Time Flies!

Time flew by like a fleeting white colt, and six years passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the Core Area of Spirit Hall, morning light filtered into an elegant courtyard.

Lu Jing had shed the childishness of his youth and grown into a tall, handsome youth.

There was a maturity beyond his years between his brows. His eyes were deep, occasionally flashing with a sharp glint that was difficult to detect.

Thanks to the vast resources poured in by Spirit Hall, along with his own talent and hard work, his Soul Power Level had reached an astonishing level forty-eight.

Even more astounding was his Soul Ring configuration: Purple Three Black!

This had nearly shattered the common sense of the Soul Master World.

Of course, it was not that the 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 extraordinary talent or a fortunate encounter. But raising the cultivation of Soul Rings without divine assistance was far too shocking and difficult to justify. It might instead attract 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 blossomed completely like a flower bud in full bloom. Her beauty was enough to make the Sun Moon lose their radiance.

She wore a fitted powder-blue long skirt that outlined her tall, graceful figure, its curves delicate and alluring.

Her skin was fair as snow and seemingly soft enough to break at a touch. Her powder blue long hair cascaded smoothly down her back, while her eyes resembled the purest gemstones, shimmering with lively yet noble light.

She seemed shrouded in a hazy halo, sacred and pure, like a fairy from the nine heavens descended into the mortal world. Her peerless elegance 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 the standard configuration of yellow, purple, purple, black, black. Without Tang San and the Clear Sky Sect secretly supporting 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 brought their relationship beyond that of ordinary friends. An indescribable understanding and closeness flowed between them.

Lu Jing set down his silver cutlery and looked at the maiden across from him, whose beauty seemed unreal. 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 when she paused slightly at his words. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and a trace of confusion appeared in her beautiful eyes. "Go out? Where to?"

A sunny smile curved at the corner of Lu Jing's mouth, filled with the high spirits of a youth. "Of course, we'll travel around the continent! Douluo Continent is so vast. We can't stay in Spirit City cultivating forever, can we? We can see the outside world, experience different customs, and encounter interesting things. We might even find an opportunity for a breakthrough."

Wang Dong'er put down her teacup. Her pink lips pressed together slightly as anticipation gradually brightened her eyes.

She had grown up in the Clear Sky Sect, then later been brought to Spirit Hall through the Time-Space Tunnel. Though her status was noble and her life comfortable, she had rarely had a chance to truly travel the continent freely.

Lu Jing's proposal was like a stone cast upon a calm lake surface, sending ripples through her heart.

"Mm..."

She pondered briefly, then broke into a smile that seemed to brighten the entire courtyard. "All right! That sounds interesting. When do we leave?"

Seeing her agree, Lu Jing was delighted. "No rush. Give me three days to prepare. I need to make some arrangements and prepare things for the journey."

"No problem."

Wang Dong'er nodded readily. "I need to sort out a few 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, sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion. An aura as vast as the sea emanated from him.

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

"Great Enshrined." Lu Jing bowed respectfully.

"Little Jing, what is it?" Qian Daoliu's voice was calm yet imposing.

"I want 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.

After letting his gaze rest on Lu Jing for a moment, Qian Daoliu almost without hesitation turned his hand over and produced a token forged from Special Metal, engraved with the Angel Sacred Sword Pattern, then handed it to him.

"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. I understand." Lu Jing accepted the heavy token with both hands. It contained a peculiar soul power fluctuation, and his heart settled.

After leaving the Worship Hall, Lu Jing headed straight for one of the most heavily guarded places at the heart of Spirit City—the Scripture Depository of Spirit Hall.

Even from afar, the Scripture Depository gave off an impression of immense antiquity and grandeur. It was not an ordinary tower, but a magnificent stone hall built against a mountain. Its main structure was constructed from enormous, unknown bluish-black rocks. After enduring ten thousand years of wind and rain, the stone walls were covered in weathered marks and profound Soul Tool runes, faintly emitting powerful defensive fluctuations.

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

Before the hall doors stood two enormous angel statues, each holding a sacred sword. Their faces were solemn, and they radiated sacred, imposing auras that Inspired Awe.

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

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

The heavy bronze doors slowly opened with a deep rumble, and a distinctive scent of ancient paper, ink, and accumulated years washed over him.

As he stepped inside, Lu Jing felt as though he had entered an ocean of knowledge.

The interior was extraordinarily spacious, its vaulted ceiling soaring overhead and set with Soul Guide Lamps that gave off soft light.

Rows upon rows of massive bookshelves stretched all the way to the ceiling, densely arranged like a forest.

The shelves held countless books, scrolls, jade slips, stone tablets... Their materials varied, and the span of their ages was enormous. The air was filled with a quiet, solemn atmosphere, broken only occasionally by the soft rustle of turning pages.

This place housed nearly all the precious documents and materials that Spirit Hall had collected, organized, and preserved over the more than ten thousand years since its founding.

From the most basic Soul Master cultivation theories, Soul Beast illustrated guides, and martial soul diagrams, to continental geographies, secret histories of various nations, lost Soul Tool blueprints, analyses of high-level Soul Skills, and even scattered records concerning legends of deities and ancient ruins... it was unquestionably the greatest archive on Douluo Continent.