Breakthrough, Journey to the Far North

Level thirty!

Su Chen opened his eyes, a flash of golden light flickering within his pupils. He could feel that his soul power had not only broken through to level thirty, but due to his extreme attributes, his foundation was terrifyingly solid.

"Not bad, Su Chen!" The voice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm echoed in his Sea of Consciousness, filled with surprise and admiration. "Only half a month, and you've gone from level twenty-nine to level thirty! You truly are the one I chose!"

Su Chen responded calmly in his mind: "It was just a natural progression. By the way, when are we leaving?"

He was referring to the plan to head to the Far North.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm pondered for a moment: "You just broke through, so you need time to stabilize your realm. Besides, the journey to the Far North is long; we need to make thorough preparations..."

It paused, its tone turning excited: "But honestly, brother is already impatient! Just thinking about being able to pack up both the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress and take them away—this is a feat unprecedented and likely never to be repeated!"

Su Chen glanced at the bed opposite—Wang Dong was already asleep, curled up into a ball while hugging her quilt. Her powder-blue short hair was scattered across the pillow, her sleeping face serene.

"Tomorrow," Su Chen decided. "The sooner we go, the sooner we return."

"Fine!" the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm agreed readily. "By the way, there is one thing I must tell you. Now that your physique can withstand more of my power, I have been using my spiritual origin to nourish your first soul ring during this time."

Su Chen felt a stir in his heart. He had indeed felt that the power of his first soul ring, Holy Light Slash, was significantly stronger than before.

"Your first soul ring's age has been raised to about six thousand years by me," the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said proudly. "Once your second martial soul possesses the Snow Empress, your physical strength might rival that of a Soul King!"

"At that point, the soul ring age will continue to rise! I feel that before long, your first soul ring will be able to break through the ten-thousand-year mark!"

A six-thousand-year soul ring was the absolute limit for a Soul Elder. A typical Soul Elder's third soul ring was only around two thousand years, yet Su Chen's first soul ring had already reached six thousand!

If this were to get out, it would absolutely terrify a great many people.

"Thanks," Su Chen said sincerely.

"Don't mention it!" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm chuckled. "We're in the same boat now; the stronger you are, the safer I am!"

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten.

Wang Dong sat up from her bed, dazed, and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She habitually looked toward the opposite bed—Su Chen was indeed still in meditation, his body shrouded in a faint golden halo, resembling a golden statue.

"This guy..." Wang Dong muttered softly. "Aside from eating and attending class, he spends all his time cultivating. He really is a cultivation maniac..."

She looked out the window; it was still early. Wang Dong yawned and decided to take a shower first—she had worked up a sweat during her cultivation last night and felt sticky and uncomfortable.

An incense stick of time later, Su Chen finished his cultivation and slowly opened his eyes.

The level thirty realm was now completely stabilized. He could feel that the soul power within his body was nearly twice as thick as before, and his Six-Winged Angel martial soul seemed to have undergone some subtle changes; that holy aura was now purer and more majestic.

He got out of bed, prepared to wash up in the bathroom, and then go find Mu Jin to ask for leave.

Just as he reached the bathroom door, it suddenly opened.

Wang Dong walked out, wiping her wet hair, wearing only a loose pair of pajamas. Having just showered, her skin was flushed with a rosy glow, and her powder-blue short hair was still dripping water, the whole of her radiating a fresh fragrance.

Seeing Su Chen, Wang Dong froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "You finished your cultivation?"

She looked Su Chen up and down, feeling that something was different. That feeling was hard to describe, but she just felt... had Su Chen become stronger again?

"Su Chen," Wang Dong tilted her head and asked curiously, "Why do I feel like you've become much stronger overnight? Is it just my imagination?"

Su Chen looked at her curious expression, remained silent for a moment, and decided to tell the truth: "I've broken through to level thirty."

"Level thirty?!" Wang Dong exclaimed, her eyes widening into circles. "You, you broke through again?! How long has it even been!"

She remembered very clearly that when school started, Su Chen was at level twenty-seven, then broke through to level twenty-eight shortly after, and later used a Soul Ascension Pill to reach level twenty-nine. Now he had reached level thirty...

This cultivation speed was simply absurd!

"Yeah," Su Chen nodded. "I'm planning to go hunt for my third soul ring."

He had never intended to hide it from Wang Dong. After all, to take leave from the academy, he needed a reason.

"I'm going with you!" Wang Dong said without hesitation, her pretty face filled with determination.

Su Chen looked up at her, a flash of complexity in his golden eyes: "Wang Dong, don't mess around."

"I'm not messing around!" Wang Dong grabbed Su Chen's hand, holding it tightly. "I'm serious! It's too dangerous for you to go hunt for a soul ring alone; I can help!"

Her gaze was sincere and persistent. Although they often bickered and argued, in Wang Dong's heart, Su Chen was already a very important friend—perhaps even more than a friend.

Su Chen looked into Wang Dong's eyes, a warmth surging in his heart, but it was overshadowed by worry.

He gently pulled his hand away and pinched Wang Dong's cheek—a gesture he was doing more and more naturally.

"I'm just going to hunt for a soul ring, not like I'm not coming back." Su Chen's tone was uncharacteristically gentle. "Besides, the place I'm going... is very dangerous. You're just a Soul Grand Master, why are you trying to join in?"

He was telling the truth. The Far North was one of the most dangerous regions on the continent, frozen year-round with harsh environments and powerful, ferocious soul beasts. Even with a Limit Douluo protecting him, he didn't have absolute certainty of escaping unscathed.

Furthermore, Wang Dong was only at level twenty-something; if something happened to her, he might attract the attention of Tang San—that would be a true disaster.

And... Su Chen had to admit that he had an indescribable feeling toward Wang Dong. Although this girl was usually tsundere and noisy, and always bickered with him, she had unknowingly occupied a special place in his heart.

Wang Dong held similar feelings for Su Chen. Although Su Chen had a sharp tongue and loved to tease and annoy her, she could feel that he actually cared about her a lot.

"I'm not messing around, I'm serious!" Wang Dong grabbed Su Chen's hand again, holding it tight. "How dangerous is it for you to go hunt for a soul ring alone! Even though my strength isn't as good as yours, I'm still a level twenty-four Soul Grand Master; I can be of help!"

She paused, her voice dropping with a hint of pleading: "Besides... I don't want you to go on an adventure alone."

Her eyes shone with a stubborn light, and the stance of "if you don't agree, I won't let go" gave Su Chen a headache.

Su Chen sighed and looked at Wang Dong seriously: "Wang Dong, listen to me. This soul ring hunt is truly dangerous; if I'm not careful, you'll get hurt. I don't want to see you get hurt, understand?"

He said it very bluntly, and Wang Dong's face turned slightly red.