Arrival at Heaven Dou City!

Gu Feng stopped three steps from the bed, raised his right hand, and gently spread his fingers.

Wind-attribute Soul Power flowed from within him and streamed out through his fingertips.

Several exceptionally gentle currents gathered into tiny vortices in the air, passing through her clothes to land precisely on the major acupoints across Ning Rongrong's shoulders, back, and calves.

The soft wind force shifted between heavy and light, like several invisible little hands rhythmically kneading and pressing along her meridians.

A warm sensation mingled with the tingling of the breeze, instantly melting through her taut muscles.

Ning Rongrong could not help letting out a soft moan, her whole body sinking into the bedding like melted clay.

She abruptly pulled her head out of the pillow and turned to look at Gu Feng, who had not moved from his spot.

"You didn't even touch me. How did you do that?"

Gu Feng withdrew his Soul Power and spoke evenly.

"This is another use of wind. By controlling the force and shape of the airflow, the pressure is distributed more evenly than if I used my hands directly."

Ning Rongrong was utterly dumbfounded. Lying on the bed, she kept exclaiming in amazement.

"Oh my god, your wind martial soul is way too convenient!"

Gu Feng walked to the table and poured a cup of warm water.

"All right, get to sleep early tonight. At this pace, it'll take at least another half a month to reach Heaven Dou City."

Hearing that number, Ning Rongrong immediately let out a scream and smashed the bedboard with her pillow.

"Ah!!!

Another half a month?! Just kill me already!"

Over the next half month, the same scene could be seen on the official road every day.

The young man in front traveled on the wind with calm, measured steps; the white-clad girl behind him gritted her teeth and chased after him with all her might.

At first, Ning Rongrong would collapse from exhaustion after walking for half a day. Later, she could skillfully distribute her Soul Power evenly across the soles of her feet and run for an entire day without falling behind.

The Soul Power within her flowed more smoothly than ever, thoroughly solidifying her previously somewhat unstable twenty-sixth-rank Soul Power.

On the afternoon of the sixteenth day.

At the end of the plains, the outline of an immensely magnificent black city rose from the ground.

Thick city walls dozens of meters high stretched across heaven and earth. Above the enormous gates, three grand golden characters were engraved—Heaven Dou City.

"We're finally here! Hahaha!"

Ning Rongrong stood on the official road outside the gates, wiped the dust from her face, and leaped up excitedly.

Gu Feng stopped and looked at Heaven Dou City, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

They had finally arrived!

The two followed the stream of people entering the city through the gate tunnel. The broad streets were bustling with traffic, lined on both sides with grand mansions and large merchant guilds.

Ning Rongrong grabbed Gu Feng's arm and pointed at a towering domed structure in the distance.

"Gu Feng! Look over there, that's the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena!"

Ning Rongrong was practically hanging from Gu Feng's arm, pressing half her body weight against him.

A pleasant, delicate fragrance clung to the girl. Through their thin clothing, a warm, soft sensation pressed against his arm.

Gu Feng felt a little helpless. He tried to pull his arm free, only for her to cling even tighter.

Over the past half month of travel on the official road, Ning Rongrong had been exhausted enough to groan every day.

Every night, Gu Feng used wind force to clear her meridians and knead her sore, swollen legs and feet. As their physical contact increased day after day, the girl had instead completely let down her guard around him.

The temper of the once spoiled and willful little devil had mellowed considerably, and she had grown increasingly clingy toward him.

Gu Feng understood it clearly enough.

A woman might affect the speed at which he drew his blade, but a rich woman would give him a peerless blade!

Since she was taking the initiative to grow close to him, he was naturally happy to go along with it.

"All right, stop hanging off me. The passersby are staring."

Gu Feng raised a hand and gently ruffled the top of Ning Rongrong's fluffy hair.

"Let's find a good hotel first, wash up, and get a proper night's sleep."

"Once it's night, we'll head to the Great Soul Arena and get a feel for the place."

Ning Rongrong shrank her neck as he ruffled her hair. Not only did she not get angry, she raised her flushed little face and nodded obediently again and again.

"I'll listen to you, Gu Feng. I'm exhausted."

The two chatted and laughed as they headed along the main road toward a luxurious hotel.

Across the street, at a window-side table on the second floor of a teahouse.

Ning Fengzhi's wrist froze in midair as he held his teacup, and the refined composure on his face could no longer be maintained.

Chen Xin, seated across from him, stared wide-eyed, his brows twisted into a knot as he nearly crushed the celadon teacup on the table into fragments.

The two had secretly followed Gu Feng and Ning Rongrong from the moment they entered the city.

Ning Fengzhi had originally been worried that his daughter might have suffered on the journey and had been preparing to find an excuse to appear and meet them.

Who would have thought that the instant they showed themselves, they would witness this scene?

"Th-this is really Rongrong?"

Chen Xin studied the two youngsters walking away, his lips moving as his voice brimmed with disbelief.

"The direct disciples in the sect usually get teased until they're a sorry sight if they so much as try to speak to her."

"I've doted on her for over ten years, yet even I have to watch her mood before I can pat her head."

"That brat casually ruffles her hair, and she actually smiles so sweetly?"

Ning Fengzhi slowly set his teacup back on the table and shook his head with a laugh.

"Uncle Sword, it seems Rongrong is serious this time."

"Over the past half month, she not only didn't slack off or complain, but was actually kept completely in line by that little fellow."

"Letting the two of them travel alone was indeed a brilliant move."

Chen Xin leaned back in his chair and snorted softly.

"If that brat dares to bully Rongrong, I'll tear his bones apart."

"But putting that aside, Rongrong's Soul Power aura has become much steadier. Her foundation has clearly been strengthened considerably."

Ning Fengzhi smiled.

"Let's go, Uncle Sword. Let's reserve a private room at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. I also want to see just how much skill that little fellow can display in the Great Soul Arena."

"After all, with Rongrong's standards, she would never take a liking to a mediocre man!"

Night quietly fell.

The Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena blazed with light. Its enormous dome was as bright as day, and the clamor of voices could be heard clearly from two streets away.

Gu Feng had changed into a neat black combat outfit, making his tall, lean figure appear even more striking.

Ning Rongrong had changed into a light blue short skirt, her long hair tied into a neat high ponytail that revealed her fair, slender neck.

She pressed close to Gu Feng, clutching two iron Soul Arena badges in her hand, her little face flushed red with excitement.

"Gu Feng, we're registered!"

"Your solo name is 'Wind God,' and mine is 'Seven Treasures Glazed Tile.'"

"For our two-on-two team, I named us 'Glazed Wind.' Sounds nice, right?"

Gu Feng glanced at the metal badge in his hand and nodded slightly.

"The name isn't important. Once we step onto the Soul Arena stage, we follow the tactics we discussed during the day."

"Stay within five steps behind me. Don't leave the range of my protective airflow."

"If anything unexpected happens, retreat toward the edge of the arena immediately. Understand?"

Ning Rongrong reached out, hooked her arm around his, and gave it a shake.

"I know, I know! You're such a nag."

"With you here, I'm not afraid at all."

Gu Feng lowered his gaze to look at her. Ning Rongrong lifted her chin, a faint smile on her lips.

The two quickly entered the waiting area through the contestants' passage.