Douluo Continent, Sunset Forest.
A dazzling burst of light suddenly erupted at the foot of an unknown mountain, sending the surrounding Soul Beasts fleeing in terror.
The intense light flickered for the full time it took to burn a stick of incense before gradually fading. When it vanished, a pure white portal remained in its place.
Immediately afterward, three figures emerged one after another from the portal.
As the last of them—a middle-aged man with a few strands of white hair at his temples—stepped through, the portal turned into specks of light and slowly dissipated. A crystal the size of a baby's fist dropped into the man's hand.
These three were Dugu Xue, Feng Xiaodi, and Ozka, who had crossed the spatial barrier from another world of Douluo Continent!
Dugu Xue glanced at where the World-Crossing Gate had been and sighed. "Only the three of us made it across? It seems the World-Crossing Gate can only withstand the three of us. The amount of energy it requires is truly astonishing!"
Beside him, the silver-haired young man Feng Xiaodi exclaimed excitedly, "Elder, we really did it! The Soul Power here is a full thirty percent denser than in our original world! We crossed the spatial barrier and arrived in another world! This isn't our world anymore!"
Feng Xiaodi could barely contain his excitement.
Dugu Xue smiled. "Emperor Qingtian's decisions are beyond question. He has never made a mistake!"
"Right! Emperor Qingtian is never wrong! By the way, Elder, you're so knowledgeable. Can you tell where we are?"
Dugu Xue flew into the air and surveyed the surroundings, then descended. "If I'm not mistaken, we're deep in Sunset Forest. Heaven Dou City is four or five hundred kilometers from here."
"As long as we're not deep in Star Dou Forest, we should be safe for now."
Dugu Xue nodded. "Our first task is to find out how powerful the Immortal Court is in this world. Our second is to establish a permanent World-Crossing Gate and greatly reduce its energy consumption. Then the Immortal Court's army can enter this world."
The last of the three, the brown-haired young man Ozka, immediately grew solemn. "I will gladly help Emperor Qingtian expand his territory and gather faith!"
"Good. It's good that you understand. Feng Xiaodi, Ozka, I'll leave gathering information about this world to you two. I'll head to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well first. Its medicinal herbs are one of our main objectives."
"Yes!"
"Also, be careful. Don't expose your identities. If you're in danger, send me word immediately. The Soul Power here is denser, so the Soul Masters must be stronger, too!"
"Elder, we'll keep in touch through our Wristwatches. Let's meet in Heaven Dou City!"
All three wore Wristwatches that could transmit signals over long distances, working much like mobile phones.
Meanwhile.
Deep in Sunset Forest, Qian Renxue had just absorbed her seventh Soul Ring. Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo were guarding her.
When Qian Renxue woke, Snake Lance Douluo said gravely, "Young Mistress, there was an extremely powerful fluctuation of Soul Power up ahead just now. It must have been from someone at Level 98 or higher!"
"I sensed it while absorbing my Soul Ring, too."
Qian Renxue furrowed her brow, concerned. "A powerful expert suddenly appeared so close to Heaven Dou City... Who could it be? Someone hidden on the continent?"
Just as Qian Renxue was wondering whether to investigate what sort of expert had passed by, she saw two young men walking toward them from the forest ahead.
"Who's there?" Snake Lance Douluo shouted at once.
"Uh... We mean no harm!"
Feng Xiaodi and Ozka walked toward them from a distance, grinning sheepishly.
As they walked, they spoke in hushed voices.
"Ozka, don't give us away. Getting information from the locals is crucial!"
"Don't worry. I'm a brilliant actor! You're the one who needs to be careful."
"Don't worry about me!"
The two didn't want to reveal their identities, but the next moment, Qian Renxue recognized Feng Xiaodi and asked in confusion, "Feng Xiaotian, what are you doing here? Did you see what happened over there just now?"
Feng Xiaodi: "..."
Ozka: "..."
Who was Feng Xiaotian?
Their minds raced, and they immediately remembered what Emperor Qingtian had told them: they had counterparts in this other world!
Feng Xiaodi smiled awkwardly. "Ha... Haha... We're here to train!"
Ozka nodded, too. "That's right! I came with him to train."
"Oh~" Qian Renxue nodded, then looked at Ozka and asked, "What should I call you, brother?"
"Me? I'm called..."
"Ahem~~" Feng Xiaodi hurriedly coughed and said, "Just call him Xiao Ao!"
"Right, right. Just call me Xiao Ao."
Qian Renxue nodded again, her brow creasing slightly. Why do I get such a strange feeling? It's as if... Feng Xiaotian doesn't know me!
Feng Xiaotian was a polite person. Whenever he met the Crown Prince, he used to bow respectfully and speak with care. Today, Feng Xiaotian spoke and behaved so casually! Qian Renxue found it rather odd.
Just then, Porcupinefish Douluo's voice reached Qian Renxue's ear through a sound transmission. "Young Mistress, Feng Xiaotian's Soul Power exceeds Level 80, that of a Soul Douluo. It's unfathomable! That young man also has at least the strength of a Soul Emperor!"
"What?" Qian Renxue cried out.
Feng Xiaodi asked blankly, "W-what's wrong?"
"Nothing!"
Qian Renxue's doubts deepened. Feng Xiaotian is a genius, but his Soul Power should only be around Level 42 or 43. How could he have the strength of a Soul Douluo? Could he be Feng Xiaotian's twin brother? Then... why is he pretending to be Feng Xiaotian? And even if he is Feng Xiaotian's brother, isn't his Soul Power cultivation far too outrageous?
So Qian Renxue decided to test him. "Brother Feng, I heard you broke through to Soul Douluo quite a while ago. What level are you now?"
"Ah? Well... Um..."
Feng Xiaodi stammered, his thoughts racing. Somebody save me! How much Soul Power does my counterpart in this world have again?
Seeing Feng Xiaodi's troubled expression, Ozka suddenly cut in. "It's rude to ask someone about their Soul Power Level like that, isn't it? My big brother Feng Xiaotian won't hold it against you, but you shouldn't ask him that!"
Feng Xiaodi immediately played along. "That's right! Our Soul Power Level is a secret. After all... when you're out and about, it's best to keep your guard up. Of course, I don't mean you, brother! I'm just worried some hostile force might find out!"
"Haha~~ That was presumptuous of me. Sorry, sorry."
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