Han Yu's figure vanished for an instant, without leaving behind the slightest trace of his presence.
Chen Xin was stunned. He released all his mental power and frantically searched for Han Yu, but couldn't find even a trace of him. It was as if Han Yu had vanished from the world.
Fortunately, the next moment, Han Yu flew out of a golden portal, dozens of meters from where he had disappeared.
A moment later, golden light flashed, and Han Yu appeared in front of Chen Xin. His wings stirred slightly, and his face was beaming.
"Han Yu, what kind of luck do you have? You absorbed a Soul Ring at random and got an External Soul Bone." Chen Xin stepped forward excitedly and placed both hands on Han Yu's shoulders, his voice full of delight.
His lips parted, then quickly closed again. In the end, they curved into a relieved smile.
"Give it a name. It'll accompany you for the rest of your life and become your most powerful asset." Chen Xin said with a smile.
Han Yu smiled faintly and spoke the name he had already chosen: "I'll call it Wind-Thunder Wings. Wind on the left, thunder on the right. They move at my command."
"Wind-Thunder Wings? A good name." Chen Xin raised an eyebrow. "Does it let you teleport?"
Han Yu nodded, then shook his head. "The Soul Bone Skill of the Wind-Thunder Wings is Thunder Escape. I transform into lightning and travel through space, arriving in an instant."
As he finished speaking, the wings on his back beat sharply.
Bzzz—.
A bolt of golden lightning flashed before him. A crack opened in the air, its edges crawling with golden arcs, and he shot inside.
A few hundred meters away stood a towering tree several meters wide.
Within moments, several golden afterimages flashed through the air. Han Yu appeared beside the tree in an instant and slashed with his sword.
His figure vanished again. After several buzzing sounds, he reappeared where he had started.
At the same time, the giant tree slowly slid apart along the cut and crashed heavily to the ground with a thunderous boom.
"What incredible speed. It's already on par with an Agility Attack-type Soul Emperor. Excellent." Chen Xin nodded in satisfaction, his voice brimming with praise.
Han Yu smiled faintly. The wings on his back withdrew into his body, leaving behind only two openings that revealed smooth, fair skin.
"Without you, teacher, I might have missed this incredible opportunity."
At that, Chen Xin gently shook his head. "That's all thanks to your fortune. Sometimes luck is part of strength. Perhaps this Soul Bone was born just for you.
"By the way, how is your third Soul Skill?"
Han Yu explained, "After absorbing my third Soul Ring, my Soul Power broke through to level thirty-four.
"My third Soul Skill is an area-of-effect attack and control skill. I call it Thunder Prison.
"When I release it, it creates a designated area.
"Countless bolts of lightning fall from the sky within that area, striking every enemy.
"Any enemy caught inside will be paralyzed, and their speed will gradually drop by thirty percent.
"When I fight within the area, I can absorb the lightning to continually recover from my injuries and fight while healing."
After listening, Chen Xin nodded. "It pairs well with your Wind-Thunder Wings."
The two cleaned up the traces of their battle, then chatted as they left.
The outskirts of Sunset Forest.
Dugu Bo waited there with Qin Ming.
The two chatted about Dugu Yan.
"Your Excellency, there's no problem with you transferring Dugu Yan, but..." Qin Ming hesitated.
Dugu Bo glanced at him and said impatiently, "If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you acting like a woman?"
"Have you asked what the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect thinks?"
At that, Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, and snorted. "What? Since when do I, Dugu Bo, have to report to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect before doing anything?
"Hmph. Two children were just playing around. Does that mean they were serious?"
His face was full of displeasure. Remembering how arrogantly Yu Tianheng, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's young sect master, had acted back then, his nose flared.
Dugu Bo shook his head, putting the matter aside, then began following Han Yu's instructions. "Listen, why not just join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Didn't you see how much Your Excellency Chen Xin praised you? He even sympathizes with what you've been through. Which other faction would care about a mere Soul King like you?"
Han Yu's task for him was to recruit Qin Ming, a young genius, for the sect.
Dugu Bo was more than happy to do it. For one thing, Qin Ming was an upright man who treated all his students with complete dedication, regardless of their backgrounds. He had even risked coming to Sunset Forest alone to search for Dugu Yan.
The second reason was Qin Ming's talent. At an utterly shabby academy, he had still reached level fifty-nine by the age of thirty. If he had access to a cultivation environment and abundant resources, how quickly could he improve?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was now in dire need of mid-level fighters. Titled Douluo-level experts wouldn't appear overnight, so the sect could only choose promising candidates worth cultivating, win their loyalty, and have them serve the sect in the future.
"I... I've already joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I can't betray my students." Qin Ming pursed his lips. After a long silence, he spoke in a firm voice.
"Well said. Once a teacher, a father for life." Chen Xin smiled.
Han Yu and Chen Xin walked over.
As a swordsman, Chen Xin deeply valued respect for one's teacher. He held himself to the same standard, doing his utmost to train Han Yu.
The more he saw of Qin Ming, the more he liked him. From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to persuade Qin Ming to join the sect.
With Qin Ming's talent, he might well become a Titled Douluo in a few decades. By then, Han Yu would have another capable ally at his side.
"Your Excellency Chen Xin, I'm sorry." Qin Ming lowered his voice and bowed his head.
Han Yu's voice suddenly rang out, light and easy. "What's so difficult about that? Just bring all your students along. The sect master is the crown prince's teacher. Surely he can take in a few ordinary students, right?"
Chen Xin and Dugu Bo laughed at the idea, but it really could work.
When dealing with someone like Qin Ming, you had to use unconventional methods.
"Huh? Th-that won't do. Would the academy agree to it?" Qin Ming asked, completely dumbfounded.
He could tell that the two Titled Douluo treated Han Yu with great respect. Han Yu's identity was definitely extraordinary. He was already starting to lean toward the idea Han Yu had proposed, and a trace of anticipation showed in his eyes. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was truly willing to make an effort for his students, who came from ordinary backgrounds, then he was willing to go and see what the sect was like.
Han Yu smiled confidently and spun the gleaming golden Holy Son Token in his hand. "I forgot to tell you. I'm the Holy Son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. With the sect master away, I'm the one in charge."
"The Holy Son!" Qin Ming's mouth fell open, and he hurriedly bowed in respect.
He had never expected that one day a faction would go to such lengths to invite him.
But hadn't Principal Flender said his talent was only average? Why were all these seniors competing to recruit him?
Qin Ming lowered his head, his thoughts churning. The lessons he had heard at Shrek Academy echoed in his ears, and regret began to stir in his heart.