The next morning,
An unmarked, ordinary carriage stood outside Spirit City, with five figures gathered beside it, talking.
"Xiao Zhen, be extremely careful this time. The outside world is nothing like Spirit Hall. Keep your wits about you at all times."
Qian Daoliu looked at Su Zhen, who wore a fitted black outfit and had tied his long hair into a ponytail, and gave him a careful warning.
"I know, Teacher. You've been telling me all the way from the Worship Hall to the city gates. I'll keep it in mind."
Listening to Qian Daoliu's repeated reminders, Su Zhen felt a warmth in his heart. It had been six years, and this was the first time he would be away from his teacher for so long.
"Ah, Big Brother, enough already. With me here, nothing can happen to Xiao Zhen. Don't worry."
Guang Ling couldn't help interjecting from the side.
"Xiao Zhen, your Fifth Grandpa will be accompanying you on this training trip, so I'm not worried about your safety. But don't let his protection turn you into a wastrel. If I hear even the slightest rumor that you've done something outside that tarnishes Spirit Hall's dignity, I'll personally bring you back to the Worship Hall, and your training will be over."
Qian Daoliu shot Guang Ling a glare to silence him, then turned and warned Su Zhen once more.
"Yes, Teacher. I'll do everything I can to uphold the dignity of our Spirit Hall."
"Teacher, we should get going. There are so many things I need to do on this training trip."
Qian Daoliu stopped with the reminders and waved for Su Zhen and the others to set off. Su Zhen turned and climbed into the carriage. Guang Ling paused as he was about to get in, then sat down as if nothing had happened.
The two Soul Douluo waiting nearby bowed slightly to Qian Daoliu after the pair had entered the carriage, then drove away along the main road.
"Ah, those two little fellows never give anyone a moment's peace. Come out, all of you. Xiao Zhen's gone."
Qian Daoliu watched the carriage grow smaller in the distance and shook his head slightly before speaking toward an empty patch of ground nearby.
Whoosh—
Five figures appeared in the clearing. They were the remaining Worship Hall elders.
"Xiao Zhen's leaving, and you couldn't even come out to see him off. Is this any way for grandfathers to behave?"
Qian Daoliu complained about how they had all kept out of sight.
"Big Brother, this sort of occasion is too sentimental. It wouldn't suit a bunch of rough old men like us to show up."
Golden Crocodile's deep voice rang out.
"Exactly, Big Brother. We're better off quietly watching from the shadows."
The other elders chimed in one after another.
"Enough. I know you're upset that I chose Fifth Elder to accompany Xiao Zhen, but aside from me, he has the strongest spiritual power among us. Having him protect Xiao Zhen is the safest choice."
At that, the elders fell silent, their eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"Big Brother, are you really going to let Little Ao go with them? He's only a Soul Elder, and an auxiliary type at that."
Azure Luan suddenly spoke up.
"Should an auxiliary type spend his whole life pampered inside the Worship Hall? It'll do him good to go out and train with Xiao Zhen. Besides, what do you think I assigned those two Soul Douluo for?"
"Big Brother really does see everything coming."
"I hope Xiao Zhen can grow as quickly as possible."
Qian Daoliu turned to look at the Angel Relief above the city gate, his expression grave.
Inside the carriage rolling slowly along the main road, Guang Ling held a bunch of grapes and popped them into his mouth one by one.
"Those old geezers couldn't even bring themselves to say goodbye. They waited until you left before coming out. Honestly."
"What? Fifth Grandpa, the other grandpas came to see me off too?"
Su Zhen was surprised by Guang Ling's words. Before leaving, he had specifically gone to see the elders, but they had all turned him away, claiming they were cultivating in seclusion. Now it seemed they had simply been unable to bear the sadness of saying goodbye.
"Yeah. Those old geezers were watching from the shadows, their eyes full of tears, as if they'd never see you again."
Su Zhen's mouth twitched. He could take that with a grain of salt. Anything Guang Ling said was only half believable. The elders secretly seeing him off was true, but whether they were as heartbroken as Guang Ling claimed was another matter.
"By the way, Yang Fan, stop at the fork up ahead. There's a little fellow waiting there."
"Yes, sir."
One of the Soul Douluo driving the carriage replied.
"A little fellow? Fifth Grandpa, is Little Ao sneaking out to join us?"
Hearing Guang Ling mention a little fellow, Su Zhen immediately guessed it was Oscar.
"Yeah. That disobedient brat slipped out before dawn. If Big Brother hadn't let it go, I'd have dragged him back already."
Guang Ling grumbled, popping the last grape into his mouth.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the fork, a child darted out from behind a tree and scrambled inside.
"Teacher, Brother Zhen, good morning. You're heading out too?"
Oscar climbed into the carriage and greeted the two men, who were glaring at him as if they wanted to kill him.
"Little Ao, didn't I tell you to stay in the Worship Hall and focus on your cultivation? Why did you sneak out?"
Su Zhen questioned Oscar, a hint of anger in his voice.
"Brother Zhen, I want to go out and train too. In the Worship Hall, all I ever do is cultivate. It's so boring. Besides, I'm pretty strong in a fight. I can help you."
Oscar had already made it into the carriage, so he simply took a firm stance. After speaking, he made sure to lift his right leg, which was wreathed in a scorching aura. It was clearly a Soul Bone.
After returning from the last Soul Hunting, Qian Daoliu had decided that none of the Soul Bones Su Zhen absorbed could be less than seventy thousand years old, or they would limit his growth.
When Su Zhen first met the elders, Lion had given him a thirty-thousand-year-old right leg bone, which was a little too low in age. Qian Daoliu had then brought Su Zhen, Oscar, Lion, and Guang Ling together to discuss giving the Soul Bone to Oscar instead. The result was obvious: everyone agreed. Lion felt a little guilty, though, and promised that they must call on him to help with the next Soul Ring hunt. Su Zhen accepted.
The Soul Bone gave Oscar another trump card that could save his life, as well as a degree of combat ability. Absorbing it had also brought his Soul Power Level up to level forty. But since the elders felt that his Soul Power Level had risen too quickly—and had been boosted entirely by Soul Bones and Immortal Herbs, which wouldn't benefit his future growth—they decided he should wait a few years before hunting for a Soul Ring, and use that time to properly temper his Soul Power.
"Fine. If you want to come along, then come along. But listen to Xiao Zhen and don't act on your own."
At that, Guang Ling spoke up, deciding Oscar's fate.
"Thank you, Teacher. I'll definitely listen to Brother Zhen."
Oscar grinned and sat beside Guang Ling, peeled a banana, and held it up to Guang Ling's mouth.
Watching the scene unfold, Su Zhen could only accept his fate. He closed his eyes and began to meditate.
The carriage continued on its way. It grew quiet inside as Su Zhen cultivated and Oscar looked after Guang Ling, serving him food and drink.
After traveling for three hours, the carriage stopped at a crossroads.
"My lords, young masters, where are we headed? The road to the left leads straight to Heaven Dou City, while the road to the right goes to Fasinuo Province in the Heaven Dou Empire."
Yang Fan's voice came from outside the carriage. Su Zhen opened his eyes and stopped cultivating.
"Xiao Zhen, where do you want to go?"
Guang Ling took a sip of tea and left the decision to Su Zhen. After all, this was his training trip.
Su Zhen thought it over. He was certain he would go to Heaven Dou City, where he could put many plans into motion, while Fasinuo Province also held some opportunities.
"Let's go to Heaven Dou—no, first head to Nuoding City in Fasinuo Province."
"Yes, young master."
Yang Fan turned the carriage toward Fasinuo Province, to the right.
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