Golden Crocodile Douluo thought he had misheard, but seeing how confident Gu Wuchen looked, he confirmed that he had heard correctly.
"Extraordinary talent. Good, very good."
Qian Daoliu suppressed his excitement. "Wuchen, do you need Grandpa to go with you?"
Gu Wuchen shook his head. "There's no need, Grandpa Qian. I'll just have Bishop Ye come with me. I came here to say goodbye to you and Grandpa Golden Crocodile. I may also have to go to the Heaven Dou Empire afterward."
Gu Wuchen had discovered that the shops in Heaven Dou City had run into some trouble. He also happened to need to deal with the old poison's Immortal Herbs; bringing them under the Gu Clan's control would strengthen the clan as well.
"Very well, go ahead. If you run into trouble, there's a Platinum Bishop in the Heaven Dou Empire named Salas. You can give him orders directly if you need anything."
Qian Daoliu tossed him a token engraved with the mark of a six-winged angel.
"This is the Angel Token. Seeing it is the same as seeing me."
Gu Wuchen tightened his grip on the Angel Token. "Thank you, Grandpa Qian. And you too, Grandpa Golden Crocodile. I'll take my leave now."
With that, Gu Wuchen turned and left the Elder Hall.
Only after he had left did Golden Crocodile Douluo exclaim, his face full of astonishment, "Great Enshrined, Ice Mystic Douluo's son is far too heaven-defying. He broke through to Soul Grandmaster in just a year and a half."
"I didn't expect it either." Qian Daoliu seemed to remember something. "That's right, Xue'er happens to be undercover in Heaven Dou City. I can send her a message and tell her to keep an eye out."
By evening, Gu Wuchen had arrived at the entrance to Spirit Hall, where Ye Yuan'er had already prepared a carriage.
Just as he was about to leave, Hu Liena called out to him from behind.
"Little fellow, are you leaving already?" Hu Liena said, reluctant to see him go.
Gu Wuchen looked back, and his handsome face left Hu Liena momentarily dazed.
"It's not like I'm never coming back. See you!"
Gu Wuchen waved, gave a laugh, and climbed into the carriage.
Seeing this, Ye Yuan'er immediately climbed aboard.
The carriage set off and soon vanished from Hu Liena's sight.
"He's gone already."
Hu Liena sighed, feeling a little disappointed. She had wanted to go along too, but her teacher wouldn't agree.
Over the past year and a half, Hu Liena had spent plenty of time with Gu Wuchen, bickering with him, but unfortunately, he was in the Elder Hall.
And Bibi Dong wouldn't let her get too close to the Elder Hall.
In the end, the little fox turned around dejectedly and returned to the Pope's Palace.
They traveled until the next morning before reaching Ice Arrival City.
After a year and a half away, Gu Wuchen saw that Ice Arrival City had changed completely, with merchants coming and going through the city in an endless stream.
"Young master, where is the Gu Clan?"
Ye Yuan'er asked.
"Go straight, then turn left, and you'll see the Gu Clan," Gu Wuchen said.
Ye Yuan'er drove the carriage as he directed, and they soon arrived at the gates of the Gu Clan residence.
Looking up at the magnificent residence, Ye Yuan'er grew even more curious.
Just as they were about to get out of the carriage, a noblewoman of exceptional bearing and city-toppling beauty emerged from the Gu Clan residence.
Shen Suwei saw the Spirit Hall emblem on the carriage outside her home and glanced at Ye Yuan'er. "Miss, are you here to discuss business on behalf of Spirit Hall?"
While Ye Yuan'er was unsure how to answer, Gu Wuchen immediately got out of the carriage.
"Mother, it's me! Wuchen is back!"
As Gu Wuchen climbed down from the carriage, Shen Suwei recognized him at a glance. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she threw aside the broom in her hand and rushed toward him.
"Wuchen, you've finally found it in your heart to come back and see your mother."
Shen Suwei hugged Gu Wuchen excitedly, her heart full of emotion. After a year and a half apart, Wuchen had grown taller again.
"Mother, come on. It's not like we haven't seen each other for years. You're just like a child," Gu Wuchen said helplessly.
Shen Suwei chided him, "Oh, listen to you! If we didn't have company, I'd be sure to teach you a good lesson."
Shen Suwei released Gu Wuchen and turned her gaze to Ye Yuan'er. Her expression softened as she asked politely,
"And who is this young lady?"
Ye Yuan'er immediately stepped forward and bowed, her tone respectful and proper.
"Greetings, Your Majesty Suxin Douluo. I am Ye Yuan'er, a Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall. By the Great Enshrined's orders, I have come to assist the young master."
Shen Suwei nodded in understanding, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"So you're Bishop Ye. Thank you for looking after Wuchen on the journey. Don't just stand there-come inside and sit down."
As she spoke, she took Gu Wuchen's hand again and gave his arm a squeeze, chiding him,
"It's only been a year and a half. How have you gotten so much thinner? You must not have been eating properly at Spirit Hall. Come inside, Mommy prepared your favorite food for you long ago."
Gu Wuchen smiled helplessly and let her pull him inside. Ye Yuan'er hurried after them.
Once they were in the sitting room, Shen Suwei bustled about bringing snacks and hot tea. Only after watching Gu Wuchen finish two buns did she sit down and ask him with a smile about his time at Spirit Hall.
Gu Wuchen briefly told her about his cultivation and the academy, then changed the subject and said seriously,
"Mom, the main reason I came back this time is that I've already broken through to level twenty. I need to go to the Far North Ice Plains to hunt for my second soul ring."
The smile on Shen Suwei's face paused, then her eyes lit up with delight. "Level twenty? Really? My son is amazing!"
After her initial delight, she immediately frowned, her voice filled with unquestionable resolve.
"The outskirts of the Far North haven't been peaceful lately. Several groups of Soul Masters from elsewhere have been barging in to hunt for souls. I can't feel at ease letting a child like you go alone. Mommy will go with you herself this time."
Gu Wuchen froze for a moment, then hurriedly said,
"Mom, there's no need to go to so much trouble. Having Bishop Ye with me is enough."
The Snow Empress had already given him a different kind of power. He could absolutely suppress the Soul Beasts of the Far North.
"How could I agree to that?"
Shen Suwei gave him a reproachful look. "You're my son. There's no discussing this; I have to go with you."
A year and a half apart, and his wings had already grown strong.
Just then, Gu Linchuan returned from the factory and discovered that his son was back. His face instantly lit up with joy, and when he heard that Gu Wuchen had broken through to level twenty, he was even more excited.
He decided to open a jar of old wine that had been sealed away for seven years that evening to celebrate.
The matter of hunting Soul Beasts also reminded Gu Linchuan of the Heavenly Snow Woman from a year and a half ago.
Although he had reservations, he still explained the matter to Shen Suwei first.
"What? The Heavenly Snow Woman!" Shen Suwei cried out. "Why didn't you say so back then?"
Seeing her reaction, Gu Linchuan gave an awkward smile. "I was drinking with the Great Enshrined at the time and forgot about it."
He had originally meant to say something, but as they drank, it had slipped his mind.
"All you know how to do is drink!" Shen Suwei glared at Gu Linchuan.
"Just as well. I want to meet this Heavenly Snow Woman myself and see exactly what she wants from our Wuchen!"
Shen Suwei immediately decided to set out.
The four of them then departed for the Soul Beast territory on the outskirts of the Far North.
Along the way, Ye Yuan'er was full of curiosity. Wasn't the Heavenly Snow Woman the overlord of the Far North?
She was actually connected to the young master!
As they entered the Far North, the temperature fell lower and lower. Suddenly, a fierce wind came howling toward them.
Amid the wind and snow, a woman in white stood facing the gale, then walked out from within it.
Her presence was terrifying. The sheer pressure she gave off was enough to make the three of them tremble with fear.
Gu Wuchen, meanwhile, covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. He knew what the Snow Empress was like in private; she was only putting on a cold and aloof act in front of outsiders.
"Gu Wuchen, we meet again."
The Snow Empress looked at the four of them and spoke coldly.
What's this little fellow snickering about? Does he want his backside to blossom?