Nature

Mu Zhe could not help feeling a little embarrassed. In the end, he still had to take Ah Yin outside. If she stayed in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for too long, she might develop psychological problems.

Remembering Ah Yin's request, Mu Zhe wrapped an arm around Ye Lingling's soft waist. "Lingling, hold on tight."

"Mhm." Ye Lingling nodded, her little hands wrapping tightly around Mu Zhe as well.

The next instant, the two vanished from the Inner Space. Ah Yin lingered over the sight of their departing figures before returning to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to cultivate.

She had to cultivate as quickly as possible until she completely absorbed that power of ice and fire. Then, she would be able to live in the outside world with Mu Zhe.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Mu Zhe and Ye Lingling abruptly appeared on a tree-lined path within the campus.

This was where they had entered the Inner Space. It was already noon the next day, and quite a few students were passing by.

They were startled by Mu Zhe and Ye Lingling's sudden appearance, but quickly recovered, assuming it was some kind of special Soul Skill.

Even so, quite a few people pointed at them and began discussing them aloud.

"Honestly, morals are declining by the day! Under the bright sun, they're actually hugging in public. What a disgrace to decency!"

A student meditating on the lawn saw Mu Zhe holding a beauty in his arms, and bitterness immediately welled up inside him. This was simply too much!

And why did that girl look so much like the academy's goddess?

"You're just jealous. I'd like to see if you dare say they're hugging in public in front of His Highness Xue Beng."

A nearby boy spoke disdainfully, but when he saw Ye Lingling's face, he felt just as though someone had poured vinegar into his heart.

Hiss, I may be jealous, but I won't show it!

"Are you all tired of living? That's Ye Lingling! The man beside her is one of the Crown Prince's people. Keep talking about them like that, and one day you might get bagged and beaten without even knowing why!"

Hiss, one of the Crown Prince's people! Wasn't that the person who beat up Osler before?

Was I speaking a little too loudly just now? They couldn't have heard me already, right?

Quite a few people immediately exchanged looks. Was it still too late to run?

The rumors had been spreading around campus lately. Who would dare provoke Ye Lingling now? They would end up just like Osler. Osler now... his Dao heart had shattered, and there was no longer even a trace of light in his eyes!

"I should probably go back to my dorm and meditate. Cultivating here really does disrupt other people's lives," one of them suddenly remarked.

He had actually gone and cultivated in that young master's living room. Truly... damn it!

The people nearby shot him disdainful looks, then turned to their companions.

"It's time to eat. Want to go together?"

"Then let's hurry. I'm hungry too."

Now that was natural!

Unlike certain people, who had cowardice written all over their faces.

"..."

Watching the surrounding students scatter like birds and beasts, Ye Lingling could not help shaking her head helplessly. Those aristocratic children had less courage than one ten-thousandth of Mu Zhe's.

"Mu Zhe, are you leaving?"

Ye Lingling reached out and looped her arms around Mu Zhe's neck. Mist rose in her beautiful eyes.

She could tell that Mu Zhe intended to leave, but she simply could not bear to part with him.

These past few days had been the happiest she had experienced in years. Not only had her Soul Power risen and her Martial Soul evolved, but most importantly, she had found Mu Zhe again.

"Mhm. You've just added a Spirit Ring, so your Soul Power is probably still somewhat unstable. After you return, follow these cultivation methods and consolidate your foundation properly."

Mu Zhe nodded and reached out to wipe the tears from the girl's face.

He then took out a glass sphere containing the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. It recorded a variety of cultivation methods, including the Mysterious Heaven Skill, as well as a pharmacopeia. Naturally, the so-called "ways of dealing with people" were not included.

Ye Lingling glanced at the glass sphere and could sense the profundity of the cultivation methods within, especially that footwork technique, which suited her very well.

But after only a hurried look, she withdrew her attention. Her mind was not on that.

"Then can I stay inside? I'll stay there. I don't want to go anywhere else!"

Ye Lingling shook her head and looked at Mu Zhe expectantly.

She already knew that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well where they had stayed these past few days was Mu Zhe's Inner Space. Since Ah Yin could remain there, so could she.

In any case, the Soul Power inside was dense, making it highly suitable for plant-type Soul Masters and soul beasts to cultivate.

"That space is far too barren to live in. Once I've arranged it properly, I'll come get you!"

"But... I still..."

"Be good..."

"Okay."

In the end, Ye Lingling could only lower her head in grievance and gently rest against Mu Zhe's shoulder. "Then hurry, okay? Don't make Lingling wait too long..."

Prince's Mansion.

A figure shrouded in darkness stood before Qian Renxue, reporting the latest intelligence.

She Long entered the room. After respectfully saluting, he reported, "Young Mistress, we've found traces of Mu Zhe. Do you still wish to hear them?"

He cautiously glanced at Qian Renxue, who was reviewing memorials, feeling somewhat uncertain. After all, three or four years had passed. No matter how much the Young Mistress had liked Mu Zhe, time should have washed away all that joy, shouldn't it?

"Really?"

"Yes, Young Mistress. We just received word that Mu Zhe appeared at Heaven Dou Royal Academy carrying your token."

At those words, Qian Renxue immediately tossed aside the memorial in her hand and rose to her feet. Delight flashed through her eyes, mixed with a few traces of resentment.

Finding Mu Zhe truly delighted her, but over these past years, she did not even know how much effort she had spent trying to find him.

She had made She Long and Pufferfish search all over Heaven Dou City without finding him. Later, she went to ask Dugu Yan, only to receive no definite information.

After all!

Dugu Yan herself did not know whether Mu Zhe was truly cultivating in Dugu Bo's Medicinal Garden, so how could she reveal Mu Zhe's whereabouts to people sent by "Xue Qinghe"?

Thus, Qian Renxue could only send people to watch for traces of Mu Zhe, specifically noting that they should keep an eye out for the token she had given him.

"However..."

"However what? Speak!" A sense of foreboding flashed through Qian Renxue's heart. Could something have happened?

She Long was momentarily at a loss for words, but he continued, "However, by the time I received the news and rushed to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Mu Zhe had already disappeared."

"Disappeared? He's a Soul Elder, at most a Soul Ancestor by now. How could he evade your senses?"

"Th-that is indeed what happened." She Long replied stiffly.

He also felt it should have been impossible. He had assumed Mu Zhe had left again, so he searched the entire surrounding area, yet still found no trace of him.

How could She Long and Qian Renxue have known that Mu Zhe had entered the Void State at that time, then entered the Inner Space, already severing himself from the Douluo Continent? Even if Grand Worshipper Qian Daoliu had come personally, he would not have found a single clue.

Qian Renxue's heart tightened. Something really had happened, but she still asked rationally, "Then what was Mu Zhe doing at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"It seemed he was looking for a girl named Ye Lingling. Oh, right, Ye Lingling has also disappeared. They should be together."

"Ye Lingling?"

Qian Renxue frowned, searching through the information on Ye Lingling in her mind. Ye Lingling seemed to be a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Battle Team, and she knew Mu Zhe.

"Then go wait at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I refuse to believe they won't return for the rest of their lives!"

With a cold snort, Qian Renxue immediately made her decision. Mu Zhe might be able to run, but Ye Lingling could not run forever. If Ye Lingling returned alone, they would directly question her about Mu Zhe's whereabouts.

"Also, stay in the mansion during this time. Say that the Crown Prince is ill and will receive no visitors. Pufferfish can accompany me!"

After thinking it over, Qian Renxue still needed to make arrangements for the identity of "Xue Qinghe." After all, this time, she intended to meet Mu Zhe as a woman.