Star God Power, Heaven Dou City

Everywhere in the world, there were branches waiting to be climbed.

Lin Jin had already stepped onto one.

And that branch was still carrying him toward even higher ones.

He was already content.

He had no desire to wade into any other muddy waters.

Moreover, his purpose in participating in the Skysea Feast had been fulfilled after his battle with Ye Xinglan.

Ye Xinglan was truly strong.

But Lin Jin was stronger.

That made this trial seem to hold little meaning.

After all.

From beginning to end, Lin Jin had used only one soul skill: Crimson Lotus Flame Fury.

He had also revealed the Dark Gold Dreadclaw and Spirit Sea Realm Spiritual Power.

The latter two did not matter.

Because he knew where Zhen Hua would take him next.

At Zhen Hua's side, let alone a Dark Gold Dreadclaw obtained within the Spirit Pagoda's sight and nurtured to the Thousand-Year Level.

Even if he possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, his safety would absolutely be guaranteed.

Thus, the journey for the Skysea Feast came to an end.

As for the blacksmithing competition.

Tang Wulin had intentionally yielded, allowing Mu Xi to claim first place without question.

As for the Spirit Master Individual Competition.

After encountering Ye Xinglan in the second round, Lin Jin did not continue competing.

Meanwhile, because Ye Xinglan had been eliminated early, she and Xu Lizhi also withdrew from the doubles Spirit Master competition.

As a result, the situation was unexpectedly set off ahead of time, while Tang Wulin and the others followed Wu Zhangkong's original plan and completed their matches.

Therefore.

When Lin Jin's group left, Tang Wulin and the others were still competing.

After returning to Eastsea City, Mu Chen did not move his entire household to Heaven Dou City as planned.

The reason was simple.

He had lived in Eastsea City for too many years, and he was also the president of the East Sea Blacksmith Association.

Whether sorting through belongings or handing over his position, both required considerable time.

Therefore, after resting for a day.

Mu Chen merely set out with Lin Jin.

Their destination: Heaven Dou City.

As the Soul Guidance Train traveled onward, the low hum of its wheels striking the tracks sent Lin Jin's thoughts drifting for a while.

A traveler away from home would always miss it.

So did he.

Seeing Lin Jin lost in thought, Mu Chen smiled faintly.

"What are you thinking about?"

Lin Jin came back to himself.

He shook his head and said,

"Nothing."

After a brief pause, his gaze shifted slightly.

"Teacher, may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

Mu Chen nodded.

Lin Jin said,

"Teacher, as a Level 8 Saint Craftsman, making yourself a set of Three-Word Battle Armor should be easy, shouldn't it?"

"Besides, we blacksmiths all place great importance on conditioning our bodies, so our physiques are not weak."

"As long as it is completed, fusion should not be much of a problem."

"Furthermore, Battle Armor offers Spirit Masters a tremendous boost."

"Wouldn't it be good to possess the strength to protect yourself and your family?"

"Why haven't you made yourself a set of Battle Armor?"

That was right.

Mu Chen did not possess Battle Armor.

Originally, Lin Jin had not been able to confirm that.

After all, none of the information he knew contained any account of Mu Chen displaying his combat ability.

But after living together for more than three years, Lin Jin naturally came to know it.

Mu Chen was somewhat surprised to hear this question.

After a moment of silence.

He looked out the train window, and his voice grew somewhat complicated.

"A Jin..."

"Sometimes, possessing great strength also means facing greater risks."

"Do you know about your martial uncle..."

"I have yet to tell you about this matter."

"This trip is meant to bring you to meet your martial uncle."

After a pause, he returned to the subject.

"Your martial uncle holds an extraordinary position, and he possesses immense strength as well."

"But how many people are watching him from the shadows?"

"The Holy Spirit Cult, even many within the Federation, are all watching him!"

"If he is even slightly careless when traveling, being captured is not impossible."

"The sun in the sky cannot shine upon every inch of land."

"Look..."

Mu Chen extended a hand, letting the sunlight fall upon it.

His palm faced downward.

"Even beneath this blazing sun, there are shadows."

Mu Chen was speaking pointedly.

Lin Jin fell silent.

Only after a moment did he say,

"I understand, Teacher."

After that.

Perhaps because of their conversation, Mu Chen also sank into memories.

Lin Jin, meanwhile, gradually entered a meditative state.

The distance to Eastsea City was great.

Even by Soul Guidance Train, it required a full day and night—nearly twenty-four hours.

Thus.

Lin Jin and Mu Chen were in a VIP compartment.

There were only the two of them.

In meditation.

Lin Jin's consciousness returned to his Spirit Sea.

His battle with Ye Xinglan had actually brought him gains as well.

It was just that the schedule had been too tight for him to "digest" them.

His earlier conjecture had been proven correct.

It was not that Lotus Light could only bring back Dragon Qi.

Rather, among the Spirit Masters he had encountered before, only dragon-type Martial Souls had been of sufficient quality.

The Stargod Sword was unquestionably a top-tier assault-type weapon Martial Soul.

The flames of the Samadhi Lotus had burned throughout the entire battle.

As a result, Lotus Light had brought back wisps of Star God Power for him!

At this moment, it lingered within his Spirit Sea, spreading out like countless twinkling stars.

Unlike Dragon Qi.

This starlike Star God Power benefited Spiritual Power rather than the physical body.

That caused his Spiritual Power to improve significantly once more.

Lin Jin could not help but sigh.

If I were an Evil Spirit Master, using the power of Lotus Flower Flame without restraint like Pluto.

I might have attained a Title Douluo at nineteen as well!

Pluto.

He was the vice leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, Ha Luosa.

By now, he should have been a Quasi-God Grade Limit Douluo, one of the most powerful beings at the very peak of combat strength.

At the same time, he was also a child of the plane, though one formed from the plane's negative energy.

He possessed the innate domain Underworld Rebirth, allowing him to grow rapidly through slaughter and devouring negative energy.

He attained a Title Douluo at nineteen.

At twenty-five, he reached the realm of a Super Douluo.

His growth rate was extremely fast.

But Lin Jin was not Pluto, after all.

He did not consider himself a good person, but neither could he become an utterly evil one.

Still less could he allow his abilities to be exposed and become a lab rat.

Being stuck in the middle like this, neither advancing nor retreating, was not truly a good thing.

But at least.

His conscience was clear.

The next day.

When Lin Jin opened his eyes, the Soul Guidance Train had already begun to slow down.

The scenery outside the window entered his sight.

As the former capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City was not as prosperous as he had imagined.

In terms of prosperity, it was not even comparable to Eastsea City.

The city as a whole exuded an ancient, rustic air.

Many buildings constructed in later years, even if their interiors were filled with Soul Guidance technology.

Still retained that ancient appearance on the outside.

Furthermore, its vegetation and greenery far surpassed anything Lin Jin had seen in Eastsea City or Skysea City.

As a result, when he stepped out of the Soul Guidance Train station, the fresh air that greeted him felt wonderfully soothing.

Of course.

Lin Jin suspected that this was entirely because the sealed train carriage had contained too much carbon dioxide...

But that was not important.

What mattered was that the moment he exited the Soul Guidance Train station.

A middle-aged man with a tall, upright figure and an aura as steady as a mountain entered his field of vision.

He should have been extremely conspicuous, yet the passersby coming and going all seemed to overlook him.