Chapter 89: Goodbye

Tie Li has been training in Baidi for several months, and his Soul Power Level has reached Thirty Nine Level, just one step away from reaching Forty Level.

His Soul Power Level increased, but the effect of mimicry meditation worsened.

Tie Li also needs to consider how to obtain the fourth Soul Ring.

After repeatedly ingesting whale glue to strengthen his physique and forging his body with Lightning Light in Baidi, Tie Li's bodily strength broke through the limit of the fourth Soul Ring, allowing him to attempt a seven‑thousand‑year Soul Ring.

Amid the intertwining sounds of Lightning Light, Tie Li finished his training and collapsed onto a flat boulder.

"I need to find a chance to reforge the damaged armor," Tie Li muttered to himself.

He had infused the armor with High-Level Metal of Thunder Attribute and forged it using his martial soul, which already matched his own attribute; a single piece's boost might be weak, but stacked together the amplified attributes are equivalent to a Support-type Soul Master releasing a First Soul Technique or a Second Soul Technique on himself.

"Hm?"

Lying quietly on the boulder, Tie Li at this moment became extremely sensitive to everything around him.

This was thanks to the mental pressure he had felt deep in Baidi before; prolonged mental pressure gradually sharpened his perception.

Tie Li sensed a not‑weak Soul Power fluctuation drawing closer to him.

He took clothing out of his storage ring and prepared for battle.

As Tie Li approached the opponent, the other side seemed to sense him as well.

The distance between them grew smaller, yet both slowed their pace, each unaware whether the other came with hostile intent?

A familiar figure gradually became clear in Tie Li's sight.

Tie Li's pupils contracted as he recognized the other's identity.

"It's Zhang Yang."

After all those years, his appearance and bearing had changed, yet Tie Li recognized him at a glance.

When Zhang Yang first saw Tie Li, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity; Tie Li's changes were great, so Zhang Yang didn't recognize him at first.

Back then at the Great Soul Battle Arena, Zhang Yang was one of the few friends Tie Li had, and his guard had largely dropped.

"You forgot me so quickly?" Tie Li laughed.

Hearing Tie Li's voice, Zhang Yang's vague memories gradually cleared.

"Da Li? You didn't die? I thought you were dead."

"I was close to death."

"Damn, that old bastard actually made us a bait for him back then; I almost died…"

The incident in Hundred Noah City still lingers in Zhang Yang's mind; it was the closest he ever came to death.

"Do your family know you're alive?" Zhang Yang suddenly shifted the conversation and asked.

"Did something happen?" Tie Li frowned; he feared any trouble at home the most.

"That's not it. Your younger brother joined the Spirit Hall and was taken as a disciple by a senior bishop of the Hall. After the news of your death reached home, your brother came to the Great Soul Battle Arena to demand accountability, accompanied by that senior bishop and several powerful Soul Masters;

The situation was unusual then; the Great Soul Battle Arena invited them into a private room. Whatever price was paid allowed your brother's party to leave, but his expression was grim as they departed."

Tie Li let out a silent sigh of relief; this situation was one he could accept.

Tie Wu became a disciple of a senior bishop of the Spirit Hall, which for now is a good thing; at least his parents' safety is assured.

With the Spirit Hall as backing, no one in Norman City dares to act against his family.

"You're safe now; do you want to…"

Zhang Yang's words were cut off by Tie Li; as one of the few friends he had, Tie Li trusted Zhang Yang.

He took out the new Soul Master Handbook and Imperial Certificate.

Zhang Yang opened it and his complexion changed subtly; although he didn't understand Tie Li's reason, he was willing to share this information, and that was enough.

"Actually, I also left the Great Soul Battle Arena," Zhang Yang said suddenly.

"You left the Great Soul Battle Arena?"

Tie Li looked at Zhang Yang in disbelief; his parents both worked for the Great Soul Battle Arena, all his Soul Rings were obtained by the Arena, and his entire future was practically tied to it.

"To be precise, I'm now wanted by the Great Soul Battle Arena."

Anger, resentment, and helplessness flashed in Zhang Yang's eyes; something must have happened to him.

Tie Li didn't ask further, just patted his shoulder.

But Zhang Yang quickly steadied his emotions.

"If you encounter Duolangbu, you must be careful; he used some unknown method and is now a Five Ring Soul King," Zhang Yang said, his expression uneasy.

Back at the Great Soul Battle Arena, Duolangbu was a Two Ring Great Soul Master, while I was already a Three Ring Soul Honorable, but now he has become a Five Ring Soul King, whereas I am only a Four Ring Soul Ancestor.

Back then the Great Soul Battle Arena put a bounty on Duolangbu; the leak that he possessed a Soul Bone attracted many factions to the hunt, yet after all these years no one has succeeded, and Duolangbu has only grown stronger.

"I know." Tie Li already had a suspicion.

Neither asked why the other was there; a conflicted look appeared in Zhang Yang's eyes as he contemplated a question.

"I'm going to enlist at the border; they gave me a recommendation to enter the Tian Dou Royal Academy. I don't know if you need it, but besides giving it to you I have no other option—no, giving it up is also an option."

Zhang Yang needed to evade the Great Soul Battle Arena's bounty, so he had to join a force stronger than the Arena; thus he joined the Tian Dou Imperial House;

At twenty‑three, he was already a Four Ring Soul Ancestor; his youth was his greatest asset.

The Tian Dou Imperial House was naturally willing to give a prodigy a chance, and the recommendation to the Tian Dou Royal Academy was merely a bonus.

Some powerful Soul Masters chose to join the Tian Dou Imperial House; besides status and honor, they wanted a good learning environment for juniors, and their terms always included a recommendation to the Tian Dou Royal Academy.

This is why Zhang Yang's joining the Tian Dou Imperial House included a recommendation.

The Tian Dou Royal Academy's faculty is extremely strong; for any Soul Master it is a rare opportunity.

Studying Soul Master knowledge at the Tian Dou Royal Academy greatly benefits future development.

The Tian Dou Royal Academy is an imperial‑direct high‑level Soul Master academy; most students are nobles, with only a small fraction being commoners.

Noble students shun commoners, leaving the latter in a poor situation at the academy.

The issue Zhang Yang considered was the student hierarchy; Tie Li's entry into the Tian Dou Royal Academy could provoke targeting by noble students, and given Tie Li's temperament, disputes could easily erupt.

Such situations are not rare in the Royal Academy; each time civilian students end up taking the short end.

For Tie Li, joining the Tian Dou Royal Academy has both advantages and disadvantages!

If one wishes to develop one's own clan in the future, joining the Tian Dou Royal Academy is a good choice; mastering abundant Soul Master knowledge can become the foundation for the clan's development later.

Back then in the library of the Feia Advanced Academy, Tie Li was keen on the library's Soul Master knowledge, mainly because it was preparation for founding a Soul Master later.

The emergence of a Soul Master clan does not rely on just one or two Soul Masters; it requires a combination of many factors to succeed.

Tie Li does not want a fleeting Soul Master clan; he wants a clan with solid foundation that can develop long‑term.

(End of Chapter)