Heaven Dou City

Several days later, Chen Junting and Ning Tian emerged from the Edge Zone of the Star Dou Forest. Elder Zhang Ming, who had been secretly protecting them all this time, revealed himself at that moment and stood beside them.

Besides them, two Jade Scale Horses also came crashing to the ground.

Clearly, Elder Zhang Ming had captured them.

Looking at the trembling Jade Scale Horses, Chen Junting and Ning Tian could not help feeling emotional. These two Soul Beasts could be considered "honored" indeed. With only ten years of cultivation, they had drawn a Titled Douluo into personally taking action and claiming their lives from among a thousand horses.

Meanwhile.

"Your trial is over."

Looking at the travel-worn pair, Zhang Ming nodded slightly in satisfaction.

In truth, this Soul Hunt was not only to obtain Ning Tian's Second Soul Skill, but also the second test of Chen Junting's cultivation over the past two and a half years.

"I'll tell Big Brother about the situation."

Zhang Ming turned his gaze to Chen Junting, his tone as calm as ever. "As for your cultivation plan from here on, Big Brother will revise it based on this experience."

"I understand."

Chen Junting naturally had no objections.

After all, this was his own master. It was not as if he would harm him.

"Then let's set off."

A ray of light flashed from the Storage Soul Tool at his waist, and a huge Soul Tool Carriage appeared before them. It had been built by Soul Engineers from the Sun Moon Empire and was one of the finest carriages available.

Naturally, the carriage was pulled by the two Jade Scale Horses they had captured temporarily.

After Ning Tian and Chen Junting boarded the carriage, Chen Junting saw that Elder Zhang Ming was still standing below. He was about to offer him a seat, but Elder Zhang Ming waved him off.

He then went to the front of the carriage, fastened the reins to the Jade Scale Horses, and took the driver's seat. "We don't have a coachman, so I'll drive the carriage myself this time."

With that, he flicked the whip, and the Soul Tool Carriage slowly headed toward the Heaven Dou Empire.

Under the personal driving of a Titled Douluo, the two untrained Jade Scale Horses walked exceptionally steadily. Combined with the carriage's shock-absorbing function, the journey was not bumpy at all.

Once they entered the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, Ning Tian was looking out the window when a trace of yearning appeared in her eyes. She suddenly spoke.

"Are we going straight back to the Sect?"

Chen Junting had been resting with his eyes closed, reflecting on his shortcomings during their trip through the Star Dou Forest. Upon hearing Ning Tian, he slowly opened his eyes and met her gaze as she turned back.

Only then did he suddenly remember.

It seemed that ever since she entered the Sect, Ning Tian had never had much free time.

She was either studying or cultivating.

Relaxing?

For her, that was simply a luxury.

"Where do you want to go?" A trace of heartache appeared deep in his eyes.

"I want to go to Heaven Dou City."

A flicker of excitement crossed Ning Tian's eyes. For the first time, she looked like a girl of just over eight years old. But she quickly restrained herself. "I've never visited this imperial capital with tens of thousands of years of history. Besides, there's a top-tier auction in Heaven Dou City in a few days."

Chen Junting nodded and glanced toward the front of the carriage.

"Elder Zhang, can we detour to Heaven Dou City?"

At the front of the carriage, Elder Zhang Ming's hand holding the reins paused slightly. Then, without saying a word, he turned the carriage around.

The two people in the carriage exchanged smiles.

Heaven Dou City was an ancient city that had stood for tens of thousands of years. It had been the capital of two empires and witnessed the transition between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. Its walls were sturdy yet weathered, with scenes of war and peace from the past seeming to remain vivid before one's eyes. Its streets were broad and orderly, as if one could still hear the bustle and splendor of years gone by.

After the Soul Tool Carriage entered through the city gates and stopped, two figures stepped out and surveyed the ancient city that had endured the passage of time.

Ancient and unadorned. It seemed to be the only theme here.

"The difference from Nine Treasures City is really huge! It feels just like some old antique." Ning Tian clasped her hands behind her back and leaned against Chen Junting's back. At the same time, she rose onto her toes and looked around.

Her words were filled with wonder at Heaven Dou City.

"That's because our Nine Treasures City is the exception."

After saying goodbye to Elder Zhang Ming, Chen Junting picked up the thread of Ning Tian's words. "Let's go. Elder Zhang said he was heading to the Nine Treasures Pavilion, so you can decide how we spend the rest of our time." He gazed into the distance, as if he wanted to take all of Heaven Dou City into his eyes. "Let's see this ancient city with its deep historical roots."

With that, he led Ning Tian into the streets of Heaven Dou City. Ning Tian also linked her arm with his, appearing slightly affectionate.

All kinds of stalls filled both sides of the streets, selling every kind of product imaginable, from traditional handicrafts to modern fashionable clothing.

They cast aside the fatigue and troubles of cultivation and moved through the crowds, stopping from time to time to look at the goods on one stall or taste the snacks from another...

At that moment, Ning Tian's attention was drawn to the various pieces of jewelry at a roadside stall. Although the jewelry was neither precious nor novel to Ning Tian, the Young Master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she was simply enjoying the feeling.

Her eyes moved rapidly between the items. Her fingers gently brushed over the jewelry, feeling its texture and luster.

Chen Junting stayed by her side. Seeing how happy she was, he could not help feeling a warm current rise in his heart.

"Look at this hairpin." Ning Tian picked up an exquisite hairpin and tried it on while looking in a mirror. Then she suddenly turned around.

"Brother Junting, what do you think?"

Faced with Ning Tian's sudden question, Chen Junting had a bewildered look on his face. It was the first time a girl had asked him something like this. After racking his brains, he looked at the happy Ning Tian and ventured, "Uh... It's beautiful. It suits your temperament?"

"Mm!"

Ignoring the awkwardness in the compliment, Ning Tian smiled happily. She put down the hairpin, picked up a necklace, and examined it carefully before saying softly, "This necklace is pretty nice too."

This time, Chen Junting seemed to know what to do without being taught.

He walked over to Ning Tian, gently took the necklace from her hand, and put it around her neck. After carefully adjusting its length so that it perfectly followed the curve of her neck, he took a step back and admired her appearance.

"It looks really beautiful."

His sincere praise made Ning Tian exceptionally happy.

So, without bargaining, she placed five Gold Soul Coins in the vendor's hands amid his delighted gaze and put on the necklace.

The two of them looked like a Golden Boy and Jade Girl. One had flowing white hair and a handsome, cold face; the other had beautiful golden hair and a smile like sunlight, brimming with youth. They naturally attracted the gazes of many passersby.

Afterward, they strolled along the Plaza and soon stopped in front of a Mansion.

This was precisely where the Tang Sect had once been located.

But now...

"Iron Blood Sect?"

Ning Tian looked at the three large characters on the plaque and could not help raising her brows. After glancing around and confirming that she had not come to the wrong place, she turned to Chen Junting beside her.

"Brother Junting, wasn't this originally the Tang Sect?"

When she came to Heaven Dou City this time, Ning Tian had also wanted to visit the "Tang Sect," a once-famous Sect founded by Sea God Tang San. But after arriving, she discovered that it had been replaced by the obscure "Iron Blood Sect."

"You didn't come to the wrong place."

Chen Junting looked at the plaque of the Iron Blood Sect. He thought, I didn't expect the Tang Sect to have its foundation seized already. In that case, Tang Ya should be at Shrek Academy right now.

"Looks like the Tang Sect has declined."

"That's a shame."

Although Ning Tian said this, she did not actually feel much sorrow. After all, the relationship between the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Tang Sect had nearly been severed after the Holy War four thousand years ago.

Thus, the two of them paid no further attention to the interlude of the "Tang Sect's decline." They continued playing around in Heaven Dou City until night fell.