Faster, Faster

Qian Renxue looked at Lin Feng, who was standing there in a daze with his eyes fixed squarely on her. Realizing something, she quickly reined in her smile and returned to her usual cold and indifferent demeanor.

She turned and walked to a clean, flat patch of grass, sat down cross-legged, and instructed, "Little Lin, don't wander off. I'm going to absorb this spirit ring."

Lin Feng snapped back to reality, suppressed the wild thumping in his chest, and hurriedly scratched his head in response. "Understood! Teacher, absorb it with peace of mind; I'll stand guard for you here."

Of course, he didn't truly take it to heart. Given his cheap teacher's precious status, he didn't believe for a second that there weren't one or two Title Douluo protecting her from the shadows.

He leaped lightly onto a thick tree branch nearby and sat down with his back against the trunk, his gaze drifting into the distance as he grew preoccupied, his eyes filled with worry.

It's been a week. The Dean and Uncle Zhao haven't seen me yet; they must be very anxious.

If they think I was captured by the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, Uncle Zhao's explosive temper will definitely lead him to go after the Blood Wolves. No, I have to get back quickly.

The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group had a leader at the Spirit Douluo level, along with four Spirit Sages and dozens of Spirit Emperors...

Without his Blue Buff and Godly Gear support, even if Flender and Zhao Wuji—both mere Spirit Sages—risked their lives, they would never be able to win.

Three hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Qian Renxue slowly opened her eyes, a flash of golden light vanishing within them. The ink-black ten-thousand-year spirit ring was absorbed into her body, and the spirit power aura radiating from her was significantly more formidable than before.

The pressure of her spirit power grew increasingly thick and solid; she had completely stabilized her realm as a Spirit King.

Seeing this, Lin Feng didn't even have time to offer congratulations. He immediately leaped down from the tree and rushed to her side, his face full of urgency. "Teacher, we must leave the Star Dou Forest immediately. If we are any later, I'm afraid the Dean and the others will go and throw their lives away against the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group."

"Very well."

Qian Renxue's angel wings suddenly unfurled behind her. She grabbed the back of Lin Feng's collar, and the two soared into the air, speeding toward the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest.

Lin Feng was stunned; he hadn't expected her to carry him while flying.

As the biting cold wind brushed against his cheeks and he watched the sea of treetops flashing by beneath his feet, the deep anxiety in his heart dissipated significantly.

It's only been about a week. The Dean is so shrewd; he should be able to hold Uncle Zhao back.

Flying at high speed while carrying someone consumed far more spirit power than flying alone. Qian Renxue frowned slightly and said indifferently, "Little Lin, spirit power."

"Coming right up!"

The yellow spirit ring on Lin Feng's body suddenly lit up as he chanted, "Blue Sentinel Power!"

A deep blue halo circled steadily around Qian Renxue.

The spirit power that had been depleting rapidly began to refill steadily at a speed visible to the naked eye.

With the infinite sustain of the Blue Buff as a safety net, Qian Renxue's golden wings gave a fierce flap, increasing her speed even further. She transformed into a brilliant streak of golden light, tearing through the sky as she raced toward the outer reaches of the Star Dou Forest.

Outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest.

Rest Town.

Inside a simple wooden house, Zhao Wuji sat on a stool, his eyes bloodshot. Driven by inner rage and restlessness, he slammed a palm onto the solid wooden table.

"Flender, we can't hesitate any longer. Lin Feng must have been captured by the Blood Wolves. We're going to their lair to find him."

As he spoke, he stood up abruptly and headed for the door.

"Old Zhao, you stand right there!"

Flender immediately shouted to stop him. The days of worry had made his voice hoarse, yet he still forced himself to remain calm and sort through the clues.

"Lin Feng cannot be in the hands of the Blood Wolves."

"The word on the street is that we were both severely injured and fled into the Star Dou Forest with a supreme treasure. If Lin Feng were truly in their hands, how could they possibly let such information out?"

He raised a hand to adjust his glasses, his gaze sharp as he said in a low voice, "The most critical point is that the Soul Recovery Pavilion has yet to reopen. If those greedy wild dogs had really captured Lin Feng, that cash cow, how could they possibly pass up the chance to make money? They would have already propped him up as a living signboard."

Over the past few days, they hadn't failed to suspect the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group; the two of them had even secretly captured two Spirit Emperor-level backbone members of the mercenary group to interrogate them throughout the night.

Yet, from beginning to end, the other party knew nothing about the treasure. Even the leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, Zhou Man, had been leading his men to search frantically around the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest these past few days.

It was precisely because of this that the two had temporarily set aside their suspicions regarding the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group.

Zhao Wuji stood where he was, his face devoid of expression—a calmness more chilling than his previous rage.

He clenched his fists tightly and said, word by word, "Then I will go search the inner circle of the Star Dou Forest."

"Lin Feng is a student of Shrek. Since he called me Uncle Zhao, I must see him alive or find his corpse. No matter what, I must bring him back."

Flender was silent for a moment, then stepped forward, patted his shoulder heavily, and said in a low voice:

"Fine, we're going. I'll go with you."

The two pushed open the Gate of Opening side by side, but just as they were about to step out, they saw a figure in the distance running toward them in a panic.

The person's clothes were torn to shreds, covered in mud and grass clippings, and his hair was a tangled mess plastered against his forehead; he looked as disheveled as a beggar on the street.

Yet, Flender recognized the newcomer at a glance.

"Lin Feng!"

The massive boulder that had been weighing on his heart for days suddenly crashed to the ground, and all the anxiety, suppression, and self-reproach vanished in an instant.

"Hahaha!"

Flender couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, raising his hand to pat Zhao Wuji on the shoulder.

"Old Zhao, no need to search anymore. The Gold-Swallowing Beast has returned on his own."

His excited eyes couldn't help but turn red.

Lin Feng was someone he had brought in personally; if anything had truly happened to him, he would never have forgiven himself for the rest of his life.

Zhao Wuji stared fixedly at the approaching figure, his gaze sweeping rapidly over his limbs—all intact, no missing arms or legs.

He looked at his face next; although he appeared disheveled, his complexion was rosy and his breathing was steady, showing not a hint of injury or weakness.

The heart that had been stuck in his throat finally dropped, and he muttered repeatedly.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Lin Feng ran all the way up to the two of them, grinned to reveal a set of white teeth, and teased them heartlessly:

"Yo, Dean, Uncle Zhao, where are you two headed? Looking at this formation, don't tell me you were planning to go avenge me?"

Seeing the kid still wearing that devil-may-care expression, Flender was both angry and amused, reaching out to ruffle his messy hair hard.

"Avenge you? We were going to see if you were dead yet. Don't forget you still owe a mountain of debt; you dare to die? Pay back the money first."

"Hey! No wonder I've been so unlucky these past few days."

Lin Feng dodged his hand, wearing an expression that said "I've seen right through you."

"Dean, be honest, have you been cursing me to have an accident every day behind my back so you could welsh on the 99 million Gold Soul Coins you owe me?"

"I'm telling you, not a chance."

The back-and-forth banter instantly dispersed the heaviness and oppression that had permeated the air, and the atmosphere suddenly became relaxed and harmonious.

Zhao Wuji patted his shoulder, asking suspiciously:

"Little Lin, you wouldn't happen to be directionally challenged and wandered into the inner circle of the Star Dou Forest, would you?"

"Uncle Zhao, you're the one who's directionally challenged."

Lin Feng rolled his eyes in silence.

"I've walked that secret path for two years; I could walk it with my eyes closed. How could I possibly get lost?"