Return to Barak Palace

Xue Tianxing nodded at his words.

"Alright, we'll do as you say, Senior. I'll go find Grandpa Liu now. Once you've finished hunting the Soul Rings, I'll wait for you in Barak City."

Oscar hurriedly added,

"Tianxing, don't worry. Once we reach Barak City, we'll cultivate together again!"

Dugu Yan also waved at Xue Tianxing.

"Little Brother Tianxing, we'll get in touch once we reach Barak City!"

Xue Tianxing agreed with a smile, then turned and headed out of the manor—at level forty Soul Ancestor, with his fourth Soul Ring soon to be acquired, his strength was about to make another tremendous leap. His future would surely become even more brilliant.

After bidding farewell to Dugu Bo and the others, Xue Tianxing quickly left Dugu Manor and walked straight toward the outskirts along the streets of Heaven Dou City.

Along the way, he could clearly feel the surging level-forty Soul Power within him, and even his steps seemed much lighter.

Before long, he reached the forest outside Heaven Dou City. The moment he stepped into the woods, he saw Liu Tianfeng pacing anxiously across an open clearing. The Frosty Cold Wind Sword was planted at an angle in the dirt nearby, making it clear that he had been waiting for quite some time.

"Grandpa Liu!"

Xue Tianxing called out with a smile.

Liu Tianfeng abruptly turned around. When he saw Xue Tianxing, the anxiety on his face was instantly replaced by delight. He hurried over and said,

"Tianxing! You finally came out! Nothing happened to you during those three days in that Old Poison's manor, right? I've been lingering outside the manor every day. I could sense your aura, but I didn't dare barge in recklessly. I was worried sick!"

As he spoke, he looked Xue Tianxing up and down, afraid that he might have been injured somewhere.

"I'm fine, Grandpa Liu. Sorry for making you worry."

Xue Tianxing waved his hand with a smile.

"I absorbed an Immortal Herb fruit I obtained from the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, which is why it took three days. Look, I've already broken through to level forty Soul Ancestor!"

As he spoke, he circulated his Soul Power. A faint icy-blue glow spread around his body, fully revealing the aura of a level-forty Soul Ancestor.

Liu Tianfeng's eyes lit up. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xue Tianxing's arm, sending his fingertips into his body to inspect him. His Soul Power was dense and condensed—he truly was at level forty, without the slightest hint of instability.

Overjoyed, he patted Xue Tianxing on the shoulder and burst into laughter.

"Good! Excellent! Tianxing, you've done wonderfully! You became a Soul Ancestor before even turning eight. At this rate, you'll definitely break Tang Hao's record as the youngest Titled Douluo! Our Balak Kingdom is finally going to produce a true genius!"

After his excitement subsided, Liu Tianfeng noticed that Oscar was nowhere beside Xue Tianxing. He had been so worried about Xue Tianxing's safety that he had actually forgotten about Oscar.

His smile immediately faded as he asked nervously,

"By the way, Tianxing, where's that brat Oscar? Why didn't he come out with you? Did something happen to him at Dugu Manor?"

"Don't worry, Grandpa Liu. Little Oscar is doing just fine."

Xue Tianxing explained with a smile.

"He's practically become Senior Dugu Bo's future grandson-in-law! Dugu Yan and he are in love, and she even said she wanted to return to Barak Academy with him to study. Little Oscar is currently accompanying Senior Dugu Bo to help Sister Dugu Yan hunt her third Soul Ring. Once they finish hunting the Soul Ring, they'll come to the Balak Kingdom to find us."

Liu Tianfeng was stunned at first, then suddenly understood. After that, he sighed somewhat regretfully.

"So that's how it is... Still, it's a real pity. If you could have become Dugu Bo's grandson-in-law, wouldn't our Balak Kingdom have directly won over a Titled Douluo? That would have been an enormous boost to our kingdom's strength."

Xue Tianxing quickly waved his hand, his tone serious.

"Grandpa Liu, you can't say things like that carelessly. I truly have no such feelings for Dugu Yan, and she and Little Oscar are doing well together now. I can't just insert myself between them.

Besides, although Dugu Yan is pretty, she's not stunning enough to leave people awestruck. I don't want to delay my cultivation over such matters."

That was the truth. Whether in the anime he had watched in his previous life or in person in this life, Dugu Yan was merely a graceful beauty, not his type. Besides, he disdained using such methods to win over powerful allies.

Seeing how resolute he was, Liu Tianfeng smiled.

"Alright, alright, Grandpa Liu won't mention it again. Grandpa didn't think it through. It's mainly because that Old Poison Dugu Bo is simply too strong. If we could draw him to our side, our Balak Kingdom's position on the Douluo Continent would surely become more secure."

"Don't worry, Grandpa Liu. There will definitely be an opportunity."

Xue Tianxing spoke with certainty.

"Now that Little Oscar and Dugu Yan are together, and Dugu Yan is willing to come to Barak Academy, this is the best opportunity. Once they arrive in the Balak Kingdom, we can invite Senior Dugu Bo over more often and show him our kingdom's sincerity and strength. I believe that before long, he'll be willing to join our Balak Kingdom."

As Liu Tianfeng listened to Xue Tianxing, the regret in his heart gradually faded, replaced by complete confidence.

He nodded and patted Xue Tianxing on the shoulder.

"Good! We'll do as you say! Now that you've broken through to level forty, the most urgent matter is finding a suitable fourth Soul Ring. Come on, Grandpa will take you deep into the Land of the Extreme North and find a Soul Ring best suited to your Ice Phoenix Spirit!"

Yet upon hearing Liu Tianfeng's words, Xue Tianxing shook his head, his tone carrying a measure of certainty.

"Grandpa Liu, there's no rush to hunt a Soul Ring. Let's return to the Balak Kingdom first."

Liu Tianfeng was immediately stunned, his face full of confusion.

"How can that work? You've just broken through to level forty, which is the best time to absorb a Soul Ring. The sooner you obtain a suitable third Soul Ring, the sooner you can continue cultivating!"

In Liu Tianfeng's eyes, a Soul Master's growth could not afford even the slightest delay. Especially for a genius like Xue Tianxing, every step should be taken at exactly the right moment.

"Grandpa Liu, have you forgotten what I told you before?"

Xue Tianxing reminded him with a smile.

"Immortal Herbs can transform a Soul Master's potential—you've been stuck at level eighty-nine for so long. If you absorb a suitable Immortal Herb, you might directly break through to level ninety and become a Titled Douluo! Let's go back first. You can refine the Immortal Herb and make your breakthrough. Once you become a Titled Douluo, Senior Dugu Bo should have sent Little Oscar and Dugu Yan to Barak City as well. Then we can ask him to help hunt the ninth Soul Ring most suited to you. Wouldn't that be even better?"

The moment the words "Titled Douluo" left his mouth, Liu Tianfeng's eyes instantly lit up. All his previous urgency vanished as he grabbed Xue Tianxing's arm.

"Right! Right! We'll go back and break through first! This old man has waited decades for this day. I can't miss it again!"

As he spoke, the Frosty Cold Wind Sword appeared beneath his feet. Before Xue Tianxing could react, Liu Tianfeng carried him off in a streak of light, racing toward the Balak Kingdom.