Time flowed on, and half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Ling Ya could actually have left long ago. After all, even studying the Level 8 Soul Tool, the Tyrant Tiger Soul Refining Blade, would not have taken this long. But he stayed, citing his friendship with Purple Spirit Douluo and his desire to continue researching Soul Tools with him.
This made Xu Jiujiu secretly cheer that her plan had worked.
Little did she know that her plan had been part of Dai Youheng's plan all along. Ling Ya had made perfect use of Xu Jiujiu's desire to recruit him, naturally and plausibly remaining at Dai Youheng's side for the long term and becoming his strongest shield in the public eye.
To outsiders, Ling Ya and Dai Youheng had even become friends despite their difference in age, brought together by the blade and their compatible temperaments.
One day, above Star Luo Imperial City, the winds and clouds suddenly shifted. Two vast, mighty auras confronted each other like towering mountains, drawing the attention of countless powerful figures in the imperial capital.
One of the combatants was Giant Hammer Douluo, a long-established Power Attack System Titled Douluo of the Star Luo Empire. He was built like an iron tower and wielded a massive warhammer as broad as a door. Bold and unrestrained by nature, he was a martial fanatic through and through. His opponent was Ling Ya, Ice Sky Douluo, whose fame had soared over the past half year.
Giant Hammer Douluo was obsessed with challenging powerful opponents, and he yearned all the more to face a Titled Douluo with an Ultimate Attribute. Over the past half year, he had repeatedly pestered Ling Ya for a match. Ling Ya had always declined with various excuses, but Dai Youheng felt