Strolling the Lantern Festival! Running into Dai Mubai and the Others?

Hearing this, Gu Ling naturally understood why Ning Fengzhi had suddenly asked. He was merely wondering whether there was any blood relation between Gu Ling and Gu Rong.

After all, they shared the same surname.

And possessed the same rare Bone Dragon Martial Soul.

The coincidence really was a little too much.

Gu Ling did not hide anything and replied quite calmly,

"I've been an orphan since childhood."

"As for who my parents were, I don't know either. Ever since I could remember, I lived in a village near Notting City. Later, after awakening my Martial Soul, I entered Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy to cultivate."

"It was only after graduating from the academy some time ago that I left Notting City."

At that, Ning Fengzhi subconsciously looked at Gu Rong.

Gu Rong frowned and thought for a while before finally shaking his head slowly. "There are no clansmen from my branch who ended up near Notting City."

As he spoke, he gave Gu Ling another look and teased, "Still, Bone Dragon Martial Souls are rare to begin with. You happen to be named Gu too, kid. That really is an absurd coincidence."

Gu Ling nodded slightly and replied with a smile,

"The continent is so vast. Coincidences are bound to happen."

"True." Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly. Since Gu Rong himself had said they were unrelated, Ning Fengzhi naturally would not continue dwelling on the matter.

But right afterward, as though asking casually, he asked again, "Since you had no family background growing up, have you joined any sect or faction?"

At those words, Ye Lingling's gaze shifted slightly.

Even Xue Qinghe could not help glancing at Ning Fengzhi. Given the latter's status, suddenly asking a young Spirit Master whether he had joined a sect made his intentions quite obvious.

Gu Ling also understood Ning Fengzhi's meaning. He shook his head and said,

"No."

"Other than having just joined Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, I have not joined any sect."

Hearing that, Ning Fengzhi's eyes immediately brightened slightly. His tone remained natural, without directly taking the stance of recruiting him as he continued,

"In that case..."

"Would you be interested in learning about our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is famed for its support-type Spirit Masters, the sect also has many outstanding battle Spirit Masters. Moreover, Bone Elder possesses the same Martial Soul as you. If you are willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, perhaps Bone Elder could give you some guidance in cultivating your Bone Dragon Martial Soul."

Gu Rong did not object upon hearing this.

Honestly, he was indeed somewhat interested in this little fellow, who possessed the same Martial Soul as him yet had taken an entirely different path.

But Gu Ling barely thought about it before smiling and shaking his head.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Sect Master Ning."

"But I think I'll pass on joining a sect."

Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback. He had clearly not expected Gu Ling to refuse so decisively.

Gu Ling explained,

"I've lived alone since childhood and am used to being free and undisciplined. I joined the academy because I still need to learn and require cultivation resources."

"But a sect is different from an academy. If I truly joined one, I would inevitably gain more responsibilities and restrictions. I'm afraid of trouble, so for now, I still want to remain free."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi paused slightly and looked at Gu Ling for several seconds. Not only was he not angered by the rejection, he actually smiled and nodded.

"I see."

"Everyone has their own aspirations. Naturally, I won't force you. But the doors of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will always remain open to you. If you change your mind someday, you may come find me at any time."

Gu Ling cupped his hands and smiled.

"Then thank you, Sect Master Ning."

Xue Qinghe, who stood nearby watching the scene, gained a thoughtful look deep in his eyes. Ning Fengzhi's recruitment had been rejected, but that did not mean the youth before him had no value to recruit.

No sect, no family background, and even an orphan. At twelve years old, he had Spirit Power above rank thirty, a Thousand-Year Second Soul Ring, and a Bone Dragon Martial Soul. In thirty years, he would be another Titled Douluo!

To Xue Qinghe, someone like this was even more worth befriending.

At that thought, the smile on his face became even gentler as he said with a smile,

"Since my teacher has extended an invitation from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to such a talented Spirit Master, it would seem rather stingy if I, as his disciple, offered nothing at all."

As he spoke, he took a palm-sized token from his robes.

The token was pale gold throughout, engraved with an exquisite swan pattern. On its front was a highly conspicuous character: "Xue."

Xue Qinghe handed the token to Gu Ling and said solemnly,

"Young brother, please accept this token."

Gu Ling lowered his head to look at it but did not immediately reach out. Instead, he asked somewhat doubtfully,

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"

Xue Qinghe explained with a smile,

"I mean nothing else by it. I simply admire you as well. This is my personal token. Since you have now joined Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, you will likely spend most of your time in Heaven Dou City. Though Heaven Dou City is the imperial capital, trouble is still unavoidable."

"If you encounter something you cannot resolve yourself in the future, you can bring this token to the Crown Prince's residence and find me."

At that, Gu Ling immediately understood. What ordinary token was this? This was clearly an olive branch Qian Renxue had personally extended to him.

However, compared to Ning Fengzhi directly asking whether he wished to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Qian Renxue's method was clearly more tactful. She did not speak of joining or loyalty, merely first forging a good connection.

Naturally, Gu Ling had no reason to refuse such a thing. After all, he was currently in Heaven Dou City. Since a crown prince was willing to resolve some trouble for him, there was no reason to turn down such a benefit.

After a moment of silence, Gu Ling reached out, accepted the token, and cupped his hands with a smile.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe nodded in satisfaction.

"Friends help each other. There is no need to be so polite."

At the word "friends," Gu Ling's gaze shifted slightly. He was visibly stunned for a moment, but said nothing more and simply put away the token.

After that.

The two sides exchanged a few more simple words before going their separate ways.

In the blink of an eye, half a year quietly passed.

Ever since that day's two-on-two Spirit Battle with Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, Gu Ling had completely integrated into the Imperial Dou Team.

Over the next half year, he spent nearly every day cultivating and participating in Spirit Battles.

The Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena gradually became one of the places Gu Ling knew best. He took part in more and more Spirit Battles, and his practical combat experience grew at an astonishing rate.

Especially in one-on-one Spirit Battles, at the Soul Elder rank, Gu Ling could practically be called unstoppable. For Spirit Masters of the same rank to defeat him head-on was almost as difficult as ascending to the heavens!

Over the past half year.

Gu Ling had maintained a perfect record in one-on-one Spirit Battles at the Soul Elder rank.

As for the Imperial Dou Team's performance in group battles, it had grown increasingly outrageous as well.

After Gu Ling joined, the team's already highly complete lineup gained an assault-type Spirit Master capable of close combat, long-range attacks, charging, battlefield control, and spatial abilities. In group battles at the Soul Elder rank, it was almost impossible to find a team that could truly threaten them.

Until this day, at the training grounds of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Dou Team had just finished their morning training when Qin Ming suddenly walked over and said,

"Come here, all of you."

At that, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others stopped and walked over. Once everyone had gathered, Qin Ming swept his gaze over them, obvious satisfaction on his face.

"I have seen all of your progress over the past half year."

"Especially in group battles. At first, there were still some issues with your coordination, but now you have basically formed a combat system that belongs to the Imperial Dou Team."

Qin Ming paused briefly at this point.

"So what I want to say is... if you continue staying in Heaven Dou City and participating in Spirit Battles, the improvement to your practical combat ability likely won't be as obvious as it was in the beginning."

Everyone was somewhat surprised upon hearing that.

Yu Feng could not help asking,

"Teacher Qin, what do you mean?"

Qin Ming glanced at him, then took out a map he had prepared long ago from his storage soul tool and spread it directly across the nearby stone table. He said seriously,

"My meaning is simple. At the current Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, it is already difficult to find opponents in Soul Elder-rank group battles who can truly put pressure on you."

"Continuing to repeatedly fight those familiar teams has little meaning."

As he spoke, Qin Ming pointed to a spot slightly north of the center of the map, then slowly moved his finger southward along it.

"I plan to lead you out from Heaven Dou City, seeking out large cities along the way for Spirit Battles, fighting from north to south. Our final destination will be Soto City in the Barak Kingdom!"