown from a little runt measuring 1.2 meters into a young boy standing 1.5 meters tall.

Though he still looked somewhat childish, anyone who underestimated him would inevitably suffer a thunderous blow.

A carriage gradually passed through the bustling streets and left Heaven Dou City through its gates, the coachman driving toward Nuoding City.

It was autumn now. The sunlight was no longer as harsh as it was in summer, instead seeming soft and warm. Strands and beams of light filtered through the window like gauze, falling across Dugu Chen's handsome features.

His short black hair, paired with a set of mismatched eyes and a maturity that did not suit his age, gave him an unusual allure.

"Junior Brother, why did we come all the way to Nuoding City to meet some Grandmaster?"

Dugu Yan was already eleven years old. Though the girl's exquisite features still carried a trace of childishness, her figure was remarkably slender and graceful. Her seemingly boneless waist, in particular, was truly worthy of being called a water-snake waist.

At the moment, Dugu Yan was leaning limply against Dugu Chen. Her lazy voice sounded beside his ear, and the warm breath from her lips brushed against it, making it itch as though a kitten were scratching at his heart.

Three years had passed, and Dugu Yan had grown into a young lady. Yet starting a year ago, she had changed from the soft, adorable little girl she once was into a mature beauty brimming with seduction.

Over the past year, Dugu Chen had suffered greatly under Dugu Yan's teasing. He had gone from being utterly at a loss to remaining unruffled. Still, whenever she flirted with him and he noticed that he was not yet as tall as her, a flicker of indignation would rise in his heart.

Looking at her face so close to his, Dugu Chen grumbled inwardly, Just wait three more years. In three years, I'll show you what it means to be possessed by Young Master Xu.

"This time, I mainly want to ask the Grandmaster about his views on the origin of martial souls. I have no clue how to continue cultivating Sovereign's Descent, and I thought I'd take the chance to relax a little."

Of course, that was not why he had come to Nuoding City. He simply needed a plausible excuse.

In a few days, Notting College would begin its new student enrollment. Dugu Chen wanted to see whether he could find Xiao Wu ahead of time, lest any complications arise.

"Chen'er, in this old man's opinion, your Sovereign's Descent is already perfect. There's no need to push yourself so hard. Relaxing appropriately may help you figure out some problems right away."

Dugu Bo's voice sounded at just the right moment. He was seated on the other side of the carriage. Now that the toxins had been removed from his body, Dugu Bo's green hair had turned grayish-white, and the green in his eyes had completely faded.

He was happy every day now. The toxins were gone, his cultivation had broken through, and he was in high spirits every day. It was just that whenever he saw the scene across from him, his heart would always feel a little sour.

Although he had long expected something like this, now that it had truly happened, he always felt like slapping that brat.

Dugu Chen agreed with Dugu Bo's words and nodded in response. Wasn't he here to catch a rabbit and relax anyway?

Notting Grand Hotel. After arriving in Nuoding City, the three of them checked into this hotel.

There were still three days until the college began accepting new students. Dugu Chen planned to wander around the city gates for those three days and try his luck. If he failed to encounter her, then he could only make his move when Tang San went hunting for his First Soul Ring.

The next day, after resting, Dugu Chen and Dugu Yan went out to stroll around Nuoding City, while Dugu Bo remained at the hotel to rest. The strongest person in Nuoding City was only a Soul King, so Dugu Bo had no worries about their safety.

Nuoding City was merely a remote little town. Naturally, it could not compare to Heaven Dou City, but it had its own local customs and charm.

Over those three days, Dugu Yan played to her heart's content. She had been pent up for three years, and now that Dugu Chen had finally lost his mind and agreed to go shopping with her, how could she not make the most of it?

Over those three days, let alone a rabbit, Dugu Chen did not even see a single rabbit hair. He had already given up on finding Xiao Wu in advance and instead spent the time having a wild time with Dugu Yan.

On the fourth day, which was also Notting College's enrollment day, Dugu Chen felt completely drained, his legs trembling nonstop.

Seeing this, Dugu Yan teased, "Junior Brother, don't tell me you can't keep up?"

"How could that be?"

Dugu Chen immediately retorted loudly. It was a matter of a man's dignity—his back no longer ached, his legs no longer felt weak, and he could fight another three hundred rounds.

"Big Brother, where did you buy that sachet? It smells so nice!"

A crisp voice came from beside him, and Dugu Chen turned to look.

A lovely little girl stood nearby. Her pretty face was fair with a rosy tint, and her long black hair had been braided into a scorpion braid that hung past her hips. She was pointing at his sachet as she asked, her nose twitching slightly.

Dugu Chen's eyes lit up at the sight.

"Little Sister, do you like it? Big Brother has more at home. Come home with me, and I'll give you one."

At that moment, Dugu Chen looked just like a creepy uncle holding out a lollipop. His sachet contained the pollen of Fragrant Grace, which could attract Soul Beasts and ward off poison. He had merely decided to give it a try, but he had actually caught a fish.

Dugu Yan stared at Dugu Chen in disbelief. Seeing this, Dugu Chen gave her a meaningful look. With the tacit understanding between the two of them, Dugu Yan immediately got the hint.

"Little Sister, what's your name? What are you doing in Nuoding City? Are you here alone? Big Sister has lots of these scented sachets at home. Come home with me, and I'll get you one."

Dugu Yan stepped forward, took Xiao Wu's hand, and began chatting with her warmly.

"My name is Xiao Wu—the Wu from dancing. Big Sister, I'm here to study at Notting College. I still need to register, so I won't be going to your house."

Xiao Wu's rabbit instincts sensed danger. Though she did not know where that danger was coming from, and the two people before her should not have recognized her identity, she decided it would be safer to slip away.

Seeing Xiao Wu about to flee, Dugu Chen immediately summoned his martial soul, extending a broad Dragon Claw, and struck the back of Xiao Wu's head with it, knocking her unconscious.

"Junior Brother, what are you doing?"

Dugu Yan questioned him angrily. Though she had not known why her junior brother wanted to trick this little girl into going home with them, she had chosen to help him out of trust built over many years. But now Dugu Chen had knocked out this unfamiliar girl for no reason. Dugu Yan was rarely this angry.

"Senior Sister, calm down, calm down. I have my reasons for doing this. It's not convenient to explain here. Once we return to our teacher, you'll understand."

Dugu Chen soothed Dugu Yan. If Xiao Wu had not been about to run away, he would not have acted. Now, he could only return and explain.

Seeing this, Dugu Yan could only let it go. She and Dugu Chen brought Xiao Wu back to the hotel together.

Notting Grand Hotel.

Dugu Bo opened the door and saw his disciple and granddaughter carrying a little girl back with them. He asked curiously, "Why are you back so early today? Who is this little girl?"

Dugu Yan was still fuming. She shot Dugu Chen a glare and said, "Ask your precious disciple!"

Dugu Chen scratched his head and said to Dugu Bo, "Teacher, take a careful look at what's different about this girl."

Dugu Bo was puzzled. He seriously examined Xiao Wu for a while.

The longer he looked, the more shocked he became. In the end, he rose to his feet with a grave expression. After sweeping the surroundings with his Spiritual Power, he used Soul Power to envelop the room.

"Where did you find her? Who else saw her?"

Dugu Chen answered Dugu Bo's questions seriously.

After hearing him out, Dugu Bo looked at Dugu Chen in utter disbelief. Going out for a stroll and having a Transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast delivered right to your doorstep—was he Heaven's own son?

If Dugu Chen had known what Dugu Bo was thinking, he would definitely have said, 'If you'd read the script, you could do it too.'

"What riddle are you two talking in? What's wrong with Xiao Wu? Can you explain it clearly to me?"

Seeing the two of them talking about things she could not understand, Dugu Yan could not help interrupting.

"Uh, Senior Sister, do you know what Soul Masters desire most in the Soul Master world?"

Seeing that Dugu Bo had no intention of explaining, Dugu Chen answered Dugu Yan with a question.

"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, right? Why are you asking that?"

"Isn't there one right here?"

"You mean Xiao Wu? But isn't she just a little girl?"

Hearing this, Dugu Yan covered her mouth in shock and asked with an incredulous expression.

"When a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast has cultivated for a hundred thousand years, it can transform into a human and pursue immortality," Dugu Bo said at that moment.

"However, before reaching the Mature Stage, they will be seen through in front of a Titled Douluo. That is why very few Soul Beasts transform into humans."

"Then how did you know at a glance that Xiao Wu was a transformed Soul Beast?" Dugu Yan posed another question from the depths of her soul.

Dugu Bo also looked at his disciple with great curiosity. Even he had not noticed it immediately just now, though that was because his attention had not been on Xiao Wu.

"This... it's the effect of that Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. My eyes can see through falsehood and look directly at one's origin."

Dugu Chen could only credit the Immortal Herb. Although his Spiritual Power was very strong, he did not possess Tang San's Purple Demon Eye, so he was not capable of that.

At that moment, Dugu Yan suddenly leaped behind Dugu Chen and wrapped an arm around his neck. She said furiously, "Ah, so you have that ability! Tell me, did you see Senior Sister naked? No wonder you kept leaning against the carriage window and looking everywhere along the way, you big pervert!"

"How could that be? This isn't X-ray Vision. It can only see through things like Illusions."

Dugu Chen hurriedly explained himself, or his lifelong reputation would be completely ruined. Seeing his teacher looking at him with a face full of suspicion, Dugu Chen was afraid that he might simply attack him outright.

Though Dugu Yan still found the explanation somewhat doubtful, she let Dugu Chen off for the time being.

"How do you plan to deal with this Soul Beast?"

Seeing this, Dugu Bo asked Dugu Chen. Although a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was tempting, he still decided to let his disciple make the choice.

"Teacher, can you keep her asleep and unconscious forever? Taking only the Soul Bone would be too wasteful. We can kill her when Senior Sister and I need her in the future. We'll take both the Soul Ring and the Soul Bone."

Dugu Chen stated his plan.

"Of course there is a way. Then we'll use medicine to keep her asleep forever and lock her in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye. This old man cultivates in seclusion there year-round, so I can keep an eye on her while I'm at it." Dugu Bo agreed with the plan. He was also unwilling to let a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring go to waste like this.

"Teacher, then let's set off back tomorrow!"

Dugu Chen decided to return to Heaven Dou City tomorrow. They had not encountered Tang Hao this time, but Tang Hao should already be in the city by now and would likely leave tomorrow. It would be perfect to avoid crossing paths with him. Though Dugu Chen did not fear him, less trouble was always better.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had no objections either. The most important matter of their trip to Nuoding City had been settled. That afternoon, Dugu Chen planned to meet Tang San and his teacher, to see what kind of charm this "Grandmaster" had that had made the Pope lose his head over him.