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Above the jagged cliffs of the Ming Dou Mountains, not too far from the border of the Great Ming Dou Forest, a man and a child flew just above the rocky surface.
Below them, razor-sharp peaks stretched endlessly. Even a small fall would spell death for someone like Lin Zechen.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone. Feng Yanluo kept a careful eye on the boy, adjusting their speed as needed.
Not solely for his grandson's sake, although that certainly played a part in his caution. There were other, more serious reasons behind his careful control of their flight.
Patrol teams of spirit masters and engineers scouted the mountain range, and worse still, the Soul Beasts of the Great Ming Dou Forest were far more hostile than those of the Great Star Dou.
As they flew farther, a wave of soul power approached, alerting them to nearby patrols.
A harsh voice rang out, "Halt! Identify yourselves!"
With a sigh, Feng Yanluo reached into his robe and tossed a token toward the source.
He hadn't bothered storing the token in his soul tool this time.
It wasn't the first time patrols had found them.
Moments later, the token was returned, and the voice that followed was noticeably more respectful.
"You may pass, sir."
The journey resumed.
A chuckle escaped the elder's lips. "You wouldn't believe how useful your father's token has been, Xiao Chen."
Dangling under his grandfather's arm, Zechen let out a tired breath through his nose. "Couldn't we have just crossed the border? Why this route?"
It had only been a day since their journey began, but the two had grown surprisingly close.
Feng Yanluo clicked his tongue. "You'll be studying in one of the three original Douluo empires. Your identity must remain hidden."
Zechen's eyes narrowed. "Really? You do know we've been seen by at least twenty people already?"
A hearty laugh echoed through the air. "It's not the Sun-Moon Empire I'm worried about. That token's got power. Even if we tried to hide, I doubt it would work. Not while you're with me."
He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The Sun-Moon Empire's centuries ahead in soul tool technology. Their tracking methods would put the other nations to shame."
After a pause, he added, "But the patrols from Star Luo Empire are easier to throw off."
Zechen groaned. "So where exactly are we headed?"
"We'll reach Gengxin City by midday tomorrow. Rest there for the night, and head for Tianjin Town the next day."
Eventually, Feng Yanluo found a good spot among the rocks and descended.
A modest cave, just tall enough for him to enter, stood nestled into the cliffs.
He set the boy down and looked at Zechen's pale face. A smile tugged at the elder's lips—one the child didn't miss.
Before the boy could voice his annoyance, a hand ruffled his hair. "Stay sharp, Xiao Chen. These cliffs can hide Soul Beasts in any crevice. Many were wiped out by the empire sweeps, but the rule still stands—constant vigilance."
Zechen muttered under his breath, "Yeah, yeah. I know."
A quiet chuckle escaped Feng Yanluo as he stepped inside.
A Martial Soul gave off a recognizable aura upon release, and unless the user's spiritual energy was stronger than that of nearby Soul Masters, the aura would instantly reveal their position.
That's why, for every encounter so far, the elder had relied on soul tools instead.
The cave ceiling was thin, dotted with small holes that let light through. After confirming the area was safe, Feng Yanluo brought the boy inside. They sat on a roughly flattened rock to rest.
Soon, food and water emerged from a storage tool, and they began eating.
Wiping his mouth, Zechen asked, "I heard people from Star Luo and the other empires don't trust soul tools."
Feng Yanluo glanced sideways. "You heard right."
"So…"
Taking a swig of water, the old man exhaled with relief. "You're wondering why I use them, huh?"
He cleaned his lips. "Many still recognize their usefulness. I'm one of them. Of course…"
Zechen's curiosity sparked. "Of course?"
A smirk. "Who said I'm from the three Douluo empires?"
The boy's eyes narrowed. "You mean… you're a citizen of Sun-Moon too?"
"Not anymore," Feng Yanluo replied, turning slightly.
Before more questions could come, he continued, "The letter said your Martial Soul mutated."
"It did."
"Show me."
"But you said the aura—"
"That only matters for strong individuals. You haven't even reached Rank 10 yet."
Zechen nodded and summoned his Martial Soul.
The Prism Crystal formed above his right hand. Each time he summoned it, the process grew smoother.
The cave exploded in color. Light particles streamed toward the crystal, fractured, and refracted into seven vibrant hues.
The elder scratched his beard. "It's a good Martial Soul." He leaned in.
"Seems like it's tied to light…and spiritual energy."
Zechen studied him. "Tied to? Not actual light?"
"I didn't say it wasn't." Another ruffle of the boy's hair. "It doesn't generate light…just manipulates it. That distinction matters a lot for your growth."
The boy straightened. "Is that good or bad?"
Feng Yanluo paused. "Good, I'd say. It's less vulnerable to darkness than direct light elements. Only downside…it might not produce light on its own."
The phrase sparked a memory in Zechen. The tree with veins of light.
Maybe… that's not a weakness.
"Had it produced light itself, this would be a top-tier Martial Soul," the old man said, then added with a glance, "Still, you'd best train hard and earn a place in a good academy. I don't know everything about Martial Souls, after all."
His gaze drifted to the dancing lights on the cave walls.
"For now, rest. I'll keep watch."
"But I could train instead…"
"Rest. You'll have time later."
Reluctantly, Zechen deactivated the crystal.
He accepted the bedding offered by Feng Yanluo and lay down.
Despite the swirl of thoughts in his mind, sleep came easily.