"A Laugh in the Vast Sea"

Still, since he was here, he might as well make the best of it.

Xiao Lin put away the map and checked the state of his Soul Power. After seven days of traveling, not only had his Soul Power not diminished, but it even showed faint signs of a breakthrough.

The bottleneck at level twenty-nine had already loosened. He was only one final step away from level thirty.

"Perfect." Xiao Lin muttered to himself. "Since I've come to the Star Dou Great Forest, I might as well break through to level thirty here and obtain my third soul ring while I'm at it."

He was only a step away from level thirty. If he could break through here and directly acquire his third soul ring, his strength would undergo a tremendous increase.

With that thought, Xiao Lin stopped hesitating and strode into the Star Dou Great Forest.

The moment he entered the forest, the air became moist and fresh, thick with the scent of vegetation.

The forest was quiet, broken only by the occasional birdcall and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

He followed a winding stream for about half an hour before the view suddenly opened up. Before him was a small clearing by the riverbank, carpeted in green grass and blooming wildflowers. The clear stream shimmered beneath the sunlight.

Several butterflies danced among the flowers, while a faint floral fragrance filled the air.

Xiao Lin's mood suddenly improved.

Perhaps it was the relief of shaking off his pursuers, perhaps the anticipation of an imminent breakthrough, or perhaps simply the beauty of the scenery. In any case, he suddenly wanted to play a tune.

He walked to the riverbank, sat on a smooth boulder, and drew the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute from his waist.

The flute gleamed with a gentle jade-green luster beneath the sunlight. The nine phoenixes engraved upon it were so lifelike that they seemed ready to spread their wings and fly away at any moment.

Xiao Lin raised the flute to his lips, took a deep breath, and slowly began to play.

The sound of the flute rose.

It was an entirely different melody, unlike the murderous aura of the Guangling Melody, nor the tender, winding sentiment of Prelude to Water Melody.

It was a bold and unrestrained piece, grand and majestic. Every note was like a mountain breeze, like surging waves upon a river, carrying the open-minded composure of one who laughed at the shifting winds and clouds.

"A Laugh in the Vast Sea."

It had been Xiao Lin's favorite tune in his previous life. Whenever he played it, he felt his heart broaden and all his worries vanish.

And now, playing it in this primeval forest beside a crystal-clear stream brought him an indescribable sense of freedom.

A laugh in the vast sea, tides surge along both shores.

Adrift with the waves, remember this day.

The heavens laugh, as worldly tides rise and fall.

Who loses, who prevails? Heaven knows.

The flute's melody echoed through the forest, its lingering notes following the stream into the distance.

Several small birds, drawn by the music, landed on nearby branches and tilted their heads as they listened quietly. A Bai rabbit poked its head out from the bushes, ears pricked as it looked around curiously.

Even the fish in the stream surfaced one after another, seeming to sway along with the melody.

Xiao Lin closed his eyes, completely immersed in the world of music.

He felt as if he had merged with heaven and earth, becoming one with the mountains, rivers, flowers, grass, and trees.

The Soul Power within him flowed naturally with the melody, smooth as a stream and light as a breeze. The sensation was wonderful, as though his soul were taking flight.

Meanwhile.

On the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Two figures raced through the woods at astonishing speed. They wove between the trees like Gui Mei, not even crushing a single fallen leaf beneath their feet, displaying terrifying control and cultivation.

Both had white hair and youthful faces, their spirits vigorous enough to conceal their true ages.

The man in front was tall and slender, with a lean face, sword-like brows, and bright eyes. His Bai robes fluttered around him, and an ancient longsword hung at his waist.

Merely standing there, he resembled an unsheathed sword, his sharpness impossible to conceal, yet he also possessed the air of an immortal sage.

The man behind him was slightly hunched, with a gloomy face and withered, claw-like hands. He wore a dark gray robe.

His aura was not as sharp as the first man's, but it was deeper and more inscrutable, like a venomous snake concealed in the shadows, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment.

These two were the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two Titled Douluo—Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong.

Not far ahead of them, a little girl of around twelve skipped along a forest path, completely unaware that two great figures were secretly protecting her from behind.

This little girl was Ning Rongrong, the beloved daughter of Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect master, and the sect's little devil.

She had taken advantage of the sect guards' lax vigilance to sneak out, claiming that she wanted to explore the world on her own.

She thought her plan was flawless, unaware that Ning Fengzhi had long seen through her intentions and secretly dispatched the Sword and Bone Titled Douluo to follow and protect her.

Gu Rong was about to continue chasing after her when he suddenly noticed that Chen Xin had stopped.

"What is it?" Gu Rong stopped as well and asked in confusion.

Chen Xin did not answer. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as though listening for something.

Seeing this, Gu Rong also fell silent and listened intently.

Then, they heard it too.

A faint, elusive sound of a flute drifted from the depths of the forest, passing through layers of trees and branches before reaching their ears.

The flute music was lingering and melodious, carrying an indescribable charm. At times, it was like High Mountains and Flowing Water; at times, like a breeze brushing across one's face; at times, like rushing rivers; at times, like drifting Bai clouds.

Most extraordinary of all was the bold, unrestrained spirit contained within the music. It was as if the flutist stood atop a lofty mountain, overlooking the vast earth and laughing at the ever-changing world.

"This..." Surprise flashed through Gu Rong's eyes. "What a unique tune."

Chen Xin said nothing, but his eyes lit up.

As a swordsman, he was far more sensitive to artistic conception than ordinary people. The openness, composure, and detached attitude toward the changing world contained within this tune were precisely the realm he had pursued for many years without ever fully comprehending.

"Come. Let's take a look." Chen Xin suddenly said, moving toward the direction from which the flute music came.

"Hey, wait!" Gu Rong hurried after him. "What about that little girl?"

"She can't get far. We can catch up to her later." Chen Xin's voice came from ahead, carrying a rare note of urgency.

Gu Rong shook his head helplessly and followed.

There were not many things capable of making Sword Douluo Chen Xin lose his composure like this. He was also curious about who could play such a moving tune.

Following the flute music, the two sped through the forest. After roughly the time it took to burn an incense stick, the view before them suddenly opened up.

A clear stream appeared ahead, babbling softly and sparkling beneath the sunlight. In the clearing by the stream, a young man sat atop a smooth boulder.