Setting Out for the Douling Empire

Xie Xie emerged from the training room bruised and battered. Ever since the battle against the evil soul masters, he had come to deeply understand his own shortcomings, so he had asked Yuanen to spar with him and improve his abilities.

The moment he pushed open the dormitory door, he saw a refined, elegant man he had never seen before sitting on Tang Wulin's bed, flipping through a book.

Xie Xie immediately became wary. "Who are you!?"

The man looked up and smiled faintly at him. "Hello, my name is Qiluo."

Xie Xie frowned. "What is your relationship with Tang Wulin?"

With a creak, the door opened again. Tang Wulin strolled in leisurely and said to Xie Xie, "This is my soul spirit."

Qiluo rose, returned the book to the bedside, and gave Tang Wulin a slight bow. "Then I'll be going."

Tang Wulin nodded. "The Golden Ancient Tree seems to know something. If he reveals anything, tell me."

Qiluo replied, "Yes, my lord."

Xie Xie was dumbfounded.

His hand trembled as he raised it and pointed at Tang Wulin. "You... he... he's humanoid? A hundred thousand years old? Or two hundred thousand?"

Tang Wulin placed a finger to his lips, signaling for him to keep his voice down.

"This is a secret. Don't tell anyone else outside."

Xie Xie turned serious. Naturally, he understood the importance of this matter. "I understand."

Yet he could not help feeling somewhat defeated. "Boss... when you and Gu Yue become part of the Shrek Seven Monsters, don't forget about us..."

Tang Wulin smiled. "You have that little confidence?"

Xie Xie shook his head and sighed. "The gap is too huge. Forget comparing myself to you—even compared to Yuanen, I'm far inferior. Maybe it's because I'm younger than her, but I wouldn't dare say that when I'm her age, I'll be able to surpass her."

Tang Wulin said evenly, "Go take on missions from the Battle Soul Hall."

Xie Xie froze. "By myself?"

Tang Wulin nodded. "Take missions that aren't too dangerous but are slightly challenging for you. If you don't temper yourself at the edge of life and death, training like this alone will make it difficult for you to break through."

After Tang Wulin left, Xie Xie sat quietly on the bed for a long time, his gaze gradually becoming resolute.

Sea God Pavilion.

Yun Ming sat in the seat of honor and asked, "Does anyone else have any objections?"

Zhuo Shi frowned. "This matter is truly no small thing. Pavilion Master, can't you tell us the specific reason?"

Yun Ming shook his head. "It isn't that I don't trust everyone, but the necessary risk avoidance measures cannot be neglected."

Cai Yue'er said bluntly, "You decide. I don't understand all these twists and turns."

Yun Ming said helplessly, "Zang Xin devised the plan and the details. I'm not good at this sort of thing either."

Zhuo Shi said, "I agree."

Feng Wuyu raised a hand. "I only ask that Tang Wulin's safety be guaranteed."

Yun Ming replied, "Don't worry. Since he was chosen to go, there will naturally be someone to receive him."

Feng Wuyu chuckled. "All right. No objections from me."

The other elders all expressed their agreement.

Yun Ming nodded. "Good. Then it is settled—he will go to the Douling Empire."

The deep roar of a steamship sounded.

The waves rose and fell, carrying the massive vessel slowly toward the distance.

Tang Wulin stood on the deck, gazing at the horizon as he simulated the fluctuations of the sea within his spiritual sea. The aura around him became ethereal.

A purple figure appeared at his side, quietly standing guard over him.

If anyone had been on the deck at that moment, they would have discovered that everything seemed to have slowed down.

The rolling waves, the breeze that swept past, and the fish flicking their tails all seemed frozen in slow motion, becoming sluggish.

A soft sigh rang out. The fish swayed, and everything returned to normal.

Tang Wulin said, "Still not enough..."

Qiluo said, "The burden on your body is too great."

Tang Wulin was not disappointed. "This is already very good. In the past, I had to be extremely careful even when using spiritual power."

Qiluo looked into the distance. "Do you intend to find them?"

Tang Wulin shook his head. "They aren't in danger yet. We can't create unnecessary complications on this trip, or we'll alert the enemy. But we should at least give those people a warning."

A gleam flashed in Qiluo's eyes. "I understand."

Tang Wulin sat down casually and patted the deck beside him, signaling for Qiluo to sit as well. "Treat it as a vacation. Don't think too much about it."

Qiluo smiled. "That works too."