The God of Destruction was delighted by this. Every day, he would make comments in Zichuan's mind like, "A teachable child," "This is how feelings should be cultivated," and "I've been quite a competent matchmaker this month," driving Zichuan to no end.
Time slipped quietly by amid peace and rapid progress. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.
Tang Ya's Soul Power had soared from Level 18 to Level 25!
Seven levels in just half a year!
That kind of speed would have dropped countless jaws if word got out.
Her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had undergone a complete transformation. Its entire body had become a deep blue-gold, its leaves like carved jade, its vines tough and powerful. The life energy it radiated far surpassed that of ordinary plant-type Martial Souls. It had clearly begun evolving toward the Blue Silver Emperor!
Zichuan's cultivation had also risen steadily. Though not as exaggerated as Tang Ya's, he had firmly reached the threshold of Level 30.
He had further digested and absorbed the power of the two Soul Rings—one two hundred thousand years old and the other one hundred thousand years old—giving him an incomparably solid foundation.
On this day, Zichuan was sitting on a large bluestone, watching Tang Ya wash wild vegetables by a nearby stream.
The setting sun cast a warm golden outline over her slender back, while her blue high ponytail swayed gently with her movements.
Suddenly, Zichuan sensed something. He abruptly turned his head toward the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
A familiar yet far stronger and more domineering terrifying aura erupted skyward from that direction like a primordial beast awakening, as if it could suppress mountains and rivers!
It carried an unparalleled sense of physical strength, along with a trace of... completeness?
Du Busi! He was coming out of seclusion!
Zichuan shot to his feet.
"Zichuan, what's wrong?" Tang Ya noticed his movement and ran over with the washed wild vegetables in her arms, droplets of water still clinging to her face.
Zichuan looked at Tang Ya, his gaze somewhat complicated. After half a year together, this stubborn yet kind-hearted girl, who could occasionally be a little scatterbrained, had come to occupy a special place in his heart.
Calling her a "potential wife" felt too frivolous. She was more like... an older sister who needed his care and genuinely trusted him.
"I'm leaving," Zichuan said directly, his voice calm. "The person here to pick me up has arrived."
The smile on Tang Ya's face instantly froze, and several stalks of wild vegetables fell from her arms to the ground.
She had known this day would come, but when it truly arrived, it still felt as though something had viciously clenched her heart, leaving behind a hollow ache.
These past six months had been both the darkest and brightest period of her life. Dark because her family had been destroyed and her sect wiped out. Bright because she had met Zichuan.
This mysterious boy had not only saved her life and given her a temporary refuge, but also given her hope and strength for transformation. He was like a ray of light shining into her despairing life.
She bit down hard on her lower lip, trying not to let her tears fall. She knew Zichuan had his own path to walk, and she had something she had to do as well—rebuild the Tang Sect.
Over the past half year, the evolution of her Martial Soul and the massive increase in her Soul Power had allowed her to see the first light of hope. She could no longer cling to Zichuan like a vine. She had to stand on her own.
"Mm." Tang Ya nodded heavily. Her voice was choked with emotion, but she forced herself to smile.
"I know. You... you have to take good care of yourself. Don't forget... you promised that when I rebuild the Tang Sect, you'd come and support me!"
Zichuan smiled as well. "I definitely will."
Tang Ya stepped forward and looked deeply into Zichuan's eyes, as though she wanted to carve his present appearance into her heart.
Then, she suddenly rose onto her toes, wrapped her arms around Zichuan's neck, and before he could react, her soft, warm lips, carrying the unique fragrance of a young girl, gently pressed against his forehead.
The touch lasted only an instant.
"Don't you dare forget Sister Xiaoya..." Tang Ya's voice was barely audible, thick with tears and irrepressible reluctance. "We'll... meet again someday."
After saying that, she did not dare look at Zichuan again. She abruptly turned around, gathered up the wild vegetables from the ground, and ran toward the other side of the forest without looking back, her high ponytail tracing a resolute arc through the air.
She was afraid that if she slowed down even a little, she would be unable to stop herself from crying or from wanting to leave with him.
Zichuan stood where he was. The soft warmth of that touch seemed to remain on his forehead, while the faint fragrance of grass and plants lingered at the tip of his nose.
He watched Tang Ya's increasingly distant, stubborn, slender figure, and an indescribably complicated emotion rose in his heart. It was a little sour, a little bitter, and also... an inexplicable flutter.
"Kid, what are you standing around for? She's already disappeared." The God of Destruction's voice carried a teasing note.
"Tsk, that little girl has some nerve. She left the moment she said she would. But don't worry, your fate isn't over. You'll have plenty of chances to meet again in the future. When that happens... hehehe."
Zichuan ignored the God of Destruction's strange laugh. He withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath, and suppressed the unusual feelings in his heart.
Just then, a dark green streak of light tore through the sky and crashed down like a meteor not far in front of Zichuan, kicking up dust that filled the air.
When the dust settled, Du Busi's tall figure emerged. He was still dressed in the same gray fitted outfit, with every strand of his dark green short hair standing upright, but his entire bearing had undergone a heaven-shaking transformation.
Standing there, he no longer seemed like a person, but more like an unshakable divine mountain. The aura naturally emanating from his body was incomparably domineering, as if even space itself warped slightly around him.
His gaze had become sharper and deeper. Brilliant light flashed whenever his eyes opened or closed, and every gesture carried an innate sense of power.
"Teacher!" Zichuan's eyes lit up as he hurried forward.
When Du Busi saw Zichuan, a smile appeared on his face, one that seemed to carry considerable weight. "Good disciple, have you been waiting long?"
"Teacher, did you break through? Level 99, a Limit Douluo?" Zichuan sensed the unfathomable aura around Du Busi, which was several times stronger than it had been half a year ago, and asked in delight.
However, Du Busi shook his head, his face showing a trace of emotion and even greater fighting spirit.
"How could it be that easy? Level 99 is the limit of mortals, the final step before touching the threshold of God Rank. With the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and the spiritual energy of this place, I have completely broken through the barrier of Level 98 and entered the realm of Level 99. But I have only just entered it. I am still far from the peak of this realm, let alone the legendary Demigod and Quasi-God."
He paused, and a terrifying gleam burst from his eyes.
"However, this is enough! Half a year of seclusion has brought enormous gains! Not only have I stabilized my realm, but my understanding of the Self Martial Soul has also deepened further! But if I wish to attain true completion, I must return to the sect and cultivate the sect's supreme secret art with the aid of the Body Secret Land!"
He looked at Zichuan and waved a large hand. "We've been out long enough. It's time to return! The Body Sect is our root! Come, return home with your teacher!"
Zichuan nodded. He gave one final look toward the direction Tang Ya had vanished, then turned and walked to Du Busi's side without hesitation.
Du Busi put an arm around Zichuan. Dark green Soul Power erupted, transforming into a brilliant streak of light that shot into the sky and sped toward the northeast, toward the Body Sect.
The fierce winds howled as mountains and rivers raced backward beneath them.
Protected by Du Busi, Zichuan felt his teacher's Soul Power and speed, now countless times stronger than half a year ago, and his heart filled with anticipation.
The Body Sect—there were straightforward fellow disciples, protective elders, abundant resources, and opponents like Long Aotian.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands, sensing the surging destruction and Life Soul Power within him, as well as the several "well-behaved" Soul Spirits and two Supreme God Divine Senses in his Sea of Consciousness.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang Ya, the Iron Blood Sect, the Godly Trial... the events of the past half year flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
Then the corners of his lips lifted slightly, revealing a faint smile tinged with satisfaction and anticipation, one he himself had not even noticed.
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