Return

Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted from Chen Yu. Xiao Yan, who had been cultivating not far from him, was sent flying.

Landing in the distance, Xiao Yan looked blankly at the others. What was going on? Why had he been blasted away?

After a while, Xiao Yan finally came to his senses and looked resentfully at Chen Yu, whose entire body was wreathed in black flames.

This was way too unfair.

Was it just because he had been sitting a little too close?

Chen Yu rose to his feet and lightly twisted his body. A series of crackling pops immediately rang out.

After being tempered by Divine Power, his fleshly body seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. His flesh was crystal-clear and immaculate, gleaming with faint divine radiance.

"The Life Spring Realm... achieved." Chen Yu felt the surging Divine Power within him and muttered softly.

At that moment, a spring eye had formed at the center of his Bitter Sea, connected to the Wheel of Life as Divine Spring water continuously flowed forth.

From then on, he could use spells and divine abilities. He could also fly freely without relying on his External Soul Bone.

Chen Yu rose into the air and flew upward, gazing at the magnificent mountains and rivers in the distance. If not for the unsuitable location, he truly wanted to roar and vent his excitement. Even obtaining the External Soul Bone had not made him feel this exhilarated.

Ye Fan and the others watched Chen Yu flying through the air, envy flashing in their eyes. They too wanted to break through to the Life Spring Realm as soon as possible and experience the sensation of free flight.

Greatly stimulated, everyone began cultivating even harder. They had to enter the Life Spring Realm as quickly as possible.

Thus, when Chen Yu landed back on the ground, all he saw was everyone diligently cultivating.

Chen Yu did not disturb them. He walked some distance away from the group and sat down cross-legged.

He looked beyond the Ancient Forbidden Land. Should he return to Douluo Continent next, or take a look around outside the Ancient Forbidden Land? Blindly cultivating was not necessarily a good thing.

He turned to look at Ye Fan, wondering what realm Ye Fan planned to reach before leaving. After all, once Ye Fan went out, his vigorous vitality would surely draw countless gazes. The secret of his physique probably would not remain hidden for long.

Boom!

Another powerful aura erupted. Chen Yu turned his head and saw that Zhang Sanfeng had entered the Life Spring Realm.

Chen Yu had a feeling that once Zhang Sanfeng fully adapted to the Life Spring Realm and learned spells and divine abilities, he might become the strongest among them all. Even Lu Xueqi might not be his match.

Boom! Boom!

Before Chen Yu could recover from Zhang Sanfeng's breakthrough, two more auras erupted. They belonged to Lu Xueqi and Ye Fan.

Damn it, why was everyone working so hard?

Especially Ye Fan. He was the most hardworking among them. Over the past three months, apart from eating and resting when necessary, he spent all his time cultivating. The intensity of it made the others feel alarmed just watching him.

Watching the three continue cultivating after their breakthroughs, Chen Yu suddenly felt a little regretful. Why had he impulsively decided to cultivate the Shrouding the Heavens Technique? Wouldn't it have been better to cultivate properly in Douluo World, become a god honestly, and enjoy eternal life?

Besides, he had Little Turtle. He did not need to cultivate this hard himself. He could clearly grow stronger just by lying around, so why was he making himself suffer?

At that moment, Chen Yu felt like he was surrounded by top students. With all the top students around him studying so diligently, he was too embarrassed not to study.

"My skin still isn't thick enough." Chen Yu muttered softly.

The joy of having just broken through to the Life Spring Realm vanished as well. He returned to his spot and resumed cultivating.

One month later, everyone had successfully broken through to the Life Spring Realm.

The Life Spring in Chen Yu's Bitter Sea was no longer merely trickling. It now continuously surged forth, several times greater than before, though he was still some distance from condensing a Divine Bridge.

However, he planned to leave. Even if the others did not leave, he would.

While everyone was resting, Chen Yu spoke up. "I'm planning to go back. What about you? Any thoughts?"

After Chen Yu finished speaking, everyone looked at Ye Fan. If Ye Fan left, they could not remain here either. Who knew whether that person was watching this place?

Ye Fan could guess what they were thinking. "I plan to cultivate until I reach the Divine Bridge Realm, or even step into the Other Shore, before going out. By then, even if my physique is exposed, I'll at least have some ability to protect myself."

Afterward, everyone voiced their opinions. In the end, only Zhang Sanfeng remained behind to cultivate with Ye Fan. Everyone else left.

Star Dou Forest, Peach Valley.

Chen Yu reappeared inside the cave. Without lingering there, he rode a rainbow streak toward the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.

After being gone for more than half a year, his strength had undergone earth-shaking changes. At this point, he should barely be able to preserve his life against Tang Hao.

If he wanted to kill Tang Hao with his own strength, he would need to reach at least the Dao Palace Realm. If he remembered correctly, Chen Xin, the ninety-seventh-ranked Sword Douluo, could split a mountain with a single sword strike. As the greatest tool Martial Soul in the world, combined with the Ring Explosion technique, Tang Hao's destructive power should not be inferior to Sword Douluo's.

But as long as he was not killed instantly, he could call for help or escape.

After flying for a little over half an hour, Chen Yu descended near the edge of Star Dou Forest.

After leaving Star Dou Forest, Chen Yu directly hired a carriage and headed for Nuoding City.

Five days later, Chen Yu smiled as he looked at Nuoding City before him.

Grandmaster Yu, your good friend had returned.

Entering Nuoding City and watching pedestrians come and go along the streets, Chen Yu felt slightly dazed.

It seemed he truly was not suited for secluded cultivation. It had only been a little over half a year, yet he already felt as if a lifetime had passed.

Shaking his head and no longer dwelling on it, Chen Yu headed straight for Nuoding Academy.

He stood at the entrance of Nuoding Academy, silently staring at the four words, "Nuoding Academy."

Nuoding Academy had accompanied him for three years, yet things had turned unpleasant because of Yu Xiaogang. Of course, he would not make trouble for the headmaster. Back then, he had merely been an elementary student without any background. The headmaster could not possibly oppose Yu Xiaogang for his sake.

What Chen Yu found hard to accept was that Yu Xiaogang's current fame had been brought about by him personally. His original goal had been to ruin Yu Xiaogang's reputation, but instead he had made him even more famous. It had ultimately even implicated himself. The thought made him furious.

The young gatekeeper beside him looked at Chen Yu standing before the entrance, not daring to step forward and drive him away.

After absorbing two Spirit Rings and cultivating the Shrouding the Heavens Technique, Chen Yu had grown to one and a half meters tall. An indescribable aura surrounded him, as though he were constantly devouring everything around him. Staring at him for too long made one feel as if they would fall into endless darkness.

After a while, Chen Yu withdrew his gaze and strode directly into Nuoding Academy, ignoring the young gatekeeper beside him.

Only after Chen Yu entered the academy did the young gatekeeper come back to his senses.

Once he recovered, the young gatekeeper's body would not stop trembling. He collapsed back into his chair, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and thought, That was terrifying. I want to go home.

As Chen Yu walked down the academy's stone path, memories of when he had first arrived surfaced in his mind.

"Chen Yu?"

A slightly puzzled voice came from ahead. Chen Yu turned and saw a thin-faced youth dressed in a light blue fitted outfit, with Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges around his waist.

With such obvious features, Chen Yu naturally recognized Tang San at a glance.

Tang San's voice had not been quiet, naturally drawing the attention of some people nearby.

"Chen Yu? Is that the Chen Yu who left the academy a few months ago?"

"Probably. I heard he offended Grandmaster and was refused when he applied to obtain a Spirit Ring."

"What a pity. I rather admired him. I wonder whether he ever obtained a Spirit Ring?"

"Tang San, long time no see."

Chen Yu ignored the surrounding voices. Upon seeing Tang San, he acted as though he had met a good friend he had not seen in ages and warmly stepped forward to greet him.

"Did you obtain a Spirit Ring? For the sake of us sharing a dormitory for three years, I can put in a word with my teacher and have the academy help you obtain one."

Tang San naturally heard the surrounding discussion as well. He raised his chin slightly, his tone filled with pride. It was as though he were telling Chen Yu, See? This is what happens when you offend my teacher. Even obtaining your first Spirit Ring becomes difficult.

"No need. I've already obtained a Spirit Ring. I came back specifically to take a look."

Chen Yu replied with a smile. Enjoy yourself while you can. He hoped Tang San would not cry in a moment.

Just then, the headmaster and Yu Xiaogang emerged from the teaching building with a group of teachers and headed toward them.

Chen Yu's eyes lit up when he saw them. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Grandmaster, thank you. If not for you, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today."

First, he would put the hat nice and high on Yu Xiaogang's head, so it would hurt all the more when he fell.