Level 20, Heading to Sunset Forest!

Lin Ming opened his mouth without a shred of guilt and swallowed the meat. Over the past half month, he had grown used to Ning Rongrong feeding him. What had begun as embarrassment had now become something he took for granted.

After the meal, Ning Rongrong brought over a plate of washed grapes, then sat beside Lin Ming and patted her fair, tender thigh. "Lie down."

Lin Ming did not stand on ceremony. He rested his head directly on her soft thigh and opened his mouth. Ning Rongrong peeled the grapes one by one and fed them into his mouth.

"Are they sweet?"

"Sweet, but not as sweet as you."

"You're awful..." Ning Rongrong blushed and lightly smacked him, but her hands did not stop as she peeled another grape and fed it to him.

Lin Ming lay on Ning Rongrong's lap, eating grapes and gazing at the starry sky overhead. He felt that if life could be this good, what more could anyone ask for?

He would not trade these heavenly days even for the throne of an emperor!

That day, Lin Ming finally had a rare day off and did not need to train. With nothing to do, he wandered over to the outer sect for a look around.

The outer sect was as busy as ever. The disciples hurried about, the servants bustled back and forth, and everyone attended to their own duties. Dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, Lin Ming strolled leisurely down the stone-paved road, standing in stark contrast to the bustling crowd around him.

As he passed the miscellaneous courtyard, he suddenly heard someone shouting.

"You useless trash! You can't even carry a few things properly! Do you know how valuable these medicinal herbs are? Can you afford to pay for them if they're damaged?"

Following the sound, Lin Ming saw a steward-like man loudly berating a dirty-faced servant. The servant kept his head lowered and apologized submissively, his body covered in mud and dust.

Though the man was filthy, Lin Ming recognized him at a glance.

Zhang San.

After half a month apart, Zhang San had completely lost his former high spirits. He wore ragged coarse clothes, his hair was a mess, and there was a faint scar on his face. He looked utterly wretched.

Lin Ming froze slightly.

He remembered that Zhang San had decent talent. At fifteen, he already possessed level 27 soul power. He would have been considered a genius in any small sect. How had half a month passed, yet he was still a servant—and doing so miserably at that?

"Brother Zhang?" Lin Ming called out tentatively.

Zhang San raised his head. The instant he saw Lin Ming, his entire body stiffened.

Before him stood Lin Ming, clad in a brocade robe worth a fortune, a fine jade pendant hanging from his waist. His hair was impeccably groomed, and he looked handsome, carefree, and extraordinary. Compared to Zhang San, a servant covered in grime, they were worlds apart.

Zhang San's lips moved, and his gaze was incomparably complicated—envy, jealousy, bitterness—all of it ultimately turned into a sigh.

He bent over and gave a deep bow. "Young master... you honor this lowly one too greatly..."

Lin Ming was stunned by that form of address.

Half a month ago, they had been chatting and joking together. Zhang San had even sworn that he would look after Lin Ming. Yet half a month later, there was already a vast gulf between them.

One was the son-in-law of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Sword Douluo's personal disciple, while the other remained a humble, lowly servant.

A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Lin Ming's heart.

This was class. On the Douluo Continent, once someone crossed a certain social boundary, the gap between people became greater than the heavens.

But...

This feeling was just too damn good!

Seeing Zhang San in such a miserable state, Lin Ming suddenly felt a little bad for him.

Although he and Zhang San had only known each other for half a day, it was still fate. Besides, Zhang San had said he would look after him back then, though Lin Ming had ended up being the one looking after Zhang San...

"Alright, stop working here." Lin Ming patted his shoulder. "I'll speak to the elders and arrange inner sect disciple benefits for you."

Zhang San abruptly raised his head, his eyes wide. "I-Inner sect disciple?!"

"What? You don't want it?"

"I do! I do! Of course I do!" Zhang San's voice trembled with excitement as he immediately tried to kneel and kowtow to Lin Ming. "Thank you, young master! Thank you, young master!"

Lin Ming quickly caught him. "No, no, no. A man's knees are worth gold. Don't kneel at every turn."

Zhang San wept with joy, but Lin Ming simply waved him off and left.

After leaving the miscellaneous courtyard, Lin Ming felt particularly refreshed. Showing off while helping someone really did feel great!

He hummed a little tune as he headed back. After walking for a while, he suddenly felt an unusual fluctuation rise within his body. It came without warning, yet it was incomparably violent, as though something had exploded inside him.

Lin Ming stopped and closed his eyes, sensing the changes within his body.

"This is... a breakthrough!"

His soul power surged, his meridians expanded, and his previously saturated soul power capacity began growing at an astonishing rate.

He had broken through!

He had broken through!

Level 20!

From level 16 to level 20, he had only needed half a month! This speed would rank among the best in all of the Douluo Continent, though three levels of that soul power had come from his martial soul's evolution.

Lin Ming opened his eyes, a satisfied smile curling across his lips.

Now that he had reached level 20, it was time to consider his second soul ring.

He turned and headed toward the inner sect, intending to discuss the matter with Ning Fengzhi.

When Ning Fengzhi learned that Lin Ming had broken through to level 20, he treated the matter with great importance. He immediately summoned Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo to discuss Lin Ming's second soul ring.

"Level 20 already? So soon?" Ning Fengzhi was somewhat surprised. "I remember you were only level 19 half a month ago."

"Good luck, along with my master's excellent guidance," Lin Ming said modestly.

Sword Douluo stroked his beard nearby, his face full of pride. Though he had only taught Lin Ming for half a month, seeing his disciple advance so rapidly filled him with pride as well.

"Since you've reached level 20, it's time to hunt a soul beast and obtain your second soul ring," Sword Douluo said. "I'll accompany you personally."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "With Uncle Sword accompanying you, I can rest easy. Lin Ming, what type of soul beast do you want?"

Lin Ming thought for a moment. "Preferably an attack-type one, to complement my Sky-Piercing Spear."

"Then shall we go to the Star Dou Great Forest?" Sword Douluo suggested.

"There's no need. Sunset Forest will be enough." Lin Ming shook his head. "I only need my second ring. There's no need to risk going to the Star Dou Great Forest. The soul beasts in Sunset Forest are enough to meet my needs."

In truth, he had another consideration. In Sunset Forest was a place he wanted to visit—Dugu Bo's medicinal garden, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

That place held countless immortal herbs! If he could obtain them, his strength would undoubtedly soar by leaps and bounds!

"I'm coming too!" Ning Rongrong suddenly skipped in from outside the door. "I'm bored to death in the sect! I want to come with you!"

Sword Douluo frowned. "Rongrong, we're going to hunt soul beasts, not sightsee."

"I don't care! I'm going!" Ning Rongrong ran to Lin Ming's side and wrapped her arms around his. "Lin Ming, take me with you! I promise I won't cause trouble!"

Looking into her pair of watery eyes, Lin Ming's heart softened. "Alright, come with us."

Sword Douluo sighed helplessly. "Fine. With me there, safety shouldn't be a problem. Then you can come too."

Thus, the three of them packed their things simply and set off for Sunset Forest.