Parting

The fruit of the Star Luo Spirit Pearl felt slightly cool to the touch, its surface dotted with golden specks that drifted slowly like living things within my palm.

Lin Shuo did not hesitate, popping the fruit directly into his mouth.

The moment the pulp dissolved on his tongue, a gentle yet massive surge of energy erupted from his dantian, rushing through his meridians toward every limb and bone.

The energy was not overbearing; instead, it carried a cool, distant quality reminiscent of the stars. Wherever it passed, the soul power within his meridians seemed to be washed clean, becoming more refined and pure.

Lin Shuo sat cross-legged, eyes half-closed, as a seven-colored halo slowly swirled around him.

He could clearly feel the Star Luo Spirit Pearl condensing into a faint golden halo at the center of his chest.

The halo hovered quietly, like a seed waiting to awaken.

Although the Star Luo Spirit Pearl was more closely related to astrology, it would eventually transform into a soul core after fusion.

The effect of this immortal herb was not an immediate boost in cultivation, but rather the laying of a foundation for the future condensation of a soul core.

A soul core could not directly increase a soul master's cultivation, but it could accelerate the recovery speed of their soul power.

In this era, for ordinary soul masters, the soul core was a realm only touched upon at the Title Douluo level. But Lin Shuo knew that, given his bloodline and cultivation speed, that day would not be far off.

He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

In the distance, Huo Yu'er remained seated cross-legged on the ground, eyes tightly shut, her body enveloped in a faint ice-blue halo.

The medicinal power of the Gazing Through Autumn Water Dew was being refined by her, and the Water Dragon King bloodline within her was slowly merging with the power of the 60,000-Year Ice Dragon Torso Bone.

The young girl's face appeared exceptionally serene within the halo, and her Spirit Eye martial soul operated of its own accord, the deep blue light flickering on her forehead like a heartbeat.

Gu Yuena stood by the shore of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, her purple eyes calmly watching the distinct ice and fire colors of the lake.

Another half-hour passed before the ice-blue halo around Huo Yu'er suddenly brightened, then slowly retracted into her body.

Huo Yu'er's spiritual sea had transformed into a purple-gold hue, and when she opened her eyes, the entire world seemed to have gained a wealth of new colors.

She stood up and flexed her fingers; as her fingertips brushed through the air, they left behind a trace of faint, cold mist.

"Big Brother Lin!" Huo Yu'er walked quickly to Lin Shuo, her delicate face filled with irrepressible joy. "My spiritual power seems to have increased by a huge margin! And my eyes—I can see the finest veins on the leaves of those immortal herbs, and I can even see the dew on the petals across the lake!"

"That's as it should be." Lin Shuo nodded slightly, taking the snow-white book he had obtained from the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb out of his Storage Soul Tool and handing it to Huo Yu'er. "This is for you."

Huo Yu'er was stunned for a moment. She took the book with both hands, glanced down at the cover, and a trace of confusion flickered in her deep blue eyes. "This is..."

"These are the Tang Sect classics left behind by Tang San," Lin Shuo said in a flat tone. "You have learned Tang Sect techniques; here is the rest of the content."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yu'er did not ask about the origin of the book. She carefully tucked it into her Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night, then looked up at Lin Shuo earnestly. "Thank you, Big Brother Lin."

"No need." Lin Shuo waved his hand and turned to look at Gu Yuena. "Sister Nana, things here are just about finished."

Gu Yuena nodded slightly, her long silver hair drifting gently in the valley's breeze. She raised her hand and traced a line in the void, and a silver space gate opened silently. The three of them stepped through one after another, and the gate closed quietly behind them. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well returned to its eternal tranquility, leaving only the faint, whispering sounds of the immortal herbs communicating with one another.

The space gate opened outside the Sunset Forest, and the three figures stepped out.

"Yu'er," Lin Shuo paused and turned to look at Huo Yu'er. "Do you have any thoughts regarding your second soul ring?"

Huo Yu'er communicated with the Sky Dream Iceworm in her spiritual sea and replied, "Big Brother Lin, Tian Meng and I want to go to the Far North to obtain my second soul ring. Perhaps we should part ways here."

Lin Shuo nodded. "That Sky Dream Iceworm is a soul beast from the Far North, so she must be very familiar with it. With her guidance, you won't have any trouble. Let us say goodbye here. Nana and I are heading home."

Huo Yu'er nodded, a trace of reluctance flashing in her deep blue eyes, though she did not voice it.

Big Brother Lin had already done more than enough for her; she could not trouble him any further.

"Big Brother Lin, Sister Gu, take care on your way," Huo Yu'er said softly. She took a deep breath, turned, and began walking toward the north.

After a few steps, she looked back and waved at Lin Shuo before truly setting off, her figure gradually disappearing at the end of the forest path.

Lin Shuo watched her go until her slender silhouette was completely swallowed by the shadows of the trees, only then withdrawing his gaze.

"Let's go." Gu Yuena's voice sounded beside him, as cool as ever, though Lin Shuo detected a faint hint of urgency in her tone.

She did not wait for his reply, simply raising her hand to trace the void. The silver space gate opened once more, and on the other side, the canopy of ancient trees covering the sky in the Star Dou Great Forest was vaguely visible.

Lin Shuo glanced at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Without another word, he stepped into the space gate.

In the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, at the Lake of Life.

The space rift opened silently, and two figures stepped out.

The moment Lin Shuo landed, a golden figure lunged at him like an arrow from a bow, crashing directly into his arms.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's golden fur shimmered with a brilliant luster in the sunlight, its amber vertical pupils bright and sparkling, and its tail whipped behind it so fast it became a blur. It rubbed its head hard against Lin Shuo's chest, emitting a whimpering sound of grievance from its throat.

Lin Shuo was pushed back half a step by the impact, but once he steadied himself, he reached out to stroke its furry head.

"I'll be staying in the Star Dou Great Forest for a few more days this time."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lifted its head from his chest, its amber pupils looking at him suspiciously. "Really?"

"Really." Lin Shuo crouched down and rubbed its ears earnestly.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's ears twitched between his fingers, and its tail wagged even more happily. Finally satisfied, it squinted its eyes, jumped down from his arms, circled his legs twice, and then curled up obediently at his feet.

Di Tian approached from not far away, dressed in black with black hair, his expression cold and stern. He knelt on one knee before Lin Shuo and Gu Yuena, his voice steady. "My Lord, welcome back."

"Rise, Di Tian," Lin Shuo said, raising his hand slightly. "You have worked hard during this time."

"This is what I should do."

Lin Shuo looked down at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, which was currently hooking his ankle with the tip of its tail, and shook his head helplessly.

Gu Yuena stood to the side, a faint trace of a smile flashing in her purple eyes, though it was quickly masked by her customary coldness.