Time flies like an arrow, and the days pass like a shuttle.
A month has passed since the clan leader returned to Tiandou City.
During this month, the zu zong's daily life was simple: occasionally attending lectures, completing necessary daily cultivation, and spending weekends with Xiao Wu exploring Tiandou City.
In addition, every few days, the zuzong would travel to Yunmeng Mountain Ghost Valley in the world of "Qin's Moon" to seek advice on swordsmanship from Xuan Jian, and also to deliver some living supplies to them. As for Xuan Jian's injuries, they were healed in a day under the zuzong's Nine Yang Divine Skill soul power healing.
Incidentally, our second uncle, Wei Zhuang, who is known as the "Number One Cool King of Qin's Moon," saw that Xuan Jian's swordsmanship was superb. He challenged him to duels every few days, and of course, he was utterly humiliated.
Later, seeing that the zuzong was learning swordsmanship from Xuan Jian, he challenged the zuzong again, not to compete in internal strength (soul power), but only in swordsmanship. However, under the powerful perception of the zu zong's Sharingan, he was not only utterly defeated, but the clan leader also learned a great deal of Wei Zhuang's horizontal swordsmanship. Basically, the zu zong's had learned everything Wei Zhuang had used, which made the "Pretentious King" begin to doubt his life.
At dawn, the members of the Royal Fighting Team gathered in the bamboo forest behind the mountain as usual.
The zuzong took a sip of tea, looked around, and found that everyone was present except for Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng.
Speaking of Dugu Yan, the zuzong was also somewhat puzzled. A month ago, on the way back to Tian Dou, the zuzong had intentionally or unintentionally mentioned to her that she might have been poisoned. He had hoped to use this to lure out Dugu Bo, a big fish, so that the other party could take him to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
But instead, Dugu Yan disappeared as soon as she returned, and no one had seen her for a month. Even the academy's teachers didn't know where she had gone. As for Yu Tianheng, he's been in seclusion this month trying to break through to level 40; it's unclear if he's succeeded yet.
It's worth mentioning that everyone seems to have agreed to break through to the next level in the past month or two. After all, the pressure from the zuzong 'and Xiao Wu is immense.
Among them, Xiao Wu is the most impressive; she broke through to level 34 a little over two months ago, and now she's reached level 35 in no time.
Even the zuzong, with his composure, was quite surprised. Putting aside her innate talent for soul beast transformation, the "Transformation Pill" had indeed significantly improved her cultivation talent. He himself had been working so hard every day, yet he hadn't even reached level 40, while Xiao Wu, with just a few casual cultivation sessions, had her soul power skyrocketing.
However, he also had a feeling that it should be soon; breaking through to level 40 would happen around this time.
At this moment, Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng approached, both with smiles on their faces.
The zuzong briefly examined Yu Tianheng and discovered that his soul power fluctuations had already reached the level of level 40.
Qin Ming looked around at everyone and said with a smile, "I called everyone here today not to arrange training, but because last night, Tianheng successfully broke through to level 40."
Hearing this, everyone was happy for Yu Tianheng.
"Congratulations, Boss!"
"Boss is amazing, breaking through to level 40 so quickly!"
The zuzong nodded, smiled faintly, and said, "Congratulations, Tianheng, you're the first among us to break through to level 40."
Hearing the zu zong's words, Yu Tianheng, who had been very happy, turned pale. It was true that he was the first to break through to level 40, but it had taken him more than half a year to go from level 39 to level 40. For most people, being able to advance one level every six months after level 35 was considered genius; unlike the zuzong and Xiao Wu, who seemed to increase their soul power as easily as eating and drinking.
Yu Tianheng smiled wryly, "I really don't know whether to be happy or cry about your praise."
The zuzong didn't dwell on this point; his biggest concern now was Dugu Yan, after all, Dugu Yan was the key to obtaining the immortal herb!
He quickly changed the subject, saying, "Where's Yanzi? I haven't seen him for over a month."
Yu Tianheng slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "Oh dear! I'd forgotten. She said she was going to see her grandfather and asked me to ask for a month's leave for her. At the time, I felt I was about to break through to level forty, so I went into seclusion. I thought it would only be a few days, but it turned out to be a month, and I completely forgot about it."
The zuzong nodded, thinking to himself, "It seems Dugu Yan went to find out about Dugu Bo."
Leaning against the clan elder, Xiao Wu, upon hearing about Dugu Yan's grandfather, became clearly interested and couldn't help but ask, "Who is Sister Yan's grandfather?"
Yu Tianheng said seriously, "Yan Yan's grandfather is the one known as the Poison King of the World, the most troublesome Bi Lin Douluo, also called the Poison Douluo."
"A Title Douluo!" Xiao Wu exclaimed in surprise. Although she no longer had the aura of a soul beast, the Title Douluo was still a psychological shadow in her heart, because her mother had died under the siege of several Title Douluos.
The zuzong took Xiao Wu's hand and comforted her, "It's okay, I'm here."
"Mm." Xiao Wu's expression changed, her voice slightly choked. She was thinking of her mother again.
"What's wrong with her?" Yu Tianheng asked in surprise. Even if she had poisoned a Douluo, she wouldn't be this scared!
zuzong said, "It's nothing. It's just that Xiao Wu's family suffered a major tragedy when she was little. She's thinking about sad things."
"Oh, I see. My condolences." Yu Tianheng didn't understand and didn't ask any further.
"Alright, alright, enough with the formalities. Everyone go back and prepare. We'll meet at the school gate in an hour to head to Sunset Forest to obtain Tianheng's fourth soul ring," Qin Ming said happily.
zuzong and Xiao Wu strolled along the path. They didn't have much to pack, so they took the opportunity to walk around the campus.
At this moment, Zu Zong was thinking about how to explain things to Xiao Wu, because there was a high probability that they would encounter Dugu Bo on this trip to Sunset Forest. He would definitely interrogate him about how to cure the poison, and he would need to trick the old poison master into giving him the immortal herb. It could take anywhere from a month to several months.
Zu Zong gave Xiao Wu a deep look. "Xiao Wu, I might be leaving for a while."
Xiao Wu's face paled. "What are you going to do? I want to go too!"
zuzong shook his head and said calmly, "If we run into Dugu Yan's grandfather in Sunset Forest, he might need to see me. I might stay with him for a few months."
Hearing about Dugu Bo, Xiao Wu immediately panicked, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, then we shouldn't go to Sunset Forest. I just inquired about it, and that Poison Douluo is terrifying. He has a very strange temper and releases poison at the drop of a hat. No, I won't let you go."
As she spoke, Xiao Wu tightly hugged zuzong's right hand, as if determined not to let go until he agreed.
The zuzong didn't resist. He gently brushed aside Xiao Wu's bangs, which had been ruffled by the breeze, and smiled knowingly. "There won't be any danger this time. In fact, when I come back, I'll give you a big surprise. Trust me, Xiao Wu."
"Okay! But you promise me you won't die."
"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who talks big, gets beaten up, and only survives thanks to the protagonist's halo." The zuzong chuckled.