Traveling Together

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After leaving the Lake of Life, Nan Feng headed south, his Shrinking the Ground to an Inch steps traversing plains and hills. The emerald light of the Life Origin Stone and the azure-gold light of the Soul-Suppressing Azure Lotus intertwined deep within his soul. The gates to the third level of the tower, imbued with the Power of Creation, shone brighter than before, and his meridian walls became more resilient through the tempering of life Spiritual Power. His level 66 Soul Power remained unmoved at any level other than ten, but his foundation was more stable than before his northward journey.

After traveling for seven days, Nan Feng stopped to rest in a teahouse in a small town. At that moment, his Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light detected two familiar auras in his mind. One was rapidly approaching from the east of the town, its Soul Power fluctuations carrying a lively, leaping quality, like a pink butterfly flitting through the forest. The other was coming from the south of the town, its Soul Power aura as quiet as a shadow, almost blending into the twilight in the Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light's perception.

Xiao Wu. Zhu Zhuqing.

Nan Feng put down his teacup. Just as he stood up, a pink figure rushed into the teahouse.

"Tower Simpleton!"

Xiao Wu stood at the entrance of the teahouse, her scorpion braid slightly disheveled, her pink dress stained with the dust of her journey, but her eyes were still as bright as they had been at the Nuoding Academy. She looked at Nan Feng, her gaze moving from his gray hair to the faint dragon scale pattern on his right arm, then from the dragon scale pattern to the faded red ribbon on his left wrist, her lips pursed.

"Why is half of your hair white?" Xiao Wu's voice was lower than usual.

Nan Feng touched his hair. He had expended a lot of energy in the battle against the Frost Giant Dragon, and then traveled continuously in the Far North and the Lake of Life; his hair had indeed turned quite white. He smiled wryly, "From the constant travel."

Behind Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing walked in from the teahouse entrance. She was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, with a tight belt around her waist, and her aura was even more restrained than when she was in Suotuo City. Her dark green pupils shone like two cold stars in the dim light of the teahouse. She stopped in front of Nan Feng and her gaze lingered on him for a few moments.

"Your Divine Slaughter's Domain is ten times stronger than it was in Suotuo City," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice as cold as ever. "Moreover, your soul possesses a power I don't recognize at all. It's denser than Soul Power, and more imposing than killing intent."

Nan Feng looked at her. Zhu Zhuqing's Shadow Perception was already incredibly sharp back in Suotuo City, and now it was even stronger. He recalled their encounter in the alleys of Suotuo City, where Zhu Zhuqing had actually sensed the nascent form of the Divine Slaughter's Domain and the faint aura of the Primordial World Imprint within his soul.

"That is my path," Nan Feng said.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. She didn't press further, but a complex emotion flickered in her deep green eyes. "I know. I won't ask. But you'd better be careful—that power is too strong, so strong that even my Shadow Perception can't discern its outline. It's like a dark golden flame deep within your soul, and at its core, something cyan-gold pulses like a heartbeat."

Nan Feng's heart stirred slightly. Zhu Zhuqing was describing the state of the Primordial World Imprint and the Soul-Suppressing Azure Lotus deep within the soul. Her Shadow Perception could actually reach the Soul Core, a talent far surpassing that of ordinary agility-type Soul Master.

Xiao Wu tugged at Nan Feng's sleeve. "Tower Simpleton, you've lost so much weight. Your face is all sparse." She frowned, stood on tiptoe, and patted Nan Feng's shoulder with much more force than when they were at the Nuoding Academy. "Have you been eating properly outside?"

Nan Feng's shoulder slumped slightly from the pat. Xiao Wu's grip was indeed stronger; the fluctuations of her Soul Power were several times more powerful than when she was at the Nuoding Academy, and a faint golden light mingled with the aura of her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul.

"You've become stronger too," Nan Feng said.

Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then looked down at her hands, the tips of her ears turning slightly red. "You... you noticed?" She leaned closer to Nan Feng, lowering her voice, "Tower Simpleton, the seed you left behind when you touched my Martial Soul last time... it's been getting a fever lately. My Soft Bone Rabbit seems to have changed, but I don't know what it is."

Nan Feng probed a wisp of his senses into Xiao Wu's Martial Soul Core. The Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light captured the Spiritual Power spot of Xiao Wu's Martial Soul in his mind—a very fine golden line had appeared in the originally pure pink light spot. The line extended outward from the Martial Soul Core, like tree roots spreading in the soil. The Primordial World Seed had sprouted.

"The Primordial World Seed is sprouting." Nan Feng withdrew his senses. "It will push your Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul to a higher level. This is just the beginning. Once it fully matures, your Martial Soul will evolve."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again. "Tower Simpleton, I've been feeling like someone's watching me lately. Not an ordinary Soul Master, but... people from the Spirit Hall. I'm very familiar with their aura."

Nan Feng's expression darkened. The Spirit Hall's kill order had not been revoked, and Bibi Dong's order to capture him alive was still in effect. As his friend, Xiao Wu was very likely already under the Spirit Hall's surveillance.

"Have you left Shrek recently?" Nan Feng asked.

"No. I've been staying at the academy," Xiao Wu said. "But Tang San isn't here lately either; his father took him away. I always feel uneasy being alone at the academy."

Zhu Zhuqing spoke up from the side, "When she came to find me, I sensed the presence of two Spirit Hall spies outside Suotuo City. One was outside the Shrek Academy, and the other was at the gate of Suotuo City. I dealt with the one in Suotuo City, but I haven't touched the one outside the academy yet."

Nan Feng remained silent for a moment. The Spirit Hall's spies had already reached the outskirts of the Shrek Academy, indicating that Bibi Dong's attention was shifting from simply hunting him down to monitoring his interpersonal relationships. Xiao Wu, Tang San, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan —those closely associated with him—were likely all on the Spirit Hall's list.

"You're coming with me today," Nan Feng said to Xiao Wu. "To Heaven Dou City. Ye Lingling is there, Heaven Dou Royal Academy has Xue Beng members guarding it. The Spirit Hall won't dare to make a move there."

Xiao Wu shook her head. "I can't leave. Tang San hasn't returned yet; I have to wait for him at the academy."

Nan Feng looked into Xiao Wu's eyes. There was worry in those eyes, but even more so, stubbornness. Xiao Wu had always been like this; once she set her mind on something, she wouldn't change it. He remembered their morning practice on the back mountain of the Nuoding Academy, when Xiao Wu kicked him into the river and then pulled him out. He remembered the Xiao Wu in Xiaowu's voice when she asked him on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, "Can I get Soul Ring that suits me?"

"Alright then." Nan Feng took out an Ice Crystal Amulet from the Tower Spirit Space. It was a gift from Shui Bing'er, containing a trace of Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix Soul Power, which could release an ice shield in critical moments. "Keep this with you. Crush it when you encounter danger; the ice shield can block an attack from Titled Douluo- level expert. Then run towards Heaven Dou City."

Xiao Wu took the Ice Crystal Amulet and held it in her hand. The chill of the ice crystal seeped into her palm, and her fingers slightly tightened. "Tower Simpleton, keep it for yourself. You're in much more danger out there than I am."

"I still have some," Nan Feng said. He wasn't lying—there was still a green fragment left behind by a Life Origin Stone in the Tower Spirit Space. It was a small scrap of Life Origin Stone that Bi Ji had separated from the bottom of the lake, which Nan Feng left in the Tower Spirit Space as a spare.

Xiao Wu carefully put the Ice Crystal Amulet away from her body. She was silent for a while, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Nan Feng's sleeve. "Tower Simpleton, tell me honestly—what exactly have you been doing out there? Your Soul Ring Configuration is so outrageous, your power is much Soul Power, you took all the immortal Immortal Herb from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, you hunted down the Frost Giant Dragon in the Far North... Aren't you walking a path that's different from all other Soul Master?"

Nan Feng looked into Xiao Wu's eyes. Those eyes were very clear, unlike Ye Lingling's. They held a kind of trust that had been established between them since their time at the Nuoding Academy.

"I'm cultivating a path higher than Soul Power," Nan Feng said, "A path even higher than becoming a god."

Xiao Wu paused for two seconds, then laughed. "I knew it." She released Nan Feng's sleeve, took a step back, and put her hands on her hips. "Tower Simpleton, you've always been like this, never saying a word, bearing everything alone. Back at the Nuoding Academy, you went Soul Hunting alone, you fought for four rings alone in the Soul Master Tournament, and now you're walking this far alone."

Her voice tightened slightly as she spoke, but quickly returned to its usual lively tone. "Fine. I can't argue with you anyway. You're going to Heaven Dou City, right? Zhu Zhuqing and I will accompany you for a while."

Zhu Zhuqing did not object. She stood at the entrance of the teahouse, her dark green pupils quietly watching the pedestrians on the street. Her Shadow Perception spread out within a hundred paces, monitoring all suspicious Soul Power fluctuations.

Nan Feng didn't refuse. The three left the teahouse and headed west along the official road. Xiao Wu walked in the middle, chattering about the latest news from the Shrek Academy — Dai Mubai had argued with Zhu Zhuqing again, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had leveled up again, and Oscar was currently researching a new Soul Tool. Zhu Zhuqing walked on the right, listening quietly, occasionally correcting Xiao Wu when she made a mistake. Nan Feng walked on the left, slowing his movements from his Shrinking the Ground to an Inch " technique to a normal walking pace, listening to Xiao Wu talk and occasionally humming in agreement.

As night fell, the three rested on a hill beside the official road. Xiao Wu lit a campfire and took out some dry rations from her Storage Soul Tool to share with Nan Feng and Zhu Zhuqing. The firelight shone on her face, and the shadow of her scorpion braid stretched long behind her.

"Tower Simpleton," Xiao Wu mumbled, munching on her dry rations, "Are you still in contact with Lingling?"

Nan Feng nodded. "She's at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. She helped treat my injuries when I was hurt last time."

Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then snorted, "Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia is indeed powerful. But mine isn't bad either." She looked down at her hands, "You said that seed would allow my Martial Soul Evolution. Once my Martial Soul Evolution, I can also help you."

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly spoke up from the side, "Nan Feng, is the power in your soul— the Primordial World Power —related to the evolution of your Martial Soul? Is it related to the Power of Creation the third level of the tower?"

Nan Feng looked at her. Zhu Zhuqing's Shadow Perception not only touched the soul level, but also deduced the existence of the Power of Creation.

"Yes," Nan Feng said, "The Power of Creation can slowly evolve a friendly Martial Soul. During the transformation process, the Primordial World Power will leave a trace of its Primordial Origin, which will then feed back to the source."

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment. "My Nether Civet Martial Soul has been stuck at a bottleneck since Suotuo City. The range and precision of my Shadow Perception can't be improved. If the Power of Creation you mentioned can evolve Martial Soul... then I..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Nan Feng concentrated a Primordial World Power at his fingertips and extended it towards Zhu Zhuqing. "I can try. But you mustn't resist."

Zhu Zhuqing gazed at the point of dark golden light. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eerie green pupils, but it was quickly replaced by resolve. She reached out and placed her palm over Nan Feng's fingertips. Primordial World Power seeped from Nan Feng's fingertips into Zhu Zhuqing's palm, flowing along her meridians into the Martial Soul Core. Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled violently, her Shadow Perception fluctuating wildly in that instant. In the Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light, Nan Feng saw that the light point of her Martial Soul had changed from pure eerie green to an eerie green mixed with a wisp of dark gold.

Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her hand and looked at her palm. She closed her eyes and sensed for a moment. When she opened her eyes, a faint golden luster appeared deep in her dark green pupils.

"My Shadow Perception... has expanded." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was soft, carrying a suppressed tremor, "From a radius of a hundred paces to three hundred paces. Moreover, I can sense much more subtle fluctuations of Spiritual Power, as if I can clearly see every single particle of Spiritual Power in the air."

She looked at Nan Feng, a glimmer of gold quietly shimmering in her deep green pupils. "Is this the Primordial World Power?"

"This is just the beginning," Nan Feng said. "Once your Martial Soul fully evolves, you will become the Nether Shadow, able to travel between reality and illusion."

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent for a long time. The campfire cast alternating light and shadow on her face, and the golden luster in her dark green pupils mingled with the warm glow of the fire. Finally, she slightly curved the corners of her mouth, the closest Nan Feng had ever seen to a smile.

"Then continue to evolve," Zhu Zhuqing said. "Once you've mastered the Primordial World Great Dao, I'll see what else lies beyond the Nether Shadow."

Xiao Wu listened to the whole thing from the side, then suddenly leaned over and said, "Tower Simpleton, I want one too. My seed is heating up, give it some more energy."

Nan Feng channeled a Primordial World Power into Xiao Wu's Martial Soul Core. The Primordial World Seed, nourished by the life Spiritual Power, had already sprouted. Nan Feng infused it with Primordial World Power, and the golden patterns on the seed flashed in his perception. The aura of the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul pulsated violently. Xiao Wu clutched her chest and took a step back, her ears turning bright red.

"It's so hot! It's unbearably hot!" Xiao Wu glared at Nan Feng. "The power you poured in was way too much!"

Nan Feng withdrew his hand. "The seed is sprouting at an accelerated pace. It will be released naturally the next time you fight, and your Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul will gain even greater explosive power in battle."

Xiao Wu snorted, but the corners of her mouth curved into a smile. She sat back down by the campfire and took a bite of her dry rations. "Tower Simpleton, when are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow at dawn," Nan Feng said. "I have some business to take care of in Heaven Dou City, then I'll head south."

Xiao Wu was silent for a moment. "Where are you going south?"

Sea God Island.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing looked up at the same time. Xiao Wu frowned. "Sea God Island? That place is deep in the sea, teeming with Soul Beast. Even Sea Soul Master dare not go there casually. What are you going there for?"

Nan Feng tossed a dry branch into the campfire. "At the bottom of Sea God Island lies an ancient trial ground with seventy-two Soul-Suppression Pillar. They need to be lit one by one." He paused, "They were left behind by the Pagoda God."

Xiao Wu didn't press for details about who the Pagoda God was. She simply looked at Nan Feng, the campfire flickering in her pupils. "Tower Simpleton, is the path you've chosen truly higher than becoming a god?"

The Nan Feng nodded.

Xiao Wu stuffed the last bite of dry rations into her mouth and patted the crumbs off her hands. "Okay. Then bring back some seafood when you come back. Sea God Island should have seafood, right?"

Nan Feng's lips curved slightly. "Yes."

Xiao Wu stood up and stretched. "I'm going to sleep now. I have to get back to the academy tomorrow, and I can't let Flender find out I snuck out." She found a sheltered grassy slope, took out a thin blanket from her Storage Soul Tool and wrapped it around herself. Soon, even breathing could be heard.

Zhu Zhuqing didn't sleep. She sat by the campfire, her eerie green pupils like two quiet, cold stars in the night. Her Shadow Perception slowly rotated within a radius of three hundred paces, monitoring any suspicious fluctuations in Soul Power. Nan Feng sat cross-legged on the other side of the campfire. A thin layer of cyan-gold light membrane formed on the Tower Realm body, Return to Origin Power continuously flowed from the fourth-level tower gate, repairing the minor damage accumulated during the journey.

"Nan Feng." Zhu Zhuqing's voice came from across the campfire, very softly, as if afraid of waking Xiao Wu.

Nan Feng looked at her.

"The dark golden flame in your soul is larger than it was in Suotuo City," Zhu Zhuqing said. "It burns quietly deep within your soul, shaped like a tower."

Nan Feng was silent for a moment. "You see it very clearly."

"Shadow Perception can sense things at the soul level," Zhu Zhuqing said. "Your soul is completely different from that of an ordinary Soul Master. An ordinary Soul Master's soul is a ball of light, while your soul is a ball of fire, with the outline of a Nine-Layer Tower within the flames."

She stood up, walked to Nan Feng, and took out a dark jade pendant from her waist, handing it to him. The pendant was cool to the touch, its surface engraved with the outline of a cat, with two extremely fine, ethereal green gemstones embedded in the cat's eyes. "This is my family's communication jade. I have spies within the Star Luo Empire. If you ever go to the Star Luo Empire, take this pendant with you, and someone will meet you."

Nan Feng stored the jade pendant in the Tower Spirit Space. Zhu Zhuqing didn't say anything more, turned around and walked back to the campfire to sit down, continuing to maintain the monitoring of Shadow Perception.

Night fell. Xiao Wu rolled over on the grassy slope, mumbled something indistinctly, and fell into a deep sleep again. Zhu Zhuqing sat by the campfire, her dark green pupils gazing quietly into the darkness. Nan Feng sat cross-legged on the other side, the Power of Creation from the third level of the tower slowly flowing through his meridians, the emerald green light of the Life Origin Stone in his dantian and the azure-gold light of the Soul-Suppressing Azure Lotus reflecting each other.

The red ribbon on her left wrist swayed gently in the night breeze. The ribbon that Xiao Wu had braided had faded quite a bit, but the way it was braided was exactly the same as when they were at the Nuoding Academy. Nan Feng glanced down at her left wrist, then closed her eyes and immersed herself in cultivation.

Tomorrow, we'll go to Heaven Dou City. Ye Lingling will be waiting for him there. Then we'll head south to Sea God Island. There are seventy-two Soul-Suppression Pillar, the third Tower Spirit Fragment, and the Sea God Divine Power Crystal. He's stuck at level sixty-six, which isn't a multiple of ten, but his foundation is more solid than before heading north, thanks to the tempering of the Life Origin Stone and the Frost Giant Dragon Soul Ring.

Xiao Wu's seed is sprouting. Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul is evolving. The Ice Empress and the Snow Empress guard the rift in the Far North. Bi Ji waits for him to cultivate to Immortal Dao in the Lake of Life. And he continues to move forward.