Southbound, Northbound

"Xue'er, come here." Qian Daoliu's gentle voice came from behind her.

Qian Renxue looked back, then cast one final glance at Bibi Dong's receding figure. Biting her lip, she turned and ran back to Qian Daoliu's side.

Qian Daoliu stroked her head and reassuringly patted her shoulder. He had long grown accustomed to Bibi Dong's attitude, and he knew that the deadlock between mother and daughter could not be resolved overnight.

They could only let time wear it down, wait for Xue'er to grow older, wait for Bibi Dong to let go of the past... Perhaps there would still be a turning point.

He raised his eyes and looked at Bibi Dong and her son across from him, his gaze profound.

"Everything ready? Then let's set off." Qian Daoliu spoke softly, yet his voice carried across the entire plaza. "Be careful on the spirit hunt."

"There is no need for the Grand Worshipper to concern himself." Bibi Dong responded blandly, never looking at him from start to finish. Bending down, she said gently to Bibi Xu, "Ah Xu, let's get in."

"Alright." Bibi Xu nodded. Before getting into the carriage, he looked back at Qian Renxue and waved.

Qian Renxue immediately waved back hard and shouted, "Ah Xu, don't forget our bet!"

"I won't." Bibi Xu smiled and bent down to enter the carriage.

The wheels slowly began to turn, rolling over the bluestone road with a steady rumble.

The two carriages headed in completely different directions.

One raced south toward Demon Spider Canyon on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, the continent's most densely populated habitat for spider-type spirit beasts, where danger and opportunity coexisted.

The other headed north, toward Spirit Hall's exclusive Angel Hunting Grounds. Countless gentle light-attributed spirit beasts were raised there, making it safe and reliable.

The carriage was lined with thick, soft cushions, reducing the jolting to a minimum.

Bibi Dong leaned against the window, watching the scenery outside rush backward, her expression calm. Bibi Xu sat opposite her with his eyes closed in meditation, already carrying a steady air despite his young age.

"Really not nervous?" Bibi Dong suddenly asked, breaking the silence in the carriage.

Bibi Xu opened his eyes and shook his head. "With Mom here, there's nothing for me to be nervous about."

"You certainly know how to sweet-talk." Bibi Dong laughed softly and shook her head before her expression turned serious.

"Once we reach Demon Spider Canyon, you are not to leave my side for even half a step. There are not only spirit beasts there, but also plenty of spirit masters and poachers mixed in. It's a complete mess."

"As for a Millennium Soul Ring, we'll leave it to fate. If we find one that suits you and are more than eighty percent certain, then we'll act. If not, we'll obediently choose a hundred-year one. There's no rush, understand?"

She repeatedly emphasized safety because she truly feared something might happen.

A Millennium Soul Ring as one's first ring sounded glorious, but throughout the history of Douluo Continent, those who dared attempt it were few and far between.

Every successful one had been an extraordinary genius blessed with immense fortune; every failure had exploded to death, leaving not even a corpse behind.

She had only this one son. No matter how gifted he was, nothing mattered more than his safety.

"I understand, Mom." Bibi Xu nodded earnestly. "I know my limits. I won't gamble with my own safety."

Though he had ambitions and wanted to climb higher and go farther, he had never been a reckless person.

In his previous life, how many geniuses had fallen because they were too eager for quick success? He had the trump card of the Three-Life Martial Soul and the advantage of foresight. By proceeding steadily, he could already surpass the vast majority of people. There was simply no need to stake everything on his First Spirit Ring.

Still, a millennium first ring was the mark of an absolute genius at this point in time, and Bibi Xu was confident he could achieve it.

Seeing that he understood the stakes, Bibi Dong was relieved.

She closed her eyes and began to rest, the aura around her gradually withdrawing. The carriage fell quiet again, leaving only the soft sound of wheels rolling over the road and the wind outside the window.

Bibi Xu looked at her tranquil profile, warmth rising in his heart.

Across two lifetimes, he had never experienced such unconditional maternal love. She considered everything for him, protected him at every turn, and gave him all her tenderness.

He silently swore that on this spirit hunt, he would not only obtain the most suitable spirit ring, but also return safely.

In the future, he would become stronger still—strong enough to shield his mother from wind and rain, strong enough to untangle the knot in her heart, strong enough to protect her and prevent the tragedy of the original story from repeating itself.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the northbound carriage was far livelier.

Qian Renxue lay by the window, watching fields and villages sweep past outside, her eyes filled with curiosity.

She had grown up in the Worship Hall and rarely left Spirit City. This was her first official trip out to hunt spirit beasts, so everything felt new to her.

"Grandpa, is the Angel Hunting Grounds big? How many kinds of spirit beasts are there inside?"

"Grandpa, can my First Spirit Ring really only be a little over four hundred years old? Isn't that too little?"

"Grandpa, do you think Ah Xu... can really obtain a Millennium Soul Ring?"

Like a little sparrow, the girl chirped away without pause.

Qian Daoliu was not annoyed. He patiently answered each question. "The hunting grounds are very large. They occupy an entire mountain, and there are over a hundred kinds of light-attributed spirit beasts. A Light Spirit Cat of over four hundred years is already quite good, and your Innate Soul Power is enough to support it."

When Bibi Xu was mentioned, Qian Daoliu paused before slowly saying, "A millennium first ring is not so easily obtained. Even if his physical foundation is good, the risk is enormous. Success means soaring to the heavens in a single step; failure means irreversible ruin."

His tone was calm, but inwardly, he did not think highly of Bibi Xu's chances.

No matter how good his body tempering was, a six-year-old's meridians had their limits. The energy of a Millennium Soul Ring was violent and domineering—how could it be so easily controlled? Bibi Dong was too eager to protect her son; he feared she would suffer a setback.

"Ah..." Qian Renxue froze for a moment. The competitiveness on her face faded, replaced by a hint of worry. "Then... then will he be in danger?"

"With your mother there, nothing serious will happen." Qian Daoliu stroked her head.

"Bibi Dong is a Soul Douluo now, after all. She will never let Ah Xu come to harm. You should stop worrying about others and take care of yourself first. Choose your First Spirit Skill well, and don't waste your talent."

"Mm!" Qian Renxue nodded heavily at once, fighting spirit blazing in her eyes once more. "I'll definitely obtain the best spirit ring! I'll become incredibly strong and give Ah Xu and Mom a huge surprise!"

She spoke with unwavering certainty, her little face full of determination.

Watching his granddaughter's stubborn expression, Qian Daoliu felt both heartache and comfort.

Having a goal was a good thing.

But he knew clearly that Bibi Xu had never been someone who could be judged by common sense. This spirit hunt might just give everyone another "surprise."

He raised his eyes toward the southern horizon, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Demon Spider Canyon was perilous, but it also concealed great opportunities.

Just how far that child could go, they would wait and see.

The wheels rumbled onward, one heading south, the other north.

The first spirit-hunting journey of the boy and girl officially began in the morning breeze.

No one knew what kind of mark this journey would leave on the two children's lives; still less did anyone know what towering waves these two small figures leaving Spirit Hall would stir across the future Douluo Continent.

The poisonous mist of the southern valley and the holy light of the northern lands both awaited the children's arrival.