The grandfather and grandson's trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had been well worth it.
Not only had Tian Chen absorbed a top-tier Soul Ring from a thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear as his second Soul Ring, but he had also obtained two Soul Bones.
What was more, they were top-tier Soul Bones from a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. If even the slightest word of such Soul Bones leaked out, it would likely stir up a storm of blood in the Soul Master World.
However, the Soul Bones produced by a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear were far too overbearing for Tian Chen to absorb with his current cultivation.
Tian Chen therefore stored them in his Soul Tool, waiting until the time was ripe to absorb them.
Since only Tian Chen and Tian E knew about the Soul Bones, there was no need to worry about anyone with ill intentions committing murder to seize the treasures.
Besides, he would be staying in Spirit City for a long time to come. Surely no one would be blind enough to dare provoke him there.
After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, the grandfather and grandson returned to the town they had visited before, waved to the coachman, and once again set off on the road back to Spirit City.
They had spent quite some time in the Star Dou Great Forest, and it was already nearing dusk when they boarded the carriage.
The winter sunlight was not as dazzling as the summer sun. Instead, it seemed soft and gentle, passing through the window in wisps and beams like fine gauze and spilling over Tian Chen's delicate features.
His short golden hair, paired with clear blue eyes and a maturity in his gaze that did not match his age, held an unusual appeal.
The curtains woven from golden thread fluttered in the breeze at the carriage windows, and Tian Chen enjoyed a rare moment of tranquility.
Across from him, Tian E gave Tian Chen a gratified glance without speaking to interrupt his grandson. Inwardly, however, he wondered whether he should find his grandson a woman ahead of time. Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend his idle days at home looking after a great-grandchild?
With his current standing, money and power no longer mattered to him. At his age, without some fortuitous opportunity, his cultivation would absolutely never advance any further.
Watching his descendants slowly grow and enjoying the happiness of family life were what he sought.
As the carriage traveled steadily onward, night had completely enveloped the land. The Soul Tool inside the carriage emitted a soft yellow glow, illuminating the entire interior as brightly as day as it moved slowly through the darkness like a lantern.
There was no such thing as a curfew on the Douluo Continent. When the carriage arrived at Spirit City, the city guards recognized the Second Worship's household carriage at a glance and promptly opened the gates, knowing better than to delay it.
The carriage gradually passed through the bustling streets, which were brightly lit and every bit as lively as the night markets of his previous life.
The bursts of enthusiastic cheering coming from a huge circular building nearby immediately caught Tian Chen's attention.
Having lived in Spirit City for so many years, Tian Chen naturally knew about the Soul Fighting Arena.
However, Spirit City strictly permitted only Soul Grandmasters above level twenty, or descendants of high-ranking Spirit Hall members like Tian Chen, to live there.
As a result, there were almost no Soul Master-tier soul fights in the Soul Fighting Arena. This was also why Tian Chen had chosen to seek out Soul Beasts to hone himself in actual combat.
Now that he had broken through to level twenty, Tian Chen naturally wanted to experience it himself. He turned toward Tian E with a chuckle.
"Grandpa, I'm going to take part in some soul fights. Go home without me."
Without waiting for Tian E to answer, Tian Chen jumped straight out of the carriage window and jogged toward the Soul Fighting Arena.
He did not believe his grandfather would spoil his fun over something like this.
And things went exactly as he had expected. Watching Tian Chen's retreating figure, Tian E laughingly scolded him, then closed his eyes again.
When the two guards stationed at the entrance to the Soul Fighting Arena saw Tian Chen's luxurious clothing and extraordinary bearing, there was no showing-off-and-face-slapping routine.
Instead, they respectfully welcomed Tian Chen into the Soul Fighting Arena. Two maids with quite fine looks and figures led him away to complete the registration procedures.
The procedures were not particularly complicated. They simply needed to record his Martial Soul and Soul Power Level to match him with suitable opponents.
After completing his registration, Tian Chen ran into several unexpected people on his way to the Soul Fighting Arena.
When Hu Liena, her golden hair tied in a ponytail, spotted Tian Chen with his similarly golden short hair, surprise first crossed her face. Then she beamed and walked over to greet him.
"Tian Chen, are you here to watch the soul fights today too?"
Because Tian Chen had saved Hu Liena before, and because Hu Liena was not the sort of woman to make unreasonable trouble, their relationship had improved considerably through her efforts to approach him.
Hu Liena also took the initiative to strike up conversations with Tian Chen from time to time. Naturally, Tian Chen would not keep a stiff face. Having a little beauty simp for him felt damn good.
Tian Chen smiled and nodded, with no intention of hiding anything. Or rather, there was absolutely no need to. His cultivation would be revealed once he participated in the year-end tournament anyway.
"No, I'm here to take part in the soul fights."
"You've broken through to level twenty?"
At his words, Hu Liena covered her small mouth with her delicate hand and stared at Tian Chen in disbelief.
From what she knew of Tian Chen, he had never been someone who liked to lie.
She also knew his background and had vaguely guessed a few things.
A trace of something different entered her gaze as she looked at Tian Chen. Only now did she realize how childish she had been back then.
Perhaps I was nothing but a joke in his eyes.
However, Hu Liena quickly reined in her emotions and looked at Tian Chen again with a smile blooming like a flower.
"Tian Chen, this should be your first time at the Soul Fighting Arena, right? How about I take you inside?"
Without waiting for Tian Chen's reply, Hu Liena walked ahead of him on her own. Her golden ponytail swayed behind her, and her pure white dress further set off her fair skin.
Tian Chen shook his head, but had no intention of refusing, following close behind Hu Liena.
As he looked around and listened to Hu Liena's introduction, he gained some understanding of this Soul Fighting Arena.
For instance, the place he was heading to this time was one of the ten subsidiary arenas. As for the main arena, he could only enter after obtaining a Silver Soul Badge.
"Hey, Hu Lie... Fuck!"
"Ah!"
Tian Chen had just turned his head and was about to ask Hu Liena something, but at some point she had stopped and happened to turn around just then.
Hu Liena's forehead made intimate contact with Tian Chen's chin. Tian Chen was all right, having only taken a knock to the chin, but he still instinctively blurted out the most beautiful words from his hometown.
Hu Liena had it much worse. As a Control System Soul Master, her physical constitution was far inferior to Tian Chen's, and the collision left a red mark right on her fair forehead.
Tears swirled in her clear eyes as she looked at Tian Chen with resentment written all over her face.
"Uh, well..." Tian Chen said.