Level 30!
Su Chen opened his eyes. A glint flashed through his golden eyes and vanished. He could feel that not only had his Soul Power broken through to level 30, but thanks to his Ultimate Attribute, his foundation was terrifyingly solid.
"Not bad, Su Chen!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice rang out in his Sea of Consciousness, full of surprise and admiration. "It's only been half a month, and you've gone from level 29 to level 30! I really did pick the right person!"
Su Chen replied calmly through their mental link. "It just happened naturally. Anyway, when are we leaving?"
He meant their plan to head to the Far North.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm thought it over. "You've only just broken through, so you need time to stabilize your level. And the journey to the Far North is long, so you'll need to prepare thoroughly..."
It paused, its tone growing excited. "But honestly, your big brother can hardly wait! Just imagine—we'll bring both the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress back with us. It'll be an unprecedented feat, one that's never been done before and never will be done again!"
Su Chen glanced at the bed across from his. Wang Dong was already asleep, curled up with her arms around her blanket. Her pink-and-blue hair was spread across the pillow, and her sleeping face was peaceful.
"Tomorrow," Su Chen decided. "We'll go early and come back early."
"Deal!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm readily agreed. "Oh, there's something I need to tell you. Your body can withstand more of my power now, so I've been nourishing your First Soul Ring with my Spiritual Origin."
Su Chen's heart stirred. He had indeed sensed that his first soul skill, "Holy Light Slash," had grown much more powerful.
"I've raised your First Soul Ring's age to around six thousand years," Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said proudly. "Once the Snow Empress becomes your Second Martial Soul, your physical strength might reach the level of a Soul King!"
"Your Soul Ring ages will keep increasing after that! I have a feeling it won't be long before your First Soul Ring breaks through ten thousand years!"
A six-thousand-year Soul Ring was already the absolute limit for a Soul Elder. An ordinary Soul Elder's third Soul Ring was only around two thousand years old, while Su Chen's first Soul Ring had already reached six thousand!
If word of this got out, it would scare the wits out of everyone.
"Thanks," Su Chen said sincerely.
"No need to be so polite!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm chuckled. "We're both in the same boat now. The stronger you get, the safer I am!"
The night passed quietly.
The next morning, just as the first light of dawn appeared.
Wang Dong sleepily sat up in bed and rubbed her bleary eyes. Out of habit, she looked toward the bed across from hers. Sure enough, Su Chen was still cultivating, surrounded by a faint golden glow like a golden statue.
"That guy..." Wang Dong muttered under her breath. "Other than eating and going to class, he spends all his time cultivating. What a cultivation maniac..."
She looked out the window. It was still early. Wang Dong yawned and decided to take a shower first. She'd worked up a sweat cultivating the night before, and the sticky feeling was uncomfortable.
An incense stick's time later, Su Chen finished cultivating and slowly opened his eyes.
His level 30 breakthrough had fully stabilized. He could feel that the Soul Power inside him was nearly twice as abundant as before. His Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul seemed to have undergone some subtle changes, too. Its sacred aura was purer and more imposing.
He got out of bed, intending to wash up quickly in the bathroom before going to ask Mu Jin for leave.
Just as he reached the bathroom door, it suddenly opened.
Wang Dong stepped out, toweling her wet hair. She wore only a loose nightshirt. Her skin was flushed from her shower, and water still dripped from her pink-and-blue hair. A fresh fragrance surrounded her.
When she saw Su Chen, Wang Dong froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "You're done cultivating?"
She looked him up and down, feeling that something about him was different. She couldn't put her finger on it, but somehow... Su Chen seemed to have gotten stronger again?
"Su Chen," Wang Dong asked curiously, tilting her head, "why do I feel like you've gotten a lot stronger overnight? Am I imagining things?"
Looking at her curious expression, Su Chen was silent for a moment before deciding to tell her the truth. "I broke through to level 30."
"Level 30?!" Wang Dong cried out in surprise, her eyes going round. "Y-you broke through again?! It's only been a little while!"
She remembered clearly: when school started, Su Chen was level 27. Before long, he broke through to level 28, then reached level 29 after taking a Soul Ascension Pill. And now he'd reached level 30...
That cultivation speed was ridiculous!
"Mm." Su Chen nodded. "I'm planning to hunt for my third Soul Ring."
He hadn't planned to keep it from Wang Dong. After all, he needed a reason to ask the academy for leave.
"I'm coming with you!" Wang Dong said without hesitation, determination written all over her pretty face.
Su Chen looked up at her, a complicated glint passing through his golden eyes. "Wang Dong, don't mess around."
"I'm not messing around!" Wang Dong grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "I'm serious! It's too dangerous for you to hunt for a Soul Ring alone. I can help!"
Her gaze was sincere and steadfast. They bickered and argued all the time, but in Wang Dong's heart, Su Chen had become a very important friend—perhaps even more than a friend.
Looking into Wang Dong's eyes, Su Chen felt a warmth rise in his heart, though worry outweighed it.
He gently slipped his hand free and pinched Wang Dong's cheek. The gesture was becoming more and more natural for him.
"I'm only going to hunt for a Soul Ring. It's not like I'm never coming back." Su Chen's tone was unusually gentle. "Besides, the place I'm going this time... is dangerous. You're only a Soul Grandmaster. Why would you get involved?"
He was telling the truth. The Far North was one of the most dangerous regions on the continent. It was perpetually frozen, its conditions harsh, and its Soul Beasts powerful and savage. Even with a Limit Douluo protecting him, he wasn't completely sure he'd make it back unscathed.
What was more, Wang Dong was only in her twenties in terms of Soul Power. If anything happened to her, he might draw Tang San's attention—and that would be a true disaster.
Besides... Su Chen had to admit that he felt something toward Wang Dong that he couldn't quite explain. Though she was usually proud and noisy and always bickered with him, she had somehow come to occupy a special place in his heart.
Wang Dong felt the same way about Su Chen. He was a little sharp-tongued and always teased and annoyed her, but she could tell that he genuinely cared about her.
"I'm not messing around. I'm serious!" Wang Dong grabbed Su Chen's hand and held it tightly. "It's so dangerous for you to hunt for a Soul Ring alone! I may not be as strong as you, but I'm still a level 24 Soul Grandmaster. I can help!"
She paused, her voice dropping as it took on a hint of pleading. "Besides... I don't want you to go off on an adventure alone."
A stubborn light shone in her eyes. Her stance of "I'm not letting go unless you agree" gave Su Chen a headache.
Su Chen sighed and looked Wang Dong in the eyes. "Wang Dong, listen to me. Hunting for a Soul Ring this time will be really dangerous. If you let your guard down for even a moment, you could get hurt. I don't want to see you get hurt. Do you understand?"
He had put it bluntly, and Wang Dong's face flushed slightly.
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