Reunion in Heaven Dou

As Nan Feng walked into Heaven Dou City gate, he sensed that something was wrong.

There were many more stalls on the official road than usual. Vendors selling candied hawthorns, baked cakes, and iced bowls lined up all the way, completely blocking the city gate.

What's even stranger is that all the vendors are young women. They all stand up straight. When they see Nan Feng coming over, they all turn to look at him, their eyes filled with the feeling of "I've finally caught you."

The Old Huai paused for a moment inside the tower.

"Nan Feng, these vendors are all Soul Master, with Soul Power ranging from level 30 to level 50. What kind of stalls are they setting up—"

The Nan Feng has already seen it.

The candied hawthorns stuck on the straw stand of the vendor were coated with bright red fire crystal syrup, and the words "Welcome Back" were neatly arranged.

Next to the griddle of the pancake stall was a basin of water, in which were soaking ice-blue water droplets, with a layer of Ice Phoenix feather patterns floating on top of them.

The ice bowl stalls were even more outrageous. The bowls weren't filled with shaved ice, but with small cubes of ice crystals, each containing a fragment of the Far North Cold Marrow.

Nan Feng stopped at the city gate, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Ye Lingling walked out of the city gate. She was dressed in plain blue and white clothes and held a newly opened pharmacopoeia in her hand.

Behind her followed Dugu Yan, Hu Liena, Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, Bi Ji, Zi JI, and Liu Erlong, all lined up in a row.

They all crossed their arms, their expressions varied, but their eyes were all fixed on Nan Feng.

"You disappeared for two months." Ye Lingling's tone was flat, without any inflection. Nan Feng noticed that she was rolling up the pharmacopoeia tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"We're not comfortable with that."

Dugu Yan chimed in from the side, her voice much crisper than Ye Lingling's.

Grandpa asked me to come and see if you were dead. He said if you died in the Far North, he had to be there before anyone else to burn incense at your grave and wish for good luck.

Huo Wu peeked out from behind Dugu Yan, hands on her hips.

"I want to fight you! I remember you held back in the semifinals last time--"

Shui Bing'er tugged at Huo Wu's sleeve and added a comment.

"The combo technique needs an update. I received the sample of the Frost Marrow from the Far North. The fusion rate between the Ice Phoenix Feather Pattern and the Tower Suppression Power is 40% higher than last time, but it still needs further testing."

Bi Ji smiled.

"Come and fulfill the immortal covenant. You said you'd help me break through the 100,000-year bottleneck, and I remember that."

Zi JI stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the battlement of the city gate. Her purple hair and eyes gleamed in the sunlight.

"Come on, let's have a drink. You owe me a jar of Dragon Clan's finest wine, we agreed on it last time at Jialing Pass."

Liu Erlong stood at the very edge of the line and took a sip of wine. She was clutching a leather pouch in her hand, and it was unclear when she had started drinking.

He wiped his mouth.

"Come and curse Yu Xiaogang." She paused, then added, "But not today."

Hu Liena was the last to speak. She squeezed out of the crowd, wiping a wine glass in her hand, her hair casually tied up, and she smelled of the malt that was unique to pubs.

"The landlady's tavern is closed, so I'm coming here for a free meal."

She gestured with her chin towards the Nan Feng.

"You're such a busy person, can I hitch a ride with you?"

Before Nan Feng could answer, a pink shadow darted from the end of the official road.

Xiao Wu ran until her hair was all disheveled, her scorpion braid swinging behind her. She shouted from afar.

"Tower Simpleton!"

She rushed towards Nan Feng, but couldn't stop in time and crashed into him. She reached out to hug him briefly, then quickly let go, took a half step back, looked him up and down, and then her eyes widened.

"You've got a few more gray hairs!"

"The winds are strong in the Far North," said the Nan Feng.

"You get white hair when it's windy?" Xiao Wu didn't believe it.

"They even fought a half-battle with the Abyss."

Xiao Wu was silent for a moment, then reached out and punched his shoulder lightly. It wasn't a hard punch, and her eyes were a little red afterward.

Can't you just shut up for once?

Zhu Zhuqing was the last to arrive. She emerged from the shadows of the city wall, taking an unknown path instead of the main road. Nan Feng didn't sense her presence; she appeared on the outskirts of the crowd, leaning against the city wall, and nodded to Nan Feng as a greeting.

The Nan Feng swept around and suddenly smiled.

Why are you all here?

Ye Lingling tucked the pharmacopoeia scroll into her sleeve.

"You've been gone for two months, we're worried about you." She repeated herself, her tone slightly harsher than the first time.

"I sealed the rift in the Far North. The thing underneath is three times more troublesome than the watchdog in the Far North rift. It used up seventy percent of my Immortal Power, and I've been nurturing it in the Ice Valley for half a month."

Nan Feng took the curling stone and cloth bag out of the Tower Spirit Space and shook them.

"The Ice Empress and the Snow Empress spent half a month cultivating their essence to restore their meridians."

Huo Wu's ears perked up.

"Ice Empress and Snow Empress? Crossing the Origin? Half a month?"

Shui Bing'er turned her head away.

"The Far North Two Venerables used the Far North Origin to help nourish your meridians? Have their Martial Soul changed?"

Bi Ji tilted her head slightly.

"The repeated influx of primordial Primordial World Immortal Power from the Far North Origin creates a feedback loop. How much of your Immortal Power has been absorbed by them?"

Nan Feng glanced at Shui Bing'er.

"Around 40%. Golden patterns have grown on the Ice Empress's scorpion armor, and warm light has appeared in the Snow Empress's icy body. They are both Martial Soul Evolution into Immortal Level Martial Souls, but they need time to mature."

Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up. She pulled out a small notebook and a charcoal pencil from her sleeve and began taking notes on the spot.

"Both the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion and the Heavenly Snow Woman were simultaneously nourished by the Primordial World Immortal Power, resulting in different evolutionary paths. The Ice Empress's violent attribute moves towards suppression, while the Snow Empress's pure attribute moves towards warm light... Interesting, their combination skill could be revised again."

Huo Wu was getting anxious.

"Wait, wait, wait! What combo move? I want one too!"

"Put away your Blazing Sun Martial Soul for a moment," Ye Lingling glanced at Huo Wu, "Don't set the stall on Huo Wu at the city gate."

Huo Wu looked down and saw that the Heaven-Burning Blazing Sun aura emanating from her body was already overflowing, causing the fire crystal syrup on the candied hawthorn stall to bubble. She quickly stopped it, muttering something under her breath.

"I'm just excited."

Nan Feng put away the ice curling stone and the cloth bag, and walked towards the city gate.

"Don't just stand there, come inside and talk. It's on me."

Liu Erlong tucked the leather pouch into his waistband.

Where should we eat?

"Wasn't Hu Liena's tavern closed down?" Nan Feng glanced at Hu Liena.

Hu Liena tucked the cleaned cup into her sleeve.

"You can reopen if you're closed. Today only, the proprietress is brewing all you can, but you'll have to pay for your meal."

A large group of people entered the city in a grand procession.

On the way, Xiao Wu linked arms with Ye Lingling and whispered to her what Nan Feng had been doing in the Far North. Ye Lingling answered while glancing at Nan Feng every now and then.

Dugu Yan walked beside Huo Wu. The two of them talked for a while, Huo Wu suddenly got angry.

"What do you mean I knew him first? I was the one who fought with him first!"

Dugu Yan replied.

"Does fighting count as knowing each other?"

Huo Wu choked.

Shui Bing'er walked between Bi Ji and Zi JI, her little notebook never closed, muttering to herself. Bi Ji would occasionally peek over and offer a few words of advice.

Zi JI walked on the far side, a jar of wine that had appeared in her hand at some point, which she was now using her fingernail to pick at the mud seal.

Zhu Zhuqing lagged behind. Nan Feng slowed his pace to wait for her to catch up.

"How was your travels?" Nan Feng asked.

"I've traveled everywhere." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was soft, but every word was clear. "After the Nether Shadow was able to traverse between reality and illusion, there was nowhere on the continent I couldn't go. I went to the northern border of the Star Luo Empire, explored the depths of the Sunset Forest, and spent half a month on the Far North edge."

"The Far North edge?"

"I didn't go in." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "The auras of the Ice Empress Snow Empress were too strong. I sensed them moving around in the valley, but I didn't dare to approach."

Nan Feng glanced at her.

Let's go together next time.

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment, turned her head to look at him, and smiled slightly.

"Good."

There were three tables occupied in the tavern.

Hu Liena went into the kitchen to cook, with Xiao Wu helping out. Ye Lingling spread out the pharmacopoeia on the table to check the medicinal materials. Dugu Yan took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, inside which was a sample of the poison she had just concocted.

Bi Ji and Zi JI were discussing the taste of a jar of dragon wine.

Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu huddled together.

One person said, "The fire attribute of the Blazing Sun Martial Soul can counteract the Ice Phoenix Feather Pattern, creating a combination skill with both ice and fire attributes."

Another person said, "I don't understand, but you seem very impressive. Please continue."

Liu Erlong sat next to Nan Feng. After drinking two bowls of the proprietress's special brew, she suddenly spoke.

"I've thought about what Bibi Dong said that day carefully."

Nan Feng looked at her, holding a bowl in her hand.

"She's right. Yu Xiaogang's theory was indeed stolen; he's ruined my life so much."

Liu Erlong slammed the bowl down on the table.

"But I won't scold him today. Today is a welcome party for you, scolding him would spoil the fun."

Nan Feng clinked their bowls together.

"Call me next time you're going to yell at me."

Liu Erlong grinned, and a few drops of wine spilled from the bowl.

After a few rounds of drinks, Hu Liena brought out a pot of stewed meat from the kitchen, placed it on the table, and pulled up a stool to sit down herself.

She picked up the bowl, took a sip, and suddenly turned her head to look at Nan Feng.

"Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you."

"Um?"

"In the two months you were gone, many people came to Heaven Dou City to inquire about you. Some were from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, some from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and some were liaisons from the Blazing Fire Academy and the Skywater Academy."

Hu Liena counted on her fingers.

"There's also this guy who claims to be the external affairs steward of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He's been waiting at the city gate for three days, asking when you're coming back."

Nan Feng picked up a piece of meat.

"What's up?"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has come to confirm the follow-up updates to the Immortal Dao Cultivation Method."

"Several students from the first batch of trial students at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy have made breakthroughs, and we would like to ask you to return and provide guidance."

"The Blazing Fire and Skywater factions are focused on triggering combo attacks."

Hu Liena paused, then added.

"That Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's external affairs steward said he was sent by Yu Tianheng. Yu Tianheng asked him to convey a message that the matter of the manuscript has been clarified, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has officially formed an alliance with the Immortal Dao Alliance."

"The alliance treaty documents have been delivered to Qin Ming."

Nan Feng swallowed the meat.

"Yu Tianheng is a very efficient person."

"Not only." Hu Liena took another sip of wine.

He also brought a message saying, "Yu Xiaogang's removal from the family tree has been announced to the entire continent, and the Blue Lightning Clan will have no connection with him from now on."

A silence fell over the table.

Liu Erlong paused for a moment, holding the bowl, but said nothing, tilting his head back and drinking the wine in the bowl clean.

Ye Lingling put down her chopsticks.

"I've compiled a list of feedback from the trial trainees, and there are a few promising talents. One of them is a branch of the Nine Heart Begonia, with a good purity of Martial Soul."

"After practicing the introductory chapters of the Immortal Dao Cultivation Method for three months, my Soul Power jumped from level twenty-seven to level thirty-one."

Nan Feng nodded.

I'll go check on the college later.

Shui Bing'er peeked over from the other side of the table.

"I've finished the third version of the combo attack, and I brought the crystal sample for the stable Thousand Steps version. I'll show it to you tonight."

Huo Wu immediately raised her hand.

"I challenge you to a fight! You're not allowed to hold back this time!"

Nan Feng glanced at her.

"I've only recovered 70% of my Immortal Power. Are you sure you want to fight now?"

Huo Wu choked for a moment and mumbled something.

"... Then let's talk about it after you've recovered."

Xiao Wu was laughing so hard she was slapping the table.

Even when it was completely dark, the tavern lights were still on. A group of people squeezed together from three tables to sit around one, clinking their glasses.

Nan Feng leaned back in his chair, listening to Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er argue about the fourth version of their combination technique.

Dugu Yan and Liu Erlong were discussing whether poison or wine was more potent.

Bi Ji and Zi JI are having a drinking contest. Hu Liena is humming a song in the kitchen. Xiao Wu is pulling Ye Lingling aside and saying she's going to give her a new hairstyle.

Zhu Zhuqing sat by the window, holding a barely touched glass of wine, looking at everyone in the room.

Old Huai suddenly blurted out a sentence inside the pagoda.

"This is much more lively than the Far North."

Nan Feng didn't reply, but the corner of her mouth curled up slightly.

Outside the window, the Heaven Dou City was brightly lit. In the distance, the clock tower of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was illuminated in the night. Further away, from the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest, a faint Bi Ji halo shone through.

He finished the last drop of wine in the bowl and put it down.

"Let's go check on those students at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy tomorrow."

The Nan Feng rises.

"Shui Bing'er, bring your combo sample. Huo Wu, we're meeting in the arena the day after tomorrow. Bi Ji, your appointment is the day after tomorrow."

Huo Wu stood up.

Why am I the day after tomorrow?!

"Because I need to visit the students first tomorrow, you're second in line."

Huo Wu opened her mouth, but Shui Bing'er pulled her back by her sleeve.

Nan Feng walked out of the tavern. Reaching the door, he glanced back; everyone inside was busy with their own things, but everyone was there.

He pushed open the door. The night breeze of Heaven Dou City rushed in, carrying with it the scent of everyday life.

Old Huai chuckled twice inside the tower.

"You were gone for two months, and now you're back with a bunch of people waiting for you. Your life is busier than a blacksmith's shop."

Nan Feng ignored him and strode towards the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

One by one, the lamps along the official road lit up, illuminating the road ahead.