Na'er Leaves Home, Traveling Alone to the East Sea

Just then, a commotion outside the bedroom door caught Tang Wulin's attention.

"Big brother has already started fusing with his soul spirit, Dad, you really shouldn't go in!" Na'er stood pressed against Tang Wulin's door, arms spread wide to block Tang Ziran's path.

Tang Ziran's expression shifted. "That was a defective product! How could Wulin go through with the fusion?"

Na'er didn't answer Tang Ziran, nor did she know how to.

At that moment, the door suddenly opened, causing Na'er to lose her balance as she leaned against it, but a pair of steady, strong little hands caught her.

"Careful, Na'er." Tang Wulin's voice sounded from behind her.

"Wulin!" Tang Ziran rushed over and hugged Tang Wulin. "Wulin, are you alright?"

Tang Wulin smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dad, I'm fine. I'm already a one-ring soul master now."

As he spoke, Tang Wulin opened his palm, releasing his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, and a yellow soul ring appeared beside him.

"This is... a century-level soul ring!" Tang Ziran looked at Tang Wulin in disbelief. "Wasn't that soul spirit a defective one? How could it be a century-level soul ring?"

"This..." Tang Wulin scratched his head, feeling at a loss. He truly didn't know how to answer Tang Ziran's question; he couldn't exactly tell him that two old men had appeared in his room to help him, especially since he had to keep Yao Lao and Old Tang's secrets.

"A century-level soul ring. Not bad."

Just then, a middle-aged man's voice came from the side.

"Mom, Teacher."

"Son, are you alright?" Lang Yue hurried forward and pulled Tang Wulin into a hug.

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm a one-ring soul master now," Tang Wulin said to Lang Yue with a smile.

"Your mother told me you extracted a soul spirit, so I came over to help you with the fusion. But this seems a bit different from what she said. Didn't you extract a defective soul spirit?" asked Mang Tian, Tang Wulin's forging teacher.

"This... I don't know either. It just turned out like this after I finished the fusion." Unable to think of a reason, Tang Wulin could only make up an excuse.

Mang Tian was silent for a moment before he could only squeeze out two words: "Fine then!"

He then turned and walked away without looking back. "Since you're fine, I'm heading back. Remember to come to work tomorrow!"

Tang Wulin nodded vigorously.

That evening, Lang Yue prepared many of the dishes Tang Wulin and Na'er loved to celebrate Tang Wulin becoming a one-ring soul master.

The next morning, Tang Wulin, who was still meditating, was awakened by Lang Yue's anxious voice.

"Wulin, Wulin!"

"Mom, what's wrong?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Na'er, Na'er is gone!" Lang Yue handed a note to Tang Wulin.

"What!"

That day, many people on the street saw a ten-year-old boy constantly calling out a little girl's name. He clutched a note and an amethyst pendant in his hand, but the little girl seemed to be gone, and no matter how much the boy shouted, no one could answer him.

That night, Tang Wulin returned to his room without even eating. He sat on his bed, reading the note Na'er had left behind over and over again, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.

At this moment, Yao Lao appeared before Tang Wulin. He sighed softly and said meaningfully, "Child, that Na'er is no ordinary person. If you hope to see her again in the future, you must pull yourself together. Otherwise, you won't even be qualified to follow in her footsteps."

Tang Wulin wiped the tears from his face. "I know, Yao Lao. I will definitely become the most powerful soul master on the continent and protect everyone around me."

Yao Lao nodded gently before returning to the ring.

In the days that followed, Tang Wulin pulled himself together. He not only completed the thousand-refinement required by Mang Tian but also obtained a recommendation letter from Hongshan Academy, allowing him to continue his studies at an intermediate soul master academy.

"Mom, Dad, are you really not coming with me to East Sea City?"

Outside the soul guidance train station, Tang Wulin looked at his parents who had come to see him off, his eyes filled with reluctance.

Tang Ziran patted Tang Wulin's head, his face full of apology. "Your mother and I have important matters to attend to; we really can't go to East Sea City with you. I'm truly sorry, Wulin."

"It's okay! Don't worry, I'm a one-ring soul master now; I can take care of myself."

Lang Yue stepped forward and hugged Tang Wulin. "Our little Wulin is the best. You're a little man now; you must take good care of yourself from now on."

For some reason, Tang Wulin felt a heavy, dull ache in his heart. Was it because he was going on a long journey all by himself?

At the very last moment before checking in, Tang Wulin looked back at his parents one more time and shouted, "I will definitely become the greatest soul master on the Douluo Continent!"

East Sea City was a relatively large city within the Douluo Federation, located near the coast with beautiful scenery.

Just as Tang Wulin stepped off the train, he was dazzled by the sight of the bustling city.

He clutched his backpack and pushed through the crowded station.

"Oh my! This city is truly prosperous! I have to say, your Douluo Continent's technology is indeed far ahead of the Dou Qi Continent!"

"Who is that? Yao Lao!" Tang Wulin couldn't help but look around, but he didn't see Yao Lao's figure.

"Stop looking. I haven't come out; I just used a little trick to transmit my voice directly to you," Yao Lao's voice sounded again.

"Yao Lao, you have this kind of ability? You must have been a very powerful person before! Are you as strong as the Title Douluo?" Tang Wulin asked in a low voice.

Yao Lao chuckled, "I told you, I am a top-tier alchemist. If not for the treachery of villains, I would never have been reduced to this state. Although I have never crossed blades with the Title Douluo of your world, if I were to recover to my peak state, I would certainly be able to defeat them!"

"You're bragging! We don't have alchemists here, but since it has to do with medicine, you shouldn't be good at fighting, right?" Tang Wulin clearly did not believe that Yao Lao could defeat a Title Douluo of the Douluo Continent. "I've only seen Title Douluo on television; they can soar through the skies and burrow into the earth, capable of anything! They are the goal every soul master aspires to."

Just as Tang Wulin and Yao Lao were chatting back and forth, Tang Wulin failed to notice that the crowd ahead had suddenly parted, clearing a wide path.

"Move! Don't block the way!"

Suddenly, a middle-aged man rushed toward Tang Wulin and shoved him aside, causing Tang Wulin to fall to the ground.

"Oof..." Tang Wulin clutched his aching backside and looked toward the front of the path.

A soul-guided car was parked there, and a boy with short brown hair stood by the door, preparing to get in.

Perhaps sensing Tang Wulin's gaze, the boy turned to glance at him, but it was only a brief look before he ducked into the soul-guided car.

"That brat is certainly arrogant. If it were me in my younger days, I would have dragged him out and beaten him up already," Yao Lao said in Tang Wulin's mind.

Tang Wulin brushed the dust off his clothes and stood up. "Dad said not to get into unnecessary trouble in big cities. Some things are better left endured, and if we hurt someone, we don't have the money to pay for it."

This child's temperament is truly excellent! Willing to endure hardship, patient, and hardworking. Perhaps I could take on another disciple. Yao Lao couldn't help but praise Tang Wulin in his heart, even entertaining the thought of taking him as a student.