Just as Gu Tian's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor in the Imperial Garden, the shadows of the flowers outside the pavilion twisted, and two figures with profound auras silently appeared behind Xue Qinghe.
Ling Yuan's red dress fluttered in the breeze, while Guang Ling's handsome face was filled with a stern expression.
"Young Master, the slum disappearance case that Gu Tian mentioned is probably no small matter," Ling Yuan spoke first. "If there really is a case of black energy entering the body, or even a large-scale disappearance of people, then there is a very high probability that it is Evil Soul Master causing trouble in the dark."
Guang Ling snorted coldly, condensing an ice ball in her hand before crushing it forcefully. " Evil Soul Master, this malignant tumor, have always been the mortal enemy of the Spirit Hall. Even for the sake of the stability of the Heaven Dou Empire, or to maintain order in the Soul Master World, this filth must be eradicated. Its priority can even be said to be higher than our hidden interests in the Heaven Dou Empire."
Xue Qinghe slowly stood up, his originally gentle gaze instantly turning sharp.
"I understand." Qian Renxue stood with her hands behind her back, gazing towards the north of the city. "If Evil Soul Master gain power at the foot of Heaven Dou City, it is not only a challenge to the Heaven Dou imperial authority, but also a desecration of the Angel God. I will immediately dispatch several loyal shadow guards to investigate thoroughly. Anyone who dares to play such underhanded tricks on my territory, no matter who they are, I will make them pay the price."
Gu Tian returned quickly, arriving back at the Skywater Academy in less than half an hour.
A silver light pattern disappeared silently outside Shui Bing'er's door. Gu Tian pretended to be sleepy, stretched, and walked out of the room.
Meanwhile, the hall next door was bustling with activity.
"Heavens! Yue'er, is your Soul Power Level... measured incorrectly?!"
Xue Wu's exclamation echoed in the corridor. Gu Tian pushed open the door and entered, only to see Shui Yue'er surrounded by the sisters of the Skywater Team, the light emanating from the test crystal ball so bright it hurt their eyes.
"Hehe, Sister Xue Wu, you didn't see wrong!" Shui Yue'er puffed out her budding chest and proudly swayed her short blue hair. "I'm a level 28 Battle Soul Master now! The effect of that Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass is simply amazing! I feel like my meridians are full of inexhaustible power!"
From level 22 to level 28, in just one night, she jumped six levels! This leap in advancement made the girls around her breathe rapidly.
Shui Yue'er glanced at Xue Wu, who stood to the side with a cool expression, and straightened her back proudly. "Sister Xue Wu, I'm the same height as you now! Shouldn't we switch places as the Twin Beauties of Tianshui from now on?"
Xue Wu stood quietly in place, her short hair giving her a capable and aloof air. Her cold eyes swept over Shui Yue'er, and although her heart was also churning with turmoil, her inherent pride made her merely snort coldly and not respond.
She was actually a bit colder than Zhu Zhuqing and Gu Yue. To expect her to fawn over Gu Tian and beg for favors like Shui Yue'er in order to become stronger? Her innate pride prevented her from doing so.
Gu Tian leaned against the door frame, taking in the reactions of all the women.
" Gu Tian, you're awake!" Shui Yue'er pounced over like a joyful little deer, clinging to Gu Tian's neck and kissing his rosy cheeks. "Thank you for the Immortal Herb, Yue'er loves you to death!"
Shui Bing'er stepped forward, looked at Gu Tian, her eyes filled with tenderness and a deep concern.
Gu Tian noticed the other girls' longing yet hesitant gazes and secretly calculated in his heart: The time is almost right. Although there are still some Immortal Herb, I absolutely cannot give them to them now. Things are valued for their rarity; if I give them out casually, they will only see them as common cabbages, rather than a life-changing blessing.
Gu Tian coughed lightly, his expression turning slightly weak and grave. He took Shui Bing'er's hand and said with some difficulty:
" Bing'er, cultivating Immortal Herb is extremely difficult. In order to find these two for you, Aria led me deep into the Far North, where we waited for several days in the eternally frozen ice cave, and even almost alerted the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast there... My stock is now almost empty."
Gu Tian sighed and looked sincerely at Xue Wu and the others, "I understand everyone's thoughts. However, this Immortal Herb not only requires a stroke of luck, but also requires me to expend a large amount of my original Soul Power to re-catalyze and nurture it. But please rest assured, as long as you are my Gu Tian, I will do my best, even at the cost of all my cultivation, to gather one for each of you in the coming days."
Upon hearing that Gu Tian was even planning to risk his life to prepare the Immortal Herb for them, the Tianshui women, who had initially felt somewhat jealous, were instantly filled with emotion and guilt.
Especially Xue Wu, looking at Gu Tian's slightly pale face, felt a crack quietly appear in her cold heart. She lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, thinking to herself: He actually took such a big risk for us? I was just doubting his sincerity...
Looking at the almost worshipful and tender gazes of the girls, Gu Tian's lips curled into a subtle smile. To win over these aloof ice goddesses, sometimes, a little "acting" is far more effective than simply giving them gifts.
After a few peaceful days at the Skywater Academy, the mornings in Heaven Dou City were once again covered by a thin layer of frost.
Gu Tian stood at the academy gate, looking at the luxurious carriage before him. Princess Xue Ke sat by the window, her emerald green eyes filled with reluctance. Although she longed to go with Gu Tian to see the legendary Extreme North, as a princess of the empire, she had inescapable responsibilities regarding royal sacrifices and ceremonies during her annual leave. Moreover, Xue Qinghe would never agree to let her go to the Extreme North.
" Gu Tian, you must come back soon. Don't get so caught up in having fun that you forget about me," Xue Ke whispered, twisting her fingers.
Gu Tian smiled and patted her head, "Don't worry, I'll go back to the palace to see you as soon as I've finished hunting for the Soul Ring for Bing'er."
After seeing Xue Ke off, Gu Tian's originally large bodyguard team also changed. Gu Yuena called back Bi Ji and Zi JI first. Although he was missing two top-level Ferocious Beast, Gu Tian was not worried. In his Sea of Consciousness, there were still three dragon kings: Chiyan, Tide, and Aria. Any one of them could easily sweep across the current Douluo Continent.
"Let's go! Destination: the Extreme North!"
With Gu Tian's command, the group officially embarked on their journey north.
Heaven Dou City is located in the northern part of the continent's interior. Although it is not extremely far from the edge of the Extreme North, it still spans several provinces. The carriage traveled northeastward, passing through the desolate and vast Northwind Cold Plains. As the terrain rose, the temperature began to drop precipitously. The originally humid south wind turned into a cold north wind, which stung the face.