In the VIP Hotel, second floor of Notting City—
'Xiao Wu, has she really left already?'
As Dai Chengfeng ascended the stairs and overheard Tang San's words, his eyes narrowed slightly. 'I originally wanted to check if Xiao Wu was still at Notting Academy, but it seems…'
'The butterfly effect is truly not something to be underestimated!'
'Even I, in the future, must be cautious and not blindly trust my memories from my past life!'
Dai Chengfeng sighed softly, shaking off his thoughts, and continued up the stairs.
As he reached the second-floor corridor, he saw Zhu Fan, Ye Renxin, and Dugu Bo standing at the staircase corner, their faces full of gossipy amusement as they watched the commotion on the first floor.
Upon seeing Dai Chengfeng approach, the three of them suddenly seemed to recall something, unconsciously tightening their legs instinctively.
It couldn't be helped.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's miserable state, how could any man not feel empathy?
"Heh heh, Chengfeng, you're back!"
Zhu Fan chuckled awkwardly while clenching his legs, then curiously asked, "Chengfeng, why didn't you kill him?"
After all, based on Zhu Fan's understanding of his nephew, Dai Chengfeng's penchant for killing far exceeded even the notoriously unpredictable Dugu Bo.
For Dai Chengfeng to have taken action yet left someone alive seemed unlike his usual style.
"Couldn't kill him."
Dai Chengfeng shook his head, walked past the three, and pushed open the door to his room.
"Couldn't kill him?"
Zhu Fan, Ye Renxin, and Dugu Bo looked at Dai Chengfeng with confusion. "He's just a Soul Grandmaster. How could you not kill him?"
"Although he's weak, he happens to be someone's 'white glove'—a proxy used by a certain person to train their son. That's why I couldn't kill him."
"Even with Elder Dugu Bo present, I still couldn't kill him."
With that, Dai Chengfeng closed the door, leaving behind a stunned Dugu Bo, Zhu Fan, and Ye Renxin exchanging bewildered glances.
"Even Elder Dugu Bo couldn't intervene to kill him. This…"
Zhu Fan's eyes were filled with shock.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin exchanged a knowing glance. 'This Prince Dai Chengfeng is even more mysterious than we thought!'
'Even in this unfamiliar city, he's fully aware of matters involving hidden Title Douluo!'
Soon, each of the three returned to their rooms, lost in their own thoughts.
---
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, the faint sunlight filtered through the windows of the VIP Hotel, illuminating every corner of the room.
Dai Chengfeng's group had already purchased a new carriage and replenished their supplies, setting off once again.
On the journey ahead, perhaps due to their proximity to the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Tian Dou Empire, the region was extremely chaotic.
Almost every day, they encountered bandits and robbers blocking the road to plunder.
But in front of Dugu Bo, Zhu Fan, and Ye Renxin, these encounters were merely opportunities to rack up kills.
Achievement unlocked: 132 Bandit Heads.
Achievement unlocked: 148 Robber Heads.
Even when they reached the source of the Holy King River and boarded a passenger ship to sail downstream, river pirates still occasionally harassed them.
The result, naturally, was…
Achievement unlocked: 208 River Pirate Heads.
Achievement unlocked: Bandit, Robber, and River Pirate Nine Clans Elimination Game.
However, it wasn't all about killing.
Thanks to the effects of the Great Rejuvenation Pill, both Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan's soul power cultivation efficiency had doubled.
Thus, despite the relentless travel over the past two months, Dugu Yan's soul power had reached Level 33, and Ye Lingling's had smoothly reached Level 30.
As a result, the group delayed their journey for a day to disembark.
They ventured into a nearby Soul Hunting Forest to find a 1,600-year-old white deer for Ye Lingling's third soul ring.
The Soul Hunting Forest was thick with moisture.
Majestic ancient trees stood tall, their branches intertwining to block out the sky. Only a few rays of sunlight managed to filter through the gaps, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Strange animal roars echoed around them, adding to the tension and mystery.
"Sigh~"
Ye Lingling exhaled a breath of turbid air, her eyes opening with excitement. Her cheeks flushed red like a lively young deer as she quickly ran to Dugu Yan and Ye Renxin.
Unable to contain her excitement, she exclaimed, "Yan'er, Grandpa, I'm now a Level 31 Soul Elder!"
Dugu Yan's lips curled into a slight smile as she gently extended her arms to hold Ye Lingling's hands. "Lingling, congratulations!"
Ye Renxin stood beside them, his weathered face glowing with pride and satisfaction as he nodded warmly.
"My dear granddaughter, well done! You truly are worthy of being a child of the Ye family!"
"A Soul Elder at the age of 13!"
At this moment, Ye Renxin's gaze toward Dai Chengfeng was filled with immense gratitude.
After all, he understood…
Without Dai Chengfeng's Great Rejuvenation Pill, his granddaughter would never have become a Soul Elder-level powerhouse at the age of 13!
Ye Lingling, naturally, was also well aware of this.
Thus, she slowly approached Dai Chengfeng.
Her face was filled with joy and gratitude, her hands unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her dress. The subtle bamboo leaf embroidery on her skirt swayed gently with her delicate steps.
Finally, she stood before Dai Chengfeng.
Ye Lingling raised her eyes slightly, her long lashes casting butterfly-like shadows on her porcelain skin. A faint blush spread from her earlobes down her snow-white neck, disappearing beneath her collar.
"Thank you, Chengfeng."
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to become a Soul Elder so quickly."
Looking at the adorable Ye Lingling, Dai Chengfeng's lips curved into a warm smile. "Lingling, this is the result of your own hard work."
"You've trained diligently every day during our travels, putting in so much effort. This is what you deserve."
As he spoke.
Though younger than Ye Lingling in this life, Dai Chengfeng, having lived two lifetimes, instinctively reached out to ruffle her hair, his movements natural and affectionate.
His fingers brushed through her silvery hair, overflowing with unmasked fondness.
Pfft!
Instantly, Ye Lingling's cheeks flushed crimson, her long lashes fluttering nervously as she bit her soft lips in shyness.
Lowering her head, she avoided meeting Dai Chengfeng's eyes entirely.
Her heart raced like a startled deer, filled with both joy and bashfulness, leaving her momentarily flustered.
However!
While Ye Lingling was caught between joy and shyness, Ye Renxin's reaction was entirely different.
Seeing this scene, his eyes widened in shock, and he quickly snapped to his senses, rushing over to separate his granddaughter from Dai Chengfeng.
Ye Renxin wasn't particularly against Dai Chengfeng, but his granddaughter was only 13 years old!
This… isn't this puppy love?!
Ye Renxin simply couldn't accept that his precious little cabbage was being corrupted by some punk at such a young age.
"Dai Chengfeng, where do you think you're putting your hands?!"
Ye Renxin bellowed loudly, fiercely warning Dai Chengfeng to behave properly until Ye Lingling turned 18.
But Dai Chengfeng simply tuned him out.
There was no helping it…
Elder Ye, I'm just so eager to improve!
Still, this little commotion had its intended effect.
Ye Lingling, feeling shy, temporarily avoided approaching Dai Chengfeng, hiding behind Ye Renxin and peeking at him from time to time.
After a brief rest, the group boarded the passenger ship once again, continuing their journey toward Wu'an City.
Until, they were only one day's sail away from Wu'an City.
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