The Sea is Wide, Fish Can Leap

At the border between the Silves Kingdom and the Star Luo Empire.

A carriage raced down the broad official road, crossing into the Star Luo Empire.

It was a spacious and elegant four-horse carriage.

Its chassis was forged from refined iron, with sixteen thick springs underneath to absorb jolts.

This design allowed the carriage to remain steady even on rugged mountain roads, let alone while speeding along the flat official road.

Its only drawback was that it was too heavy, requiring at least four horses to pull it.

This type of carriage was a prized creation of the Strength Clan and sold quite well among the nobles and dignitaries of Heaven Dou City.

Before the Strength Clan pledged itself to Tang San and began selling hidden weapons, the income from this type of carriage's maintenance services accounted for more than twenty percent of the clan's annual revenue.

After Tang San provided the blueprints for forging hidden weapon components, the disciples of the Strength Clan became busy crafting those parts, and most of their previous business had been discontinued.

Naturally, these four-horse carriages were no longer manufactured for sale.

However, they did not dare discontinue the maintenance services for them.

After all, most of Heaven Dou City's nobles and officials had purchased these four-horse carriages. If the maintenance services were canceled, they would offend nearly all of the city's powerful elite.

Things were precious because they were scarce.

After the Strength Clan stopped producing four-horse carriages, these carriages became symbols of status in Heaven Dou City.

The custom-made versions, in particular, were possessed only by a very small number of nobles and high-ranking officials.

Leaving the official road, the carriage entered a rugged wilderness track.

Inside the carriage.

A cool breeze swept in, making the curtains billow and lifting the loose strands before Lin Rong's forehead. He gazed at the distant scenery outside the window with an easy, relaxed expression.

It had been more than a month since his hunt for his Second Soul Ring in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Lin Rong's Soul Power Level had already reached level twenty-three.

Absorbing that 981-year Kongqing Bamboo Soul Ring had raised his soul power from level twenty to the peak of level twenty-two.

Thus, he had naturally broken through to level twenty-three several days earlier.

As for the Kongqing Bamboo's head Soul Bone, which could absorb the powers of space and life from the air, Lin Rong had also successfully absorbed it without incident.

Before absorbing the Soul Bone, they had naturally followed the plan.

First, the Old Butler had thoroughly purified the Soul Bone with Star Power.

Perhaps because unexpected incidents had occurred both times Lin Rong absorbed Soul Rings.

Still shaken by those experiences, the Old Butler had actually used his Seventh Soul Skill, Star Body, while purifying this Soul Bone, ensuring that it would be cleansed completely.

After activating Star Body, the power of all Soul Skills except the Seventh Soul Skill increased by one hundred percent, while soul power consumption decreased by fifty percent.

However, it came with a seven-day cooldown afterward.

The dense, pure Star Power almost instantly cleansed away the residual soul power within the Soul Bone.

Yet the Old Butler still did not feel at ease. Fearing that the Soul Bone might still contain remnants of the Kongqing Bamboo's soul, he purified it repeatedly several times before handing it to Lin Rong after confirming there was no problem.

After the Old Butler finished purifying it, Lin Rong took the Soul Bone, summoned his Nine Bend Vine Dragon martial soul and Vine Dragon Domain, and thoroughly cleansed the Soul Bone with pure life force.

Only after completing all of those steps did Lin Rong finally begin absorbing the head Soul Bone with peace of mind.

Throughout the process, the Old Butler maintained his Star Body state.

If anything happened to Lin Rong, he would immediately use his First Soul Skill, Falling Star, enhanced twofold under Star Body, to heal the young master.

Fortunately, no mishaps occurred during Lin Rong's absorption of the Soul Bone.

This finally made the Old Butler, who had been on edge the entire time, breathe a sigh of relief.

"Grandpa Yu, do you think things will proceed smoothly during this trip to the Star Luo Empire?"

Inside the carriage, Lin Rong leaned over the windowsill and turned to the Old Butler beside him, asking softly.

The Old Butler sat on a cushioned seat at one side of the carriage, using a small knife to peel fruit.

On the table beside him sat a platter of fruit that was nearly finished.

Hearing Lin Rong's question, the Old Butler did not stop what he was doing and replied in his usual gentle tone:

"Although Bai He is proud and miserly, as the patriarch of the Speed Clan and a man who has lived to such an age, he will not be someone incapable of reading the situation."

"Besides, the young master has shown ample sincerity this time. It is merely a ginseng plant that can only be used as a family heirloom. Whether for appearances or practical benefit, that old fellow Bai He will have no reason to refuse."

As he spoke, the Old Butler finished preparing the fruit platter and handed it to Lin Rong.

"Yes. Let's hope that old fellow knows what's good for him. Otherwise..."

At that point, a cold glint flashed through Lin Rong's eyes. He picked up a spoon and scooped up a mouthful of fruit.

Although the Sharp-tailed Swift martial soul of the Speed Clan had no offensive power, Bai He was still a Soul Douluo.

Even if his Soul Rings and Soul Skills had granted him no offensive abilities, his soul power above level eighty alone would be enough for him to easily crush Lin Rong with one hand.

Moreover, Bai He possessed the fastest speed in the world, so even with Old Butler at Lin Rong's side, his safety could not be guaranteed.

The item in Bai He's possession, along with the subsequent matters concerning the Breaking Clan, were all crucial parts of the plan and could not afford to go wrong.

After all, he only had one life. Once he died and the External Soul Bone, Heart of the Banyan Wood, passively triggered its soul skill, Flower Transfer, Wood Grafting, he would have to wait through a long cooldown before gaining a second life to risk.

During that time, if Lin Rong died, he would truly be dead.

That was why Lin Rong had been so eager to obtain a Space Spirit Skill as a trump card for preserving his life.

Only if the Space Spirit Skill was powerful enough would he have the confidence to seek out Bai He and discuss a deal.

As for encountering Kongqing Bamboo, that had been completely unexpected.

Although the soul skill he gained suited Lin Rong perfectly, if he were given another choice, perhaps...

Well, after learning what soul skill Kongqing Bamboo had granted him, he would still absorb Kongqing Bamboo's soul ring. He would merely make more preparations beforehand.

After all, he cherished his life, but he still had the courage to take risks.

The life-saving divine skill, Green Leaf Mark, not only gave Lin Rong the confidence to face Bai He calmly, but also gave him the confidence to seek out Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan.

Back when he had only one life, Lin Rong had been somewhat hesitant in his actions, and some plans could only be delayed without implementation.

But now, with Green Leaf Mark to preserve his life and Flower Transfer, Wood Grafting of the Heart of the Banyan Wood as a safeguard, where in this vast world could he not go?

This trip to the Star Luo Empire had two main purposes.

First, to obtain the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng in Bai He's possession. This item concerned the Martial Soul Avatar of his future Seventh Soul Ring.

Second, to trade for the Breaking Clan's Herb Illustrated Handbook from Yang Wudi if possible. It recorded the methods for harvesting Immortal Grade Medicinal Herbs.

It would naturally be best if he could obtain them during this trip, but if not, Lin Rong had other methods.

Most importantly, there was another matter that required the Breaking Clan's assistance.