Chapter Fifty-Seven: Setting Out for Soto City

Time flowed swiftly, days passing like threads weaving through the loom. Spring departed, winter arrived, and day after day, three years vanished in the blink of an eye.

During these three years, the continent was unusually tranquil. Xiao Yu knew that his time was running short, so he devoted himself to cultivating soul power and expanding his influence.

With the support of Xue Qinghe, the Sylvia Kingdom’s officials fully cooperated with the development of Nine Star Academy. By now, Nine Star Academy had risen to the ranks of the continent’s top soul master academies. Since Sylvia Kingdom lacked its own eponymous soul master academy, Nine Star Academy had practically become the official representative institution of the kingdom.

The members of the Nine Star Battle Team, led by Xiao Yu, pursued soul power training with unwavering dedication, breaking through their limits one after another thanks to abundant resources.

Currently, their soul power levels were as follows:

Xiao Yu, sixty-one level Power Attack Soul Emperor. His soul rings were one yellow, two purple, three black. He had broken through to Soul Emperor just a month ago—not only due to the transformative effects of previous herbal elixirs, but also because of a crucial factor: soul bone.

Indeed, after establishing a long-term partnership between his sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the wealthiest sect on the continent, his sect’s coffers grew daily. Xiao Yu converted funds into system diamonds and exchanged them for a hundred-thousand-year soul bone: the Nether Dragon Head Soul Bone.

With this soul bone’s enhancement, Xiao Yu achieved the rare feat of becoming a Soul Emperor at seventeen—a rarity even during the era of Douluo II.

Slightly below Xiao Yu were Eden and Ikki, both innate soul power geniuses. They currently possessed fifty-six levels of soul power, with soul rings of two yellow, one purple, two black. At the age of seventeen or eighteen, they had already surpassed the so-called “Golden Generation” championed by the Spirit Hall.

Following them was Zilong, fifty-three level Power Attack Soul King, soul rings two yellow, one purple, two black.

Rong Dou, forty-nine level Agility Attack Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, one purple, one black.

Cang Mo, forty-nine level Power Attack Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, one purple, one black.

Yuna, forty-eight level Agility Attack Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, one purple, one black.

Dugu Yan, forty-six level Power Attack Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, two purple.

Mi Yi Mei, forty-five level Support Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, two purple.

Xie Wu, forty-five level Agility Attack Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, two purple.

Ye Lingling, forty-three level Support Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, two purple.

Huo Wu, forty-two level Control Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, two purple.

Xiao Yu could not fathom what possessed the dean of Blaze Academy. Despite knowing his precious daughter was here, he had not sent anyone to bring her home for years. Out of concern that Huo Wu might suddenly return to the Blaze Battle Team, Xiao Yu had only given her an average quality physique-improving pill, rather than a tailored herbal elixir. Otherwise, truth be told, Huo Wu might have already surpassed Dugu Yan, reaching high-level Soul Sect or even breaking into the Soul King realm.

Io, forty-one level Power Attack Soul Sect, soul rings two yellow, two purple.

Meiyi, thirty-eight level Agility Attack Soul Grandmaster, soul rings two yellow, one purple.

...

Night fell. Xiao Yu sat cross-legged, finishing a cycle of soul power cultivation, and exhaled deeply.

At that moment, Miao’s voice sounded from outside the door: “Young Master, that person has already departed for Soto City!”

Miao possessed a soul skill that allowed him to summon his demon butterfly clone for remote surveillance.

Xiao Yu immediately used this skill, sending a clone to Notting City to monitor Tang San. After all, Tang Hao still watched over Tang San; possessing soul power of level ninety-five, even a Title Douluo would risk detection. But a butterfly—Tang Hao, even if he noticed, would pay it no mind.

“He’s gone to Soto City?” Xiao Yu swiftly rose, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Tang San’s journey to Soto City marked the official beginning of the Douluo narrative. The Seven Shrek Monsters would soon gather, and the wheels of fate began to turn. At such a pivotal moment, how could Xiao Yu possibly be absent?

Tang San, prepare yourself for trembling!

Yet before departure, Xiao Yu had a task to complete.

He left his courtyard and soon arrived at Ye Lingling’s residence, knocking softly on the door.

“Coming!” Ye Lingling responded from within, and moments later opened the door. Seeing Xiao Yu, her face lit up in joy. “Brother Xiao Yu, why are you looking for me so late?”

Observing Ye Lingling’s demeanor, Xiao Yu understood at once; the young girl intended to stay up all night cultivating.

He knew well the urgency Ye Lingling felt. Support-type soul masters naturally cultivated slower than battle soul masters. Possessing Soul Sect-level power at less than twenty was enough to warrant pampering in any sect. Yet watching her teammates break through one after another—especially Xiao Yu’s recent advance to Soul Emperor—Ye Lingling’s sense of urgency grew daily.

Xiao Yu smiled gently and explained his purpose, “Lingling, I’d like you to accompany me on a journey to retrieve a gift for you. This gift will greatly enhance your cultivation.”

He was not joking. He truly intended to help her.

At present, there were only two ways to rapidly boost a soul master’s potential. The first was medicinal pills, but Ye Lingling had already taken a multigrass elixir; as the saying goes, too much can be counterproductive, and further consumption could lead to an excess of medicinal effect, hindering her progress.

The second was soul bone. Just as Xiao Yu had absorbed the hundred-thousand-year head soul bone, if Ye Lingling could obtain a high-quality soul bone, her cultivation would quickly leap several levels and her future training speed would double. This time, Xiao Yu had his eye on the hundred-thousand-year right leg bone left by the Blue Silver Emperor.

The Blue Silver Emperor was the king of plant-type soul beasts, and Nine-Heart Begonia was likewise a plant-type martial soul. Their compatibility was exceedingly high.

“Alright!” After years of acquaintance, Ye Lingling trusted Xiao Yu unconditionally, especially upon hearing that he had a treasure to improve her cultivation. She was overjoyed. “Brother Xiao Yu, let me pack a few things and we’ll set off right away!”

She hurried back inside, gathered a few daily necessities into her storage soul guide, and ran out, grabbing Xiao Yu’s hand with a sweet smile. “Brother Xiao Yu, let’s go!”

“Where are you two headed?” Before they could leave the academy, Huo Wu blocked their path.

Huo Wu eyed them curiously. “Heading out so late, are you eloping?”

Hearing the word “eloping,” Ye Lingling’s cheeks flushed crimson and she hid behind Xiao Yu, silent but not protesting.

Xiao Yu shot Huo Wu a glare and put on a stern face. “Don’t talk nonsense. Lingling and I have business to attend to.”

“Business, huh!” Huo Wu’s eyes spun mischievously, glancing back and forth between Xiao Yu and Ye Lingling. Suddenly, she grinned wickedly. “If it’s business, then I’m coming with you!”