Heaven Dou City

Two years later.

Inside a quiet room at Jin Mansion, golden light gathered. Jin Yan sat cross-legged on the floor, beads of sweat streaming down his face.

As time passed, the energy in the room suddenly contracted, and a satisfied dragon's roar softly escaped Jin Yan's lips.

"Level forty!"

He opened his eyes, and a flash of golden light faded away. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he let out a long breath.

Opening the door, Jin Yan turned and entered the bathroom, removing his clothes before stepping into the bath.

After bathing with the maid's assistance and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Jin Yan finally emerged from the bathroom.

"Young Master, the master would like to see you."

Zhang Yan stood guard outside the door as he spoke.

"Alright, Uncle Zhang."

After straightening his clothes, Jin Yan entered the study.

"Grandfather, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, come sit." Golden Crocodile sat behind his desk as he spoke.

"Not bad. You look remarkably spirited. In another couple of years, it'll be time to find you a wife." Golden Crocodile looked at Jin Yan with a teasing smile.

By now, Jin Yan had reached a height of six feet. His features were masculine and handsome, and his short golden hair had several loose strands falling casually across his forehead. Paired with a well-fitted long robe embroidered with golden patterns, he carried an unrestrained, roguish air.

"Grandfather, you didn't call me here to arrange a marriage for me, did you?" Jin Yan joked.

Golden Crocodile chuckled twice before turning serious. "Do you remember Ye Lingsu and her daughter, whom we met in the Star Dou Great Forest two years ago?"

Jin Yan sat up slightly. Two years had passed.

He had been planning to find time to fulfill his promise. He had not expected his grandfather to bring it up today. Had something happened?

"Did something happen to them?"

"Nothing major." Golden Crocodile poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip. "After they went to Heaven Dou City two years ago, they lived fairly well. Since they remained in the capital and did not leave the city, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not bother trying to deal with them again."

"However, over the past two months, Xue Beng, the fourth prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, took a liking to Ye Lingling and has constantly harassed her. Then Xue Ye also said he would grant them a marriage."

"So, they sent someone with a letter saying that they agreed to join Spirit Hall and requested that we send someone to help."

After hearing this, Jin Yan fell into thought. "So, Grandfather, you mean for me to make a trip to Heaven Dou City?"

Golden Crocodile nodded. "I have already discussed it with your other six grandfathers. Keeping you in Spirit Hall all this time is no solution. No expert has ever grown up in a greenhouse. It is time to let you go out and gain some experience.

Get ready now. Leave tomorrow."

"Alright."

Just as Jin Yan was about to leave the study, Golden Crocodile's voice came from behind him again.

"Have Zhang Yan and Tuoba Xi accompany you. It is time for the two of them to get out as well."

Jin Yan agreed and left the study.

"Uncle Zhang, notify Sect Master Tuoba. The two of you will accompany me on a trip tomorrow."

"Alright."

Zhang Yan agreed without asking where they were going, then headed straight for the courtyard where Tuoba Xi and his grandson lived.

After pledging allegiance to Jin Yan, Tuoba Xi had directly bought a courtyard near Worship Mountain in Heaven Dou City. He lived there normally and had even handed the clan's affairs over to its elders.

Early the next morning,

After waking up, Jin Yan casually freshened up before climbing into a carriage waiting outside the gate.

The horses pulling the carriage were century-old soul beasts specially raised by Spirit Hall: Skyfire Horses.

They were a relatively docile type of horse-like soul beast specifically bred by Spirit Hall. Their bodies were fiery red, and they possessed tremendous strength.

Jin Yan sat in the innermost part of the carriage, with Zhang Yan and Tuoba Xi seated on either side of him.

The carriage smoothly left Spirit City. Outside the window stretched endless green fields.

Jin Yan sat cross-legged inside the carriage, resting with his eyes closed.

Time passed, and five days flashed by.

The carriage slowly came to a stop beneath the towering city gate. Above the rounded archway, the three words "Heaven Dou City" were carved in bold, forceful strokes.

Below, the driver flicked a Soul Master token toward the constable, then urged the carriage straight through the gate.

The carriage stopped before the Spirit Hall Branch. Jin Yan slowly stepped down from the carriage.

Salas, the master of the Heaven Dou Empire's Spirit Hall Branch, was already standing at the entrance. Bowing and scraping, he welcomed the three who had descended from the carriage into Spirit Hall.

"Young Master Jin Yan, watch your step."

"Young Master, these are the development reports for the Heaven Dou Spirit Hall Branch over the past few years. Please review them."

Salas respectfully handed three blue-covered booklets to Jin Yan.

As for this young master, Salas knew he could not afford to offend him.

He was not entirely sure why Jin Yan had come to Heaven Dou City, but he did know that, before Jin Yan's arrival, a senior of Titled Douluo rank had come to deliver a message: no matter what, he was to serve this young master well.

That evening, Salas intended to host a grand welcome banquet for Jin Yan, but Jin Yan spoke up and stopped him.

The next day,

With nothing to do, Jin Yan simply left Spirit Hall and prepared to take a stroll around Heaven Dou City.

After arriving in Heaven Dou City, Ye Lingsu had opened a clinic. Thanks to her superb medical skills, she quickly became well-known in the area. As a high-level Soul Master as well, many people came to her by reputation to seek treatment.

When Jin Yan leisurely wandered onto the street where the Sacred Heart Clinic stood, he saw that quite a few people were already lined up outside.

Dressed in a plain white gown, Ye Lingsu sat at a table, seeing one patient after another.

Ye Lingling was nowhere to be seen at the clinic. She was presumably still at Heaven Dou Academy.

With that thought, there was not much left to see in Heaven Dou City. Jin Yan simply turned around, rented a carriage in the city, and headed toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was not located within Heaven Dou City, but on a mountain outside the city. The academy had leased the entire mountain, which was backed by hills and bordered by water, giving it an excellent learning environment.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain.

"Young Master, I can only take you this far. You'll have to climb the rest of the way yourself."

"Alright." Jin Yan got out of the carriage and tossed the driver a silver soul coin. He then turned and walked up the mountain.

Jin Yan's handsome appearance drew the attention of many students. They curiously watched this outsider make his way toward the mountaintop.

However, Jin Yan had not expected that the moment he entered Heaven Dou Academy, he would see Ye Lingling. Yet her current situation did not look good.

"Lingling, you haven't seen me these past few days. Did you miss me?"

A slightly lecherous smile appeared on Xue Beng's face as he reached out, intending to take Ye Lingling's delicate hand.

Ye Lingling frowned and flung away Xue Beng's outstretched hand. Looking at the figures before her, she felt disgusted to the extreme.

At the same time, she deeply regretted it. If she had known, she should have listened to Dugu Yan and stayed away from Heaven Dou Royal Academy today.

After Xue Beng started pestering her a few days ago, Dugu Yan, her closest friend, had practically stayed by her side at all times.

Yesterday, Dugu Yan had broken through to become a Soul Elder, so she had not come to the academy.

At the time, Dugu Yan had urged Ye Lingling to take a day off as well. But Ye Lingling had thought it was only one day and nothing would happen. She had not expected that before even half a day had passed, Xue Beng would come over with his lackeys like a fish that had smelled blood...