After leaving Heaven Dou City, the Imperial Dou Team's first stop was Silvis City, located several days' journey away from Heaven Dou City.
As one of the most prosperous cities within the Silves Kingdom, the Great Soul Arena here was not as large as the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, yet it still gathered a large number of soul masters.
On the evening of their arrival, Qin Ming had everyone sign up for a soul-elder-level team battle.
The result held no surprises.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the opponents were completely routed by the Imperial Dou Team.
During the days that followed, Gu Ling's one-on-one matches, Gu Ling and Ye Lingling's two-on-two matches, and the Imperial Dou Team's team battles almost all maintained a streak of victories.
Especially the team battles.
Ordinary soul elder teams could hardly last very long when facing the current Imperial Dou Team.
After staying in Silvis City for a few days.
The group continued southward.
Loring City, Azure River City, Southwind City...
Along the way, as long as they passed through a moderately sized city, Qin Ming would basically have them stay for two or three days, then head to the local Great Soul Arena to participate in a few matches.
Encountering opponents of weaker strength, the Imperial Dou Team plowed straight through all the way.
There were also a few times when they ran into a few extremely special teams with good coordination, and even fell into a disadvantageous position for a time. Yet in the end, relying on a more complete lineup and the coordination continuously honed over this period, they still secured the victory.
Over a month had passed.
The Imperial Dou Team had participated in more than ten team battles along the way without a single defeat!
As for Gu Ling's one-on-one record, it likewise continued to maintain a 100% win rate. So much so that later on, whenever everyone saw Gu Ling take the stage, they were already too lazy to guess win or loss, expressing it in their own words as:
"Unless they suddenly arrange a soul-king-level opponent for Gu Ling, what is even there to watch?"
Just like that, the Imperial Dou Team fought soul battles all the way and headed south all the way.
More than a month later, they finally arrived at Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom.
In the afternoon, a carriage slowly drove into the wide city gates.
Lifting the carriage curtain and watching the gradually bustling streets outside, Gu Ling's gaze flickered slightly as he spoke in a low voice, "We've finally arrived."
Suotuo City.
For Gu Ling, this place was clearly not unfamiliar, because half a year ago after Zhu Zhuqing parted ways with him, this was precisely where she headed, and Tang San and Xiao Wu had come here as well.
"Gu Ling, what are you looking at?"
Dugu Yan beside him suddenly asked a question.
Hearing this, Gu Ling put down the carriage curtain, slowly withdrew his gaze, and smiled, "Nothing, it's just my first time coming to Suotuo City, so I'm just looking around."
The carriage made its way into the urban area. Qin Ming had evidently made preparations in advance, and quickly led the group to find a hotel with decent conditions near the city center to settle down in.
After everyone had simply put away their luggage, Qin Ming called everyone downstairs. Looking at the students who clearly already looked somewhat exhausted, he did not continue arranging any training, saying:
"We've hurried along the road for so many days, so we'll rest first today. I've already looked into the Soto Great Soul Arena; tomorrow evening, I'll take you over to register and participate in soul battles."
As soon as these words came out, Yu Feng instantly let out a long sigh of relief, saying:
"We can finally rest!"
Osler likewise collapsed directly onto a chair.
"Teacher Qin, you've finally made a correct decision."
The corner of Qin Ming's twitching mouth twitched as he said somewhat speechlessly:
"What? Are my usual arrangements incorrect?"
"No, no!" Yu Feng hurriedly waved his hands.
Everyone instantly burst into laughter.
Qin Ming shook his head helplessly and continued:
"All right."
"The rest of the day is free time. However, I heard when entering the city just now that tonight Suotuo City happens to be hosting the annual Lantern Festival."
"The few main streets in the city should be very lively tonight. If you are interested, you can go out and wander around."
Hearing the three words "Lantern Festival", Dugu Yan's eyes instantly lit up as she said somewhat excitedly:
"Really?"
"Then what are we waiting for?"
She looked toward Yu Tianheng almost instantly.
"Tianheng, let's go!"
"It's not even dark yet..."
"If we wait until it's dark, the crowds will be packed!"
Finishing her words, Dugu Yan directly pulled Yu Tianheng and left the hotel.
Yu Feng and Osler exchanged glances and quickly followed out. Although the Shi Mo brothers had no interest in the Lantern Festival, since they had rarely come to Suotuo City, they also prepared to go out and stroll around.
Before long, the room that had just been extremely lively quickly quieted down, leaving only Gu Ling and Ye Lingling.
Gu Ling sat in a chair and glanced at the doorway. He then turned his head to look at Ye Lingling, who was still sitting quietly beside him. After a moment of silence, he spoke up to inquire:
"What? You aren't going out?"
Ye Lingling gently shook her head and explained:
"They walked too fast."
Gu Ling was taken aback, then couldn't help but smile. This indeed truly suited Ye Lingling's personality; having her charge out in a fiery rush like Dugu Yan was probably even more difficult than making her fight a soul battle.
A moment later, Gu Ling stood up, stretched his shoulders, and said with a serious expression:
"Then..."
"Shall we go out and stroll around too?"
Hearing this, Ye Lingling slowly raised her head, her traditionally quiet eyes lingering on Gu Ling for a moment. If it were half a year ago when the two had first met, she might have still hesitated slightly, but over these past six months and more, the two of them had practiced cultivation together almost every day.
Especially as fixed two-on-two partners, they had participated in God knows how many soul battles together.
From the simple nodding and greeting at the very beginning to later being able to chat quite naturally with each other, the two sides had long since grown much more familiar.
A moment later, Ye Lingling also gently nodded, saying:
"All right, then let's go out and take a look too."
Gu Ling smiled and immediately set off.
"Then let's go."
The two walked out of the hotel one after the other.
At this moment, the setting sun had already gradually descended toward the west.
After nightfall completely descended, Suotuo City gradually became lively as well, especially the few main streets where the Lantern Festival was located, which were currently bustling with people coming and going.
Under the eaves on both sides of the road, various shapes of lanterns were hung.
There were lotuses.
There were koi fish.
There were also colorful lanterns in the shapes of various soul beasts.
The warm yellow lights connected into one piece, illuminating the entire long street as bright as day.
Many young men and women walked in pairs, while stalls on both sides of the street displayed various snacks, accessories, and small trinkets unique to the Lantern Festival.
Gu Ling and Ye Lingling blended into the crowd, walking forward side by side. The two of them didn't have any specific destination either, stopping to take a look whenever they saw something interesting.
Occasionally encountering snacks they hadn't eaten before, Gu Ling would also casually buy a portion.
"Do you want to try some?"
Gu Ling handed over a piece of sugar cake he had just bought.
Ye Lingling glanced at it, reached out to take a piece, and took a small bite.
"How is it?"
"A bit sweet."
"Things sold at the Lantern Festival, if they aren't sweet, can they be sold bitter?"
Hearing this, Ye Lingling raised her gaze to look at Gu Ling, and said with annoyed displeasure:
"Then why did you still ask me?"
The corner of Gu Ling's mouth twitched slightly, thinking that this young lady was truly getting better and better at backtalk lately.
When they first met half a year ago, Ye Lingling couldn't even say a few words the entire day.
Yet through over half a year of getting along, the two practiced cultivation together almost every day and long served as two-on-two partners participating in soul battles, so their relationship had naturally long since grown much more familiar.
At least in front of Gu Ling, Ye Lingling was no longer as taciturn as she was at the very beginning.
The two continued to walk forward.
Yet right at this moment, from within the crowd ahead, the conversational voices of several young men suddenly traveled over:
"Boss Dai."
"Take a look around."
"The people out shopping at the Lantern Festival all seem to be in pairs; how come it feels like the three of us are the only single dogs?"
Before you continue