Time Flies!

Time passed like a white colt flashing by; six years vanished in the blink of an eye.

In an elegant courtyard within Spirit Hall's core district, the morning light was faint.

Lu Jing had shed the immaturity of childhood and grown into a tall, handsome young man.

There was a steadiness between his brows that surpassed his age. His eyes were deep, and an imperceptible gleam occasionally flashed within them.

Thanks to Spirit Hall's immense investment of resources, as well as his own talent and hard work, his Soul Power Level had reached an astonishing forty-eight.

Even more jaw-dropping was his soul ring configuration: one purple and three black!

It practically shattered the common sense of the soul master world.

Of course, it was not that Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could not raise his first soul ring to black as well. Lu Jing simply knew that a purple soul ring could still be explained away as exceptional talent or a fortunate encounter. But without the aid of a deity, increasing a soul ring's cultivation was simply too shocking to explain convincingly. It might instead invite unnecessary trouble and suspicion, so he chose to keep a low profile.

Wang Dong'er, seated across from him, was even more breathtakingly beautiful.

At seventeen, she had fully blossomed like a flower in bloom. Her beauty was enough to eclipse the Sun Moon Empire.

She wore a fitted blue-and-pink gown that outlined her tall, graceful figure, every curve exquisite and alluring.

Her skin was fairer than snow and seemed soft enough to break at a touch. Her long pink-blue hair draped smoothly behind her shoulders, while her eyes, like the purest gemstones, shimmered with lively yet noble radiance.

Her entire body seemed shrouded in a hazy halo—sacred and pure, like a Fairy cast down from the nine heavens into the mortal world. Her peerless charm could move anyone's heart, yet no one dared harbor even the slightest irreverent thought.

Her cultivation had also steadily risen to level fifty-three, with a standard configuration of yellow, purple, purple, black, black. Without Tang San and the Clear Sky Sect secretly assisting her, her cultivation speed was still worthy of being called genius-level, but it was indeed somewhat slower than in the original trajectory.

The two quietly enjoyed their exquisite breakfast, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Six years of spending every day together and cultivating side by side had long caused their relationship to surpass that of ordinary friends. An indescribable understanding and closeness flowed between them.

Lu Jing set down his silverware and looked at the unrealistically beautiful girl across from him. Then he suddenly asked, "Sister Dong'er, do you want to go out for a walk?"

Wang Dong'er was taking small sips of flower tea. At his words, she paused slightly, her long lashes fluttering as a trace of confusion appeared in her beautiful eyes. "Go out? Where to?"

A sunny smile curled across Lu Jing's lips, carrying the high spirits of youth. "Of course, we'll travel around the continent! The Douluo Continent is so vast. We can't stay in Spirit City cultivating forever, can we? We should see the outside world, experience different customs and places, and go through some interesting things. We might even find an opportunity for a breakthrough."

Wang Dong'er put down her teacup. Her lips pressed together slightly, and anticipation gradually lit up her eyes.

She had grown up in the Clear Sky Sect before being brought to Spirit Hall through a space-time tunnel. Though her status was noble and her life comfortable, she had indeed rarely had the chance to truly roam the continent freely.

Lu Jing's suggestion was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples through her heart.

"Mm..."

She considered it briefly, then broke into a smile. It was as though her smile brightened the entire courtyard by several degrees. "Sure! It sounds interesting. When are we leaving?"

Seeing that she agreed, Lu Jing was delighted as well. "No rush. Give me three days to prepare. I need to arrange a few things and get supplies for the journey."

"No problem."

Wang Dong'er nodded readily. "I need to sort out some things too."

After breakfast, Lu Jing went alone to the depths of the Worship Hall, outside the hall where Qian Daoliu cultivated in seclusion.

After announcing himself, he entered.

Qian Daoliu was still dressed in a gray robe, seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his aura as vast as the sea.

When he saw Lu Jing enter, he slowly opened his eyes. His golden gaze rested gently on the young man in whom he had placed such high hopes.

"Great Enshrined Elder." Lu Jing bowed respectfully.

"Xiaojing, what is it?" Qian Daoliu's voice was calm yet commanding.

"I wish to consult some materials in the Scripture Depository. I may need your authorization token to enter the top floor." Lu Jing stated his purpose directly.

Qian Daoliu's gaze rested on Lu Jing for a moment. Then, with almost no hesitation, he flipped his hand and produced a token forged from special metal, engraved with the image of the Angel Sacred Sword, and handed it over.

"Go. The books on the top floor of the Scripture Depository are precious and involve many secrets. Be careful when reading them, and do not damage them," Qian Daoliu instructed.

"Thank you, Great Enshrined Elder. I understand." Lu Jing accepted the heavy token with both hands. It contained a unique Soul Power fluctuation, and his heart settled.

After leaving the Worship Hall, Lu Jing headed directly toward one of Spirit City's most central and heavily guarded areas—the Spirit Hall Scripture Depository.

Even from afar, the Scripture Depository gave off a sense of solemn grandeur. It was not an ordinary tower, but a magnificent stone hall built against a mountain. Its main structure was constructed from enormous, unknown blue-black rocks. Having endured ten thousand years of wind and rain, its walls were covered in the marks of age and mysterious Soul Tool runes, faintly emanating powerful defensive fluctuations.

The entire structure stood nine stories high, like a silent giant overlooking Spirit City.

Before the hall gates stood two enormous angel statues, each holding a sacred sword. Their expressions were stern, radiating a holy and imposing presence that inspired awe.

The heavy bronze gates were shut tight. Two rows of guards stood before them, their auras condensed and their gazes sharp. Even the weakest among them were Soul King-level.

Lu Jing presented Qian Daoliu's authorization token. After carefully inspecting it, the guards respectfully bowed and allowed him through.

The heavy bronze gates slowly opened with a deep rumble, and a unique scent of ancient paper, ink, and the accumulation of years rushed toward him.

The moment he stepped inside, Lu Jing felt as if he had entered an ocean of knowledge.

The interior was exceptionally vast, with a towering dome inlaid with Soul Tool lamps that gave off a soft glow.

Rows upon rows of enormous bookshelves stretched all the way to the ceiling, packed together as densely as a forest.

The shelves were filled with countless books, scrolls, jade slips, stone tablets... Their materials varied, and they spanned immense stretches of time. The air was steeped in a quiet, solemn atmosphere, broken only by the occasional rustle of turning pages.

Stored here were nearly all the precious documents Spirit Hall had collected, organized, and preserved over the tens of thousands of years since its founding.

From the most basic theories of soul master cultivation, soul beast encyclopedias, and martial soul charts, to continental geography, secret histories of various nations, lost Soul Tool blueprints, analyses of high-level soul skills, and even scattered fragments concerning legends of deities and ancient ruins... it was unquestionably the foremost archive on the Douluo Continent.